Scrap metal furnace evaporative cooling system
AssigneeGpre IP, LLC
InventorsJohn M. Peterman, Bruce S. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An evaporative cooling system for a scrap metal furnace with an afterburner, a rotary kiln and a conveyor that loads scrap metal into the kiln. Pressurized water runs through water lines to two water spray subassemblies. The first subassembly sprays atomized water into a heating duct between the afterburner and a gas recycle return duct. The second subassembly sprays water onto the scrap metal on the conveyor. Water flow through the subassemblies is regulated by one or more water flow controllers, pumps and/or flow sensors, which may be computer controlled. A water heater warms the water to a desired temperature.
Claims20
An evaporative cooling system for a scrap metal delacquering furnace, said furnace having a rotary kiln, said rotary kiln having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said rotary kiln having a charge port proximate said first end for the introduction of scrap metal into said rotary kiln and a discharge port proximate said second end for removal of said scrap metal from said rotary kiln, said furnace having an afterburner and a first duct in communication with said afterburner, said afterburner generating hot gases, said first duct directing at least a portion of said hot gases from said afterburner into a collective supply duct, said collective supply duct directing said portion of said hot gases into one of said charge port and said discharge port, said furnace having an exhaust gas recycle subassembly and a diverter valve, said recycle subassembly collecting exhaust gases from one of said charge port and said discharge port, and directing said exhaust gases through said diverter valve, said diverter valve selectively dividing said exhaust gases into a first portion directed through a second duct into said collective supply duct and a second portion directed through a third duct into said afterburner, said evaporative cooling system comprising:
- a. a first water line, said first water line being connected to and receiving pressurized water from a pressurized water source;
- and
- b. a first water spray subassembly, said first water spray subassembly being connected to and receiving pressurized water from said first water line, said first water spray subassembly being positioned proximate said first duct of said furnace, said first water spray subassembly comprising a first water nozzle, said first water nozzle being positioned at least in part in said first duct and oriented to direct water from said first water line into said first duct.
An evaporative cooling system for a scrap metal delacquering furnace, said furnace having a rotary kiln, said rotary kiln having a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said rotary kiln having a charge port proximate said first end for the introduction of scrap metal into said rotary kiln and a discharge port proximate said second end for removal of said scrap metal from said rotary kiln, said furnace having a material feed conveyor, said conveyor transporting scrap metal to said kiln charge port, said evaporative cooling system comprising:
- a. a first water line, said first water line being connected to and receiving pressurized water from a pressurized water source;
- and
- b. a first water spray subassembly, said first water spray subassembly connected to and receiving pressurized water from said first water line, said first water spray subassembly being positioned proximate said furnace conveyor, said first water spray assembly, said first water spray subassembly being positioned proximate said furnace conveyor and oriented to direct water toward said scrap metal positioned on said conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.