Pulse combusted acoustic agglomeration apparatus and process

Improved apparatus for removal of particulates entrained in a gas stream comprising:

• means for receiving a gas stream for passage of said gas stream therethrough;
• pulse combustor means in communication with said gas stream receiving means for producing a pulsating stream of hot combustion products having a first particulate entrained therein and an acoustic wave having a frequency within the range of from about 20 to about 1500 Hz which acts on said gas stream, said pulse combustor means comprising a combustion chamber, fuel valve means in communication with said combustion chamber so that fuel mixtures may be admitted to said combustion chamber, and a resonance tube in communication with said combustion chamber, said resonance tube extending into said gas stream receiving means;
• and
• means for introducing a second particulate into said gas stream so that enhanced bimodal agglomeration of said particulates occurs to produce agglomerates, said second particulate introduction means located generally at the junction of said resonance tube and said combustion chamber.

Improved process for removal of particulates from a gaseous stream comprising the steps of:

• pulse combusting a fuel to produce a hot combustion product stream having particulate material entrained therein and an acoustic pressure wave having a frequency within the range of from about 20 to about 1500 Hz;
• introducing into said hot combustion product stream a second particulate having a size larger than the size of said particulate entrained in said hot combustion product stream to effectuate acoustically-enhanced bimodal agglomeration of said particulates;
• and
• removing said particulate agglomerates from said hot combustion product stream to produce a cleaned gas stream.

Improved process for removal of particulates from a gaseous stream comprising the steps of:

• pulse combusting a fuel to produce a hot combustion product stream and an acoustic pressure wave at a frequency in a range of from about 20 to about 1500 Hz;
• merging said product stream and pressure wave with an independent gas stream having particulates entrained therein;
• bringing a second particulate material under the influence of said acoustic pressure wave, said second particulate material having a size distribution different than said particulate material entrained in said gas stream so that acoustically enhanced bimodal particulate agglomeration occurs;
• removal of said particulate agglomerates from said merged streams;
• and
• thereafter providing said merged gas streams for operation of downstream equipment.