Safe incineration of explosive air mixtures

Abstract

An explosive gas incinerator system comprises a fume source inlet for receiving a process exhaust with a volatile material that is explosive when its concentration exceeds a lower explosive limit (LEL). A source flowmeter measures the volume of process exhaust being input. A temperature sensor measures the temperature of the process exhaust. A motorized damper is used for diluting the process exhaust with an ambient air input to produce a damper outflow with an explosive concentration less than the LEL. A damper flowmeter measures the total mixture volume of the process exhaust and ambient air input in the damper outflow. Another temperature sensor measures the temperature of the damper outflow. A gas monitor measures the concentration of volatile material in the damper outflow. An oxidizer burns the damper outflow in a flame to produce a cleaner exhaust, and a fan forces gas flows through the oxidizer. A system controller is connected to receive measurement data from the flowmeters, gas monitor, and temperature sensors, and is connected to control the motorized damper to maintain the damper outflow into the oxidizer below the corresponding LEL of the volatile material. Operator errors and attempts at sabotage can be detected and controlled.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.