Apparatus for activity controlled waste incinerator afterburner

Abstract

This invention involves an improved technique for the modulation of waste in an actively controlled compact waste incinerator afterburner. This improved technique utilizes acoustic driving to affect indirect modulation of waste flow velocities. The waste surrogate gases are modulated indirectly by periodic entrainment created by the roll-up of the main air vortex as well as indirect acoustic excitation of secondary air injection. One of the main advantages of this new configuration is the acoustic drivers used to phase inject the waste into the vortex for proper combustion are not in direct contact with the hot waste and therefore can be less expensive and more durable over the long term.

Description

MICROFICHE APPENDIXNot Applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONInformation contained in this section is provided in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,710. A brief overview of this technology follows in the section below.1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to incinerators and to a method and apparatus for the active control of compact waste incinerators. More particularly, the invention described herein is an improved technique for the modulation of waste in an actively controlled compact waste incinerator afterburner.2. Description of the Prior ArtThe interaction between turbulent mixing processes and combustion is important in many practical applications such as air-breathing propulsion systems, energy conversion power plants, hazardous waste incinerators and other chemical reactors and industrial processes. Studies of turbulent mixing during the last two decades established the role of organized coherent large-scale vortical structures in the mass and momentum tr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This invention involves an improved technique for the modulation of waste in an actively controlled compact waste incinerator afterburner. This improved technique utilizes acoustic driving to affect indirect modulation of waste flow velocities. This invention involves the introduction and modulation of the waste flow velocities and is an extension to U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,710. In Pat. No. 5,361,710, acoustic drivers modulate the waste surrogate injection directly. In this invention the waste surrogate gases are modulated indirectly by periodic entrainment created by the roll-up of the main air vortex as well as indirect acoustic excitation of secondary air injection. In both cases, the phase angle is controlled such that the combustibles are introduced into the air vortex at the right time during the vortex formation resulting in good mixing, a controlled yet lifted partially premixed flame, high waste destruction efficiency, and low pollutant emissions. One of the advantages of this new configuration compared to Pat. No. 5,361,710 is that the acoustic drivers used to phase inject the waste into the vortex for proper combustion are not in direct contact with the hot waste and therefore will last much longer.

In this invention, the work on active combustion control included open and closed loop control of small scale-(.about.10 kW) and large scale-(.about.1MW) combustors to enhance their performance by increasing energy release, extending the lean flammability limit, and stabilizing the combustion. The common underlying concept of the combustion processes is vortex combustion. In practical combustors, the combustion process occurs at different locations within the combustion chamber depending on the air / fuel mixture and the fluid dynamic and thermodynamic conditions. Even if the average conditions are proper, it is common that the local conditions are not right for efficient combustion. The vortex combustion technique ensures that the combustion is confined to regions (i.e., vortices) within the combustor where optimal local conditions can be maintained. The vortex provides intense mixing and long residence time necessary for a complete combustion process. It also ensures localized high temperature to maintain efficient combustion. The fuel injection system can be designed for optimal utilization of the fuel by placing the fuel at the regions which provide the best conditions for its combustion. An object of the invention is to utilize liquid fuel injection into air vortices and its use for gaseous and liquid waste incineration.

Problems solved by technology

Even if the average conditions are proper, it is common that the local conditions are not right for efficient combustion.

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