Thermal Processing Apparatus with a Heating Device Operated with Hydrogen, Sustainable Cremation, Free of CO2

Abstract

A thermal processing apparatus (2) is furnished with a loading device, a cremation chamber (10), a heating device (14) for heating the cremation chamber (10), a fresh air supply device, an exhaust gas manifold (18a) for discharging the exhaust gas from the cremation chamber (10), a post-combustion chamber (28), and an exhaust air processing device (38). In order to provide a thermal processing apparatus with which a cremation process with minimal CO.sub.2 emissions can be carried out and an acceleration of the cremation process is achieved, it is proposed that the heating device (14) is designed to burn hydrogen.

Claims

1.-36. (canceled)

37. A thermal processing apparatus comprising: a cremation chamber; a heating device configured to heat the cremation chamber; an air supply device configured to feed supply air to the cremation chamber; a first exhaust gas manifold configured to discharge an exhaust air from the cremation chamber, the first exhaust gas manifold comprising an exhaust air processing device; a post-combustion chamber arranged downstream of the cremation chamber; wherein the heating device is configured to burn hydrogen.

38. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the heating device comprises burner nozzles and burner sleeves, wherein the burner nozzles and the burner sleeves are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a high temperature-resistant steel, a ceramic material, and a composite material, and combinations thereof.

39. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the heating device is operatively connected to a gas-tight radiant tube, wherein the a gas-tight radiant tube is arranged in an interior of the cremation chamber and wherein the heating device heats the gas-tight radiant tube.

40. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the heating device is arranged outside of the cremation chamber.

41. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein a second exhaust gas manifold is connected to the heating device and is configured to discharge an exhaust gas produced by combusting the hydrogen into an environment by bypassing the cremation chamber.

42. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the gas-tight radiant tube is designed for an operating temperature above 900 C. and is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a high temperature-resistant steel, a ceramic material, and a composite material, and combinations thereof.

43. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the cremation chamber comprises walls, wherein at least one of the walls of the cremation chamber is configured as a double wall comprising a first wall and a second wall and an intermediate space between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall is facing the cremation chamber and the second wall is facing away from the cremation chamber, wherein the intermediate space is an air guiding channel for supply of the supply air into the cremation chamber or for discharge of the exhaust air from the cremation chamber.

44. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 43, wherein a plurality of deflection elements are arranged in the intermediate space of the double wall so that a flow of the supply air or of the exhaust air in the double wall is deflected by the plurality of deflection elements and a distance to be traveled by the flow of the supply air or of the exhaust is extended.

45. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the intermediate space is utilized for heating the supply air or the intermediate space provides the post-combustion chamber for the exhaust air, wherein a first double wall volume of the intermediate space for heating the supply air is larger than a second double wall volume of the intermediate space utilized as the post-combustion chamber.

46. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising a lifting device, wherein the cremation chamber comprises a bottom segment, wherein the lifting device is connected to the bottom segment and configured to move back and forth the bottom segment in a vertical direction between a closed position closing the cremation chamber in a downward direction and an open position arranged below the closed position, wherein the cremation chamber is opened in the downward direction in the open position.

47. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the bottom segment comprises thermal insulation at circumferential rims thereof and/or at a bottom side thereof and/or at an interface thereof to the lifting device.

48. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising water cooling arranged at the bottom segment at circumferential rims thereof and/or at a bottom side thereof and/or at an interface thereof to the lifting device and/or arranged at components of the thermal processing apparatus adjoining the bottom segment.

49. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the bottom segment is connected to an interrupter switch configured to shut off or regulate down the heating device, a supply air blower of the air supply device and/or an exhaust air blower when the bottom segment is not in the closed position.

50. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising an interchangeable vessel configured to be placed onto the bottom segment, wherein the interchangeable vessel comprises carrying elements, wherein the interchangeable vessel is moveable by the carrying elements.

51. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the interchangeable vessel is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a high temperature-resistant steel, a ceramic material, and a composite material, and combinations thereof.

52. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a conveying device arranged below the cremation chamber, wherein the conveying device comprises a loading station, an interchange station, and a discharge station, wherein the conveying device is configured to supply the interchangeable vessel to the bottom segment and/or to remove the interchangeable vessel from the bottom segment.

53. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the conveying device further comprises a conveying carriage with at least two placement positions for the interchangeable vessel.

54. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 52, wherein a solids discharge opening is provided at the interchangeable vessel and/or at an interchangeable casket.

55. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a tilting device for tilting the interchangeable vessel and/or an interchangeable casket, wherein the tilting device optionally comprises a cover with a solids discharge opening.

56. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 55, further comprising an inspection station arranged upstream or downstream of the tilting device and arranged upstream of a grinding processor for inspecting cremated remains of a corpse, wherein the inspection station comprises a metal separator.

57. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising an electronic control and regulation device for process control of a cremation process in the thermal processing apparatus, wherein the air supply device comprises a supply air blower connected to cremation chamber and/or an exhaust air blower is connected to the first exhaust gas manifold, wherein the supply air blower and/or the exhaust air blower are connected to the electronic control and regulation device, wherein the control and regulation device comprises a software program configured to regulate conveying outputs of the supply air blower and/or of the exhaust air blower.

58. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the supply air blower and/or the exhaust air blower can be regulated by the software program to output values adjusting an atmospheric pressure or an excess pressure in the cremation chamber.

59. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the air supply device comprises a supply air blower connected to the cremation chamber, wherein the thermal processing apparatus has no exhaust air blower, wherein the supply air blower forces the exhaust air from the cremation chamber into the post-combustion chamber and into the first exhaust gas manifold, and wherein the cremation chamber is gas-tight with the exception of an exhaust air opening to the post-combustion chamber.

60. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising a heat exchanger connected to the post-combustion chamber and further comprising an energy recovery device, wherein heat from an exhaust air flow is transferred to a heat medium circulating between the heat exchanger and the energy recovery device in a loop.

61. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the heat medium is a phase-changing liquid and the energy recovery device is a steam turbine driven by the phase-changing liquid, wherein the steam turbine has arranged downstream thereof a current generator driven by the steam turbine, and wherein the current generator converts a rotation energy of the steam turbine into electric current.

62. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the exhaust air processing device comprises a separator for separation of solids from the exhaust air, wherein the separator is connected downstream of the post-combustion chamber.

63. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 62, further comprising a collection container connected to the separator and further comprising a cycle lock arranged between the collection container and the separator.

64. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises a dust gas filter connected to the separator downstream of the separator in a flow direction of the exhaust air and configured to filter the exhaust air.

65. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises an absorption device connected to the separator or connected to the dust gas filter and configured to filter the exhaust air.

66. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 65, further comprising a heat exchanger arranged between the separator, the dust gas filter and/or the absorption device.

67. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises at least two dust gas filters for filtering the exhaust gas, connected in parallel and alternately operable, arranged downstream of the separator in a flow direction of the exhaust air, wherein a respective inactive dust gas filter of the at least two dust gas filters is operable in a cleaning mode.

68. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 62, further comprising an interface for pollutant measurement arranged at the first exhaust gas manifold at a location between the separator and a blow-out end of the first exhaust gas manifold.

69. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises a lime water cleaning stage, wherein the exhaust gas is passed via a supply line and a discharge line through the lime water cleaning stage prior to being released into the environment.

70. The thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the first exhaust gas manifold comprises a branch, wherein a line connected to the cremation chamber is connected to the branch for return of at least a portion of the exhaust gas into the cremation chamber.

71. A method for cremating a corpse in a thermal processing apparatus, the method comprising heating a cremation chamber of the thermal processing apparatus with a heating device configured to burn hydrogen.

72. A method for cremating a corpse in a thermal processing apparatus according to claim 37, the method comprising heating the cremation chamber with the heating device configured to burn hydrogen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0072] The invention will be explained in the following with the aid of an embodiment. It is shown in:

[0073] FIG. 1: a schematic illustration of the components of the thermal processing apparatus;

[0074] FIG. 2: a schematic illustration of the lifting device for loading and later removal of a corpse from the cremation chamber;

[0075] FIGS. 3a/3b: an interchangeable vessel with an interchangeable casket positioned thereon in a tilting device;

[0076] FIG. 4: a tilting device with a grinding processor connected thereto;

[0077] FIG. 5: the developed view of a double wall as an example of an air guiding channel for supply of supply air;

[0078] FIGS. 6a/6b: the developed view of a double wall as an example of an air guiding channel for discharge of exhaust air; and

[0079] FIG. 7: a cremation chamber with double walls in a view from above with supply air blower.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the components of the thermal processing apparatus 2. A corpse to be cremated, which may be placed in a casket, which may also be designed as an interchangeable casket, or lies on the bottom segment 6 or an interchangeable vessel 8 placed thereon, is cremated in the cremation chamber 10. The cremation chamber 10 is heated by at least one radiant tube 12. In the embodiment, in the interior of the cremation chamber 10 two manifolds of radiant tubes 12 are provided which are arranged in a loop in the interior of the cremation chamber 10 and are installed such that they cover the ceiling area of the cremation chamber 10 well. The radiant tubes 12 are heated by the heating device 14 that heats a heating medium which, heated by the heating device 14, passes into the radiant tubes 12. In the embodiment, the heating device 14 burns a fuel gas. The heating device 14 is arranged outside of the cremation chamber 10. The heating medium can be in particular the gas of the fuel gas flame of the heating device 14. The exhaust gas of the combustion of a fuel, after it has been heated by the heating device 14, passes into the radiant tubes 12, freely installed in the cremation chamber 10, and exits therefrom again through a connecting line 16 which extends into the exhaust gas manifold 18b of the heating device 12. When a circulating heating medium is used, the connecting line 16 can return the heating medium again into the heating device 14 where it is then again heated by the heating device 14. The exhaust gas manifold 18b bypasses the cremation chamber 10 and is separated therefrom. Since the radiant tubes 12 are embodied to be gas-tight, the heating medium contained in the radiant tubes cannot pass into the cremation chamber 10. The material of the radiant tubes 12 is designed for an operating temperature above 900 C., and the radiant tubes 12 are manufactured of a high temperature-resistant steel and/or a ceramic material.

[0081] The lateral walls 20a of the cremation chamber 10 are designed as a double wall 20 in which the intermediate space 12 between the first wall 20a which is facing the cremation chamber 10 and the second wall 20b which is facing away from the cremation chamber 10 is designed as an air guiding channel 24 for supply of supply air into the cremation chamber 10 or as an air guiding channel 26 for discharging exhaust air from the cremation chamber 10. The double walls 20 comprise for this purpose corresponding openings in the wall surfaces. The air guiding channel 26 for discharge of exhaust air forms in the embodiment at the same time the post-combustion chamber 28.

[0082] The exhaust gas manifold 18a for discharging the exhaust gases from the cremation chamber 10 is connected to the post-combustion chamber 28. A first component of the exhaust gas manifold 18a, viewed in flow direction of the exhaust gas through the exhaust gas manifold 18a, is a heat exchanger 30 that is connected to the post-combustion chamber 28. In the heat exchanger 30, heat from the exhaust air flow or exhaust gas from the cremation chamber 10 is transferred to a heat medium. Via the heat medium, the energy absorbed by the heat medium in the heat exchanger 30 can be returned again into the combustion process, which is schematically illustrated simplified by the arrow from the heat exchanger 30 to the heating device 14. Actually, the heat medium circulates between the heat exchanger 30 and an energy recovery device 32 in the form of a steam turbine 34 to which an electric current generator 36 as an electric generator is connected. The heat medium is returned again from the steam turbine 34 in a loop, not illustrated in detail, to the heat exchanger 30.

[0083] In the heat exchanger 30, the exhaust gas cools down so that downstream of the exhaust gas manifold 18a it can be further processed in an exhaust air processing device 36. In the embodiment, the exhaust air processing device 36 comprises a plurality of components following each other in flow direction of the exhaust gas in the exhaust gas manifold 18a.

[0084] A first component for processing the exhaust gas is a separator 40 for separation of solids from the exhaust gas which is connected downstream of the post-combustion chamber 28 and the heat exchanger 30 to the exhaust gas manifold 18a. In the embodiment, the separator 40 is configured as a cyclone. At the lower outlet of the separator 40, a cycle lock 42 with a rotary valve is arranged with which the solids, which have been separated in the separator 40 during the cremation of a corpse, are metered and discharged into the collection container 44 separate from the solids of the cremation of other corpses. The collection container can be an urn 46, or an urn 46 is positioned in the collection container 44. In order to avoid dust losses upon transfer of solids into the urn 46, a filter cloth adapter 48 can be provided with which the urn 46 is connected to the separator 40 in a dust-tight manner.

[0085] A second component for processing the exhaust gases is a dust gas filter 50 which is connected to the separator 40, downstream of the separator 40, for filtration of the exhaust gas. In the exhaust gas filter 50, suspended particles can be filtered out of the exhaust gas. In the embodiment, two dust gas filters 50 connected in parallel and operable alternately are arranged downstream of the separator 40 for filtering the exhaust gas. The dust gas filter which is inactive respectively can be operated in a cleaning mode while the active dust gas filter 50 is loaded with new suspended particles in a cremation process.

[0086] The absorption device for further filtration of the exhaust gas, which is connected to the separator 40 or to the dust gas filter 50 downstream of the separator 40, is installed in the embodiment in the filter cartridge of the dust gas filter. Not illustrated in detail in the drawing, there is a lime water cleaning stage which the thermal processing apparatus 2 may comprise and which can also form a component of the exhaust gas manifold 18a. The exhaust gas of the cremation chamber 10 can be passed through the lime water cleaning stage with a supply line and a discharge line prior to the exhaust gas being released into the environment. Illustrated in FIG. 1, there is however a heat exchanger 52 which is arranged downstream of the separator 40, the dust gas filter 50 and/or an absorption device in which the exhaust gas from the cremation chamber 10 is further cooled.

[0087] The energy removed in the heat exchanger 52 from the exhaust gas is also returned into the combustion process, which is indicated by the corresponding symbol arrow to the heating device 14. Here also a heat medium can be loaded in the heat exchanger with heat which is conveyed to the steam turbine 34 in order to produce electric energy.

[0088] Finally, the thermal processing apparatus 2 comprises an interface 54 for measuring pollutants in the exhaust gas manifold 18a between the separator 40 and the blow-out end of the exhaust gas manifold 18a.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the lifting device 80 for loading and later removal of a corpse from the cremation chamber 10. While in FIG. 1 the bottom segment 6 with an interchangeable casket 4 placed thereon is in the closed position that closes the cremation chamber 10 in downward direction, the bottom segment 6 in FIG. 2 is illustrated in the open position lowered downwardly. In the open position of the bottom segment 6, the cremation chamber 10 is open in downward direction.

[0090] The bottom segment 6 can comprise thermal insulations, not illustrated in detail, at its circumferential rims and/or at its bottom side and/or at an interface to the lifting device 80. The bottom segment 6 at its circumferential rims and/or at its bottom side and/or at an interface to the lifting device 80 and/or adjoining components of the thermal processing apparatus 2 can comprise water cooling 120. The water cooling 120 is realized in the embodiment by pipes which are positioned around the bottom opening in the cremation chamber 10 and around the bottom segment 6. The cooling hoses 122 of the water cooling 120 connecting the water cooling 120 to a cooler, not illustrated in detail, are also illustrated. The interchangeable vessel 8 can be manufactured of a high temperature-resistant steel and/or a ceramic material in order to be able to withstand the high thermal loads in the cremation chamber 10 during a cremation process. Carrying elements 124 can be formed at the interchangeable vessel 8 by means of which the interchangeable vessel 8 is moveable.

[0091] The lifting device 80 is provided in order to be able to move an interchangeable vessel 8 back and forth and up and down, depending on the configuration however also move the bottom segment 6 up and down. The lifting device 80 is arranged on a carriage 82 that is movable back and forth on a track 84, for example, a rail device. The carriage 82 and the track 84 form a conveying device 86. In the left position in FIG. 2, the carriage 82 is still in the loading station 88. In the loading station 88, a casket or an interchangeable casket 4 can be placed onto the interchangeable vessels 8 which are held by the lifting device 80. The lifting device 80 lifts or lowers the interchangeable vessel 8 to a level in which it can be put down on the bottom segment 6.

[0092] For this purpose, the carriage 82 moves on the track 84 from the loading station 88 to the interchange station 90 which in the illustration of FIG. 2 is shown in the central region below the cremation chamber 10. In the illustration in FIG. 2, an interchangeable casket 4 with an interchange vessel 8 is already positioned on the bottom segment 6 in the interchange station 90. When the interchangeable vessel 6 is empty and the bottom segment 6 is in the open position, an interchangeable vessel 8 prepared for a new cremation process can be put down the bottom segment 6. The bottom segment 6 is located in this context always in the interchange station 90, it is preferably movable in vertical direction between the open and closed position, as indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 2. After the interchangeable vessel 8 has been put down on the bottom segment 6, the bottom segment 6 can be moved into the closed position with the lifting device 80 or a lifting drive separate therefrom. For starting a new cremation process, the bottom segment 6 is moved out of the open position into the closed position so that the interchangeable vessel 8 with the casket positioned thereon is in the cremation chamber 10 in the closed position of the bottom segment 6. When the cremation process is completed, the bottom segment is moved again from the closed position into the open position so that the interchangeable vessel 8 with the cremated remains, which are lying in the interchangeable vessel 8 or the interchangeable casket 4, can be removed from the bottom segment 6. When the cremation chamber 10 has been supplied with a wooden casket, it is combusted in the cremation process completely with exception of possible minimal ash residues.

[0093] The right part of the illustration in FIG. 2 shows the discharge station 92. In the discharge station 92, the interchangeable vessel 8 and the interchangeable casket 4 can be emptied. The interchangeable vessel 8 illustrated here with an interchangeable casket 4 positioned thereon has been beforehand lifted off the bottom segment 6 and has been laterally moved there. The interchangeable vessel 8 located in the discharge station 92 can have been moved there by the conveying device 86, wherein for this purpose however a second conveying device 86 with a second carriage 82 and a track 84 is illustrated in the illustrated embodiment. The embodiment does not show a conveying device 86 which is designed as a conveying carriage with at least two placement positions for interchangeable vessels 8.

[0094] A tilting device 100 for tilting an interchangeable vessel 8 can be embodied at the conveying device 86 or at a different location of the thermal processing apparatus 2. The tilting device 100 can tilt the interchangeable vessel 8 about a horizontal axis, as illustrated in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b. In FIG. 3a, the interchangeable vessel 8 is still in a horizontal position while in FIG. 3b it is illustrated in a tilted position. In the tilted position, the bottom of the interchangeable vessel 8 and/or of the interchangeable casket 4 is in a slanted position. The remains pieces as well as ash from the cremation process which are still located in the interchangeable casket 4 and/or in the interchangeable vessel 8 can be discharged via a solids discharge opening 102, which is located in the interchangeable vessel 8, in the interchangeable casket 4 and/or in a cover, without losses into a grinding processor 104. The ground material and the ash can fall from the grinding processor 104 into an urn 46 arranged below.

[0095] In FIG. 4, a tilting device 100 is illustrated in which by a supply means 106 solids which have been separated in the separator 40 can be supplied to the grinding processor 104. The supply means can be a pipe which connects the cycle lock 42 to the grinding processor 42. The solids which are discharged from the cycle lock 42 can however also be directly discharged into the urn 46 which is later on supplied by the grinding processor 104 with the remains of a cremated corpse from the interchangeable casket 4 and/or the interchangeable vessel 8. For this purpose, the urn 46 would have to be repositioned however.

[0096] In FIG. 5, the developed view of a sectioned double wall 20 as an example of an air supply channel 24 for supply of supply air into the cremation chamber 10 is illustrated in which the distance traveled by the supply air in the double wall 20 is extended by a plurality of deflections of the flow through one or a plurality of deflection elements 140 arranged in the double wall 20. The supply air passes via the opening 142 into the intermediate space 22 in the intermediate wall 20, flows along the arrows through the labyrinth that is predefined by the deflection elements 140, and exits the intermediate space 22 through the outflow opening 144 that opens into the cremation chamber 10. While the supply air flows through the air guiding channel 24, it is heated by the heated first wall 20a.

[0097] FIG. 6a shows a developed view of a sectioned double wall 20 as an example of an air guiding channel 26 for discharge of exhaust air from the cremation chamber 10. With a correspondingly designed and positioned deflection element 140 a long flow path for the hot exhaust gas through the post-combustion chamber 28 results which provides for a good post combustion effect but carries a certain risk of deposition of solids. In this respect, the configuration of the deflection element 140 illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6b is better in which shorter flow paths but also a shorter residence time of the exhaust gas in the post-combustion chamber 28 result.

[0098] In FIG. 7, a cremation chamber 10 with double walls 20 is illustrated in a plan view from above with a supply air blower 160. The supply air blower 160 is designed as a side channel blower that forces the supply air into the cremation chamber 10 and, due to the thus created excess pressure, the exhaust gases from the cremation chamber 10 into the post-combustion chamber 28 and into the exhaust gas manifold 18a. In order to enable this, the cremation chamber 10 is designed to be gas-tight with the exception of the exhaust air opening into the post-combustion chamber 28.

[0099] The invention is not limited to the afore described embodiment. A person of skill in the art will have no difficulties in modifying the embodiment in a manner appearing suitable to him in order to adapt it to a concrete application situation.

[0100] The entire disclosure of German priority application DE 10 2022 122 863.0 whose priority date is claimed in the present application is incorporated herein by reference.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0101] 2 thermal processing apparatus [0102] 4 interchangeable casket [0103] 6 bottom segment [0104] 8 interchangeable vessel [0105] 10 cremation chamber [0106] 12 radiant tube [0107] 14 heating device [0108] 16 connection line [0109] 18 exhaust gas manifold [0110] 20 double wall [0111] 22 intermediate space [0112] 24 air guiding channel for supply of supply air [0113] 26 air guiding channel for supply of supply air [0114] 28 post-combustion chamber [0115] 30 heat exchanger [0116] 32 energy recovery device [0117] 34 steam turbine [0118] 36 current generator [0119] 38 exhaust air processing device [0120] 40 separator [0121] 42 cycle lock [0122] 44 collection container [0123] 46 urn [0124] 48 filter cloth adapter [0125] 50 dust gas filter [0126] 52 heat exchanger [0127] 54 interface [0128] 80 lifting device [0129] 82 carriage [0130] 84 track [0131] 86 conveying device [0132] 88 loading station [0133] 90 interchange station [0134] 92 discharge station [0135] 100 tilting device [0136] 102 solids discharge opening [0137] 104 grinding processor [0138] 106 supply means [0139] 120 water cooling [0140] 122 cooling hose [0141] 124 carrying element [0142] 140 deflection element [0143] 142 opening [0144] 144 outflow opening [0145] 160 supply air blower