Regenerative fume-incinerator with on-line burn-out and wash-down system
First Claim
1. ) A Regenerative Fume Incinerator for cleaning a polluted gas, the Regenerative Fume Incinerator comprising:
- a combustion chamber which receives the polluted gas and oxidizes the oxidizable pollutants therein to produce a cleansed gas; and
a plurality of regenerative heat exchangers, each regenerative heat exchanger comprising a regenerative heat exchanger compartment having a hot end and a cold end, the hot end of the regenerative heat exchanger compartment configured for fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the regenerative heat exchanger compartment further comprising a heat sink media bed located in between the hot and cold ends of the regenerative heat exchanger compartment in the path of flow of the polluted gas and the cleansed gas and a deposited matter removal means for dislodging deposited matter from the surface of the heat sink media within the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the deposited matter removal means comprising at least one spray pipe containing a cleaning-fluid, the cleaning fluid being at a pressure greater than the gas pressure within the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the spray pipe located within the heat sink media bed to direct the cleaning fluid therein toward at least some of the surfaces of the heat sink media to physically dislodge the deposited matter thereon, and a flow control means for the selective introduction of the polluted gas into the regenerative heat exchanger compartment and for the selective removal of the cleansed gas from the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the flow control means being located at the cold end of the regenerative heat exchanger and configured for fluid communication with the cold end of the regenerative heat exchanger compartment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for on-line wash-down of a heat sink media bed in a regenerative heat exchanger of a regenerative fume incinerator is disclosed. When a heat sink media bed requires cleaning, the selected regenerative heat exchanger is cooled while the remaining regenerative heat exchangers are operated in their normal mode of operation. When the selected media bed reaches a temperature which is less than the thermal-shock temperature of the media material, a cleaning fluid is sprayed on the media surfaces through spray-pipes which are installed within the media bed. After the media surfaces are washed down, the selected regenerative heat-exchanger is reverted back to its normal mode of operation. The regenerative heat exchanger can also be automatically burnt-out of deposited gasifiable matter prior to the wash-down. Random or sequential burn-out and wash-down of the regenerative heat-exchangers can be performed. The apparatus can also be used to suppress fires within the media bed by spraying cold water on the media bed when a rapid rise in temperature is detected within the media bed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. ) A Regenerative Fume Incinerator for cleaning a polluted gas, the Regenerative Fume Incinerator comprising:
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a combustion chamber which receives the polluted gas and oxidizes the oxidizable pollutants therein to produce a cleansed gas; and
a plurality of regenerative heat exchangers, each regenerative heat exchanger comprising a regenerative heat exchanger compartment having a hot end and a cold end, the hot end of the regenerative heat exchanger compartment configured for fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the regenerative heat exchanger compartment further comprising a heat sink media bed located in between the hot and cold ends of the regenerative heat exchanger compartment in the path of flow of the polluted gas and the cleansed gas and a deposited matter removal means for dislodging deposited matter from the surface of the heat sink media within the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the deposited matter removal means comprising at least one spray pipe containing a cleaning-fluid, the cleaning fluid being at a pressure greater than the gas pressure within the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the spray pipe located within the heat sink media bed to direct the cleaning fluid therein toward at least some of the surfaces of the heat sink media to physically dislodge the deposited matter thereon, and a flow control means for the selective introduction of the polluted gas into the regenerative heat exchanger compartment and for the selective removal of the cleansed gas from the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the flow control means being located at the cold end of the regenerative heat exchanger and configured for fluid communication with the cold end of the regenerative heat exchanger compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. ) A Regenerative Fume Incinerator control system to perform on-line wash-down of the heat sink media in a regenerative heat exchanger of a Regenerative Fume Incinerator, the regenerative heat exchanger having at least one cleaning fluid spray-pipe and a first temperature measuring means, both located within the heat sink media bed of the regenerative heat exchanger, the regenerative heat exchanger further having a second temperature measuring means located under the heat sink media bed of the regenerative heat exchanger, the regenerative heat exchanger further having a flow control means for the selective introduction of the polluted gas into the regenerative heat exchanger compartment and for the selective removal of the cleansed gas from the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the flow control means being located at the cold end of the regenerative heat exchanger and configured for fluid communication with the cold end of the regenerative heat exchanger compartment, the Regenerative Fume Incinerator control system comprising an algorithm to perform the following steps:
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(a) freeze the regenerative heat exchanger in a heat sink media cooling mode of operation while maintaining the other regenerative heat exchangers in their normal mode of operation, (b) read the measured temperature from the first temperature measuring means and continue to freeze the selected regenerative heat exchanger in the heat sink media cooling mode of operation until the measured temperature is less than a predetermined value, (c) operate the flow control means of the regenerative heat exchanger to stop the flow of the polluted and cleansed gases into and out of the regenerative heat exchanger, (d) start the flow of the cleaning fluid into the spray-pipe of the regenerative heat exchanger to dislodge the deposited matter from the surface of the heat sink media within the regenerative heat exchanger, (e) stop the flow of the cleaning fluid into the spray-pipe of the regenerative heat exchanger after a predetermined period of time, (f) operate the flow control means of the regenerative heat exchanger in the heat sink media heating mode of operation while monitoring the temperature measured by the first temperature measuring means within the regenerative heat exchanger, and (g) revert the selected regenerative heat exchanger back into the normal mode of operation when the temperature measured within the heat sink media of the regenerative heat exchanger by the first temperature measuring means of the regenerative heat exchanger reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. ) A method of washing the heat sink media in a regenerative heat exchanger of a Regenerative Fume Incinerator, the regenerative heat exchanger having at least one spray pipe installed within it, the spray pipe connected to a source of cleaning fluid, the spray orifices on the spray pipe being directed towards the surface of the heat sink media within the regenerative heat exchanger, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) cooling the heat sink media to a temperature which is sufficient to prevent thermal shock to the heat sink media; and
(b) introducing the cleaning fluid into the spray-pipe to wash the surface of the heat sink media. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. ) A method of suppressing fires within a regenerative heat exchanger of a Regenerative Fume Incinerator, the regenerative heat exchanger containing regenerative heat sink media, the regenerative heat exchanger further having at least one spray pipe and at least one temperature measuring device installed within it, the spray-pipe connected to a source of water, the spray orifices on the spray-pipe being directed towards the surface of the heat sink media within the regenerative heat exchanger, the method comprising the following steps:
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i) monitoring the temperature within the regenerative heat exchanger indicated by the temperature measuring device; and
ii) introducing the water into the spray-pipe when the monitored temperature reaches a pre-determined high level. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification