Apparatus for drying and heating using a pulse combustor

A pulsating apparatus for providing process heat, said apparatus comprising:

• a pulse combustion device for the combustion of a fuel to produce a pulsating flow of combustion products and an acoustic pressure wave, said pulse combustion device including a combustion chamber and at least one resonance tube, said at least one resonance tube having an inlet in communication with said pulse combustion chamber, and an outlet;
• a resonance chamber surrounding at least a portion of said at least one resonance tube, and coupled therewith in a manner such that a standing wave is created in said resonance chamber, said resonance chamber having a first closed end and a second open end, said resonance chamber including at least one nozzle defining said second open end, said nozzle being in fluid communication with said outlet of said resonance tube and being spaced downstream therefrom, said nozzle for accelerating said pulsating combustion products flowing therethrough for creating a pulsating velocity flow field adapted to heat and dry materials;
• and
• a recirculation conduit adapted to be in communication with an outlet of a heat exchanging device, and an eductor having an entrance in communication with said at least one nozzle and with said recirculation conduit, wherein said eductor mixes said pulsating flow of combustion products emitted from said pulse combustion device with a recycled stream of combustion products exiting said heat exchanging device to form an effluent, said effluent being fed to said heat exchanging device for providing heat thereto.

An apparatus for drying a stream of materials, said apparatus comprising:

• an enclosed resonance chamber having an open end;
• a pulse combustion device for the combustion of a fuel to produce a pulsating flow of combustion products and an acoustic pressure wave, said pulse combustion device including a combustion chamber and at least one resonance tube having an inlet in communication with said pulse combustion chamber, at least a portion of said resonance tube being contained within said resonance chamber;
• at least one nozzle located at said open end of said resonance chamber in communication with said at least one resonance tube, said nozzle for accelerating said pulsating combustion products flowing therethrough and for creating a pulsating velocity flow field;
• and
• a drying chamber in communication with said at least one nozzle, said drying chamber including a materials introduction port for introducing a stream of materials into said drying chamber proximate to said at least one nozzle, said introduction port being positioned so that said stream of materials contacts said pulsating flow of combustion products exiting said at least one nozzle and mixes with said combustion products for effecting heat transfer therebetween.

A pulsating apparatus for providing heat to a heat exchanging device, said apparatus comprising:

• an enclosed resonance chamber having an open end;
• a pulse combustion device for the combustion of a fuel to produce a pulsating flow of combustion products and an acoustic pressure wave, said pulse combustion device including a combustion chamber and at least one resonance tube having an inlet in communication with said pulse combustion chamber, at least a portion of said resonance tube being contained within said resonance chamber;
• at least one nozzle positioned at said open end of said resonance chamber in communication with said resonance tube, said nozzle for accelerating said pulsating combustion products flowing therethrough and for creating a pulsating velocity flow field;
• a recirculation conduit having first and second ends, said first end being adapted to be in communication with an outlet of a heat exchanging device;
• and
• an eductor having an entrance in communication with said at least one nozzle and with said second end of said recirculation conduit, wherein said eductor mixes said pulsating flow of combustion products emitted from said pulse combustion device with a recycled stream of combustion products exiting said heat exchanging device to form an effluent, said eductor directing said effluent into said heat exchanging device for providing heat thereto.