US3601069A

US3601069A - Incinerator

Info

Publication number: US3601069A
Application number: US861052A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas P Mancuso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-09-25
Filing date: 1969-09-25
Publication date: 1971-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-24

Abstract

An incinerator having a primary furnace, a combustion chamber and a stack is improved by having a blower force air through nozzles arranged in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber so that blasts of air from the nozzles extend to the central region of the primary furnace and collide in the combustion chamber to produce a turbulent region substantially slowing the passage of gasses through the combustion chamber. Also, a supply of fuel is adjustably mixed with the forced air in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of the fuel to make the air blasts from the nozzles into flame blasts for maintaining desired temperatures in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber. The amount of fuel mixed with the forced air is preferably regulated automatically, and the turbulence form the blasts in the combustion chamber facilitates complete combustion and acts as a fly ash precipitator.

Description

United States Patent Thomas P. Mancuso 130 Ackerman St., Rochester, N.Y. 14609 [2]] Appl. No. 861,052

[22] Filed Sept. 25, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [72] inventor [54] INCINERATOR 8 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

{52] U.S.Cl 110/8 C, 110/119 [51] Int. Cl F23g 5/12 [50] FieldofSearch ll0/7,8, 18, 119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,064,477 6/1913 Hatch l10/8X 1,995,723 3/1935 Van Denburg 110/8 2,869,487 1/1959 Sherman 110/8 3,323,475 6/1967 Melgaard 110/8 Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Att0rney-Cumpston, Shaw & Stephens ABSTRACT: An incinerator having a primary furnace, a combustion chamber and a stack is improved by having a blower force air through nozzles arranged in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber so that blasts of air from the nozzles extend to the central region of the primary furnace and collide in the combustion chamber to produce a turbulent region substantially slowing the passage of gasses through the combustion chamber. Also, a supply of fuel is adjustably mixed with the forced air in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of the fuel to make the air blasts from the nozzles into flame blasts for maintaining desired temperatures in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber. The amount of fuel mixed with the forced air is preferably regulated automatically, and the turbulence form the blasts in the combustion chamber facilitates complete combustion and acts as a fly ash precipitator.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 7710/2125 Bil/1551150 BY f 6 INCINERATOR Tl-IE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Refuse incinerators have normally used a primary furnace for burning and vaporizing the refuse, a combustion chamber for further burning of the vapors from the refuse, an expansion chamber outlet from the combustion chamber, and a stack for discharging the combustion products and providing a draft. Such incinerators have been only partially successful in that refuse was incompletely burned and not substantially reduced, the combustion of vapors from the refuse was incomplete, and the stack discharged dense smoke and fly ash. Various suggestions have been made for improving such incinerators including auxiliary burners, smoke scrubbers, and precipitators, but incinerators still produce obnoxious smoke and odors and do an incomplete job of reducing the refuse.

The invention involves analysis of the inadequacies of previous incinerators and suggests improvements that are simple, effective, and reliable in making such incinerators burn and reduce the refuse fully, subject vapors to complete combustion, and fairly thoroughly remove fly ash from the smoke before discharge from the stack. The invention also aims at increased speed and efficiency of incinerators, greater reduction of refuse and elimination of smoke, odors, etc. from the stack discharge. The invention aims to accomplish these results in a simple and reliable system that is easily operated and maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To accomplish such improvements, nozzles are arranged in the primary furnace of the incinerator, and an air blower forces air through the nozzles into the primary furnace. The nozzles are arranged so substantial blasts of air extend into the central region of the primaryfurnace. Other nozzles are arranged in the combustion chamber between its inlet and outlet, and the blower forces air through these nozzles so that air blasts collide within the combustion chamber to produce a turbulent region extending across the combustion chamber for substantially slowing the passage of gasses through the combustion chamber. Fuel is adjustably mixed with the forced air in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of the fuel so that a fuel-air mixture is delivered to the nozzles of the primary furnace and the combustion chamber as desired. Preferably the fuel-air mixture is automatically regulated to convert the air blasts into flame blasts to maintain desired temperatures in the primary furnace and the combustion chamber.

DRAWINGS The drawing shows a schematic view of an incinerator equipped with the inventive improvements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Incinerator includes a primary furnace 11, a passageway 12 from primary furnace 11 into combustion chamber 13, an outlet passageway 14 leading from combustion chamber 13 and forming an expansion chamber, and a stack 15. Primary furnace 11 has a top opening 16 covered by a door 17 that can be opened for charging primary furnace 11 with refuse dropped from a loading device 18. Furnace 11 also includes a grate 19 for supporting refuse 20, and a door 2] below grate 19 can be opened for removing the ashes of reduced refuse 20.

Refuse 20 is burned and vaporized in primary furnace l1 and the vapors travel through passageway 12 as shown by the solid arrows into combustion chamber 13 where further combustion of the gasses occurs. Passageway 12 forms an inlet to combustion chamber 13, and expansion chamber 14 forms an outlet from combustion chamber 13. A door 22 at the bottom of combustion chamber 13 can be opened for removing ashes accumulating in the bottom of combustion chamber l3.

A water-spray scrubber 13 is arranged in expansion chamber 14 for directing a spray of water 24 across expansion chamber 14 to precipitate fly ash from the gasses passing toward stack 15.

In actual practice of the prior art, incinerators were operated on a batch basis, and refuse was burned for an hour or two and then pulled from furnace 11 and a new charge of refuse was ignited and burned. Incinerator 10 is arranged for continuous operation which is feasible because refuse 20 is reduced substantially and a much smaller volume is ash is removed from furnace 11. An air knife 26 powered by blower 25 directs a high-velocity sheet of air under door 17 so that when door 17 is opened for charging furnace l1, gasses and flames do not escape through top opening 16. Charges of refuse 20 can then be dropped from loader 18 into furnace 11 periodically during its operation, and ashes can be removed periodically through door 21 while furnace ll burns refuse 20 continuously.

A plurality of nozzles 27 are arranged around primary furnace 11 just above the normal level of burning refuse 20. Nozzles 27 are fed forced air from blower 25 through line 28 and shutoff valve 29. Nozzles 27 are arranged so that air blasts from each outlet 27 extend into the central region of furnace 11 and passes over or through the upper layers of refuse 20 to create turbulence in furnace 11 as shown by the broken line arrows. Also, fresh charges of refuse 20 pass through the blasts from nozzles 27 as they are dropped in furnace 1]. The blasts from nozzle 27 are preferably contiguous or impinging in the central region of furnace l1 and are of sufficient velocity to agitate refuse 20 somewhat and enhance its combustion.

A fuel supply 30 containing preferably a gaseous fuel is starting to discharge fuel through valve 31 and controller 32 into line 28 to be mixed with the incinerator, air passing through line 28 to nozzles 27. When fuel is mixed with the forced air in line 28, it converts the blasts from nozzles 27 into flame blasts which facilitate the burning of refuse 20 and maintain a desired temperature in furnace 11. A temperaturesensitive device 33 is arranged in furnace 11 and is connected with controller 32 for adjusting the fuel-air mixture in line 28. Various circumstances change the optimum adjustment, but preferably the fuel-air ratio in line 28 contains at least enough air for complete combustion of the fuel in line 28, In starting up the incinerator flames are blasted from. nozzles 27 to bring the temperature of furnace 11 up to the desired value before it is charged with refuse 20. If refuse 20 is relatively dry and formed of materials that burn well, its combustion will maintain the desired temperature in furnacell, and temperature sensor 33 will signal controller 32 to shut off or reduce the fuel supply to line 28 so that the air blasts from nozzles 27 contain little or no fuel but continue to supply plenty of air and the desired turbulence over refuse 20.

A plurality of nozzles 34 are arranged in combustion chamber 13 between inlet passageway 12 and outlet passageway 14. Nozzles 34 are fed forced air through line 35 from blower 25 for directing blasts of air into combustion chambers 13. A shutoff valve 36 is arranged in line 35.

Nozzles 34 are arranged around combustion chamber l3 so as to direct blasts of air into combustion chamber 13 in such a way that the blasts collide to produce a turbulent region extending across combustion chamber l3. Such turbulence is schematically shown by the broken line arrows, and in the illustrated embodiment, nozzles 34 are arranged opposite each other so that opposing blasts of air meet in the center of combustion chamber 13.

Other arrangements for nozzles 34 are also possible within the spirit of the invention; for example, nozzles 34 can be aimed so that their colliding blasts produce a whirlpool effect in combustion chamber 13. Preferably the turbulence from colliding blasts of air from nozzles 34 is sufficient to extend substantially across combustion chamber 13 and for substantially slowing down the gasses passing through combustion chamber 13. Gasser; and vapors passing through combustion chamber 13 are caught in the turbulent zone between nozzles 34 and mixed violently about. This allows more time for complete Combustion of such vapors and also facilitates combustion by thoroughly mixing the air from nozzles 34 with the gasses to be burned. 5

Another effect of the turbulence produced by the air blasts from nozzles 34 is to deionize fly ash passing through chamber 13. Fly ash from primary furnace 11 is normally substantially ionized, and this makes its recovery more difficult. The turbulence in the region of nozzles 34 tends to deionize the fly ash and draw positive and negative particles together. The result is that much fly ash is precipitated in-charnber 13 for withdrawal through bottom door 22, and the remainder is deionized and more easily scrubbed out of the smoke by scrubber spray 24. Hence, the blasts from nozzles 34 act as turbulence precipitator.

Preferably gaseous fuel from source 30 is fed through valve 37 and controller 38 into line 35 for mixing with the forced air in line 35 and introduction into chamber 13 through nozzles 34. This converts air blasts from nozzles 34 to flame blasts when the fuel ignites in chamber 13. A temperature sensor 39 is arranged in chamber 13 and connected with controller 38 for regulating the amount of fuel mixed with the air stream in line 35. The fuel-air mixture introduced through nozzles 34 preferably has more air than necessary for complete com bustion of the fuel, and controller 38 preferably regulates the fuel introduced in line 35 to keep combustion chamber 13 at a predetermined temperature. When combustion of gasses passing through chamber 13 produces enough heat to maintain the desired temperature in chamber 13, sensor 39 preferably signals controller 38 to shut off the fuel entirely so that only air is blasted from nozzles 34.

Scrubber spray 24 is preferably collected in drain 41 at the bottom of expansion chamber 14 and in reservoir 40. Water from reservoir 40 is preferably recirculated through scrubber 23 by pump 43 drawing water through filter 42. The water in reservoir 40 offers an advantageous supply of heat, and heat exchanger 44 is connected with reservoir 40 for removing heat from the water in reservoir 40. Heat exchanger 40 can be arranged for melting snow removed from streets and sidewalks, and for many other heating purposes. Also, water from reservoir 40 can be used for washing trucks. When the water in reservoir 40 becomes too dirty for desired uses it can be discharged and replaced with fresh water. Also, if the demands on heat exchanger 44 exceed the heat available from reservoir. 40, controller 45 pumps water from reservoir 40 through

lines

46 and 48 and coil 47 arranged in combustion chamber 13 for adding heat to reservoir 40.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, nozzles, control elements, fuel systems, and other details can be readily varied and adapted by those skilled in the art, and persons experienced with incinerators will understand how to adapt the principles of the invention to existing and future incinerators. Many pieces of equipment are presently available for practicing the invention in ways other than the one schematically illustrated.

I claim: 1. In an incinerator having a primary furnace, a combustion chamber, and a stack, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of nozzles arranged in said primary furnace; b. means for forcing air through said nozzles; c. said nozzles being arranged so substantial blasts of said air extend to the central region of said primary furnace; d. a plurality of nozzles arranged in said combustion chamber between the inlet and the outlet of said combustion chamber;

e. means for forcing air through said combustion chamber nozzles; said combustion chamber nozzles being directed into said combustion chamber so that blasts from said nozzles collide to produce a turbulent region extending across said combustion chamber for substantially slowing the passage of gasses through said combustion chambers;

g. means responsive to the temperature of said primary furnace for adjustablymixing a fuel with said air forced through said primary furnace nozzles in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of said fuel; and

h. means responsive to the temperature of said combustion chamber for adjustably mixing a fuel with said air forced through said combustion chamber nozzles in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of said fuel.

2. The incinerator of claim 1 including means for charging said primary furnace with refuse, and said primary furnace nozzles being arranged just above the normal level of said refuse in said primary furnace.

3. The incinerator of claim 2 including an air knife arranged below an opening at the top of said primary furnace to permit charging of said furnace with said refuse while said furnace is operating.

4. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said primary furnace nozzles are arranged opposite one another across said primary furnace.

5. The incinerator of claim 1 wherein said combustion chamber nozzles are arranged opposite each other across said combustion chamber.

6. The incinerator of claim 1 including a water scrubber arranged between said combustion chamber and said stack.

7. The incinerator of claim 6 including a reservoir for collecting water from said scrubber, and a heat exchanger for removing heat from said water.

8. The incinerator of claim 7 including a water passageway between said reservoir and said incinerator arranged for maintaining the temperature of said water in said reservoir at a predetermined value.

Claims

1. In an incinerator having a primary furnace, a combustion chamber, and a stack, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of nozzles arranged in said primary furnace; b. means for forcing air through said nozzles; c. said nozzles being arranged so substantial blasts of said air extend to the central region of said primary furnace; d. a plurality of nozzles arranged in said combustion chamber between the inlet and the outlet of said combustion chamber; e. means for forcing air through said combustion chamber nozzles; f. said combustion chamber nozzles being directed into said combustion chamber so that blasts from said nozzles collide to produce a turbulent region extending across said combustion chamber for substantially slowing the passage of gasses through said combustion chambers; g. means responsive to the temperature of said primary furnace for adjustably mixing a fuel with said air forced through said primary furnace nozzles in proportions up to the optimum fuelair ratio for complete combustion of said fuel; and h. means responsive to the temperature of said combustion chamber for adjustably mixing a fuel with said air forced through said combustion chamber nozzles in proportions up to the optimum fuel-air ratio for complete combustion of said fuel.