Apparatus, systems, and methods for pre-heating feedstock to a melter using melter exhaust

• US 9,815,726 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2015
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huber, Aaron Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): SNELTING, ERIN LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/844,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20170066672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2211/22 by direct combustion in the melt
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 3/023 Preheating
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/2356 Submerged heating, e.g. by using heat pipes, hot gas or submerged combustion burners bubblers C03B5/193
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 40/50 Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping

Abstract

Feedstock supply structure apparatus, including an exhaust conduit fluidly and mechanically connectable to a structure defining a melting chamber, the exhaust conduit positioned at an angle to vertical ranging from 0 to about 90 degrees. The exhaust conduit may include a heat exchange substructure, or the conduit itself may serve as a heat exchanger. A feedstock supply structure fluidly connected to the exhaust conduit. Systems include a structure defining a melting chamber and an exhaust conduit fluidly connected to the structure. The exhaust conduit includes a heat exchange substructure for preheating the feedstock. Methods include supplying a granular or pellet-sized feedstock to the melter exhaust conduit, the exhaust conduit including the heat exchange substructure, and preheating the feedstock by indirect or direct contact with melter exhaust in the heat exchange substructure.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) a structure defining a submerged combustion melting chamber including one or more submerged combustion burners;

(b) an insulated exhaust conduit connected to the structure defining the submerged combustion melting chamber and defining a heat exchange substructure, the insulated exhaust conduit positioned at an angle θ

to vertical ranging from about 10 to about 75 degrees;

(c) the insulated exhaust conduit fluidly connecting the submerged combustion melting chamber to a 3-way flow wye branch connector having an inlet and first and second outlets, the inlet and first outlet of the 3-way flow wye branch connector angled at angle θ and

connecting an upper end of the insulated exhaust conduit with an angled insulated feedstock supply conduit also positioned at the angle θ

to vertical, and the second outlet positioned vertically and connected to a vertical upper exhaust conduit;

(d) a feedstock supply structure connected to the angled insulated feedstock supply conduit.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the angle θ

ranges from about 25 to about 60 degrees.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the feedstock supply structure and the heat exchange substructure are configured to allow feedstock having size ranging from about 1 cm to about 10 cm to flow into the melting chamber and allow direct heat exchange from at least some of the exhaust flowing from the melting chamber to at least some of the feedstock.

4. A feedstock supply structure apparatus comprising:

(a) an insulated exhaust conduit fluidly and mechanically connectable to a structure defining a submerged combustion melting chamber including one or more submerged combustion burners, the insulated exhaust conduit positioned at an angle to vertical ranging from about 10 to about 90 degrees;

(b) the insulated exhaust conduit defining a heat exchange substructure; and

(c) a feedstock supply structure fluidly and mechanically connectable to the insulated exhaust conduit;

wherein the insulated exhaust conduit comprises a first vertical insulated exhaust conduit defining a first portion of the heat exchange substructure fluidly connected to a first 3-way flow wye branch connector, the first 3-way flow wye branch connector fluidly connecting the first vertical insulated exhaust conduit with a second vertical exhaust conduit and an angled insulated exhaust conduit, the angled insulated exhaust conduit being at an angle ranging from about 25 to about 60 degrees to vertical, the angled insulated exhaust conduit fluidly connected to a second 3-way flow wye branch connector, the second 3-way flow wye branch connector fluidly connecting the angled insulated exhaust conduit to a third vertical exhaust conduit and with an angled feedstock supply conduit, the angled feedstock supply conduit fluidly connected to a feedstock supply container, and

the first 3-way flow wye branch connector or the second vertical exhaust conduit comprising a damper mechanism disposed therein for diverting at least a portion of the exhaust to the angled insulated exhaust conduit, the damper mechanism in turn connected to a prime mover.

5. A feedstock supply structure apparatus comprising:

(a) an insulated exhaust conduit fluidly and mechanically connectable to a structure defining a submerged combustion melting chamber including one or more submerged combustion burners, the insulated exhaust conduit positioned at an angle to vertical ranging from about 10 to about 90 degrees;

(b) the insulated exhaust conduit defining a heat exchange substructure; and

(c) a feedstock supply structure fluidly and mechanically connectable to the insulated exhaust conduit;

wherein the insulated exhaust conduit connects the melting chamber to a 3-way flow wye branch connector, the 3-way flow wye branch connector fluidly connecting the insulated exhaust conduit with an angled insulated feedstock supply conduit and to a vertical exhaust conduit, the angled insulated feedstock supply conduit fluidly connected to a feedstock supply container.