Claims
- 1. Apparatus for the disposal of waste material kept within metal container, said apparatus comprising:
- a shredder for the metal container;
- first conveyor means for introducing the metal container, holding the waste material, into said shredder;
- means for producing a mixture of waste material and metal shreds;
- a primary combustion chamber for the mixture of waste material and metal shreds;
- second conveyor means for feeding said mixture of waste material and metal shreds from said shredder into said primary combustion chamber;
- means for burning said mixture of waste material and metal shreds in said primary combustion chamber wherein ash, decontaminated metal shreds, and primary combustion gases containing combustible residue material, are produced in said primary combustion chamber;
- a secondary combustion chamber for the primary combustion gases;
- first conduit means, in fluid flow communication between said primary combustion chamber and said secondary combustion chamber, for introducing the primary combustion gases into said secondary combustion chamber, said first conduit means defining a flow path from said primary combustion chamber to said secondary combustion chamber;
- means for withdrawing ash and decontaminated metal shreds from said primary combustion chamber;
- means for burning combustible residue, contained in the primary combustion gases, in said secondary combustion chamber, wherein hot secondary combustion gases containing entrained ash and particulates are produced in said secondary combustion chamber; and
- means for introducing liquid waste material into said secondary combustion chamber.
- 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shredder is a rotary shear-type shredder.
- 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- burner means for igniting the contents within said primary combustion chamber; and,
- means for supplying air and auxiliary fuel to said burner means.
- 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises means for introducing liquid waste materials into said primary combustion chamber.
- 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said primary combustion chamber is a rotary kiln.
- 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said apparatus further comprises means supporting said rotary kiln for rotation about a horizontally declined axis of rotation.
- 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said apparatus further comprises driving means for rotating said rotary kiln about said horizontally declined axis of rotation.
- 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said secondary conveyor means for feeding the mixture from said shredder into said primary combustion chamber comprises a hopper and a compaction tube, wherein said compaction tube is equipped with means for transporting the mixture of waste material and metal shreds from said hopper to said combustion chamber.
- 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for transporting said mixture comprises an auger
- 10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said auger is positioned within said compaction tube in a manner such that said mixture contacts the inner walls of said compaction tube while being transported to the combustion chamber, thereby forming a seal along at least a portion of said compaction tube.
- 11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- burner means for igniting the contents within said secondary combustion chamber; and,
- means for supplying air and auxiliary fuel to said burner means.
- 12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 further comprising:
- a quench tower for contacting hot secondary combustion gases with water, thereby producing saturated gases and effluent water; and
- second conduit means in fluid flow communication between said secondary combustion chamber and said quench tower, for defining a flow path for hot secondary combustion gases from said secondary combustion chamber to said quench tower.
- 13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- scrubber means for removing ash and particulates from saturated gases, thereby producing effluent water containing ash and particulates and saturated gasses;
- third conduit means in fluid flow communication between said quench tower and said scrubber means, for defining a flow path for saturated gases from said quench tower to said scrubbing means;
- separator means for separating saturated gases from water containing ash and particulates;
- fourth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said scrubber means and said separator means, for defining a flow path for effluent water containing ash and particulates and saturated gases from said scrubber means to said separator means;
- an effluent water reservoir;
- fifth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said separator means and said quench tower and said effluent water reservoir, for defining a flow path for the effluent water from said separator means and said quench tower to said effluent water reservoir;
- means for introducing fresh water to said effluent water reservoir; and,
- sixth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said effluent water reservoir and said quench tower and said scrubber means, for defining a flow path for recycle water from said effluent water reservoir to said quench tower and said scrubber means.
- 14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said scrubber means comprises a venturi scrubber.
- 15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said separator means comprises a separator tower.
- 16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- an acid absorber column, said column having a stack which is open on end to the atmosphere such that deacidified gas may pass from the column into the atmosphere;
- means for introducing water and caustic to said acid absorber column;
- an induced draft fan, wherein said induced draft fan is located between said scrubber means and said acid absorber tower;
- seventh conduit means in fluid flow communication between said separator means and said induced draft fan and between said induced draft fan and said acid absorber column, for defining a flow path for saturated gases from said separator means, through said induced draft fan, into said acid absorber column;
- a gas analyzer; and,
- eighth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said gas analyzer and said acid absorber column, for defining a flow path for deacidified gas from said acid absorber column to said gas analyzer.
- 17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- a quench tower for contacting said hot gases with water, thereby producing saturated gases and effluent water;
- second conduit means in fluid flow communication between said secondary combustion chamber and said quench tower, for defining a flow path for hot secondary combustion gases from said secondary combustion chamber to said quench tower;
- scrubber means for removing ash and particulates from gases, thereby producing effluent water containing ash and particulates and saturated gases;
- third conduit means in fluid flow communication between said quench tower and said scrubber means, for defining a flow path for saturated gases from said quench tower to said scrubbing means;
- separator means for separating saturated gases from water containing ash and particulates;
- fourth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said scrubber means and said separator means, for defining a flow path for water containing ash and particulates and saturated gasses from said scrubber means to said separator means;
- an effluent water reservoir;
- fifth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said separator means and said quench tower and said effluent water reservoir, for defining a flow path for the effluent water from said separator means and said quench tower to said effluent water reservoir;
- means for introducing fresh water to said effluent water reservoir;
- sixth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said effluent water reservoir and said quench tower and said scrubber means, for defining a flow path for recycle water from said effluent water reservoir to said quench tower and said scrubber means;
- and acid absorber column, said column having a stack which is open on one end to the atmosphere such that deacidified gas may pass from the column, through the stack, into the atmosphere;
- means for introducing water and caustic to said acid absorber column;
- an induced draft fan, wherein said induced draft fan is located between said scrubber means and said acid absorber tower;
- seventh conduit means in fluid flow communication between said separator means and said induced draft fan and between said induced draft fan and said acid absorber column, for defining a flow path for saturated gases from said separator means, through said induced draft fan, and into said absorber column;
- a gas analyzer; and,
- eighth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said gas analyzer and said acid absorber column, for defining a flow path for deacidified gas from said acid absorber column to said gas analyzer.
- 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said apparatus further comprises:
- burner means for igniting the contents within said secondary combustion chamber; and,
- means for supplying air and auxiliary fuel to said burner means.
- 19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said scrubber means comprises a venturi scrubber.
- 20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said separator means comprises a separator tower.
- 21. A method for disposing of waster material kept in a metal container, said method comprising the steps of:
- feeding the metal container holding the waste material into a shredder;
- producing a mixture of waste material and metal shreds;
- transporting the mixture of waste material and metal shreds to a primary combustion chamber;
- burning said mixture of waste material and metal shreds in said primary combustion chamber, wherein ash, decontaminated metal shreds, and primary combustion gases containing combustible residue material, are produced in said primary combustion chamber;
- withdrawing ash and decontaminated metal shreds from said primary combustion chamber;
- withdrawing the primary combustion gases from said primary combustion chamber;
- introducing the primary combustion gases into a secondary combustion chamber;
- burning the combustible residue, contained in the primary combustion gases, in said secondary combustion chamber, wherein hot secondary combustion gases containing entrained ash and particulates are produced in said secondary combustion chamber; and
- introducing liquid waste material into said secondary combustion chamber.
- 22. A method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising the step of introducing liquid waste materials into said primary combustion chamber.
- 23. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said shredder is a rotary shear-type shredder.
- 24. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said metal containers comprise steel drums.
- 25. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said combustion chamber is a rotary kiln.
- 26. A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein said rotary kiln is rotated about a horizontally declined axis of rotation.
- 27. A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said step of transporting the mixture of waste material and metal shreds into said primary combustion chamber further comprises: using a hopper and a compaction tube for transporting the mixture of waste material and metal shreds from said hopper to said primary combustion chamber.
- 28. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein said step of transporting the mixture from said hopper to said primary combustion chamber further comprises using an auger.
- 29. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein said auger is positioned within said compaction tube in a manner such that said mixture contacts the inner walls of said compaction tube while being transported to the combustion chamber, thereby forming a seal along at least a portion of said compaction tube.
- 30. A method in accordance with claim 29 further comprising the steps of withdrawing hot secondary combustion gases from said secondary combustion chamber and feeding the hot secondary combustion gases into a quench tower, wherein hot secondary combustion gases are contacted with water to produce saturated gases and effluent water.
- 31. A method in accordance with claim 30 further comprising the steps of:
- transporting saturated gases from said quench tower to a scrubber;
- intimately contacting saturated gases with water in said scrubber to remove the entrained ash and particulates from the saturated gases, thereby producing effluent water and saturated gases; and,
- transporting effluent water and saturated gases from said scrubber to a separator, wherein the effluent water is separated from the saturated gases.
- 32. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein said scrubber comprises a venturi scrubber.
- 33. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein said separator comprises a separator tower.
- 34. A method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising the step of withdrawing water from said separator and said quench tower and feeding the water to an affluent water reservoir.
- 35. A method in accordance with claim 31 wherein the water supplied to said quench tower and said scrubber are withdrawn from said an effluent water reservoir.
- 36. A method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising the steps of:
- transporting saturated gases from said separator, through an induced draft fan, into an acid absorber column, wherein said saturated gases are counter-currently contacted with caustic and water to remove all remaining acid from the saturated gases, thereby producing deacidified gases;
- contacting the deacidified gases with a gas analyzer; and,
- passing said deacidified gases from said acid absorber column to the atmosphere.
- 37. A method in accordance with claim 21 further comprising the steps of:
- withdrawing said ash and said decontaminated metal shreds from said combustion chamber;
- withdrawing said combustion gases from said combustion chamber and feeding saId combustion gases into a second combustion chamber wherein any combustible materials remaining in said combustion gases arc combusted, thereby producing hot gases containing entrained ash and particulates;
- withdrawing said hot gases from said second combustion chamber and feeding said ho( gases into a quench tower, wherein said hot gases are contacted with water to produce saturated gases and effluent water;
- transporting said saturated gases from said quench tower to a scrubber, wherein said saturated gases are intimately contacted with water to remove the entrained ash and particulates from said saturated gases, thereby producing effluent water and saturated gasses;
- transporting said effluent water and said saturated gases from said scrubber to a separator, wherein said effluent water is seperated from said saturated gases;
- transporting said saturated gases from said separator, through an induced draft fan, into an acid absorber column, wherein said saturated gases are counter-currently contacted with caustic and water to remove all remaining acid from the saturated gases, thereby producing deacidified gases;
- withdrawing effluent water from said separator and said quench tower and feeding said effluent water to a recycle water reservoir;
- withdrawing water from said recycle water reservoir and feeding said water to said quench tower and said scrubber;
- contacting the deacidified gases with a gas analyzer; and,
- passing said deacidified gases from said acid absorber column to the atmosphere.
- 38. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein said scrubber comprises a venturi scrubber.
- 39. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein said separator comprises a separator tower.
- 40. An apparatus for the disposal of waste material contained within a metal container comprising:
- a shredder, capable of shredding a metal container into metal shreds, wherein said waste material and said metal container are shredded to form a mixture of waste material and metal shreds;
- means for introducing said metal container containing said waste material into said shredder;
- a combustion chamber, wherein said mixture of waste material and metal shreds is combusted, thereby producing ash decontaminated metal shreds and combustion gases;
- means for feeding said mixture of waste material and metal shreds from said shredder into said combustion chamber;
- means for introducing air into said combustion chamber;
- burner means for igniting the contents within said combustion chamber;
- means for supplying air and auxiliary fuel to said burner means;
- means for withdrawing said ash and said decontaminated metal shreds from said combustion chamber;
- a secondary combustion chamber, wherein any combustible materials remaining in said combustion gases are combusted, thereby producing hot gases containing entrained ash and particulates;
- first conduit means in fluid flow communication between said combustion chamber and said secondary combustion chamber, for defining a flow path for said combustion gases from said combustion chamber to said secondary combustion chamber;
- quenching means for contacting said hot gases with water, thereby producing saturated gases and effluent water;
- second conduit means in fluid flow communication between said secondary combustion chamber and said quenching means, for defining a flow path for said hot gases from said secondary combustion chamber to said quench tower;
- scrubber means for removing said ash and particulates from said saturated gases, thereby producing effluent water containing ash and particulates and saturated gasses;
- third conduit means in fluid flow communication between said quench tower and said scrubber means, for defining a flow path for said saturated gases from said quench tower to said scrubbing means;
- separator means for separating said saturated gases from said effluent water containing ash and particulates;
- fourth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said scrubber means and said separator means, for defining a flow path for said effluent water containing ash and particulates and said saturated gases from said scrubber means to said separator means;
- a recycle water reservoir;
- fifth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said separator means and said quench tower and said recycle water reservoir, for defining a flow path for the effluent water from said separator means and said quench tower to said recycle water reservoir;
- means for introducing fresh water to said recycle water reservoir; and,
- sixth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said recycle water reservoir and said quench tower and said scrubber means, for defining a flow path for recycle water from said recycle water reservoir to said quench tower and said scrubber means.
- an acid absorber column, said column having a stack which is open on one end to the atmosphere such that deacidified gas may pass from the column, throught the stack, into the atmosphere;
- means for introducing water and caustic to said acid absorber column;
- an induced draft fan, wherein said induced draft fan is located between said scrubber means and said acid absorber tower;
- seventh conduit means in fluid flow communication between said separator means and said induced draft fan and between said induced draft fan and said acid absorber column, for defining a flow path for said saturated gases from said separator means, through said induced draft fan, into said acid absorber column;
- a gas analyzer; and,
- eighth conduit means in fluid flow communication between said gas analyzer and said absorber column, for defining a flow path for a portion of said deacidified gas from said acid absorber column to said gas analyzer.
- 41. A method for disposing of waste material contained within a metal container comprising the steps of:
- feeding said metal container containing said waste material into a shredder, wherein said waste material and said metal container are shredded to form a mixture of waste material and metal shreds;
- transporting said mixture of waste material and metal shreds to a combustion chamber, wherein said mixture is combusted, thereby producing ash, decontaminated metal shreds, and combustion gases;
- introducing a sufficient amount of air into said combustion chamber to insure the complete combustion of said mixture;
- withdrawing said ash and said decontaminated metal shreds from said combustion chamber;
- withdrawing said combustion gases from said combustion chamber and feeding said combustion gases into a second combustion chamber wherein any combustible materials remaining in said combustion gases are combusted, thereby producing hot gases containing entrained ash and particulates;
- withdrawing said hot gases from said second combustion chamber and feeding said hot gases into a quench tower, wherein said hot gases are contacted with water to produce saturated gases and effluent water;
- transporting said saturated gases from said quench tower to a scrubber, wherein said saturated gases are intimately contacted with water to remove the entrained ash and particulates from said saturated gases, thereby producing effluent water and saturated gasses;
- transporting said effluent water and said saturated gases from said scrubber to a separator, wherein said effluent water is seperated from said saturated gases;
- transporting said saturated gases from said separator, through an induced draft fan, into an acid absorber column, wherein said saturated gases are counter-currently contacted with caustic and water to remove all remaining acid from the saturated gases, thereby producing deacidified gases;
- withdrawing effluent water from said separator and said quench tower and feeding said effluent water to a recycle water reservoir;
- withdrawing water from said recycle water reservoir and feeding said water to said quench tower and said scrubber;
- contacting the deacidified gases with a gas analyzer; and,
- passing said deacidified gases from said acid absorber column to the atmosphere.
- 42. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the physically distinct phase of the waste material kept in the metal container is selected from the group of phases comprising solid, liquid, and gas.
- 43. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the waste material kept in the metal container is a sludge.
- 44. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the waste material kept in the metal container is a slurry.
- 45. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the waste material kept in the metal container is a hazardous material.
- 46. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the physically distinct phase of the waste material kept in the metal container is selected from the group of phases comprising solid, liquid, and gas.
- 47. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the waste material kept in the metal container is a sludge.
- 48. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the waste material kept in the metal container is a slurry.
- 49. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the waste material kept in the metal containers is a hazardous material.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 008,975, filed 1/30/87 now abandoned.
This invention relates to incineration systems. In particular, this invention relates to incineration systems wherein waste material contained within metal containers is processed. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding metal containers containing waste material to an incineration system.
Due to an increase in environmental awareness and a decrease in available sites for land-fill operations, incineration systems are playing an increasing role in the field of waste management. The use of incineration systems is especially preferred In the disposal of various hazardous wastes. Such wastes are typically transported and stored in metal containers that, in the past, have presented a disposal problem of their own once the hazardous wastes have been removed. The metal containers are contaminated by the hazardous waste they have carried and thus can not be reused without first undergoing an expensive and bothersome decontamination process. Efforts to dispose of the metal containers also present difficulties. Due to their contaminated status, the metal containers must be disposed of in accordance with various government regulations concerning hazardous waste. Although incineration is an acceptable means of disposal for the contaminated metal containers, prior efforts to dispose of the containers in this manner have not met with much success.
Attempting to place metal containers filled with combustible waste into an incinerator system results in a rapid temperature build-up that overloads the incinerator by exceeding the incinerator's maximum rated BTU output. Efforts to dispose of these metal containers by emptying the metal containers first and then incinerating the empty containers have at least two undesirable characteristics. The first is that the waste material often has to be transferred from the container by hand, thus creating a process that is labor-intensive and hazardous for waste disposal personnel. Secondly, burning empty metal containers to remove all of the hazardous constituents contained therein requires long residence times and high temperatures, thus effecting an inefficient use of the incinerator system, while still leaving bulky constituents within the incinerator ash for disposal by the operator.
Many handlers of hazardous waste have solved the problems created by the use of metal containers by transporting and storing their waste in fiber drums, which may be incinerated along with the wastes contained within them. Depending upon the type of waste to be transported and stored, however, such fiber drums may be undesirable.
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for the incineration of waste materials contained within metal containers, wherein the waste materials are processed in a safe, efficient manner and the metal containers are incinerated with the waste materials so as not to create a further disposal problem.
In accordance with the present invention, metal containers containing waste materials are fed through a shredder to form a mixture of waste materials and metal shreds. This mixture is then fed, in a controlled manner, to a primary combustion chamber wherein the waste materials are incinerated to produce ash and combustion gases. The combustion gases are then processed through particulate removal and acid absorbtion systems while the ash, which contains the decontaminated metal shreds, is withdrawn Into a storage drum.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing brief description of the invention and the appended claims as well as the detailed description of the invention which follows.
US Referenced Citations (18)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 265495 |
Oct 1968 |
ATX |
| 2364557 |
Dec 1973 |
DEX |
| 2808770 |
Mar 1978 |
DEX |
| WO8702119 |
Apr 1987 |
WOX |
| 739697 |
Dec 1973 |
ZAX |
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Sep 1979 |
GBX |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
8975 |
Jan 1987 |
|
Patent Grant
4958578
