Regenerative bed incinerator system

Claim 1

A regenerative bed incinerator system for treating combustible contaminants in a process exhaust stream, comprising: a. incinerator means for receiving the contaminated process exhausted stream, preheating the contaminated process exhaust stream, incinerating the combustible contaminants in the preheated process exhaust stream, cooling the incinerated process exhaust stream, and discharging the cooled incinerated process exhaust stream, said incinerator means having at least one gas permeable bed of particulate material having heat-accumulating and heat-exchanging properties disposed therein; b. gas flow directing means operatively associated with said incinerator means for receiving the contaminated process exhaust stream, directing the contaminated process exhaust stream to and through said incinerator means so as to periodically reverse the direction of gas flow through said incinerator means, receiving the cooled incinerated process exhaust stream from said incinerator means, and discharging the cooled incinerated process exhaust stream; c. a process exhaust stream supply duct connected in flow communication with said gas flow directing means for supplying a flow of contaminated process exhaust gas thereto; d. a process exhaust stream vent duct connected in flow communication with said gas flow directing means for exhausting the cooled incinerated process exhaust stream discharging from said gas flow directing means; e. fan means operatively associated with said supply duct for imparting a pressure boost to the process exhaust stream passing through said supply duct; f. first gas flow regulation means disposed in said vent duct for selectively regulating the amount of cooled incinerated process exhaust gases exhausting through said first gas flow regulation means; g. a gas recirculation duct having an inlet opening to said vent duct at a location upstream with respect to gas flow of said first gas flow regulations means and an outlet opening to said supply duct at a location upstream with respect to gas flow of said fan means, said gas recirculation duct providing a flow path for recirculating a portion of the cooled incinerated process exhaust stream; h. second gas flow regulation means disposed in said gas recirculation duct for selectively regulating the amount of cooled incinerated process exhaust gases recirculated to said supply duct; i. first control means operatively associated with said first gas flow regulation means and with said second gas flow regulation means for selectively proportioning the flow of cooled incinerated process exhaust stream discharged from said incinerator means through said gas flow directing means into a first portion which is exhausted from the system and a second portion which is recirculated to said supply duct through said gas recirculation duct whereby the flow of gases through said incinerator means is maintained relatively constant.