US3847095A

US3847095A - Refuse incinerator

Info

Publication number: US3847095A
Application number: US00359326A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Bauer; C Valdenaire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-11
Filing date: 1973-05-11
Publication date: 1974-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-12

Abstract

A refuse incinerator of the type comprising a central rotating drum of generally truncated-conical shape arranged between a fixed charging compartment and a fixed ash-box. The internal enclosure thereof is at least partly polygonal in cross-section defining, with the external truncated-conical casing of the drum, a corresponding number of independent passages designed to carry combustion air into the enclosure. A distributor is provided which makes it possible to inject this combustion air only the lower portion of the enclosure.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Bauer et al.

[451 Nov. 12, 1974 1 REFUSE lNClNERATOR [76] Inventors: Felix Bauer, 87, Rue Moncey, Lyon;

Claude Valdenaire, l 1, Rue des Roses, Villeurbanne, both of France 22 Filed: May 11,1973

21 App1.No.:359,326

[52] US. Cl 110/14, 432/105, 432/118 [51] Int. Cl. F23g 5/06 [58] Field of Search 110/14; 432/105-110, 118

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,238,161 4/1941 Drew et a1. 110/14 3,380,407 4/1968 Nilsson 432/109 X 3,682,117 8/1972 Rousseau 110/14 Primary E.raminerl(enneth W. Sprague Attorney, Agent, or FirmGoudreau, Gages & Associates 57 ABSTRACT A refuse incinerator of the type comprising a central rotating drum of generally truncated-conical shape arranged between a fixed charging compartment and a fixed ash-box. The internal enclosure thereof is at least partly polygonal in cross-section defining, with the external truncated-conical casing of the drum, a corresponding number of independent passages designed to carry combustion air into the enclosure. A'

distributor is provided which makes it possible to inject this combustion air only the lower portion of the enclosure.

16 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Pmmmmv 12 .914 3.847; 095

, SHEET 20F 7 PATENTEDHHY 12 1914 3.847; 095

SHEET Q 0F 7 mmwnuv 12 1914 3:847; 095

sum 6 OF 7 REFUSE INCINERATOR The present invention relates to an incinerator used to destroy refuse, the incinerator being of the type The present invention is concerned with the provi sion of an incinerator in which at least a part of the inside wall of the drum never comes into contact with the refuse, thereby constituting the arch of a normal furnace, and in which the refuse is mixed in a highly effective manner.

An incinerator of this kind may also be used for burning liquid or paste-like products. In this case, the cylindrical part of the enclosure constitutes the hearth while the semi-hexagonal part forms the arch. Under these circumstances, the combustion air must be injected tangentially to the surface of the products to be burned and the air must issue from certain nozzles or injectors only. In order to prevent the injectors not in use from becoming oxidized, it is desirable to retract them into the thickness of the refractory wall of the enclosure.

It is also desirable to be able to control theflow of combustion air issuing from the nozzles or injectors.

In the drawings attached hereto:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an'incinerator according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section thereof;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section along the line III-III in FIG. 2. In this figure, II-II is the plane of the section shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, showing the arrangement of the outlet duct for the burnt gases and the casing forming the inlet for the combustion air;

FIG. 5 shows, to an enlarged scale, the lower part of the rotating joint between the drum and the charging compartment;

FIG. 6 is a section along the line IVIV in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the drum diagrammatically in its two extreme positions; a

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of a variant of the incinerator according to the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views resembling that in FIG. 9, but to a smaller scale and in two other angular positions;

FIG. 12 is a detail, to an enlarged scale, showing a nozzle or injector in the extended position;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to that in FIG. 12, showing the nozzle or injector in the retracted position;

FIGS. 14 to 16 are diagrammatic cross-sections of an injector in different angular positions.

The incinerator illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises essentially a truncated conical body or drum 1, the ends of which are associated respectively with a charging compartment 2 and an ash-box 3. Drum l is fitted with two external peripheral collars 4, 5 resting on rollers 6 in order to allow the drum to rotate. Compartment 2, ashbox 3 and roller units 6 are all stationary and are arranged on a frame 7 consisting of U or I-section beams.

As shown in FIG. 2, drum 1 consists of an external metal casing 8 enclosing a refractory wall 9 of substantial thickness made of concrete appropriately cast into the interior of the casing and preferably surrounded with an insulator 8a. The lower part of this casing is lined with a partition 10 of semi-hexagonal crosssection. It is to be understood that refractory wall 9 follows partly the circular shape of casing 8 and partly the semi-hexagonal shape of partition 10. As may easily be gathered from the drawings, partition 10 and casing 8 from between them three separate passages 11, l2, 13 extending over the entire length of drum 1.

As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, these passages carry the combustion air which passes into the interior 14 of the drum through nozzles 15 passing through refractory wall 9, the nozzles containing longitudinal holes placing each

passage

11, 12, 13 in communication with enclosure 14.

Nozzles 15 are distributed over the entire length of drum 1, but only facing

passages

11, 12, 13, as shown in FIG. 2.

It will be observed that collar 4 runs between two

rollers

16, 17 which rotate about axes located obliquely in relation to frame 7 and are integral with a bracket 18. This locates the drum longitudinally when it is caused to rotate, as will be seen hereinafter.

Charging compartment 2 (FIG. 1) is generally spiral in shape and opens vertically upwards into an aperture 19 into which the refuse to be incinerated is loaded. Compartment 2, which is suitable secured to frame 7, comprises, like drum 1, a sheet-metal casing 20 lined ,with refractory concrete 21. A flue 22 (FIG. 4) runs upwardly from compartment 2 and then horizontally, where it is connected to a standard smoke extractor, not shown. Flue 22 is enclosed in a coaxial casing 23 in which there is a forced circulation of combustion air directed towards enclosure 14 in drum 1. The combustion air circulates in casing 23 in a direction opposite to the direction of extraction of the smoke (arrows F1 and F2 respectively). Casing 23 opens into enclosure 14 through a duct 24 consisting of the central portion of a layer of refractory material associated with the internal surface of an elbow pipe 25. Charging compartment 2 opens into drum 1 to which it is connected by means of a rotary union 26.

The end-wall 27 of ash-box 3 is slightly curved (FIG. 3), substantially vertical, and has an ash-discharge duct 28 running obliquely downwards to the outside. Like drum 1 and compartment 2, the ash-box has a casing 29 lined internally with a layer 30 of refractory concrete. End-wall 27 has an oblique opening 31 pointing towards the bottom of enclosure 14 and containing a gas or fuel burner 32. An inspection door 33 is provided in duct 28, providing the operator with access to the interior thereof, should this become necessary.

Ash-box 33, which is secured appropriately to frame 7, is connected to the relevant end of drum 1 by means of a rotary union 34 of the same type as union 26 mentioned above.

It will be observed that a cylindrical portion of drum 1 enters ash-box 3, the diameter of the drum being identical with that of the outlet of charging compartment 2, a deflector 35 being provided'between the two elements of the incinerator in order to prevent, as far as possible, any refuse from reaching the interior of rotary union 26.

As shown in H0. 5, the union 26 comprises a hollow external sleeve 36 of rectangular cross-section, the interior of which is filled with insulating material for reasons to be explained hereinafter. One end of sleeve 36 is connected to casing 20 of charging compartment 2 by means of sectors 37 (F IG. 1) which are spaced apart in order to provide openings 38, allowing the interior of union 26 to communicate with the outside. These openings are closed by means of covers 39. Like sleeve 36, sectors 37 and covers 39 are insulated to ensure that union 26 is thermally insulated from the outside. Covers 39 are secured to sectors 37 by any appropriate means, for instance by means of bolts, not shown.

Internal surface 360 of sleeve 36 (FIG. is integral with an annular partition 40 arranged at a certain distance from sectors 37 and thus defining an annular compartment 41, the function of which will be explained hereinafter. The edge of sleeve 36 remote from the edge associated with sectors 37 is provided with a radial flange 42 in the form of a sheet-metal annulus. The opening of this flange is surrounded with a neoprene gasket 43, the lip of which bears against the outside of drum 1.

Casing 8 of drum 1 carries two

hollow collars

44, 45 facing sleeve 36, the interiors of the collars being filled with insulating material. The peripheries of the collars have U-shaped profiles 46 engaging with identical profiles on internal surface 36a of sleeve 36. The outer surfaces of

collars

44, 45 have profiles 48 in the form of circles of rectangular cross-section, whereas the internal surfaces of partition 40 and flange 42 have similar profiles 49 of the same cross-section but smaller in diameter. The thicknesses of

profiles

48 and 49 are such that they constitute baffles between partition 40 and collar 44, on'the one hand, and between flange 42 and collar 45 on the other hand.

Profiles

46 and 47 also constitute baffles, but without any rotating contact.

Space 50 located between

collars

44, 45 and sleeve 36 is connected appropriately to combustion-air inlet duct 24 (FIG. 4), so that the air circulates inside union 26, the baffles mentioned above preventing as far as possible any leakage of this combustion air. Gasket 43, which is subjected to only very slight pressure from the inside, because the combustion air is held under pressure in the different baffles, prevents practically any loss of this air to the outside. On the other side, any leakage of combustion air is less of a problem, since it is recovered in the direction of enclosure 14 by compartment 41.

To the right of space 50, casing 8 of drum 1 is perforated with openings 51 (FIG. 6) which open into passages ll, 12, 13. Casing 8 is surrounded externally by a narrow sleeve 52 exhibiting in its lower portion a straight section 53 having holes 54 of the same size as openings 51 in casing 8. Sleeve 52 is connected to surface 36a of sleeve 36 of sleeve 36 by means of spacers 55. The straight section 53 of sleeve 52 has horizontally flanged edges 56 in which there slides a register 57, the solid parts of which are designed to shut off holes 54 to a greater or lesser extent. One of the ends of a screw 59 cooperating with a stationary nut 60 integral with sleeve 36 is connected to register 57, the other end of the screw being fitted with an operating element such as a crank 61.

Rotary union 34 between drum 1 and ash-box 3 is, as stated above, of the same design as union 26, except that it lacks annular space 50 provided to direct combustion air into union 26.

5 The device operates as follows:

The refuse to be incinerated is passed into enclosure 14 through aperture 19 so that it accumulates in the charging compartment and in the beginning of the enclosure in drum 1. Burner 31 is then lit in order to burn the refuse. The smoke thus produced escapes through flue 22. The combustion air is passed under pressure to casing 25 surrounding flue 22, so that it heats up only slightly at the start of the operation, but as soon as the refuse is well ablaze and the smoke attains a high temperature, the combustion air may easily reach a temperature above 500C.

Drum l rotates on units 6, being caused to execute a reciprocating movement by driving means not shown. The amplitude of the movement is such that each of the

passages

11, 12, 13 assumes a horizontal position consecutively. Starting from the position shown in FIG. 7, the position shown in FIG. 8 involves rotation through an angle of about l20.

As a result of the arrangement of holes 54, the combustion air circulating is space 50 is injected only into the casing located above section 53 of sleeve 52, i.e., the section in the lowermost position. The air passes through nozzles 15 in order to promote burning of the refuse.

It will be observed that the partially polygonal profile of internal enclosure 14 of drum 1 makes it possible, when the drum rotates, to turn the refuse over and thus mix the elements thereof in order to facilitate combustion. On the other hand, the rounded portion of enclosure 14, which may be likened to the arch of a furnance, is never cooled by coming into contact with the refuse, and its reflecting action is therefore total. Because of the high temperature of the combustion air, no dew-points occur at the level of nozzles 15. Obviously a certain amount of pure oxygen may be added to the combustion air in order to activate combustion.

As the refuse burns, ashes are formed, and these pass by gravity towards ash-box 3 from which they are discharged through duct 28.

Any refuse passing under deflector 35 is collected in compartment 41. This refuse may be removed periodically by removing covers 39 located at the base of rotary union 34. This prevents refuse from impairing the baffles in this union.

When liquid or paste-like refuse, for example petroleum residues, are to be incinerated, drum 1 is rotated so that the semi-hexagonal part of partition is located above the partially cylindrical part (as shown in FIG. 10). This present the problem of blowing combustion air only from one or two rows of nozzles or injectors located as closely as possible to the free surface of the products being burned and located practically tangentially to the surface. As shown in FIG. 9, only injectors located in the two lower rows of the vertical surface of the semi-hexagon deliver combustion air.

Since the furnace has an oscillating movement, as the drum rotates it is necessary for the combustion air to flow successively from different rows of nozzles.

Moreover, any nozzles not in use must be protected from oxidation and heating.

Each nozzle 15, therefore, is arranged to move longitudinally so that the end thereof lies flush with the internal wall of enclosure 14, thus blocking the bore in which it is located. As shown in FIG. 12, each nozzle or injector comprises a socket 70 passing through casing 8 and its insulation and thence to the outside of the drum. A part of socket 70 has annular grooves parallel with each other forming a rack 71 designed to cooperate with a toothed wheel 72 carried on a shaft 73 wall 9. The number of shafts 73 corresponds, of course,

to the number of rows of nozzles or injectors 15.

At the same time, it is desirable that the flow of air from each nozzle be adjustable as a function of the products to be burned, and of the position of the nozzle in enclosure 14, etc.

In contrast to what has already been illustrated and described, the combustion air may reach all three passages ll, I2, 13 simultaneously, openings 51 being in direct communication with space 50. In this case, combustion air circulates in each of the

passages

11, 12, 13 in a constant direction, i.e., longitudinally in relation to the drum and from charging compartment 2 towards ash-box 3. Combustion-air inlet orifice 15c in each nozzle or injector 15 is normally located opposite flow F of combustion air (FIG. 14). When the nozzles are arranged in this manner, therefore, the flow of air is at its maximum.

If the nozzles in a row are partially rotated (FIG. 15), orifices 15c change their positions, moving away from the flow of air F so that the flow of air from these nozzles is reduced. If the nozzle is rotated through 180 from its starting point (FIG. 16), practically no air at all flows.

The rotation of each row of nozzles is effected by means ofa pinion 75 keyed to the end of socket 70 and cooperating with a rack 76 moving longitudinally outside casing 8. It will be understood that the number of racks corresponds to the number of longitudinal rows of nozzles.

The control mechanisms for shafts 73 and racks 76 have not been shown since they present no particular problems. Servo-controls may, of course, be used to correlate the movements of shafts 73 and racks 76 to the angular position of the drum.

We claim:

1. A refuse incinerator comprising: a central rotatable drum having a casing of generally frusto-conical shape; an inner enclosure secured to said casing, said enclosure being at least partly polygonal in crosssection and having an internal refractory wall; a loading compartment fixed at one end of said drum; an ash-box fixed at the other end of said drum; said inner enclosure defining with said casing a corresponding number of independent passage means to carry combustion air into said enclosure; and a distributor for injecting said combustion air only into the lower portion of said enclosure.

2. An incinerator according to claim 1, wherein said enclosure presents, in cross-section, a profile consisting of a semi-circle and a semi-hexagon, said drum having a rocking movement of an amplitude such that the three surfaces of the semi-hexagon successively assume a horizontal position.

3. An incinerator according to claim 1, further comprising means to raise said combustion air to a temperature such that the formation of a dew point is prevented when said air comes into contact with incandescent refuse.

4. An incinerator according to claim 3, where in said combustion air is reheated by circulation in an inlet casing surrounding the flue allowing the burned gases to escape and in counter-current to the flow of said burned gases.

5. An incinerator according to claim 4, said drum and said loading compartment being connected by rotary sealing means including an annular space for the circulation of combustion air and lateral surfaces provided with successive baffles to retain said combustion air and prevent it from escaping to the outside; and said rotary sealing means further including a refuserecovery compartment located on the outer lateral surface of said means and comprising outer walls and a lower portion.

6. An incinerator according to claim-5, wherein said refuse-recovery compartment including means to access inside from outside for cleaning purposes.

7. An incinerator according to claim 6, wherein said outer walls of said rotary sealing means located between said drum and said loading compartment are heat-insulated.

8. An incinerator according to claim 7, said rotary sealing means between said drum and said loading compartment comprising a fixed sleeve located opposite said annular space and is provided with openings and, in its lower portion, with perforations to allow combustion air to enter each of said independent passage means carrying said air into said enclosure.

9. An incinerator according to claim 8, said fixed sleeve comprising a register to vary the cross-sections of the holes in said fixed sleeve.

10. An incinerator according to claim 1, further comprising a device to add oxygen to the combustion air.

11. An incinerator according to claim 1, wherein said passage means include injector means; said injector means comprising means for adjusting the flow of combustion air passing therethrough and means for retracting said injector means into the refractory wall of said drum.

12. An incinerator according to claim 11, wherein each injector means has a portion located in said passage means, said portion being provided with an inlet aperture; the end of said injector means, normally extending into the interior of said enclosure, comprising peripheral holes and a terminal aperture.

13. An incinerator as claimed in claim 11, said means to retract said injector means being formed of a mechanism to axially displace the injector in relation to the inner surface of said refractory wall of said drum.

14. An incinerator as claimed in claim 12, said injector means being provided with adjusting means to adjust the flow of combustion air, said ajusting means being formed of a mechanism causing said injector means to pivot axially to direct the location of said inlet apertures in relation to the flow of combustion air.

15. An incinerator according to claim 14, wherein saidmechanism consists of a toothed wheel coaxial 7 8 with each injector means and cooperating with a rack of each injector means and cooperating with a driving arranged along said casing of said drum. toothed wheel carried on a longitudinal shaft arranged 16. An incinerator according to claim 13, said mechon the periphery of said casing of said drum. anism being formed of a rack located on the periphery

Claims

1. A refuse incinerator comprising: a central rotatable drum having a casing of generally frusto-conical shape; an inner enclosure secured to said casing, said enclosure being at least partly polygonal in cross-section and having an internal refractory wall; a loading compartment fixed at one end of said drum; an ash-box fixed at the other end of said drum; said inner enclosure defining with said casing a corresponding number of independent passage means to carry combustion air into said enclosure; and a distributor for injecting said combustion air only into the lower portion of said enclosure.

5. An incinerator according to claim 4, said drum and said loading compartment being connected by rotary sealing means including an annular space for the circulation of combustion air and lateral surfaces provided with successive baffles to retain said combustion air and prevent it from escaping to the outside; and said rotary sealing means further including a refuse-recovery compartment located on the outer lateral surface of said means and comprising outer walls and a lower portion.

6. An incinerator according to claim 5, wherein said refuse-recovery compartment including means to access inside from outside for cleaning purposes.

15. An incinerator according to claim 14, wherein said mechanism consists of a toothed wheel coaxial with each injector means and cooperating with a rack arranged along said casing of said drum.

16. An incinerator according to claim 13, said mechanism being formed of a rack located on the periphery of each injector means and cooperating with a driving toothed wheel carried on a longitudinal shaft arranged on the periphery of said casing of said drum.