# US 4,972,786 A · Finned tubed rotary combustor

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- Number: US 4,972,786 A
- Document ID: US4972786A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/505,635
- Filed: 1990-04-06
- Granted: 1990-11-27
- Earliest claimed: 1990-04-06
- Assignees: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
- Inventors: George A. Blasiole
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4972786A

## CPC

- F23M 5/08: Cooling thereof; Tube walls
- F23G 5/20: having rotating or oscillating drums
- F23G 2203/205: with water-cooled wall
- F23G 2203/207: with air supply ports in the sidewall
- F23G 2203/212: Sealing arrangements between rotary and stationary parts
- F23M: CASINGS, LININGS, WALLS OR DOORS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, e.g. FIREBRIDGES; DEVICES FOR DEFLECTING AIR, FLAMES OR COMBUSTION PRODUCTS IN COMBUSTION CHAMBERS; SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR COMBUSTION APPARATUS; DETAILS OF COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION

## Abstract

A finned tube rotary combustor for a municipal solid waste incinerator having a plurality of finned tubes disposed in a circular array so that the fins of adjacent tubes register, but are separate and form a gap for combustion air to pass from a divided windbox into the rotary combustor, the finned tubes being connected at each end to a ring header and at intermediate locations by channel shaped circumferential bands that have an outer peripheral surface that is utilized as the running surface for windbox radial seals and has legs with scalloped distal margins fitted and welded to the outer periphery of the finned tube array.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A finned tube rotary combustor for a solid municipal waste incinerator disposed on an inclined axis within a windbox enclosing the central portion of said finned tube rotary combustor which comprises a circular array of spaced apart cooling tubes connected at each end to a ring header in banks of inlet and outlet tubes, each tube having a pair of diametrically opposed fins so disposed that the fins on adjacent tubes register, but are separate and provide passage ways .for combustion air to enter the finned tube rotary combustor from the windbox; a plurality of bands extending girthwise around the finned tube rotary combustor, the bands being fastened to the tubes and having a generally cylindrical peripheral surface and a seal member fastened to the windbox and extending therefrom at an angle so as to engage said cylindrical surface forming a running seal therebetween to form the finned tube rotary combustor with diminished axial shear stresses induced by the temperature gradient in adjacent banks of said tubes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The finned tube rotary combustor of claim 1, wherein the fins are made integral with the tube.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The finned tube rotary combustor of claim 1, wherein the bands are formed in the shape of a channel having a pair of legs with distal margins that are scalloped to fit over the outer periphery of the tube and fin array.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The finned tube rotary combustor of claim 1, wherein the fins are spaced apart to form the passage ways for the combustion air to enter the finned tube rotary combustor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The finned tube rotary combustor of claim 4, wherein distal margins of the fins are chamfered at complimentary angles so as to form an angled slot between adjacent fins.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The finned tube rotary combustor of claim 5, wherein the direction of air flow through the angled slot is generally in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the finned tube rotary combustor; the angled slot cooperating with the influent combustion air and the tendency of tumbling solid waste to ride up on one side of the finned tube combustor to prevent molten aluminum from running through the angled slots and into the windbox.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The finned tube rotary combustor of claim 6, wherein the chamfer is disposed to provide fins with stout edges which will not be easily damaged by the tumbling solid waste.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The finned tube rotary combustor of claim 7, wherein the angled slot is about 1/8 inch wide.