Apparatus for use in conjunction with boiler flue gases for generating inert blanketing gases

Abstract

Apparatus for use in conjunction with boiler flue gases, for generating inert blanketing gases, for safety in the pumping out of hydrocarbons or other flammable liquids from tanks or containers, such as might be used on board ship while unloading liquid fuels, etc. The apparatus comprises a circular vessel with a vertical axes. Coaxial with the outer wall of the vessel is an inner refractory wall of lesser diameter, which houses a combustion zone. Liquid fuel is supplied under pressure axially at the top of the combustion zone and, with atomizer means, a spray of liquid fuel droplets is projected downwardly in the combustion zone. Flue gases from a boiler or similar source is supplied, along with combustion air from a blower, to a plenum upstream of the fuel spray. This provides a downgoing flame inside of the combustion chamber, which flows downwardly, past the bottom edge of the refractory wall, and upwardly in the annular space between the refractory wall and the vessel wall. A downward spray of water droplets from a plurality of nozzles in the annular space serves to clean and cool the hot gases, which flow upwardly in the annular space, past a demisting means, to the tank or other receiving device, which is to be filled with the blanketing gas.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.