CA1210647A - Incineration system - Google Patents
Incineration systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA1210647A CA1210647A CA000433160A CA433160A CA1210647A CA 1210647 A CA1210647 A CA 1210647A CA 000433160 A CA000433160 A CA 000433160A CA 433160 A CA433160 A CA 433160A CA 1210647 A CA1210647 A CA 1210647A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- oxidation chamber
- chamber
- primary oxidation
- primary
- auger
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Incineration Of Waste (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
An incineration system for processing solid, semi-solid waste material and sludge includes an incin-erator unit which has a horizontally disposed rotary primary oxidation chamber and a generally vertically dis-posed secondary oxidation chamber which receives gaseous products of combustion from the primary chamber. Baffles within the secondary chamber provide a tortuous gas flow path through the secondary chamber. Gaseous emissions from the incinerator unit pass through a heat recovery boiler, a baghouse and a scrubber tower before being dis-charged to atmosphere. A control system controls rota-tion of the primary oxidation chamber and an auger/shredder which feeds waste material to be burned into the primary oxidation chamber. The control system may include a programmable computer for modifying the control functions in response to programmed data relating to the characteristics of material processed in the in-cineration system.
An incineration system for processing solid, semi-solid waste material and sludge includes an incin-erator unit which has a horizontally disposed rotary primary oxidation chamber and a generally vertically dis-posed secondary oxidation chamber which receives gaseous products of combustion from the primary chamber. Baffles within the secondary chamber provide a tortuous gas flow path through the secondary chamber. Gaseous emissions from the incinerator unit pass through a heat recovery boiler, a baghouse and a scrubber tower before being dis-charged to atmosphere. A control system controls rota-tion of the primary oxidation chamber and an auger/shredder which feeds waste material to be burned into the primary oxidation chamber. The control system may include a programmable computer for modifying the control functions in response to programmed data relating to the characteristics of material processed in the in-cineration system.
Description
~2~ 47 INCINERATION SYSTEM
BACKGROUND ~F T~E IN~ENTION
This invention relates in general to in-cineration systems and deals more particularly with an improved system of the type which includes a rotary primary oxidation chamber and a secondary oxidation chamber or afterburner which receives gaseous products of combustion from the primary chamber.
Heretofore, incineration systems of the afore-described general type have been provided which are cap-able of burning waste materials including solids, semi-solids, liquids and sludges individually or in combina-tion. However, because of the variable characteristics of the material processed, as, for example, the BTU value per pound, density, moisture content, percentage of inert material and resistance to feeding, such incineration systems have proven most difficult to control. Wide fluctuations in the operational conditions within a system have an adverse effect upon the overall efficiency of the system. Substantial additional heat input from one or more external auxiliary heat sources is often re-quired to maintain uniform operational conditions within such an incineration system to achieve efficient waste incineration while maintaining system emissions within acceptable environmental control standards. Further, maintenance of sufficient retention time in both the pri-mary oxidation chamber and the secondary oxidation chamber of such a system is a major factor in achievement of a high degree of system efficiency.
~ZlU647 It is the general aim of the present invention to provide an improved incineration system of the afore-described general type for disposing of waste materials including solids, semi-solids, liquids, and sludges, which may be toxic or hazardous. A further aim of the invention is to provide an incineration system which may be controlled to maintain substantially uniform opera-tional characteristics and high efficiency, despite the widely varying characteristics of the waste material pro-cessed, and which attains efficient energy recovery whilemeeting or exceeding accepted environmental control standards.
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention an in-cineration system comprises a rotary drum defining a gen-erally horizontally disposed primary oxidation chamber, and a vertically disposed secondary oxidation chamber, which has an inlet opening in its lower portion and an outlet opening in its upper portion. A discharge opening in one end of the drum communicates with the inlet open-ing in the secondary chamber. Baffle means disposed within the secondary chamber include a first baffle wall, inclined upwardly and in the direction of the discharge opening for blocking flow of gases and other products of combustion from the lower portion of the primary oxida-tion chamber into the secondary oxidation chamber. The baffle means further include a second baffle wall inclin-ed downwardly from a position above the discharge opening and in a direction away from the discharge opening. The 12~(~6~7 baffle walls cooperate with walls of the secondary oxida-tion chamber to define a tortuous flow path for gases of combustion which flow from an upper portion of the pri-mary oxidation chamber into and through the secondary oxidation chamber to the outlet opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an incineration system embodying the present invention.
Fig~ 2 is a somewhat schematic longitudinal sec-tional view through the incinerator shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig~ 2.
Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sec-tional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 2 and shows a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the incinerator as it appears in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary plan view of a typical baffle wall element.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 7 but shows another baffle wall element.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
Fig. ]l is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but shows another incinerator.
~2~Q647 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the drawings, and referring particularly to Fig. 1, an incineration system embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the re-ference numeral 10. The illustrated system 10 generally comprises an incinerator designated generally by the numeral 12, which includes a rotary primary oxidation chamber 14 and a secondary stationary oxidation chamber 16 which receives gaseous products of combustion from the primary oxidation chamber. An ignition burner 18 in-itiates the incineration process and, depending on the nature of the waste material being burned, may supply additional heat to maintain proper temperatures within the primary oxidation chamber 14. An ash receiver 20, located generally below the secondary oxidation chamber 16, receives ash and other unburned material from both the primary and secondary oxidation chambers.
A suitable feeding apparatus is provided for handling the waste material to be processed. The il-lustrated apparatus 10 is particularly adapted to burnsolid and semi-solid waste and/or sludge and has an auger/shredder feeding apparatus, indicated generally at 22, particularly adapted to shred and compact bulky solid waste as it is fed into the incinerator 12. One or more additional burners, such as the burner 24, may be pro-vided to assure maintenance of predetermined temperatures within the secondary oxidation chamber 16, however, where the waste material to be burned has a low to medium BTU
value per pound (1500 BTU dry) the oxidizing process will 0 be self-sustaining. In some circumstances material hav-lZ1~647 ing an even lower BTU value per pound and relatively high moisture contents can be accommodated and maintained in self-sustaining mode.
In the illustrated system lO, hot gases from the secondary oxidation chamber pass into a heat exchanger, such as the illustrated waste heat boiler 26, through a refractory lined stack 28 which has a built-in bypass to allow passage of hot gases directly up the stack under emergency conditions and while shutting down the feeding apparatus. A strategically located exhaust fan 29 in-duces a draft to create negative pressure within the system while returning to the atmosphere environmentally safe gases received from a baghouse 30 and a packed tower scrubber 32, which comprise part of the illustrated system 10. However, it should be understood that an in-cineration system constructed in accordance with the pre-sent invention may not require a baghouse, scrubber or other external particulate removal device. A control system indicated generally at 33, which includes a con-troller 34 and associated instrumentation, is provided for controlling the incineration system 10, as will be hereinafter more fully discussed. Safety interlocks monitor high and low temperatures, waste feed rates, boi-ler water level and pressure, burner operation and pol-lution control apparatus to allow continuous operation with minimal supervision.
Considering now the incinerator 12 in further detail, and referring particularly to Figs. 2-4, the pri-mary oxidation chamber 14 is defined by a cylindrical drum, indicated generally at 36, which is closed at its _5_ ~Zl(~6~7 front end and has a discharge opening 43 at its rear end, as best shown in Fig~ 2. The drum 36 has an outer shell 38 formed from sheet metal and lined with refractory material. The illustrated refractory material include~
arched firebricks 40, 40 which cooperate with the outer shell to define a plurality of individual passageways 42, 42 between the refractory lining and the outer shell, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each passageway 42 communi-cates with an associated opening 39 in the outer shell 38 near the rear end of the shell and with another as-sociated opening 45 in front end of the outer shell 38, as best shown in Fig. 5. The passageways 42, 42 extend substantially throughout the length of the drum in gener-ally parallel relation to the axis of rotation of the drum, the latter axis heing indicated by the numeral 41 in Fig. 2.
The drum 38 is supported for axial rotation by a plurality of rollers 44, 44 journalled on a supporting frame structure and engaged with annular bands which sur-round the outer periphery of the drum shell 38, as shownin Fig~ 1. The drum 36 is preferably supported with its axis of rotation 41 downwardly inclined from the horizon-tal and in the direction of its open or discharge end.
The rollers 44, 44 at opposite sides of the drum are ad-justable generally toward and away from each other to permit variation of the angle of inclination of the drum axis 410 A reversible, variable speed drive motor 46, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, is provided for ro-tating the drum 36 about its axis of rotation, as will be hereinafter further discussed. The primary oxidizing lZl(~64~
chamber or drum 36 is preferably enclosed within a pri-mary air shroud assembly 47, which includes a front wall 49 and which has a feeder door assembly 51. An annular seal 35 is provided between the front end of the drum 38 and the shroud 47, as best shown in Fig. 5. Air inlet holes, such as the one indicated at 37 in Fig. 5, are or may be provided in the shroud 47 near the discharge end of the drum 36 to admit makeup air into the primary oxi-dation chamber 14, however, the illustrated incinerator 12 has an air inlet conduit 53 in its shroud near its front end. A blower 29 is or may be provided to deliver air to the conduit 53, as shown in Fig. 5. An adjustable damper or butterfly valve 33 in the conduit 53 may be manually or automatically adjusted to control air flow into the primary combustion chamber 14 through the shroud 47. Air flows into the space between the shroud and the drum, through the openings 39, 39 in the drum shell 38, through the passageways 42, 42 and out through the open-ings 45, 45 at the front end of the drum shell cooling the shroud and drum. The resulting preheated air enters the drum through an opening in its front or infeed end, being drawn into the unit by negative pressure induced by the fan 29.
The secondary oxidation chamber 16 is generally vertically disposed and has a substantially rectangular cross section, as best shown in Fig. 4. It has an outer metal shell, and a liner, preferably formed from retrac-tory material, and includes a rear wall 48, a front wall 50, side walls 52 and 54, and a top wall 56. A circular 0 inlet opening 58 is formed in the front wall 50 and re-121()647 ceives an associated portion of the rear or discharge end of the drum 36 therein so that the discharge opening 43 communicates with the secondary oxidation chamber 16. An outlet opening 60 in the side wall 54 at the upper por-tion of the secondary oxidizing chamber 16 is connected to the stack 28 by an associated outlet duct 61.
In accordance with the present invention, the secondary oxidation chamber 16 includes a plurality of baffle walls, shown in Fig. 2, which extend transversely across the secondary chamber between the side walls 52 and 54. The baffle walls cooperate with the walls of the chamber to define a tortuous flow path for gases of com-bustion which flow from the primary oxidation chamber 14 into and through the secondary oxidation chamber 16 to and through the outlet opening 60. More specifically, the secondary oxidizing chamber 16 has a first baffle wall 62 which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from a position below the center of the discharge opening 43 and in the direction thereof. The baffle wall 62 terminates at a position above the center of the discharge opening and serves to block flow of gases, ash, inert materials, particulate and other products of combustion from a lower portion of the primary oxidation chamber 14 into the gas stream entering the secondary oxidation chamber 16. Pre-ferably, and as shown, the first baffle wall 62 is up-wardly inclined to the horizontal at an angle in the range of 65 to 70 degrees, the latter angle being in-dicated by the reference numeral 64 in Fig. 2. A second baffle wall 66 extends from the front wall 50 at a posi-tion above the discharge opening 43 and is inclined down-lZ~)647 wardly and in a direction away from the discharge opening 43. Preferabl~, and as shown, the baffle wall 66 is in-clined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the vertical, the latter angle being indicated by the refer-ence numeral 68 in Fig. 2. It should be noted ihat the first and second baffle walls 62 and 66 diverge in a direction away from the discharge opening 43 to define a first venturi region 67, for a purpose which will be hereinafter further discussed.
The illustrated incinerator 10 further includes a third baffle wall 70 inclined downwardly from the rear wall 48 and toward the second baffle wall 66. The third baffle wall 70 terminates at a generally transverely ex-tending front edge spaced from the second baffle wall 66.
Preferably, and as shown, the third baffle wall 70 is generally normal to the second baffle wall 66. A fourth baffle wall 72, defined by a lower portion of the rear wall 48, is inclined downwardly and in the direction of the discharge opening 43. The second baffle wall 66 is preferably generally normal to the fourth baffle wall 72 and terminates at a rear edge spaced from the fourth baf-fle wall. The baffle wall venturis are sized relative to gas flow to create a distribution of the gases over the full width of the secondary oxidation chamber, thus dis-couraging streaming of gases along paths of least resist-ance. This arrangement encourages full utilization of the secondary combustion chamber, increases residence time for total combustion capability and results in more ~fficient combustion per cubic foot with a small volume chamber.
_g_ ~2~0~47 Preferably, at least one of the baffle walls 62, 68 and 70 comprises an assembly of unitary axially elongated ceramic elements loosely associated in adjacent axially parallel sideby-side relation and extending transversely between the side walls of the secondary oxidation chamber. In the illustrated incinerator 12, each of the baffle walls is made from a plurality of axi-ally elongated ceramic tubes 73, 73, packed with high temperature insulating material 71. The ends of the tubes 73, 73 are supported by courses of refractory material which project inwardly from the side walls 52 and 54 to form supporting shelves for the elongated elements. In Fig. 4 the supporting shelves are indicated at 75, 75. Thus, a baffle wall is readily formed by resting the elements 73, 73 on the shelves 75, 75 and ad-jacent each other. Alternatively, one or more of the baffle walls may be formed from a plurality of axially elongated solid ceramic rods 73a, 73a. A typical rod 73a is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
A slotted ceramic air header 74 extends transversely of the secondary oxidation chamber 16 along the rear edge of the second baffle wall 66, as will be hereinafter further discussed. A plurality of wide angle view sight glasses are or may be provided in the walls of the secondary oxidation chamber 16 to permit observation of conditions within the chamber. A safety explosion cap may also be provided for venting gas from the chamber 16 in the event of an excessive pressure build-up with the chamber, however, for clarity of illustration the sight glasses and safety explosion cap are not shown.
lZlQ647 The illustrated feeding apparatus 22 comprises an auger/shredder which includes an auger 74 supported for rotation within a compaction tube 76 and a loading hopper 78 for supplying waste material to the auger. The auger 74 is driven by a variable speed drive motor 80, diagramatically illustrated in Fig. 2.
The ash receiver 20 is disposed generally below the secondary combustion chamber 16 to receive ash and other unburned material from both the primary and the secondary combustion chambers. The ash receiver has in-ner and outer walls and baffles (not shown) disposed between the latter walls which cooperate with thP walls to define a tortuous ash cooling passageway 82 there-between, as shown somewhat schematically in Fig. 2. A
conduit 84 communicates with the cooling passageway 82 and with the secondary combustion chamber 16 for a pur-pose which will be hereinafter further discussed. An air impeller or blower (not shown) may be provided for moving air within the cooling passageway 82 and the conduit 84.
Unburned residue from the ash receiver is deposited con-tinuously on a sha~er hearth or other movement device such as the illustrated conveyor belt 86 which may be of a solid plate-type and which is shrouded against un-controlled air introduction. The conveyor belt 86 carries this ash and inert unburned material away from the base of the secondary oxidation chamber and deposits it in a waiting container (not shown) located below a pair of hopper doors 85.
Preparatory to operating the incineration system 12 the burners 18 and 24 are operated to bring the pri-i23~647 mary and secondary oxidation chambers up to predetermined temperatures. Temperature sensing devices 88 and 90 which comprise part of the control system 33 are disposed within the first and second oxidation chambers 14 and 16 for monitoring temperatures and/or rates of temperature change therein. Solid or semi-solid waste materials and/or sludges are loaded into the hopper 78. Another sensing device 92 which forms part of the control system 33 and which may, for example, comprise a photoelectric cell, is arranged to detect the presence of a predeter-mined quantity of waste material in the hopper 78. When the temperature sensing devices 88 and 90 in the first and second oxidation chambers indicate that the tempera-tures therein have reached predetermined levels and the sensing device 92 associated with the hopper 78 indicates that the waste material therein equals or exceeds a pre-determined quantity, the auger drive motor 80 is auto-matically activated by the controller 34 initiating the feeding cycle.
The incinerator 12 operates most efficiently when the wastes being fe~ into it are uniformly sized and of uniform density. Solid waste materials as found in industrial and municipal waste stream are seldom uni-formly sized and in fact vary widely in their density, size, and BTU content characteristics, for example, low heating value wet materials such as garbage together with relatively dense materials like paper catalog and com-puter run offs are often mixed with high heat value plastics, wooden construction materials, light and com-pressible waste basket trash and a variety of noncombus-iZ~LU647 tibles. The auger/shredder 22 solves these problems.
The rotating auger 74 captures waste material supplied to it by the hopper 78 and forces the material into the compaction tube 76, while breaking, shredding and crushing it, thereby reducing it to somewhat uniform size and density. A fairly dense sausage-like plug of waste material results, which is fed into the primary oxidation chamber 14 while reducing if not substantially wholly eliminating entry of air through the compaction tube 76. Thus, mechanical doors or other sealing devices are not required at the entry end of the incinerator.
The sensing devices hereinbefore described which comprise the control system 33 automatically shutdown the auger/shredder 22 if material within the hopper falls below a predetermined level or if the temperature within either the primary oxidation chamber 14 or the secondary oxidation chamber 16 drops below a predetermined level.
The ignition burner 18, mounted on the stationary wall 49, is slightly offset and directed toward the hearth for efficient waste material ignition and to provide for the effective introduction or additional heat as may be re-quired to sustain combustion. Materials which are self-sustaining during combustion (for example, materials having a BTU value greater than 3000 BTU per pound and with a moisture content less than 30 percent) will not normally require additional heat from an external source after startup.
When the temperature within the primary oxida-tion chamber 14 reaches a predetermined high level the 0 temperature sensing device 88 within the latter chamber 123 ()647 signals shutdown of the burner 18. In like manner theburner 24 responds to the temperature sensor 90 within the secondary oxidation chamber 16 and is shutdown when the temperature within the latter chamber reaches a pre-determined high level. Alternatively, burner operational cycle time may be controlled by one or more integral timers associated with the controller 34. Depending upon the materials being burned, combustion within the primary oxidation chamber 14 can be controlled from a partially pyrolytic condition to an oxidating one.
As previously noted, negative pressure is norm-ally maintained in the primary oxidation chamber by draft induced within the system. However, the butterfly valve 33 may be adjusted to control the flow of air into the primary oxidation chamber from the conduit 53 whereby to aid in maintenance of negative pressure within the pri-mary oxidation chamber. Additional controls may be pro-vided to assure maintenance of the desired negative pressure. Thus, for example, appropriate controls may be provided which respond to a pressure sensing device, such as indicated at 97 in Fig. 2, located within the primary oxidation chamber 14, to control the buttPrfly valve 33, which controls the supply of air to the primary oxidation chamber and/or the induced draft, as may be necessary to maintain the desired negative pressure within the primary chamber.
The angle of drum inclination is adjusted to as-sure proper advance of waste material through the drum 38. The rate of drum rotation, which may be proportion-ally controlled and which determines retention time of waste material within the primary combustion chamber 14, is controlled by the drive motor 46. The drive motor 46 normally rotates the drum 38 in one direction, however, the direction of drum rotation may be reversed, if nec essary, to clear a jam within the primary oxidation chamber. The rotary action of the drum 38 continuously exposes new surfaces of burning waste to the hot hearth and air as the burning waste travels down the incline to-ward the discharge opening 43. This constant agitation and the ability to control retention time within the pri-mary combustion chamber 14 provides for efficient com-bustion. Ash and other noncombustible residue is con veyed to and through the discharge end of the drum 38 by the combined action of drum rotation and incline and fall into the ash receiver 20. The first baffle wall 62 ef-fectively blocks the lower portion of the discharge open-ing 43 and prevents the unburned residue from entering the secondary oxidizing chamber.
The volatile products of combustion leave the primary oxidation chamber 14 through the upper portion of the discharge opening 43 and enter the secondary oxida-tion chamber 16 through a first venturi region defined by the upper portions of the downwardly diverging first and second baffle walls 62 and 66 and indicated by the numeral 67. The controlled partial pyrolisis in the pri-mary oxidation chamber provides uncombusted gases which when combined with air emitted from the burner or burners in the secondary combustion chamber 16, such as the burner 24, assure maintenance of oxidizing temperatures, normally in the 1800 degree F to 2400 degree F range.
~21~6~7 As the volatile gases enter the secondary oxida-tion chamber 16 through the first venturi region 67, the velocity of the moving gas stream, increases. Additional air is or may be added to the gas stream in the first venturi region 67, and for this reason the preheated air from the ash receiver cooling system is introduced into the secondary combustion chamber in the first venturi region 67 through the conduit 84.
Ash and other particulate material entrained in the gas which flows in a path along the second baffle wall 66 tend to impringe upon the fourth baffle wall 72.
Separation of the ash and particulate material from the gas ocurs at the point of impact allowing fallout material to travel downwardly along the inclined fourth baffle wall 70 and into the ash container 20 therebelow.
The velocity of the gases decrease as the gases flow downwardly and away from the first venturi region 67 toward the ash container 20 which results in further fallout of particulate material entrained within the gas stream.
As the hot gases flow upwardly past the forward end of the second baffle wall 66 and in the direction of the third baffle wall 70, air introduced through the slotted ceramic air header 74 mixes with the gases. The slots in the header 74 direct streams of air into the gas flow stream. The arrangement of the second and third baffle walls 66 and 70 and the air header 74 tend to in-duce a vortex in the region below the third baffle wall 70. The swirling gases in this region impinge upon the baffle walls 66 and 70 and associated walls of the sec-12~647 ondary oxidation chamber causing further impact separa-tion~
As the hot gases flow past the lower edge of the third baffle wall 70 and into the upper portion of the secondary oxidation chamber 16, a second vortex is in-duced within the upper portion of the chamber 16 by the particular arrangement of the baffle walls 66 and 70 and the associated walls of the chamber. The spinning action of the gases induced by the shape of the various regions defined by the walls of the secondary oxidation chamber and the baffles positioned therein causes centrifugal separation of particulate matter and assures thorough mixing of air and gases for efficient combustion. This cyclonic and impact separation within the secondary oxi-dizing chamber or afterburner permits achievement of high efficiency, because of the low density and extremely high temperature of the gases within the afterburner. The tortuous path of the gases through the secondary combus-tion chamber increases retention time for further opera-tional efficiency.
In the illustrated system 10 the hot gases fromthe secondary oxidation chamber 16 flow through the duct 61 and the stack 28 and into the heat recovery boiler 26.
The illustrated boiler is a three-pass, horizontal, fire-tube package boiler designed to operate at pressures up to 150 PSI, however, heat exchangers of other kinds may also be used to recover heat from the hot gases generated by the incineration system 10.
In the illustrated system the gases are ducted from the boiler 26 into the baghouse 30. Particles en-12~.(J647 trained in the gas stream enter the lower section of the baghouse and pass through filter tubes (not shown).
Particulate materials are retained on the outer surface of these tubes. Cleaned gases leave the baghouse through associated exhaust duct and flow into the base of the scrubber 30, wherein noxious gases such as chlorine, hy-drogen chloride, and hydrogen sulfide, for example, are removed from the exhaust stream by a gas absorption pro-cess, well known in the art. After the moist gases have passed through a demister section of the scrubber, where final traces of moisture are removed, the dry gases leave the scrubber and are ducted to the exhaust fan 28 and ex-hausted to atmosphere. However, the incinerator unit, hereinbefore described, is expected to produce such high burning efficiency and low particulate carry-over that no baghouse or other particulate filter device will be re-quired for the majority of waste material processed. It is expected that the illustrated incineration unit will meet current federal environmental requirements of .08 grains per dry standard cubic foot of gas correlated to 12 percent CO2 when processing waste materials of classi-fication types 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The rate at which the combustable waste material is fed into the drum 36 and the rate at which the material is advanced through the drum to its discharge end is preferably controlled in response to trends within the system, or more specifically, within the primary and secondary oxidation chambers. Thus, for example, if the temperature within the incinerator 10 is rising the con-trol system will respond to reduce the feed rate of the --1~--~Z~ 47 auger/shredder 22 and/or reduce the rate of rotation thedrum 38. By stopping the drum 38 or reducing its rate of rotation the unburned materials in the drum are quieted so that a layer of ash forms on the material to insulate it against oxygen and heat~ Conversely, if the tempera-ture within the incinerator 12 is declining the sensors 88 and 90 associated within the control system may re-spond by altering the rate of waste feed and/or drum rotation and/or by operating one or both of the burners 18 and 24, as may be necessary to achieve balance within the system. Further control is or may be achieved by the utilization of an oxygen or gas analyzing device, such as indicated at 94 for monitoring the gases leaving the secondary combustion chamber 16. This gas monitoring device may, for example, be arranged to control intro-duction of makup air into either or both combustion chambers, so that additional air will be introduced when an oxygen deficiency is indicated or the air supply re-duced when excess oxygen is present. Further refinement of the control system is achieved by utilization of a computer 96 for analyzing trends/ averaging results, and sequencing equipment operation. The computer 96 may be coordinated with sensor selection, modified by programmed data based upon known characteristics of the material being processed as, for example, its BTU value per pound, density and moisture content. Thus, the incinerator system 12 may be controlled to provide substantially uni-form operational characteristics and high efficiency despite widely varying characteristics of the waste material processed.
64~7 In Fig. 11 there is shown a portion of another incinerator system indicated generally at lOb~ The system lOb is similar in many respects to the system 10, previously described, and each part similar or substan~
tially identical to a part previously described bear the same reference numeral as the corresponding previously described part and a letter "b" suffix and will not be hereinafter further described.
The illustrated system lOb includes an incinera-tor indicated generally at 12b which has a rotary primary oxidation chamber 14b and a stationary vertical secondary oxidation chamber 16b. The incinerator 12b differs from the previously discussed incinerator 12 in ~he construc-tion and arrangement of the wall of the secondary oxida-tion chamber 16 and in the arrangement of the baffle wall 62a located within the latter chamber. Specifically, the secondary chamber 16b has a metal outer shell or exterior wall 98 and and a liner or interior wall 99 made from re-fractory material. A passageway 100 is defined between the exterior wall 98 and the interior wall 99 at the rear of the secondary oxidation chamber housing and communi-cates with an ash cooling passageway 82b and with the secondary oxidation chamber 16b to supply preheated air to the latter oxidation chamber. Another passageway 84b is formed between the exterior wall 98 and the interior wall 99 in at least one of the sidewalls of the secondary oxidation chamber housing and communicates with the ash cooling passageway 82b and the secondary oxidation chamber 16b near the upper part of the discharge opening 0 43b, substantially as shown in Fig. 11.
12~6~
The baffle wall 62b has a lower portion which isgenerally vertically disposed and extends upwardly from a position below the aischarge opening 43b. The baffle wall 62b further includes an upper portion which is join ed to the lower portion at a position below the center of the drum discharge opening 43b and which extends upwardly and in the direction of the discharge opening to a posi-tion above the center of the discharge opening. The first baffle wall and the second baffle wall converge in a direction away from the discharge opening 43b and de-fine a first venturi region 67b therebetween. Air emitted from the passageway 100 enters the gas stream from the first venturi region 67b, substantially as shown in Fig. 11.
BACKGROUND ~F T~E IN~ENTION
This invention relates in general to in-cineration systems and deals more particularly with an improved system of the type which includes a rotary primary oxidation chamber and a secondary oxidation chamber or afterburner which receives gaseous products of combustion from the primary chamber.
Heretofore, incineration systems of the afore-described general type have been provided which are cap-able of burning waste materials including solids, semi-solids, liquids and sludges individually or in combina-tion. However, because of the variable characteristics of the material processed, as, for example, the BTU value per pound, density, moisture content, percentage of inert material and resistance to feeding, such incineration systems have proven most difficult to control. Wide fluctuations in the operational conditions within a system have an adverse effect upon the overall efficiency of the system. Substantial additional heat input from one or more external auxiliary heat sources is often re-quired to maintain uniform operational conditions within such an incineration system to achieve efficient waste incineration while maintaining system emissions within acceptable environmental control standards. Further, maintenance of sufficient retention time in both the pri-mary oxidation chamber and the secondary oxidation chamber of such a system is a major factor in achievement of a high degree of system efficiency.
~ZlU647 It is the general aim of the present invention to provide an improved incineration system of the afore-described general type for disposing of waste materials including solids, semi-solids, liquids, and sludges, which may be toxic or hazardous. A further aim of the invention is to provide an incineration system which may be controlled to maintain substantially uniform opera-tional characteristics and high efficiency, despite the widely varying characteristics of the waste material pro-cessed, and which attains efficient energy recovery whilemeeting or exceeding accepted environmental control standards.
SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention an in-cineration system comprises a rotary drum defining a gen-erally horizontally disposed primary oxidation chamber, and a vertically disposed secondary oxidation chamber, which has an inlet opening in its lower portion and an outlet opening in its upper portion. A discharge opening in one end of the drum communicates with the inlet open-ing in the secondary chamber. Baffle means disposed within the secondary chamber include a first baffle wall, inclined upwardly and in the direction of the discharge opening for blocking flow of gases and other products of combustion from the lower portion of the primary oxida-tion chamber into the secondary oxidation chamber. The baffle means further include a second baffle wall inclin-ed downwardly from a position above the discharge opening and in a direction away from the discharge opening. The 12~(~6~7 baffle walls cooperate with walls of the secondary oxida-tion chamber to define a tortuous flow path for gases of combustion which flow from an upper portion of the pri-mary oxidation chamber into and through the secondary oxidation chamber to the outlet opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an incineration system embodying the present invention.
Fig~ 2 is a somewhat schematic longitudinal sec-tional view through the incinerator shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig~ 2.
Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sec-tional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 2 and shows a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the incinerator as it appears in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary plan view of a typical baffle wall element.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 7 but shows another baffle wall element.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
Fig. ]l is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but shows another incinerator.
~2~Q647 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the drawings, and referring particularly to Fig. 1, an incineration system embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the re-ference numeral 10. The illustrated system 10 generally comprises an incinerator designated generally by the numeral 12, which includes a rotary primary oxidation chamber 14 and a secondary stationary oxidation chamber 16 which receives gaseous products of combustion from the primary oxidation chamber. An ignition burner 18 in-itiates the incineration process and, depending on the nature of the waste material being burned, may supply additional heat to maintain proper temperatures within the primary oxidation chamber 14. An ash receiver 20, located generally below the secondary oxidation chamber 16, receives ash and other unburned material from both the primary and secondary oxidation chambers.
A suitable feeding apparatus is provided for handling the waste material to be processed. The il-lustrated apparatus 10 is particularly adapted to burnsolid and semi-solid waste and/or sludge and has an auger/shredder feeding apparatus, indicated generally at 22, particularly adapted to shred and compact bulky solid waste as it is fed into the incinerator 12. One or more additional burners, such as the burner 24, may be pro-vided to assure maintenance of predetermined temperatures within the secondary oxidation chamber 16, however, where the waste material to be burned has a low to medium BTU
value per pound (1500 BTU dry) the oxidizing process will 0 be self-sustaining. In some circumstances material hav-lZ1~647 ing an even lower BTU value per pound and relatively high moisture contents can be accommodated and maintained in self-sustaining mode.
In the illustrated system lO, hot gases from the secondary oxidation chamber pass into a heat exchanger, such as the illustrated waste heat boiler 26, through a refractory lined stack 28 which has a built-in bypass to allow passage of hot gases directly up the stack under emergency conditions and while shutting down the feeding apparatus. A strategically located exhaust fan 29 in-duces a draft to create negative pressure within the system while returning to the atmosphere environmentally safe gases received from a baghouse 30 and a packed tower scrubber 32, which comprise part of the illustrated system 10. However, it should be understood that an in-cineration system constructed in accordance with the pre-sent invention may not require a baghouse, scrubber or other external particulate removal device. A control system indicated generally at 33, which includes a con-troller 34 and associated instrumentation, is provided for controlling the incineration system 10, as will be hereinafter more fully discussed. Safety interlocks monitor high and low temperatures, waste feed rates, boi-ler water level and pressure, burner operation and pol-lution control apparatus to allow continuous operation with minimal supervision.
Considering now the incinerator 12 in further detail, and referring particularly to Figs. 2-4, the pri-mary oxidation chamber 14 is defined by a cylindrical drum, indicated generally at 36, which is closed at its _5_ ~Zl(~6~7 front end and has a discharge opening 43 at its rear end, as best shown in Fig~ 2. The drum 36 has an outer shell 38 formed from sheet metal and lined with refractory material. The illustrated refractory material include~
arched firebricks 40, 40 which cooperate with the outer shell to define a plurality of individual passageways 42, 42 between the refractory lining and the outer shell, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Each passageway 42 communi-cates with an associated opening 39 in the outer shell 38 near the rear end of the shell and with another as-sociated opening 45 in front end of the outer shell 38, as best shown in Fig. 5. The passageways 42, 42 extend substantially throughout the length of the drum in gener-ally parallel relation to the axis of rotation of the drum, the latter axis heing indicated by the numeral 41 in Fig. 2.
The drum 38 is supported for axial rotation by a plurality of rollers 44, 44 journalled on a supporting frame structure and engaged with annular bands which sur-round the outer periphery of the drum shell 38, as shownin Fig~ 1. The drum 36 is preferably supported with its axis of rotation 41 downwardly inclined from the horizon-tal and in the direction of its open or discharge end.
The rollers 44, 44 at opposite sides of the drum are ad-justable generally toward and away from each other to permit variation of the angle of inclination of the drum axis 410 A reversible, variable speed drive motor 46, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2, is provided for ro-tating the drum 36 about its axis of rotation, as will be hereinafter further discussed. The primary oxidizing lZl(~64~
chamber or drum 36 is preferably enclosed within a pri-mary air shroud assembly 47, which includes a front wall 49 and which has a feeder door assembly 51. An annular seal 35 is provided between the front end of the drum 38 and the shroud 47, as best shown in Fig. 5. Air inlet holes, such as the one indicated at 37 in Fig. 5, are or may be provided in the shroud 47 near the discharge end of the drum 36 to admit makeup air into the primary oxi-dation chamber 14, however, the illustrated incinerator 12 has an air inlet conduit 53 in its shroud near its front end. A blower 29 is or may be provided to deliver air to the conduit 53, as shown in Fig. 5. An adjustable damper or butterfly valve 33 in the conduit 53 may be manually or automatically adjusted to control air flow into the primary combustion chamber 14 through the shroud 47. Air flows into the space between the shroud and the drum, through the openings 39, 39 in the drum shell 38, through the passageways 42, 42 and out through the open-ings 45, 45 at the front end of the drum shell cooling the shroud and drum. The resulting preheated air enters the drum through an opening in its front or infeed end, being drawn into the unit by negative pressure induced by the fan 29.
The secondary oxidation chamber 16 is generally vertically disposed and has a substantially rectangular cross section, as best shown in Fig. 4. It has an outer metal shell, and a liner, preferably formed from retrac-tory material, and includes a rear wall 48, a front wall 50, side walls 52 and 54, and a top wall 56. A circular 0 inlet opening 58 is formed in the front wall 50 and re-121()647 ceives an associated portion of the rear or discharge end of the drum 36 therein so that the discharge opening 43 communicates with the secondary oxidation chamber 16. An outlet opening 60 in the side wall 54 at the upper por-tion of the secondary oxidizing chamber 16 is connected to the stack 28 by an associated outlet duct 61.
In accordance with the present invention, the secondary oxidation chamber 16 includes a plurality of baffle walls, shown in Fig. 2, which extend transversely across the secondary chamber between the side walls 52 and 54. The baffle walls cooperate with the walls of the chamber to define a tortuous flow path for gases of com-bustion which flow from the primary oxidation chamber 14 into and through the secondary oxidation chamber 16 to and through the outlet opening 60. More specifically, the secondary oxidizing chamber 16 has a first baffle wall 62 which is inclined upwardly and forwardly from a position below the center of the discharge opening 43 and in the direction thereof. The baffle wall 62 terminates at a position above the center of the discharge opening and serves to block flow of gases, ash, inert materials, particulate and other products of combustion from a lower portion of the primary oxidation chamber 14 into the gas stream entering the secondary oxidation chamber 16. Pre-ferably, and as shown, the first baffle wall 62 is up-wardly inclined to the horizontal at an angle in the range of 65 to 70 degrees, the latter angle being in-dicated by the reference numeral 64 in Fig. 2. A second baffle wall 66 extends from the front wall 50 at a posi-tion above the discharge opening 43 and is inclined down-lZ~)647 wardly and in a direction away from the discharge opening 43. Preferabl~, and as shown, the baffle wall 66 is in-clined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the vertical, the latter angle being indicated by the refer-ence numeral 68 in Fig. 2. It should be noted ihat the first and second baffle walls 62 and 66 diverge in a direction away from the discharge opening 43 to define a first venturi region 67, for a purpose which will be hereinafter further discussed.
The illustrated incinerator 10 further includes a third baffle wall 70 inclined downwardly from the rear wall 48 and toward the second baffle wall 66. The third baffle wall 70 terminates at a generally transverely ex-tending front edge spaced from the second baffle wall 66.
Preferably, and as shown, the third baffle wall 70 is generally normal to the second baffle wall 66. A fourth baffle wall 72, defined by a lower portion of the rear wall 48, is inclined downwardly and in the direction of the discharge opening 43. The second baffle wall 66 is preferably generally normal to the fourth baffle wall 72 and terminates at a rear edge spaced from the fourth baf-fle wall. The baffle wall venturis are sized relative to gas flow to create a distribution of the gases over the full width of the secondary oxidation chamber, thus dis-couraging streaming of gases along paths of least resist-ance. This arrangement encourages full utilization of the secondary combustion chamber, increases residence time for total combustion capability and results in more ~fficient combustion per cubic foot with a small volume chamber.
_g_ ~2~0~47 Preferably, at least one of the baffle walls 62, 68 and 70 comprises an assembly of unitary axially elongated ceramic elements loosely associated in adjacent axially parallel sideby-side relation and extending transversely between the side walls of the secondary oxidation chamber. In the illustrated incinerator 12, each of the baffle walls is made from a plurality of axi-ally elongated ceramic tubes 73, 73, packed with high temperature insulating material 71. The ends of the tubes 73, 73 are supported by courses of refractory material which project inwardly from the side walls 52 and 54 to form supporting shelves for the elongated elements. In Fig. 4 the supporting shelves are indicated at 75, 75. Thus, a baffle wall is readily formed by resting the elements 73, 73 on the shelves 75, 75 and ad-jacent each other. Alternatively, one or more of the baffle walls may be formed from a plurality of axially elongated solid ceramic rods 73a, 73a. A typical rod 73a is shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
A slotted ceramic air header 74 extends transversely of the secondary oxidation chamber 16 along the rear edge of the second baffle wall 66, as will be hereinafter further discussed. A plurality of wide angle view sight glasses are or may be provided in the walls of the secondary oxidation chamber 16 to permit observation of conditions within the chamber. A safety explosion cap may also be provided for venting gas from the chamber 16 in the event of an excessive pressure build-up with the chamber, however, for clarity of illustration the sight glasses and safety explosion cap are not shown.
lZlQ647 The illustrated feeding apparatus 22 comprises an auger/shredder which includes an auger 74 supported for rotation within a compaction tube 76 and a loading hopper 78 for supplying waste material to the auger. The auger 74 is driven by a variable speed drive motor 80, diagramatically illustrated in Fig. 2.
The ash receiver 20 is disposed generally below the secondary combustion chamber 16 to receive ash and other unburned material from both the primary and the secondary combustion chambers. The ash receiver has in-ner and outer walls and baffles (not shown) disposed between the latter walls which cooperate with thP walls to define a tortuous ash cooling passageway 82 there-between, as shown somewhat schematically in Fig. 2. A
conduit 84 communicates with the cooling passageway 82 and with the secondary combustion chamber 16 for a pur-pose which will be hereinafter further discussed. An air impeller or blower (not shown) may be provided for moving air within the cooling passageway 82 and the conduit 84.
Unburned residue from the ash receiver is deposited con-tinuously on a sha~er hearth or other movement device such as the illustrated conveyor belt 86 which may be of a solid plate-type and which is shrouded against un-controlled air introduction. The conveyor belt 86 carries this ash and inert unburned material away from the base of the secondary oxidation chamber and deposits it in a waiting container (not shown) located below a pair of hopper doors 85.
Preparatory to operating the incineration system 12 the burners 18 and 24 are operated to bring the pri-i23~647 mary and secondary oxidation chambers up to predetermined temperatures. Temperature sensing devices 88 and 90 which comprise part of the control system 33 are disposed within the first and second oxidation chambers 14 and 16 for monitoring temperatures and/or rates of temperature change therein. Solid or semi-solid waste materials and/or sludges are loaded into the hopper 78. Another sensing device 92 which forms part of the control system 33 and which may, for example, comprise a photoelectric cell, is arranged to detect the presence of a predeter-mined quantity of waste material in the hopper 78. When the temperature sensing devices 88 and 90 in the first and second oxidation chambers indicate that the tempera-tures therein have reached predetermined levels and the sensing device 92 associated with the hopper 78 indicates that the waste material therein equals or exceeds a pre-determined quantity, the auger drive motor 80 is auto-matically activated by the controller 34 initiating the feeding cycle.
The incinerator 12 operates most efficiently when the wastes being fe~ into it are uniformly sized and of uniform density. Solid waste materials as found in industrial and municipal waste stream are seldom uni-formly sized and in fact vary widely in their density, size, and BTU content characteristics, for example, low heating value wet materials such as garbage together with relatively dense materials like paper catalog and com-puter run offs are often mixed with high heat value plastics, wooden construction materials, light and com-pressible waste basket trash and a variety of noncombus-iZ~LU647 tibles. The auger/shredder 22 solves these problems.
The rotating auger 74 captures waste material supplied to it by the hopper 78 and forces the material into the compaction tube 76, while breaking, shredding and crushing it, thereby reducing it to somewhat uniform size and density. A fairly dense sausage-like plug of waste material results, which is fed into the primary oxidation chamber 14 while reducing if not substantially wholly eliminating entry of air through the compaction tube 76. Thus, mechanical doors or other sealing devices are not required at the entry end of the incinerator.
The sensing devices hereinbefore described which comprise the control system 33 automatically shutdown the auger/shredder 22 if material within the hopper falls below a predetermined level or if the temperature within either the primary oxidation chamber 14 or the secondary oxidation chamber 16 drops below a predetermined level.
The ignition burner 18, mounted on the stationary wall 49, is slightly offset and directed toward the hearth for efficient waste material ignition and to provide for the effective introduction or additional heat as may be re-quired to sustain combustion. Materials which are self-sustaining during combustion (for example, materials having a BTU value greater than 3000 BTU per pound and with a moisture content less than 30 percent) will not normally require additional heat from an external source after startup.
When the temperature within the primary oxida-tion chamber 14 reaches a predetermined high level the 0 temperature sensing device 88 within the latter chamber 123 ()647 signals shutdown of the burner 18. In like manner theburner 24 responds to the temperature sensor 90 within the secondary oxidation chamber 16 and is shutdown when the temperature within the latter chamber reaches a pre-determined high level. Alternatively, burner operational cycle time may be controlled by one or more integral timers associated with the controller 34. Depending upon the materials being burned, combustion within the primary oxidation chamber 14 can be controlled from a partially pyrolytic condition to an oxidating one.
As previously noted, negative pressure is norm-ally maintained in the primary oxidation chamber by draft induced within the system. However, the butterfly valve 33 may be adjusted to control the flow of air into the primary oxidation chamber from the conduit 53 whereby to aid in maintenance of negative pressure within the pri-mary oxidation chamber. Additional controls may be pro-vided to assure maintenance of the desired negative pressure. Thus, for example, appropriate controls may be provided which respond to a pressure sensing device, such as indicated at 97 in Fig. 2, located within the primary oxidation chamber 14, to control the buttPrfly valve 33, which controls the supply of air to the primary oxidation chamber and/or the induced draft, as may be necessary to maintain the desired negative pressure within the primary chamber.
The angle of drum inclination is adjusted to as-sure proper advance of waste material through the drum 38. The rate of drum rotation, which may be proportion-ally controlled and which determines retention time of waste material within the primary combustion chamber 14, is controlled by the drive motor 46. The drive motor 46 normally rotates the drum 38 in one direction, however, the direction of drum rotation may be reversed, if nec essary, to clear a jam within the primary oxidation chamber. The rotary action of the drum 38 continuously exposes new surfaces of burning waste to the hot hearth and air as the burning waste travels down the incline to-ward the discharge opening 43. This constant agitation and the ability to control retention time within the pri-mary combustion chamber 14 provides for efficient com-bustion. Ash and other noncombustible residue is con veyed to and through the discharge end of the drum 38 by the combined action of drum rotation and incline and fall into the ash receiver 20. The first baffle wall 62 ef-fectively blocks the lower portion of the discharge open-ing 43 and prevents the unburned residue from entering the secondary oxidizing chamber.
The volatile products of combustion leave the primary oxidation chamber 14 through the upper portion of the discharge opening 43 and enter the secondary oxida-tion chamber 16 through a first venturi region defined by the upper portions of the downwardly diverging first and second baffle walls 62 and 66 and indicated by the numeral 67. The controlled partial pyrolisis in the pri-mary oxidation chamber provides uncombusted gases which when combined with air emitted from the burner or burners in the secondary combustion chamber 16, such as the burner 24, assure maintenance of oxidizing temperatures, normally in the 1800 degree F to 2400 degree F range.
~21~6~7 As the volatile gases enter the secondary oxida-tion chamber 16 through the first venturi region 67, the velocity of the moving gas stream, increases. Additional air is or may be added to the gas stream in the first venturi region 67, and for this reason the preheated air from the ash receiver cooling system is introduced into the secondary combustion chamber in the first venturi region 67 through the conduit 84.
Ash and other particulate material entrained in the gas which flows in a path along the second baffle wall 66 tend to impringe upon the fourth baffle wall 72.
Separation of the ash and particulate material from the gas ocurs at the point of impact allowing fallout material to travel downwardly along the inclined fourth baffle wall 70 and into the ash container 20 therebelow.
The velocity of the gases decrease as the gases flow downwardly and away from the first venturi region 67 toward the ash container 20 which results in further fallout of particulate material entrained within the gas stream.
As the hot gases flow upwardly past the forward end of the second baffle wall 66 and in the direction of the third baffle wall 70, air introduced through the slotted ceramic air header 74 mixes with the gases. The slots in the header 74 direct streams of air into the gas flow stream. The arrangement of the second and third baffle walls 66 and 70 and the air header 74 tend to in-duce a vortex in the region below the third baffle wall 70. The swirling gases in this region impinge upon the baffle walls 66 and 70 and associated walls of the sec-12~647 ondary oxidation chamber causing further impact separa-tion~
As the hot gases flow past the lower edge of the third baffle wall 70 and into the upper portion of the secondary oxidation chamber 16, a second vortex is in-duced within the upper portion of the chamber 16 by the particular arrangement of the baffle walls 66 and 70 and the associated walls of the chamber. The spinning action of the gases induced by the shape of the various regions defined by the walls of the secondary oxidation chamber and the baffles positioned therein causes centrifugal separation of particulate matter and assures thorough mixing of air and gases for efficient combustion. This cyclonic and impact separation within the secondary oxi-dizing chamber or afterburner permits achievement of high efficiency, because of the low density and extremely high temperature of the gases within the afterburner. The tortuous path of the gases through the secondary combus-tion chamber increases retention time for further opera-tional efficiency.
In the illustrated system 10 the hot gases fromthe secondary oxidation chamber 16 flow through the duct 61 and the stack 28 and into the heat recovery boiler 26.
The illustrated boiler is a three-pass, horizontal, fire-tube package boiler designed to operate at pressures up to 150 PSI, however, heat exchangers of other kinds may also be used to recover heat from the hot gases generated by the incineration system 10.
In the illustrated system the gases are ducted from the boiler 26 into the baghouse 30. Particles en-12~.(J647 trained in the gas stream enter the lower section of the baghouse and pass through filter tubes (not shown).
Particulate materials are retained on the outer surface of these tubes. Cleaned gases leave the baghouse through associated exhaust duct and flow into the base of the scrubber 30, wherein noxious gases such as chlorine, hy-drogen chloride, and hydrogen sulfide, for example, are removed from the exhaust stream by a gas absorption pro-cess, well known in the art. After the moist gases have passed through a demister section of the scrubber, where final traces of moisture are removed, the dry gases leave the scrubber and are ducted to the exhaust fan 28 and ex-hausted to atmosphere. However, the incinerator unit, hereinbefore described, is expected to produce such high burning efficiency and low particulate carry-over that no baghouse or other particulate filter device will be re-quired for the majority of waste material processed. It is expected that the illustrated incineration unit will meet current federal environmental requirements of .08 grains per dry standard cubic foot of gas correlated to 12 percent CO2 when processing waste materials of classi-fication types 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The rate at which the combustable waste material is fed into the drum 36 and the rate at which the material is advanced through the drum to its discharge end is preferably controlled in response to trends within the system, or more specifically, within the primary and secondary oxidation chambers. Thus, for example, if the temperature within the incinerator 10 is rising the con-trol system will respond to reduce the feed rate of the --1~--~Z~ 47 auger/shredder 22 and/or reduce the rate of rotation thedrum 38. By stopping the drum 38 or reducing its rate of rotation the unburned materials in the drum are quieted so that a layer of ash forms on the material to insulate it against oxygen and heat~ Conversely, if the tempera-ture within the incinerator 12 is declining the sensors 88 and 90 associated within the control system may re-spond by altering the rate of waste feed and/or drum rotation and/or by operating one or both of the burners 18 and 24, as may be necessary to achieve balance within the system. Further control is or may be achieved by the utilization of an oxygen or gas analyzing device, such as indicated at 94 for monitoring the gases leaving the secondary combustion chamber 16. This gas monitoring device may, for example, be arranged to control intro-duction of makup air into either or both combustion chambers, so that additional air will be introduced when an oxygen deficiency is indicated or the air supply re-duced when excess oxygen is present. Further refinement of the control system is achieved by utilization of a computer 96 for analyzing trends/ averaging results, and sequencing equipment operation. The computer 96 may be coordinated with sensor selection, modified by programmed data based upon known characteristics of the material being processed as, for example, its BTU value per pound, density and moisture content. Thus, the incinerator system 12 may be controlled to provide substantially uni-form operational characteristics and high efficiency despite widely varying characteristics of the waste material processed.
64~7 In Fig. 11 there is shown a portion of another incinerator system indicated generally at lOb~ The system lOb is similar in many respects to the system 10, previously described, and each part similar or substan~
tially identical to a part previously described bear the same reference numeral as the corresponding previously described part and a letter "b" suffix and will not be hereinafter further described.
The illustrated system lOb includes an incinera-tor indicated generally at 12b which has a rotary primary oxidation chamber 14b and a stationary vertical secondary oxidation chamber 16b. The incinerator 12b differs from the previously discussed incinerator 12 in ~he construc-tion and arrangement of the wall of the secondary oxida-tion chamber 16 and in the arrangement of the baffle wall 62a located within the latter chamber. Specifically, the secondary chamber 16b has a metal outer shell or exterior wall 98 and and a liner or interior wall 99 made from re-fractory material. A passageway 100 is defined between the exterior wall 98 and the interior wall 99 at the rear of the secondary oxidation chamber housing and communi-cates with an ash cooling passageway 82b and with the secondary oxidation chamber 16b to supply preheated air to the latter oxidation chamber. Another passageway 84b is formed between the exterior wall 98 and the interior wall 99 in at least one of the sidewalls of the secondary oxidation chamber housing and communicates with the ash cooling passageway 82b and the secondary oxidation chamber 16b near the upper part of the discharge opening 0 43b, substantially as shown in Fig. 11.
12~6~
The baffle wall 62b has a lower portion which isgenerally vertically disposed and extends upwardly from a position below the aischarge opening 43b. The baffle wall 62b further includes an upper portion which is join ed to the lower portion at a position below the center of the drum discharge opening 43b and which extends upwardly and in the direction of the discharge opening to a posi-tion above the center of the discharge opening. The first baffle wall and the second baffle wall converge in a direction away from the discharge opening 43b and de-fine a first venturi region 67b therebetween. Air emitted from the passageway 100 enters the gas stream from the first venturi region 67b, substantially as shown in Fig. 11.
Claims (4)
1. An incineration system for burning refuse, trash and industrial wastes and comprising an incinerator unit including a rotary drum having a discharge opening at one end and defining a generally horizontally extend-ing primary oxidation chamber, means defining a generally vertically extending secondary oxidation chamber and having an outlet opening in its upper portion and an in-let opening in its lower portion, said discharge opening communicating with said inlet opening, and baffle means disposed within said secondary oxidation chamber for blocking flow of gases and other products of combustion from a lower portion of said primary oxidation into said secondary oxidation chamber and cooperating with each other and with the walls of said secondary oxidation chamber to define a tortuous flow path for gases of com-bustion flowing from said primary oxidation chamber through said discharge opening and said inlet opening into and through said secondary oxidation chamber to said outlet opening, means for continuously sizing, compacting and feeding refuse, trash and industrial wastes into said primary oxidation chamber including an auger shredder having a compaction tube disposed in sealed relation to the inlet end of said primary oxidation chamber, a rotary shredding and compacting auger supported to rotate within said auger shredder, a shear plate, a gravity fed hopper for continuously supplying refuse, trash and industrial wastes to said compaction tube, and auger drive means for rotating said auger.
2. An incineration system as set forth in claim 1 including control means responsive to at least one condition within at least one of the chambers in-cluding said first and second oxidation chambers for controlling said auger drive means to regulate the rate of operation of said sizing, compacting and feeding means.
3. An incinerator as set forth in claim 2 wherin said control means includes programmable computer means responsive to programmed data relating to charac-teristics of material being processed in said incinerator for modifying operation of said control means.
4. An incineration system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said primary oxidation chamber comprises a rotary drum having a discharge opening at one end, means for supplying air to said primary oxidation cham-ber, means for regulating the quantity of air delivered by said supply means to said primary oxidation chamber, means defining a secondary oxidation chamber having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said discharge opening communicating with said inlet opening, baffle means disposed within said secondary oxidation chamber for defining a tortuous flow path for gases of combustion flowing from said primary oxidation chamber into and through said secondary oxidation chamber to said outlet opening, drum drive means for rotating said drum, pres sure sensing means disposed within said primary oxidation chamber for detecting the pressure within said primary oxidation chamber and control means responsive to said pressure sensing means to control operation of either and both said drum drive means and said auger drive means to maintain a predetermined pressure condition within said primary oxidation chamber.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000433160A CA1210647A (en) | 1983-07-26 | 1983-07-26 | Incineration system |
| CA000480136A CA1210995A (en) | 1983-07-26 | 1985-04-25 | Incineration system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000433160A CA1210647A (en) | 1983-07-26 | 1983-07-26 | Incineration system |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000480136A Division CA1210995A (en) | 1983-07-26 | 1985-04-25 | Incineration system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1210647A true CA1210647A (en) | 1986-09-02 |
Family
ID=4125744
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000433160A Expired CA1210647A (en) | 1983-07-26 | 1983-07-26 | Incineration system |
| CA000480136A Expired CA1210995A (en) | 1983-07-26 | 1985-04-25 | Incineration system |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000480136A Expired CA1210995A (en) | 1983-07-26 | 1985-04-25 | Incineration system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA1210647A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6055915A (en) * | 1997-04-04 | 2000-05-02 | Bickell; Roy A. | Wood residue disposal system |
-
1983
- 1983-07-26 CA CA000433160A patent/CA1210647A/en not_active Expired
-
1985
- 1985-04-25 CA CA000480136A patent/CA1210995A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1210995A (en) | 1986-09-09 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4395958A (en) | Incineration system | |
| US4398477A (en) | Method for generation of hot gas by incineration of combustible material and apparatus for generation of hot gas by incineration of combustible material | |
| US5405537A (en) | Process for combusting dewatered sludge waste in a municipal solid waste incinerator | |
| US4321877A (en) | Gasification furnace | |
| KR100823747B1 (en) | Method and device for combustion of solid fuel, especially solid waste | |
| CA2081956C (en) | Apparatus for reburning ash material of a previously burned primary fuel | |
| JPH0363408A (en) | Method of burning exhaust smoke | |
| US4757771A (en) | Method and apparatus for stable combustion in a fluidized bed incinerator | |
| US5054405A (en) | High temperature turbulent gasification unit and method | |
| EP0081698B1 (en) | Volume reduction of low-level radiation waste by incineration | |
| US4424755A (en) | Incineration system having cyclonic oxidation chamber | |
| US4280417A (en) | Incineration plant | |
| CA1172911A (en) | Refuse burning process and apparatus | |
| US3645218A (en) | Solid waste incinerator | |
| US5735224A (en) | Thermal dechlorinating apparatus and method for collected ash | |
| US4336131A (en) | Gasification furnace with discharge hopper | |
| CA1210647A (en) | Incineration system | |
| JPS6119307Y2 (en) | ||
| US3905312A (en) | Process and apparatus for incinerating waste materials | |
| US4399756A (en) | Refuse burning process | |
| EP0598525B1 (en) | Combustion method and apparatus | |
| US4400154A (en) | Refuse burning apparatus | |
| WO2006045179A1 (en) | Biomass conversion by combustion | |
| US3935824A (en) | Method and means of combustion | |
| US3777679A (en) | Incinerating process |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |