US 2022/0221148 A9 · Thermogenic vortex combustor

Abstract

A combustor for burning waste material includes a horizontally extended combustion chamber through which a mixture of waste material and air is introduced under pressure tangentially for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material toward one of the end walls. The waste material is ignited during its vortical movement. A second discharge port extends for discharging from the chamber non-combustible material entrained in the outer region of the vortex. The discharged material is conveyed through a conduit to a separator which separates the discharged gases and solid material. A secondary air manifold supplies air through controlled and automated dampers at portals positioned at intervals along the length of the chamber. An adjustable baffle is mounted on the flue adjacent its open end for deflecting outwardly toward the side wall solid material which moves from adjacent the one end wall toward the open end of the flue. A recuperator is mounted externally to the chamber on the exhaust flue, supplying heated air to the secondary air manifold and to the primary air and waste feed intake. Additionally, control means are provided for the use of specialized sensors to monitor the temperature, air flow and volume of the chamber, integrated into a process automation system that allows for control of individual components, stages, regions, as well as the entire process.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A combustor for burning waste material comprising in combination;

a. a combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls, said chamber being disposed such that its central axis extends substantially horizontally,
b. means for introducing waste material and primary air into said chamber for establishing a vortical movement of said waste material and primary air toward one of said end walls,
c. means for igniting said waste material during its vortical movement,
d. a discharge flue port having an open end opening in said chamber near said one end wall and substantially concentric with said central longitudinal axis,
e. means for introducing secondary air directly into said combustion chamber substantially tangentially to said side wall at a plurality of regions which are spaced substantially throughout the entire length of said combustion chamber side wall and which are aligned along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said chamber, said regions being located adjacent the bottom of said combustion chamber side wall at one side thereof such that secondary air is directly introduced in directions to maintain the vortical movement of waste material, and
f. control means for independently controlling the introduction of secondary air into said chamber at each of said plurality of regions.

3 more elements

A combustor for burning waste material comprising in combination;

a. a combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls, said chamber tangentially disposed such that its central axis extends substantially horizontally,
b. means for introducing a mixture of waste material and primary air under pressure into said chamber tangentially to said side wall for establishing a vortical movement of said waste material toward one of said end walls,
c. means for igniting said waste material during its vortical movement,
d. means for introducing secondary air Into said chamber substantially tangentially to said side wall at a plurality of spaced regions which are aligned along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said chamber and which are located adjacent the bottom of said chamber at one side thereof, said secondary air being introduced into said chamber in directions to maintain the vortical movement of waste material.
e. a first discharge flue port having an open end opening in said chamber near said one end wall and substantially concentric with said central axis.
f. a second discharge port having an open end opening in said chamber adjacent the inner surface of said side wall for discharging from said chamber during the burning process non-combustible material which is entrained in the outer region of the vortex, and
g. means for separating non-combustible materials drawn out through the conduit extending externally from the second discharge port, disposing of said materials, and providing a means to reintroduce hot gases and residual combustible materials, back into said chamber for continued combustive processing.

4 more elements

A combustor for burning waste material comprising in combination;

a. a combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls, said chamber being disposed such that its central axis extends substantially horizontally,
b. means for introducing waste material and primary air to said chamber for establishing a vortical movement of said waste material toward one of the said end walls,
c. means for igniting said waste material during its vortical movement,
d. a discharge flue port having and open end opening in said chamber near said one end wall and substantially concentric with said central longitudinal axis,
e. the side wall of said chamber having a plurality of spaced first openings extending tangentially therethrough which are aligned along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said chamber and which are located adjacent the bottom of said chamber at one side thereof,
f. means for introducing secondary air into said chamber through each of said first openings in directions to maintain the vortical movement of waste material, said means for introducing including a manifold supported externally of said chamber to extend along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said chamber, and a blower connected to said manifold to supply secondary air thereto,
g. means of recycling the heat exhausts back into portions of the process to enhance the efficiency of the operation, by use of a recuperator installed in the section of the first discharge flue, or exhaust flue, situated exterior to said chamber,
h. first control means for independently adjustably controlling the flow of secondary air supplied from said manifold to each of said first openings,
i. second control means for adjustably controlling the flow of secondary air supplied from said blower to said manifold,
j. third control means for adjustably controlling the air flow to said recuperator, and then back to said secondary air manifold and the feed/primary air intake, and
k. fourth control means for collectively and independently controlling the operational process, as well as reading, measuring, and reporting performance criteria, including the size-reduction unit, primary air, secondary air, and burner, as well as collecting atmospheric data from within said chamber such as moisture content and speed of vortex, and from the exterior portion of the exhaust flue apparatus for air quality and emissions.

8 more elements

A combustor for burning waste material comprising in combination;

a. size reducing means for receiving waste material and reducing it in size,
b. blower means for drawing the size reduced material from the size reducing means and entraining it in a primary air stream,
c. a generally cylindrical combustion chamber having spaced end walls and an annular side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls, said chamber being disposed such that its central axis extends substantially horizontally,
d. a conduit extending between said blower means and said chamber and introducing it into said chamber tangentially to said side wall for establishing a vortical movement of said waste material toward one of said end walls,
e. means for igniting said waste material during its vortical movement,
f. a discharge flue port having an open end opening in said chamber near said one end wall and substantially concentric with said central longitudinal axis,
g. the side wall of said chamber having a plurality of spaced first openings extending tangentially therethrough which are aligned along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said chamber and which are located adjacent the bottom of said chamber at one side thereof,
h. means for introducing secondary air into said chamber through each of said first openings in directions to maintain the vortical movement of waste material, said means for introducing including a manifold supported externally of said chamber to extent along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said chamber, and a blower connected to said manifold to supply secondary air thereto,
i. means of recycling the heat exhausts back into portions of the process to enhance the efficiency of the operation, by use of a recuperator installed in the section of the first discharge flue, or exhaust flue, situated exterior to said chamber,
j. first control means for independently adjustably controlling secondary air supplied from said manifold to each of said first openings,
k. second control means for adjustably controlling secondary air supplied from said blower to said manifold,
l. said first control means including a plurality of first dampers each adapted for manual or automated adjustment for effectively varying the size of a separate one of said openings,
m. said second control means including a second damper movable between open and closed positions, and means for automatically moving said second damper in response to variations of temperature within said chamber such that said second damper is moved toward open position in response to an increase in temperature to increase the flow of secondary air, and is moved toward close position in response to a decrease in temperature to decrease the flow of secondary air.
n. third control means for adjustably controlling the air flow to said recuperator, and then back to said secondary air manifold and the feed/primary air intake, and
o. fourth control means for collectively and independently controlling the operational process, as well as reading, measuring, and reporting performance criteria, including the size-reduction unit, primary air, secondary air, and burner, as well as collecting atmospheric data from within said chamber such as moisture content and speed of vortex, and from the exterior portion of the exhaust flue apparatus for air quality and emissions.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermogenic vortex combustor

Life of this patent

Thermogenic vortex combustor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34