US 8,037,620 B2 · Pulse combustion dryer apparatus and methods

Abstract

The present inventions relate to pulse combustion dryer apparatus and associated methods. The pulse combustion dryer apparatus may include a combustor that defines a combustion chamber that is in fluid communication with a tailpipe passage defined by a tailpipe. An air inlet communicates air into the combustion chamber through an air inlet passage. A fluid diode disposed within the air inlet passage allows airflow into the combustion chamber through the air inlet passage, and may generally prevent backflow of heated combustion products from the combustion chamber through the air inlet passage.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims19

Dependent claims

A pulse combustion dryer apparatus, comprising:

an air inlet passage;
a pulse combustor, in fluid communication with the air inlet passage to receive airflow through the air inlet passage;
and,
a fluid diode positioned in the air inlet passage, the diode including an outer body defining an outer body wall, an inner body, the inner body defining a first inner body wall and a second inner body wall, the inner body is disposed with respect to the outer body such that the first inner body wall and the outer body wall define an outer passage, the fluid diode includes one or more vanes secured to the first inner body wall and extended toward the outer body wall, the second inner body wall defines, an inner passage, one or more inlet ports are disposed about the inner body generally proximate a diode first end to admit airflow into the inner passage and one or more outlet ports are disposed about the inner body to distribute airflow from the inner passage into the outer passage to create turbulence, including eddies and cross-flow;
wherein the one or more vanes of the fluid diode generally prevents backflow of heated combustion products through the air inlet passage from the pulse combustor.

2 more elements

A method, comprising:

forming a fluid diode, the diode including an outer body defining an outer body wall, an inner body, the inner body defining a first inner body wall and a second inner body wall, the inner body is disposed with respect to the outer body such that the first inner body wall and the outer body wall define an outer passage, the fluid diode includes one or more vanes secured to the first inner body wall and extended toward the outer body wall, the second inner body wall defines, an inner passage, one or more inlet ports are disposed about the inner body generally proximate a diode first end to admit airflow into the inner passage and one or more outlet ports are disposed about the inner body to distribute airflow from the inner passage into the outer passage to create turbulence, including eddies and cross-flow;
disposing the fluid diode in an air inlet passage of a pulse combustion dryer having a pulse combustion chamber,
admitting airflow into the inner passage through the one or more inlet ports;
and distributing airflow from the inner passage into the outer passage through the one or more outlet ports thereby creating eddies and cross-flow in the outer passage, generally preventing backflow of heated combustion products from the combustion chamber to the air inlet passage.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description9,440 words

Summary971 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present inventions relate to apparatus and methods for drying materials, and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for pulse combustion drying.

#2. Background of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings11 figures

#FIG. 1A illustrates by schematic diagram an exemplary embodiment of a pulse combustion dryer apparatus in accordance with aspects of the present inventions;

#FIG. 1B illustrates a cut-away view of an exemplary embodiment of the air inlet in accordance with aspects of the present inventions;

#FIG. 2A illustrates a cut-away top view of an exemplary embodiment of the fluid diode in accordance with aspects of the present inventions;

Detailed description8,193 words

#All Figures are illustrated for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respect to number, position, relationship and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. Further, the dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements for various applications will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood.

#Where used in various Figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” “front,” “back,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood to reference only the structure shown in the drawings and utilized only to facilitate describing the illustrated embodiments.

#The present inventions provide a pulse combustion dryer apparatus 10 for the drying of a dryer feed material 73. The pulse combustion dryer apparatus 10 may include a combustor 31, an air inlet 21, a fluid diode 80, and a tailpipe 40. The combustor 31 defines a combustion chamber 32, and the air inlet 21 is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber 32 to communicate air 55 into the combustion chamber 32. The fluid diode 80 is included within the air inlet 21 to regulate flow through the air inlet by allowing airflow 57 through the air inlet 21 into the combustion chamber 32 and generally preventing backflow 318 from the combustion chamber 32 through the air inlet 21. The pulse combustion dryer 10 may include the tailpipe 40 that defines a tailpipe passage 42 that fluidly communicates with the combustion chamber 32. The combustion chamber 32 is configured to receive a pulse of airflow 57 admitted through the air inlet 21 and a pulse of fuel 53, and to ignite periodically the fuel-air mixture to produce pulses of heated combustion products 59, which may be expelled through the tailpipe passage 42.

Facts

Application

11/880,363Filed 20 Jul 2007

Published

US 2009/0019720 A122 Jan 2009

Granted

18 Oct 2011

Term ends

20 Jul 2027

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

F23C 15/00
Apparatus in which combustion takes place in pulses influenced by acoustic resonance
F23D 14/82
Safety devices, e.g. operative in case of failure of gas supply: preventing flashback or blowback
F26B 23/026
Using combustion heating: with pulse combustion, e.g. pulse jet combustion drying of particulate materials
F23C
Methods or apparatus for combustion using fluid fuel or solid fuel suspended

Timeline

20 Jul 2007Application filedUS 11/880,363
8 Jan 2008Assigned to J. Jireh Holdings LLCassignment of assignor's interest
22 Jan 2009PublishedUS 2009/0019720 A1
12 Sep 2011Assigned to Pulse Holdings LLCchange of name
18 Oct 2011GrantedUS 8,037,620 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
20 Jul 2027Term endsEstimated

Pulse combustion dryer apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Pulse combustion dryer apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims19

Description9,440 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description9,440 words