FURNACE APPARATUS
20220003409 · 2022-01-06
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F23G2207/30
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G2203/30
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G2204/20
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23J2217/40
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23J2215/301
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G5/46
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G5/027
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G2202/703
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G5/0276
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G5/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G2204/201
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G7/061
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G2900/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F23G5/027
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G5/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G5/32
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F23G5/46
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
An improved systems and methods to reduce and remove particulate matter and chemical pollutants such as dioxins from flue gasses.
Claims
1. A furnace apparatus configured to incinerate solid waste, comprising; a chamber comprising an upper pyrolysis section and a lower combustion section; a solid waste feed inlet positioned at an upper portion of the chamber configured to feed solid waste to the lower combustion section; at least one air inlet pipe fixedly connected to a lower portion of the chamber to receive air for combustion of the solid waste within the lower combustion section; and at least one air outlet pipe fixedly connected to the lower portion of the chamber and opposingly positioned to the at least one air inlet pipe to exhaust combusted air from the lower combustion section, wherein at least one magnet is operably attached to the at least one air inlet pipe, wherein paramagnetic oxygen present in the received air is concentrated via the magnets, and the concentrated oxygen is introduced into a plasma generated within the combustion section to accelerate the combustion process, and to oxidize toxic matter present in the solid waste, wherein the furnace apparatus further comprising conductors positioned within the lower combustion section, adapted to conduct an electric current from an external source to provide heat in the combustion chamber, and wherein the lower combustion section, is at least partially encapsulated with an insulating coating.
2. The furnace apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an exhaust assembly fitted to the at least one air outlet pipe, connected to a fan mechanism that propels the flue gases into a process heater adapted to heat up the flue gasses up to about 1200° C.
3. The furnace apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fan is a cyclone fan producing an outer vortex of downward flowing air and an inner vortex of upward flowing air.
4. The furnace apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a low speed fan that propels the gasses from the process heater into a Zeolite chamber to absorb any residual moisture from the gasses.
5. The furnace apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a chamber fitted with ultrasonic generators wherein the gasses are subjected to an ultrasonic frequency to produce a fine mist from any vapor or liquid present.
6. The furnace apparatus of claim 5 wherein, after processing, the exhaust gasses contain no detectable dioxins.
7. The furnace apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conductors are made from a nickel-chromium alloy coated with a magnesium and/or graphite composite.
8. The furnace apparatus of claim 7 claim wherein the nickel-chromium alloy conductors are adapted for thermal insulation and are positioned between a silica carbide coating and an outer stainless-steel wall.
9. The furnace apparatus of claim 6 wherein, after processing, the exhaust gasses contain no detectable dioxins and no detectable particles of a size above 10 μm, or in other embodiments none larger than 2.5 μm.
10. The furnace apparatus of any one of claim 18 wherein the nickel-chromium alloy conductors coated with a magnesium and/or graphite composite line at least a portion of the inside of the lower combustion section.
11. The furnace apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a Buxbaum air separator in functional communication with the at least one air inlet pipe, to concentrate oxygen and direct it into the combustion chamber.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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[0075] Description of the prior-art as described in
Detailed Description
[0076] Embodiments provide improved systems and methods to reduce and remove particulate matter and chemical pollutants from flue gasses. Embodiments encompass a system for incinerating waste and cleaning the resultant flue gasses. Embodiments may help to remove and destroy particulate matter and chemical pollutants such as dioxins from flue gasses, and reduces or eliminates soot, and combustible gasses such as SO2 and NOX emissions. Certain embodiments may help to completely destroy the particulate matter and chemical pollutants.
[0077] Embodiments may be an improvement to the disclosure of PCT patent application PCT/US/1644931; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,518,733. One element of embodiments is adapted to be used with the Furnace Apparatus system and used at the initial flow stage at which stage air flow into the furnace is controlled.
[0078] The system may work independently of the previous Furnace Apparatus, but in the present disclosure is described as an improvement to the Furnace Apparatus system.
[0079] The below improvements may be used separately or all together in with the furnace apparatus.
[0080] In a first improvement, a “Buxbaum” magnetic air separator system is used within the core part in the magnetic field generator of the air input, or replaces the magnetic field generator and air input elements. This essentially updates the previous magnetic-filed generator design for the Furnace Apparatus system. The magnetic air separator improves the efficiency of concentrating paramagnetic oxygen thereby increasing oxygen concentration in the plasma combustion chamber and increasing efficiency of combustion.
[0081] A Buxbaum magnetic air separator uses a magnetic field to concentrate Oxygen. See http://www.rebresearch.com/blog/magnetic-separation-of-air/, Robert E. Buxbaum, Oct. 11, 2017. Oxygen is paramagnetic and attracted by a magnet. Nitrogen is diamagnetic, repelled by a magnet. See
[0082] The above diagram shows a magnetic O.sub.2 concentrator. The dotted line is a permeable membrane. The O.sub.2 concentrator increases the concentration of Oxygen that is funneled into the plasma chamber where combustion occurs.
[0083] In a second improvement, the inner wall of the plasma chamber is similar to that described in PCT/US/1644931, but is lined with a novel heater structure or mechanism wherein the heating elements are composed of a nickel-chromium alloy conductor coated with a magnesium and/or graphite composite coating. This provides thermal insulation and facilitates heat retention within the wall of the plasma chamber. They may used or adapted for insulation and passive absorption and radiation of heat, or can they also be used to heat the furnace initially (as a pre-heater) by passing a current through them.
[0084] In various embodiments, the whole inner wall of the combustion chamber will be insulated with silica carbide insulation ranging from 8 inches to 16 inches thick, depending on capacity of the machine. In other embodiments only a portion of the inner chamber wall is insulated with silica carbide insulation.
[0085] In some embodiments, the plasma chamber is partially lined with the proprietary heating filament (process heater), and in other embodiments it is substantially lined with the proprietary heating filament. In yet other embodiments, the proprietary heating filament is simply present within some area of the plasma chamber. The process heater may, in some embodiments, also function to ensure the temperature is constant and does not fluctuate even when there is no fuel in the furnace. In other embodiments, the as well as being used as conductor, the element will be used as a preheater during the initial heating stage. With the addition of ceramic-covered copper and/or brass coils, heat transfer and loss from the inner wall towards the outer wall is reduced or prevented. In addition, a silica carbide coating (for example about 6 inches thick) is present to eliminate any heat and energy loss from the plasma chamber.
[0086] Thus, certain embodiments may encompass an improvement to the furnace apparatus of PCT/US/1644931, comprising nickel-chromium alloy conductors coated with a magnesium and/or graphite composite positioned within the lower combustion section (103). These conductors are adapted to retain and conduct heat. In other embodiments, they are adapted to conduct an electric current from an external source to provide heat in the combustion chamber. The lower combustion section (103), may be fully or may be at least partially encapsulated with an insulating silica carbide coating. Silica carbide may help to retain the heat inside the chamber for better waste processing and avoid any heat loss. The lower combustion section (103) may be partially of fully insulated with silica carbide insulation with a thickness ranging from 8 inch to 16 inch depending on capacity of the machine.
[0087] In various embodiments, the nickel-chromium alloy conductors (which may be coated with a magnesium and/or graphite composite) are located within the grate of the furnace (at the bottom of the furnace) as well as on the surrounding wall in between the silica carbide coating and the stainless-steel wall.
[0088] In a third improvement, once the emissions (flue gas) come out of the exhaust, a cyclone fan mechanism (air blower) is used propel and suck in all the carbon and Volatile Organic Contents (VOC). A cyclone may be used to separate the particulate matter by introducing magnetized air into a vortex. Particulate matter that falls to the bottom.
[0089] In a forth improvement, the exhaust gasses are heated by the proprietary process heater up to about 1200° C. (for example from 400 to 2000° C., or 600 to 1800° C., or 800 to 1600° C., or 1000 to 1400° C., or 1200 to 1300° C.). The proprietary process heater is an add-on to the cyclone mechanism to provide a 2.sup.nd stage combustion. This results in much cleaner flue gasses and lower emissions of pollutants and undesirable emission products. The process of embodiment may help to ensure that the solution complies with majority of US and European emission pollution control standards, including US state standards in California. In various embodiments, the flue gasses may be heated by the proprietary process heater to heat up the gasses to about 1000° C., or in other embodiments from 500° C. to 2000° C., 750° C. to 1500° C., or 900° C. to 1200° C. This additional heating may result in cleaner flue gas.
[0090] In a fifth improvement, the flue exhaust gas enters a Zeolite chamber. Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents and catalysts. The structure of the Zeolite chamber is generally cylindrical in form with an exemplary diameter of between 1000 mm to 4000 mm and a length from 1000 mm to 5000 mm. The diameter may in other embodiments be from 500 to 10000 mm in diameter, or 750 to 8000 mm or 900 mm to 6000 mm or 1000 to 5000 mm. The Zeolite absorbs residual moisture content removing from 50% to 100% of the residual moisture. One or a number of low speed fans are used to guide the gasses to the next processing stage.
[0091] In a sixth improvement, after (or during) the step of moisture absorption, the gasses are subjected to an ultrasonic frequency to eliminate any residual contaminants, so that the gas is completely cleaned before venting to the environment. The ultrasonic means/unit works by capturing any of vapor from the zeolite chamber and turning it into a fine mist prior to release into the air. The unit has a small plate made of ceramic that vibrates at the frequency of about 1.7 MHz or at any ultrasonic frequency sufficient to produce a mist, for example from 1 MHz to 3 MHz, from 1.2 MHz to 2.5 MHz or from 1.5 to 2 MHz.
[0092] In some embodiments, there are no detectable dioxins, and no detectable particles of a size above 10 μm, or in other embodiments none larger than 2.5 μm.
[0093] Additionally, in the new embodiment, a cyclone mechanism may be fitted to the exhaust. The cyclone contains an outer vortex of downward flowing air and an inner vortex of upward flowing air to propel the flue gasses, and the carbon and Volatile Organic Contents (VOC) into a process heater.
[0094] The improvements disclosed herein increase the efficiency of the Furnace Apparatus system and reduces the need of any additional scrubbing system.
EXAMPLE 1
[0095] An embodiment encompasses a furnace apparatus configured to incinerate solid waste, comprising; a chamber comprising an upper pyrolysis section and a lower combustion section; a solid waste feed inlet positioned at an upper portion of the chamber configured to feed solid waste to the lower combustion section; a plurality of air inlet pipes fixedly connected to a lower portion of the chamber to receive air for combustion of the solid waste within the lower combustion section; and a plurality of air outlet pipes fixedly connected to the lower portion of the chamber and opposingly positioned to the air inlet pipes to exhaust combusted air from the lower combustion section, wherein a plurality of magnets are operably attached on the air inlet pipes and the air outlet pipes, wherein paramagnetic oxygen present in the received air is concentrated via the magnets, and the concentrated oxygen is introduced into a plasma generated within the combustion section to accelerate the combustion process, and to oxidize toxic matter present in the solid waste; the improvement comprises nickel-chromium alloy conductors coated with a magnesium and/or graphite composite positioned within the lower combustion section (103), which conductors are adapted to retain heat and/or to conduct an electric current from an external source to provide heat in the combustion chamber. In this example, the lower combustion section (103), can be totally or at least partially encapsulated with an insulating silica carbide coating. The improved furnace apparatus may be manufactured with the lower combustion section (103), is at least partially encapsulated with an insulating silica carbide coating. The exhaust assembly (114) may further be connected to a fan mechanism that propels the flue gasses into a process heater adapted to heat up the flue gasses up to about 1200° C. The improved furnace apparatus may produce an ultimate exhaust gasses containing no detectable dioxins and no detectable particles of a size above 10 μm, or in other embodiments none larger than 2.5 μm.
EXAMPLE 2
[0096] In a related example, the exhaust (114) of the furnace apparatus is further connected to a fan mechanism that propels the flue gasses into a process heater adapted to heat up the flue gasses up to about 1200° C. The fan may be a cyclone fan producing an outer vortex of downward flowing air and an inner vortex of upward flowing air.
EXAMPLE 3
[0097] A further example includes a low speed fan that propels the gasses from the process heater into a Zeolite chamber to absorb any residual moisture from the gasses.
EXAMPLE 4
[0098] Another example of an improved system adds a chamber fitted with ultrasonic generators wherein the gasses are subjected to an ultrasonic frequency to eliminate any residual contaminants.
EXAMPLE 5
[0099] In a separate example, the improved furnace apparatus, which in previous disclosures used magnets or magnetic field generators to magnetize paramagnetic oxygen so as to funnel it into the combustion chamber, uses a magnetic air separator, such as a Buxbaum air separator, in functional communication with the air inlet pipes, to concentrate oxygen and direct it into the combustion chamber (103).
GENERAL DISCLOSURES
[0100] All publications referred to in this disclosure are incorporated by reference for all purposes, this includes U.S. Pat. No. 9,518,733.
[0101] This specification incorporates by reference all documents referred to herein and all documents filed concurrently with this specification or filed previously in connection with this application, including but not limited to such documents which are open to public inspection with this specification. All numerical quantities mentioned herein include quantities that may be plus or minus 20% of the stated amount in every case, including where percentages are mentioned. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a, an”, and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “a part” includes a plurality of such parts, and so forth. The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used in this specification to mean that, in addition to the features specifically identified, other features are optionally present. For example, a composition “comprising” (or “which comprises”) ingredients A, B and C can contain only ingredients A, B and C, or can contain not only ingredients A, B and C but also one or more other ingredients. The term “consisting essentially of” and grammatical equivalents thereof is used herein to mean that, in addition to the features specifically identified, other features may be present which do not materially alter the scope of the claims. The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1, and “at least 80%” means 80% or more than 80%. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. Where reference is made in this specification to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can optionally include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)-(a second number)”, this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, “from 40 to 70 microns” or “40-70 microns ” means a range whose lower limit is 40 microns, and whose upper limit is 70 microns.
[0102] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
[0103] It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.