US3771469A

US3771469A - Incinerator

Info

Publication number: US3771469A
Application number: US00279197A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ali S Aejaz; R Shields
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1972-08-09
Filing date: 1972-08-09
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13
Also published as: JPS4987153A; DE2339836A1; GB1432183A

Abstract

An incinerator for burning waste material including a horizontally extending combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall through which a mixture of waste material and air is fed under pressure tangentially directed to said side wall for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material towards one of the end walls. The chamber includes an exhaust flue near one end wall substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of the chamber to exhaust combustion gases. The waste material is ignited during its vortical movement through the combustion chamber by a combustion burner having a nozzle directed into the combustion chamber and which is provided with an enclosure annularly spaced thereabout forming a surrounding space for the passage of cooling gas in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

Description

United States Patent Ali et al. Nov. 13, 1973 INCINERATOR Primary Examinerl(enneth W. Sprague 751 inventors: Syed Aejaz Ali, Shelbyville; Simkins both of Ind.

[73 Assignee: General Electric Company, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 279,197

[52] US. Cl 110/8 R, 110/8 C, 110/28 F [51] Int. Cl. F23g 5/12 [58] Field of Search 110/8 R, 8 C, 18 R, 110/18 C, 7 R, 28 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,396,881 8/1968 Hubbard 110/28 X 3,482,533 12/1969 Ankersen llO/8 3,489,108 l/1970 Garrer et al. 110/7 3,631,823 l/1972 Scogin 110/8 3,658,017 4/1972 Dibelius et al 110/8 I I a I I 1 4 l8 Robert Loren Shields, Rushville,

hill

[57] ABSTRACT An incinerator for burning waste material including a horizontally extending combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall through which a mixture of waste material and air is fed under pressure tangentially directed to said side wall for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material towards one of the end walls. The chamber includes an exhaust flue near one end wall substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of the chamber to exhaust combustion gases. The waste material is ignited during its vertical movement through'the combustion chamber by a combustion burner having a nozzle directed into the combustion chamber and which is provided with an enclosure annularly spaced thereabout forming a surrounding space for the passage of cooling gas in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEUuuv 131915 3,771,469

SHEET 10F 2 PATENTED NOV 1 3 I975 SHEEI 2 OF 2 INCINERATOR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This invention relates to incinerator apparatus of the type disclosed in copending US. applications for patent Ser. No. 159,251, filed July 2, 1971 by Robert J. Hasselbring and Robert L. Shields; Ser. No. 218,926, filed Jan. 19, 1972 by Syed A. All and Robert L. Shields; and Ser. No. 219,041, filed Jan. 19, 1972 by Robert L. Shields; and in US. Pat. No. 3,577,940 issued May 1 l, 1971 to Robert J. Hasselbring and Robert L. Shields; and US. Pat. No. 3,658,017 issued Apr. 25, 1972 to Norman R. Dibelius and William L. Zabriskie, all assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field Of The Invention This invention relates to incinerators and has particular relation to municipal and industrial type incinerators for burning waste material.

2. Description Of The Prior Art Conventional municipal and industrial type incinerators ordinarily include one or more combustion chambers having drying grates with a flue for discharging to atmosphere the gaseous products of combustion of waste material in the chamber. Depending upon the efficiency of a particular incinerator design, varying amounts of noxious gases and ash are discharged through the flue to atmosphere. The above-mentioned earlier incinerator designs in general have been incapable of effecting efficient combustion of waste material with the consequwnce that the products of the resulting incomplete combustion consist of large quantities of noxious gases and ash which are discharged to the surrounding atmosphere in the form of dense acrid smoke and falling ash.

In an effort to comply with regulatory air pollution codes, more recent incinerator designs have provided for cleaning the gaseous products of combustion prior to their discharge to atmosphere. Such flue gas cleaning apparatus is usually of costly and bulky construction and in some cases has not operated to clean the flue gases sufficiently to comply with regulatory codes. One known flue gas cleaning apparatus includes means for conducting the gaseous products of combustion through water sprays so that the suspended ashes and other particulate matter are entrained in the water which is then collected and conveyed to a suitable clarification system. This type of flue gas cleaning apparatus is expensive and complex and contributes not only to the high cost and massive structure of prior art incinerators, but also to water pollution. Further, the very high temperatures within the chamber necessary to effect good combustion result in very hot flue gases which may result in inefficient operation of the flue gas cleaning apparatus and resulting undesirable pollution of the surrounding atmosphere. The provision of flue gas cleaning apparatus thus imposes a limitation upon the temperature within the combustion chamber which contributes to the poor combustion realized by certain prior art designs. Still further, some apparatus designs foster slagging conditions whereby the forming slag adversely affects burning efficiency of the apparatus and causes chamber cleaning problems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a novel and improved incinerator capable of effecting substantially complete combustion of waste material and wherein essentially solid-free flue gases are discharged to atmosphere to minimize air and water pollution.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel and improved incinerator of such character which avoids the use of costly and complex flue gas cleaning apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel and improved vortex incinerator wherein cooling means is provided for the combustion burner ignition means.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel and improved vortex incinerator of the foregoing character wherein the cooling means applies cooling gas in a particularly effective manner over the surface of the combustion burner nozzle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In carrying out the invention in one preferred form, an incinerator is provided which includes a combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between the end walls. The chamber is preferably generally cylindrical in configuration and is disposed in operative position with the central longitudinal axis extending horizontally or substantially horizontally. Inlet means are provided for introducing waste material and primary combustion air into the chamber for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material toward one of the end walls, and exhaust flue means are provided for expelling gaseous combustion products from the chamber.

Means for preheating the combustion chamber to ignition condition prior to injection of the waste material and/or, if thereafter needed, to ignite the waste material during its vortical movement through the chamber comprising one or more combustion burners firing into the chamber is provided with a burner nozzle extending substantially through the chamber wall and positioned to direct the burner flame jet substantially tangentially to the chamber side wall. The positioning of the burner nozzle to attain this tangentially directed flame jet as it passes substantially through the annular combustion chamber side wall, necessitates a relatively long burner nozzle tube to reach the chamber interior, and the long tube for such a nozzle is more susceptible to overheating which produces distortions and erosion in this structure. The burner nozzle in this invention is provided with an enclosure annularly spaced thereabout forming an intermediate space surrounding the nozzle for the passage of cooling gas over the surface of the nozzle, and may further be provided with means for directing the path of flow of the cooling gas, preferably in a swirling pattern. The cooling system prevents overheating and as a result thereof avoids distortion and/or erosion of the nozzle unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the incinerator;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a partial view in the section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. I and enlarged to illustrate certain details of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIGS. I and 2, an incinerator embodying the invention and comprising in general, inlet means for feeding the waste material and primary air into a combustion chamber for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material, means for igniting the waste material during its vortical movement, and exhaust means for venting gaseous products of combustion. Preferably the incinerator also includes means for adding secondary air to the combustion chamber and discharge means for discharging non -combustible material from the combustion chamber provided with a separator for separating the gases and solid materials discharged by the discharge means, as shown in the above identified related applications and issued patents.

The incinerator of the present invention is particularly suited for disposing of solid industrial and municipal waste material such as, for example, paper, peanut hulls, carboard cartons, wood scrap, garbage, foliage, bottles, cans, and combustible floor sweepings. However, the incinerator is also capable of disposing of liquid waste material such as oils, paint sludges, and plating tank residue.

Solids should be reduced in size by chopping or shredding in a'suitable size reduction unit to pieces small enough to be efficiently conveyed to and burned in the combustion chamber. If the waste material to be disposed of is already of an acceptable size, such as sawdust, the size reduction is not required.

The combustion chamber of the incinerator unit may be of any suitable configuration and is preferably cylindrical including a pair of spaced end walls 12and 34 connected by an annular side wall 16. The chamber 10 is preferably disposed when in operative position so that its central longitudinal axis which extends between the end walls 12 and I4 is horizontal or substantially horizontal as shown in FIG. 1. In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated, the annular side wall 16 of the chamber comprises an outer casing 18 (FIG. 2) formed of a suitable material such as low carbon steel and the casing is lined with a refractory material 20 such as one or more layers of fire brick. The

end walls

12 and 14 of chamber 10 may be similarly lined with a refractory such as fire brick.

In the embodiment illustrated, the waste material inlet conduit 22 enters the combustion chamber 10 tangentially of the annular side wall 16 at a location preferably near the top of the chamber 110 and adjacent the end wall 12.

Continuous feeding of a mixture of waste material and air under pressure into the combustion chamber 10 from the inlet conduit 22 tangentially to the annular side wall 16 of the chamber establishes a vortical movement of the waste material which travels from adjacent the end wall 12 toward the end wall 14 in a clockwise, swirling direction as viewed from the end wall 12 in FIG. 1. It is understood, of course, that the inlet conduit 22 may be disposed to enter the combustion chamber 10 at the upper right hand side thereof instead of at the upper left hand side, in which event the direction of the vortex would be reversed from the clockwise swirling direction illustrated in a counterclockwise swirling direction.

To exhaust gaseous products of combustion from the combustion chamber 10 to the atmosphere, a flue 24 having an open end opening into the combustion chamber 10 in the region of the end wall 14 and substantially concentric with the central longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber 10 is provided to connect the combustion chamber to an exhaust stack 26 opening to the atmosphere.

As indicated hereinbefore, it is preferred that the combustion chamber 10 also be provided with both outlet means for discharging non-combustible materials from the combustion chamber 10 during the burning process and means for introducing controlled quantities of high-velocity secondary air into the combustion chamber 10 during the burning process to enhance combustion of the waste material and to maintain the energy of its vortical flow in a predetermined and controlled manner through the entire length of the combustion chamber. These preferred features and others are all shown in detain in the related applications and- /or patents identified hereinabove.

To ignite the waste material entering the combustion chamber 10, a fluid fueled combustion burner 28, such as one operated with gas or oil fuel, is disposed near end wall 12 of the combustion chamber 10, directed to fire the flame jet into the combustion chamber tangentially to its annular side wall 16 and directly into the path of waste material and air entering the chamber through the inlet 22. Combustion burner 28 may be of any suitable design comprising a fuel supply pipe 30 from a source (not shown) and having a source of combustion oxygen such as an air supply pipe 32 which may be supplied by any convenient means such as the air supply fans preferably associated with the incinerator unit to provide primary or secondary air to the system, or independent means. The combustion burner 28 is provided with an elongated nozzle section 34 to direct the flame jet and guide it through the combustion chamber wall and into the chamber.

The combustion burner 28 may be a commercially available unit, such as a MAXON burner, for example an EB-3, EB-4, or EB-S, depending upon the size and capacity desired.

In addition to the combustion burner ignition means being positioned to fire its flame jet substantially tangentially to the annular inner side wall of the combustion chamber, it is preferred that the combustion burner 28 be so arranged for the nozzle 34 to direct the flame jet to fire generally downwardly and tangentially to the annular side wall, substantially as shown in FIG. 2. It is further desirable to have the preferred substantially vertically directed burner located in a region in the direct path of the waste material and air emanating from the inlet feed conduit. An optimum arrangement is for the burner unit to fire in a generally downward direction in the same transverse plane of the cylindrical combustion chamber as the inlet conduit 22, and also to be positioned in an offset relation to the vertical axis of the chamber and approximately within the same quadrant of the annular side wall of the cylindrical combustion chamber as the inlet conduit 22 generally as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

In accordance with this invention the burner nozzle 34, which guides and confines the flame jet through the combustion chamber wall 16, and of necessity is of extended length because of its angle of entry, is provided with an enclosure annularly spaced thereabout which may comprise an outer sleeve or conduit 36 ofa diameter larger than the diameter of the burner nozzle 34 positioned substantially concentrically around said burner nozzle 34, forming an intermediate space 38 about the burner nozzle for the passage of cooling gas over the exterior surface of the burner nozzle 34. The sleeve 36 extends from the region of the inner wall surface, through the chamber wall and to a region externally of the chamber and beyond which cooling is not required.

Preferably the cooling gas, which can comprise ambient air or any fluid of effective cooling temperatures, is fed into the enclosure and surrounding space 38 formed thereby through an annular plenum chamber 40 which surrounds the burner nozzle 34, in the abovementioned region beyond which cooling is not required to control the apportionment and/or flow path of the cooling gas fed into surrounding space 38 for more uniform distribution and/or to determine the direction for the passage of cooling gas over the surface of the burner nozzle and to thereby attain maximum cooling effects as well as flexibility. Cooling gas is dispersed from the distributing annular plenum chamber 40 into the enclosure and surrounding space 38 through an annular slot or port 42 in the base of the plenum chamber and shown in FIG. 4, or through a plurality of smaller slots or ports 42 shown in FIG. 3.

A highly preferred embodiment of this invention for extended and optimum cooling effects for many burner and combustion chamber constructions and service, comprises one or more means to induce a swirling or helical motion and flow path to the cooling gas for its passage through the surrounding space 38 intermediate nozzle 34 and the enclosing sleeve 36 and thus a more prolonged and uniform flow pattern over substantially the entire surface area of the burner nozzle 34.

This advantageous swirling motion in the passage of the cooling gas can be induced by any one or combination of several means. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the pipe 44 supplying ambient air or other cooling gas under pressure from an available source such as a compressor, can be disposed to join the annular plenum chamber 40 tangentially or in an offset location whereby the gas will enter the annular chamber in a direction of flow tangentially to its outer wall which imposes a swirling path and motion to the entering cooling gas that is retained as the cooling gas passes through annular slot 42 down into the enclosure and surrounding space 38 and continued in its passage therethrough as it flows over the surface of the burner nozzle.

Another means of inducing the swirling motion or flow path to the cooling gas for its passage through the surrounding space 38 about the burner nozzle 34 is provided by a plurality of fluid directing or guiding vanes or baffles 46 within the intermediate surrounding space 38, as shown in FIG. 5. The arrangement and/or direction of the baffles 46 will impose or accenuate a swirling motion to the cooling gas as it passes through the inter-mediate surrounding space 38. The cooling effect of the cooling gas can be further augmented by cating and physically attaching the fluid directing vanes or baffles 46 on the burner nozzle 34 as shown in FIG. 5 whereby they can additionally function as cooling fins by conducting heat away from the hot burner nozzle and provide extended surface area for contact with the cooling gas for dissipation and/or exchange of heat with the cooling gas flowing thereover. For example, a portion of the entire length of burner nozzle 34 can be covered with cooling vanes and/or baffles 46 as shown in FIG. 5.

The improved incineration construction of this invention as described overcomes overheating of the burner nozzle, and distortion or erosion of the burner nozzle resulting therefrom, thereby permitting operation of the incinerator at the higher temperature levels which afford optimum effectiveness without incurring damage or accelerated deterioration to the apparatus and also extended service life with a minimum of down time for repairs or replacement.

Under some operating conditions wherein a mixture of shredded waste material and primary air is continuously fed into the combustion chamber, but depending somewhat upon the nature and moisture content of the waste material, the burner can be turned off upon heating the combustion chamber to an effective ignition and burning temperature whereupon the continuously fed waste material and air thereafter sustain combustion. Apt operating temperatures for consuming common municipal waste material in the combustion chamber comprise typically between about 1,200F and 2,200F. Thus, a typical operating procedure would be to tire the ignition combustion burner 28 alone for a period sufficient to preheat the combustion chamber to its intended operating temperature of, for example, about 1,600F. whereupon the feeding of the shredded waste material and air under pressure into the combustion chamber is initiated and combustion thereof is incited by the high temperature of the chamber. Thereafter the combustion of the waste material and air may be self-sustaining without the need for added impetus provided by a separate source of fuel or flame, but again depending upon the nature or heat content of the waste fuel and its moisture content. However, if or when needed to maintain or regulate combustion because of the nature of the waste material, or for what ever reason, the burner can simply be continuously operated to maintain combustion or reactivated intermittently to return the incinerating operation to effective combustion temperatures. In some cases, such as burning sewage sludge, which normally has a relatively high moisture content, it may be feasible or even necessary to continuously fire the ignition burner. Also, the cooling gas arrangement can be operated to cool the burner structure whether or not the burner is firing and thus is adopted for protecting it against damage also when the waste and air combustion is self-sustaining.

By means of this invention, a very efficient incinerator is provided characterized by the exhaust of gases to the atmosphere which are substantially free of particulate matter so as to minimize air and water pollution. In addition, the combustible material is discharged from the combustion chamber during the burning pro cess by the action of the vortex so as to avoid the provision of costly and complex material-handling apparatus for conveying such materials away from the combustion chamber. Further, the provision of costly anc complex flue gas cleaning apparatus is avoided by the invention which allows operation of the incinerator at temperatures which are higher than those which would be allowable in the event flue gas cleaning apparatus were utilized. Moreover, the incinerator effects substantially complete combustion of combustible waste material resulting in an extremely high percentage reduction in the original volume of waste material.

A typical design of the incinerator of the present invention includes a combustion chamber having an internal length of 8 feet and an inner diameter of 4 A feet. An incinerator of such design presently appears capable of disposing of solid waste having up to a 20 percent moisture content and normally 10 percent ash content with a heat value of 5,000 BTUs per pound at a rate of 3,000 pounds per hour to effect close to 98 percent destruction of combustible material. It presently appears that such an incinerator design emits particulate matter to the atmosphere of not more than 0.2 grains per standard dry cubic foot of flue gas. The foregoing results seem to be obtainable with chamber temperatures between 1,200F and 2,200F.

In the practice of this invention it should be appreciated that any one or combination of the various means of cooling disclosed hereinbefore can be utilized.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible and it is desirable to cover all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An incinerator for burning waste material comprising in combination:

a. a combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls;

b. inlet means for introducing waste material and air into said chamber in a manner effective for providing a vortical movement of said waste material toward one of said end walls;

0. an exhaust flue having an open end opening into said combustion chamber near one end wall; and

d. means for igniting said waste material during its vortical movement comprising a burner having a nozzle directed into the combustion chamber, said burner nozzle being provided with an enclosure annularly spaced thereabout whereby cooling gas can be passed over the surface of the burner nozzle.

2. The incinerator of claim ll, further comprising means for effecting movement of the cooling gas in a swirling path over the surface of the burner'nozzle.

3. The incinerator of claim 1, wherein the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle comprises a sleeve of a diameter larger than that of the said burner nozzle and which is positioned substantially concentrically around the said burner nozzle, thereby providing an intermediate space surrounding the burner nozzle for the passage of cooling gas therethrough and over the surface of the burner nozzle.

4. The incinerator of claim 3, wherein the burner nozzle is directed to fire substantially tangentially to the said side wall of the combustion chamber.

5. The incinerator of claim 4, wherein an annular plenum chamber surrounds the burner nozzle and communicates through at least one port with the said sleeve comprising the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle to feed cooling gas for passage through the surrounding space about the burner nozzle and over the surface of the nozzle.

6. The incinerator of claim 5, wherein the annular plenum chamber is connected with a source of cooling gas whereby said cooling gas is provided to said annular plenum chamber and in turn is fed into the said sleeve comprising the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle for passage through the surrounding space about the burner nozzle and over the surface of the nozzle.

7. The incinerator of claim 6, wherein the connection of the source of cooling gas to the annular plenum chamber enters said annular plenum chamber tangentially to thereby induce a swirling motion to the cooling gas entering said chamber whereby the cooling gas fed to the sleeve comprising the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle and passing through the surrounding space thereabout moves in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

8. The incinerator of claim 1, wherein at least one fluid directing baffle is provided in the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle whereby cooling gas passing through said enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle is directed in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

9. The incinerator of claim 8, wherein the said baffle is attached to the combustion burner 'nozzle whereby the baffle functions as a cooling fin conducting heat away from the burner nozzle and dissipating the heat in the cooling gas passing through the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle.

10. The incinerator of claim 1, wherein at least one cooling fin is provided on the combustion burner nozzle projecting into the enclosure annularly spaced about the said combustion burner nozzle whereby said cooling fin conducts heat away from the burner nozzle and dissipates the heat in the cooling gas passing through the said enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle.

11. An incinerator for burning waste material comprising in combination:

a. a generally cylindrical combustion chamber having spaced end walls and an annular side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls, said chamber being disposed such that its central axis extends substantially horizontally;

b. inlet means for introducing a mixture of waste material and air under pressure into said chamber tangentially to said side wall in a manner effective for establishing a vortical movement of said waste material toward one of said end walls;

0. an exhaust flue adjacent the other end wall of said combustion chamber positioned substantially concentric with the chambers longitudinal axis and having an open end opening into said combustion chamber; and

d. combustion means for heating the combustion chamber and igniting said waste material during its vortical movement, comprising a burner having connections to a source of fluid fuel and to a source of air and having a substantially vertically positioned nozzle directed to fire downwardly into the combustion chamber substantially tangentially to its annular side wall, said burner nozzle having a surrounding annular plenum chamber connected with a source of cooling gas and an enclosure'annularly spaced about the said burner nozzle comprising a sleeve of larger diameter positioned substantially concentrically thereabout and thereby providing a surrounding space about the burner nozzle with the said annular plenum chamber communieating with the said enclosure-through at least one port whereby cooling gas from a source thereof can be fed from the said annular plenum chamber into said enclosure for passage through the surrounding space about the burner nozzle in a downward path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

12. The incinerator of claim 11 wherein the annular plenum chamber is connected with a source of cooling gas and the connection with the said source of cooling gas enters the annular plenum chamber tangentially to thereby induce a swirling motion to the cooling gas entering said chamber whereby cooling gas fed to the sleeve comprising the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle and passing through the surrounding space thereabout moves in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

13. The incinerator of claim 11 wherein at least one fluid directing baffle is provided in the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle whereby cooling gas passing through said enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle is directed in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

14. The incinerator of claim 13 wherein the said baffle is attached to the combustion chamber burner nozzle whereby the baffle functions as a cooling fin conducting heat away from the burner nozzle and dissipating the heat in the cooling gas passing through the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle.

15. The incinerator of claim 11 wherein the annular plenum chamber is connected with a source of cooling gas the the connection with the said source of cooling gas enters the annular plenum chamber tangentially to thereby induce a swirling motion to the cooling gas entering said chamber, and wherein a plurality of fluid directing baffles are attached to the combustion burner nozzle projecting into the enclosure annularly spaced about the said combustion burner nozzle, whereby a swirling motion is induced to the cooling gas entering the plenum chamber and the cooling gas passing through the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle is directed in a swirling path over the sur face of the burner nozzle while the baffles conduct heat away from the said burner nozzle and dissipates the heat in the cooling gas passing through the said enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle.

Claims

1. An incinerator for burning waste material comprising in combination: a. a combustion chamber having spaced end walls and a side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls; b. inlet means for introducing waste material and air into said chamber in a manner effective for providing a vortical movement of said waste material toward one of said end walls; c. an exhaust flue having an open end opening into said combustion chamber near one end wall; and d. means for igniting said waste material during its vortical movement comprising a burner having a nozzle directed into the combustion chamber, said burner nozzle being provided with an enclosure annularly spaced thereabout whereby cooling gas can be passed over the surface of the burner nozzle.

2. The incinerator of claim 1, further comprising means for effecting movement of the cooling gas in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

9. The incinerator of claim 8, wherein the said baffle is attached to the combustion burner nozzle whereby the baffle functions as a cooling fin conducting heat away from the burner nozzle and dissipating the heat in the cooling gas passing through the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle.

11. An incinerator for burning waste material comprising in combination: a. a generally cylindrical combustion chamber having spaced end walls and an annular side wall with its central longitudinal axis extending between said end walls, said chamber being disposed such that its central axis extends substantially horizontally; b. inlet means for introducing a mixture of waste material and air under pressure into said chamber tangentially to said side wall in a manner effective for establishing a vortical movement of said waste material toward one of said end walls; c. an exhaust flue adjacent the other end wall of said combustion chamber positioned substantially concentric with the chamber''s longitudinal axis and having an open end opening into said combustion chamber; and d. combustion means for heating the combustion chamber and igniting said waste material during its vortical movement, comprising a burner having connections to a source of fluid fuel and to a source of air and having a substantially vertically positioned nozzle directed to fire downwardly into the combustion chamber suBstantially tangentially to its annular side wall, said burner nozzle having a surrounding annular plenum chamber connected with a source of cooling gas and an enclosure annularly spaced about the said burner nozzle comprising a sleeve of larger diameter positioned substantially concentrically thereabout and thereby providing a surrounding space about the burner nozzle with the said annular plenum chamber communicating with the said enclosure through at least one port whereby cooling gas from a source thereof can be fed from the said annular plenum chamber into said enclosure for passage through the surrounding space about the burner nozzle in a downward path over the surface of the burner nozzle.

15. The incinerator of claim 11 wherein the annular plenum chamber is connected with a source of cooling gas the the connection with the said source of cooling gas enters the annular plenum chamber tangentially to thereby induce a swirling motion to the cooling gas entering said chamber, and wherein a plurality of fluid directing baffles are attached to the combustion burner nozzle projecting into the enclosure annularly spaced about the said combustion burner nozzle, whereby a swirling motion is induced to the cooling gas entering the plenum chamber and the cooling gas passing through the enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle is directed in a swirling path over the surface of the burner nozzle while the baffles conduct heat away from the said burner nozzle and dissipates the heat in the cooling gas passing through the said enclosure annularly spaced about the burner nozzle.