U.S. patent application number 13/159781 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for pyrolysis apparatus of waste material.
This patent application is currently assigned to T.H. ELEMA ENG CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Eun-Ho KIM.
Application Number | 20120125760 13/159781 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45607838 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120125760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Eun-Ho |
May 24, 2012 |
PYROLYSIS APPARATUS OF WASTE MATERIAL
Abstract
Disclosed is a pyrolysis apparatus of a waste material. The
pyrolysis apparatus includes a pyrolysis furnace thermally
decomposing an introduced waste material by using air, an upper
gate installed at an upper portion of the pyrolysis furnace such
that the upper gate is open or closed, and closed after the waste
material has been introduced; a lower gate installed below the
upper gate such that the lower gate is open or closed, a main valve
connected with the exhaust pipe and installed in a main pipe
communicating with an inner part of the pyrolysis furnace, a
sub-valve connected with the exhaust pipe and installed in a
sub-pipe communicating with the inner part of the pyrolysis
furnace, and a gas purifying unit receiving gas exhausted from the
pyrolysis furnace, aerating the gas into water, and purifying the
gas through a filter.
Inventors: |
KIM; Eun-Ho; (Bucheon,
KR) |
Assignee: |
T.H. ELEMA ENG CO., LTD.
Siheung-shi
KR
|
Family ID: |
45607838 |
Appl. No.: |
13/159781 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
202/151 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23J 2217/50 20130101;
F23G 5/444 20130101; F23J 2219/40 20130101; F23G 2205/18 20130101;
F23J 15/02 20130101; F23G 2205/16 20130101; F23G 5/027 20130101;
Y02E 20/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
202/151 |
International
Class: |
C10B 57/00 20060101
C10B057/00; C10B 27/06 20060101 C10B027/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 22, 2010 |
KR |
2010-0116340 |
Claims
1. A pyrolysis apparatus of a waste material comprising: a
pyrolysis furnace thermally decomposing fuel supplied in the
pyrolysis furnace and an introduced waste material by using air
introduced through an air inlet port to exhaust gas; an upper gate
installed at an upper portion of the pyrolysis furnace such that
the upper gate is open or closed, and closed after the waste
material has been introduced; a lower gate installed below the
upper gate such that the lower gate is open or closed, defining a
storage space together between the lower gate and the upper gate,
and introducing a waste material stored in the storage space into
the pyrolysis furnace; and a gas purifying unit receiving gas
exhausted from the pyrolysis furnace, aerating the gas into water
so that a toxic material of the gas is adsorbed onto the water, and
purifying the gas through a filter.
2. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper gate of
the pyrolysis furnace is provided at an upper end thereof with a
waste material introduction port having a cover that is open or
closed.
3. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper and lower
gates are automatically controlled to be open or closed with a
predetermined time difference, and operated by a cylinder.
4. A pyrolysis apparatus of a waste material comprising: a
pyrolysis furnace thermally decomposing a waste material introduced
into an inner space of the pyrolysis furnace by using air
introduced through an air inlet port to exhaust gas into an exhaust
pipe; a main valve connected with the exhaust pipe, installed in a
main pipe communicating with an inner part of the pyrolysis
furnace, and turned on in thermal decomposition of the waste
material to properly adjust an internal pressure of the pyrolysis
furnace; a sub-valve connected with the exhaust pipe, installed in
a sub-pipe communicating with the inner part of the pyrolysis
furnace, and turned on if the internal pressure of the pyrolysis
furnace exceeds a preset pressure to exhaust gas; and a gas
purifying unit receiving gas exhausted from the pyrolysis furnace,
aerating the gas into water so that a toxic material of the gas is
adsorbed onto the water, and purifying the gas through a
filter.
5. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: an upper
gate installed at an upper portion of the pyrolysis furnace such
that the upper gate is open or closed, and closed after the waste
material has been introduced; a lower gate installed below the
upper gate such that the lower gate is open or closed, defining a
storage space together between the lower gate and the upper gate,
and introducing a waste material stored in the storage space into
the pyrolysis furnace; and a gas removing valve connected with the
exhaust pipe, and installed in a gas removing pipe communicating
with the storage space to exhaust gas remaining in the storage
space.
6. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an
exhaust pump serving as a power source to exhaust gas from the
pyrolysis furnace and the storage space, wherein the exhaust pump
operates at an RPM higher than a normal RPM to exhaust the gas when
the sub-valve or the gas removing valve is open.
7. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 1, the gas purifying unit
includes: a bubbling vessel storing water therein and aerating the
gas exhausted from the pyrolysis furnace into water so that toxic
materials of the gas is adsorbed onto the water; a gas passage
exhausting the gas from the bubbling vessel; an adsorbent provided
in the gas passage to reduce the toxic materials of the gas; an
absorbent provided in the gas passage to reduce bad smell of the
gas; a filter section provided in the gas passage to reduce
particles of the gas; a carbon monoxide reduction unit provided in
the gas passage to convert carbon monoxide into harmless gas; and
an exhaust pump provided in the gas passage to exhaust the gas to
air.
8. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a magnet
applying a magnetic field to air introduced into the pyrolysis
furnace through the air inlet port.
9. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drain
exhaust unit provided at an end portion of a smoke passage.
10. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 8, wherein the air inlet port
is installed around a lower end of the pyrolysis furnace, the air
inlet port is provided therein with magnets to form a magnetic
field, and north poles of the magnets face each other, north and
south poles of the magnets face each other, or the north and south
poles of the magnets are offset from each other without facing each
other.
11. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tar
element interposed between a gas outlet of the pyrolysis furnace
and a front stage of the gas purifying unit to remove tar
components from gas generated from the pyrolysis furnace.
12. The pyrolysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas is aerated
into water of a bubbling vessel including a chemical selected from
the group consisting of calcium hydroxide solution, sodium
hydroxide, alkalescent synthetic detergent, and a defoamer, so that
a toxic material selected from the group consisting of dioxin-based
materials, tar-components, halogen-based components including
chloride or fluoride, and pyroligneous liquor is neutralized.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of KR
2010-0116340 filed Nov. 22, 2010. The entire disclosure of the
above application is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a pyrolysis apparatus. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a pyrolysis
apparatus capable of thermally decomposing various waste materials
while restricting the concentration of dioxin or air pollutants to
an environmental regulation value or less.
[0004] 2. Discussion
[0005] Most people like pleasant environment. A variety of waste
materials include daily wastes to pollute environment. In order to
properly dispose the waste materials, various ideas and devices
have been developed. The waste materials may be buried in a
landfill or burned in a crematory.
[0006] Among incinerators according to the related art, "movable
incinerator" has been disclosed in Korean Unexamined Patent No.
1019980084726 in which the incinerator includes a combustion
container body A including a vertical steel cylinder equipped with
a nozzle and a furnace wall formed with an insulating material and
a movable mounting plate B coupled with the combustion container
body A. A plurality of combustion air entrance sections 3 having
first to third air spray nozzles are arranged at a predetermined
interval at the lower end of the vertical steel cylinder. The first
air spray nozzle makes contact with the inner wall of the lower end
of the cylindrical container while being mounted around the inner
wall and communicates with an air introducing passage having a
plurality of pores, and the second spray nozzle is provided at the
central portion through a radiation pipe, which is provided at the
lower portion thereof with pores and made of a heat-resistance
filler material, and communicates with an air supply container made
of a heat-resistance filler material and having pores at the lower
portion thereof. The third air spray nozzle communicates with a
primitive duct made of heat-resistance filler material and having
pores at the lower portion, thereby forming a rostol. A combustion
air exhaust tube is installed in a cylindrical container. The
combustion air exhaust tube is provided on a main wall thereof with
pores and an outer container is put around the combustion air
exhaust tube, so that secondary combustion air is introduced. Two
semi-circular open/close plates and facing each other on a
rectangular frame having wheels are provided at the lower portion
of the combustion container body A, thereby forming a remaining
lime exhaust device manipulated by support levers and release
levers. The movable mounting table includes a typical remaining
lime collecting plate provided directly under the remaining lime
exhaust device.
[0007] In addition, Korean Unexamined Patent No. 1020000060381
discloses an incineration apparatus for a combustible rubbish".
According to the above patent application, combustion air is
directly heated in an incinerator and supplied in an incinerator. A
combustion flame is diffused and collected repeatedly, so that the
combustion flame is smoothly mixed with combustion air.
Accordingly, perfect combustion can be achieved. The exhaust gas is
exhausted through a dust collector under water, so that smoke,
carbon, and toxic gas of the combustion gas are dissolved in water
and discharged in the pollution-free state. In detail, as shown in
FIG. 1, a combustion material and flame diffusing plate, which has
a quadrilateral pyramid with a plurality of air spray holes, is
provided at the upper portion of the incinerator. Combustion
material and smoke guiding holes are provided around the combustion
material and flame diffusing plate. An air guiding passage formed
around the incinerator communicates with an air guiding pipe, which
has the air spray holes formed in left, right, front, and rear
directions and is provided in a longitudinal direction, a short air
guiding pipe, and the lower portion of the combustion material and
flame diffusing plate. An ignition member is provided at one side
of the incinerator.
[0008] When waste materials are incinerated, problems to be solved
in terms of the protection of the environment occurs in relate to
the disposing of a dioxin material and air pollutants.
[0009] The dioxin-based materials include many isomers. The isomers
are classified according to the substitution number of
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), poly chlorinated dibenzo
furan (PCDF), and chlorine (Cl). According to the thermal
decomposition mechanism of the dioxin-based material in a pyrolysis
furnace, an immature organic material of the waste materials
according to the thermal decomposition or an imperfect thermal
decomposition is generated from the surface of a fly ash due to the
catalytic action of copper chloride. Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as mothballs, anthracene, chrysene,
pirene, or phenanthrene, generated from thermal decomposition is
decomposed through the catalytic action, or combustible gas
generated due to the thermal decomposition reacts with Cl due to
the catalytic action to form a precursor of chlorophenol
(C6H3CL30). The chlorophenol (C6H3CL30) is subject to a
condensation reaction to generate a dioxin-based material such as
PCDD.
[0010] In the pyrolysis furnace according to the related art, gas
leaks to the outside through an introduction port of the waste
materials, so that a work environment is deteriorated. In addition,
regarding the conventional introduction port, a person manually
opens a door of the introduction port, so that workability is
degraded. When discharging gas, which is thermally decomposed,
carbon monoxide is excessively discharged through the outlet. In
addition, if the pressure is increased in the pyrolysis furnace,
gas may flow back.
[0011] In order to solve the above problem, a pyrolysis furnace is
disclosed in Korean Unexamined Patent No. 10-2008-0042579. As shown
in FIG. 2, the above invention is suggested to prevent dioxin or
bad smell while effectively performing thermal decomposition of
various waste materials at the temperature of 300.degree. C. or
less. Accordingly, the recombination of dioxin can be prevented. As
shown in FIG. 2, the pyrolysis furnace includes a pyrolysis
section, which thermally decomposes waste materials introduced from
a space isolated from an external space by the insulating bricks to
exhaust gas, and bubbling vessels to aerate the gas exhausted from
the pyrolysis section into vapor, so that toxic materials are
absorbed into water. In detail, the pyrolysis furnace includes the
pyrolysis section, which is made of insulating bricks and isolated
from the external space, air inlet ports, which are provided at the
wall of the pyrolysis section to allow air to be naturally input
into the pyrolysis section, an air restriction unit, which
restricts an inflow amount of air by fastening the air inlet ports,
pairs of magnets, which form a magnetic field on an air passage to
guide air to the pyrolysis section from the air inlet ports to
magnetism-treat the thermal decomposition air, waste material
supports supporting waste materials through a gate having the form
of a shelf in a heat-resistance vessel, a gas exhaust hole provided
on the wall of the pyrolysis section, a toxic material removing
unit, which aerates the exhaust gas discharged from the gas exhaust
hole in the water vessel to remove the toxicity of the exhaust gas,
a catalysis system 19 for absorbing dioxin-based materials or flons
of the exhaust gas which are difficult to be decomposed, and an
exhaust unit to exhaust gas into air by using a fan.
[0012] In the pyrolysis furnace according to the related art, gas
leaks to the outside through an introduction port of the waste
materials, so that a work environment may be deteriorated. In
addition, a person manually opens a door of an introduction port
according to the related art, so that workability is degraded.
[0013] When discharging gas, which is thermally decomposed, carbon
monoxide is excessively discharged through the outlet.
[0014] In addition, if the pressure is increased in the pyrolysis
furnace, gas may flow back.
[0015] When the gas, which is subject to thermal decomposition, is
aerated into the water, tar is generated, so that the bubbling
vessel cannot smoothly operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] An object of the present invention is to allow waste
materials to be more easily introduced into a pyrolysis furnace and
prevent gas from leaking to the outside through an introduction
port.
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to continuously
introduce waste materials while stably maintaining a thermal
decomposition environment in the pyrolysis furnace.
[0018] Still another object of the present invention is to reduce
the contamination level of gas generated after thermal
decomposition has been performed.
[0019] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
prevent gas from flowing back when thermally decomposing waste
materials.
[0020] In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention,
there is provided a pyrolysis apparatus of a waste material
including a pyrolysis furnace thermally decomposing fuel supplied
in the pyrolysis furnace and an introduced waste material by using
air introduced through an air inlet port to exhaust gas, an upper
gate installed at an upper portion of the pyrolysis furnace such
that the upper gate is open or closed, and closed after the waste
material has been introduced, a lower gate installed below the
upper gate such that the lower gate is open or closed, defining a
storage space together between the lower gate and the upper gate,
and introducing a waste material stored in the storage space into
the pyrolysis furnace, and a gas purifying unit receiving gas
exhausted from the pyrolysis furnace, aerating the gas into water
so that a toxic material of the gas is adsorbed onto the water, and
purifying the gas through a filter.
[0021] The upper gate of the pyrolysis furnace is provided at an
upper end thereof with a waste material introduction port having a
cover that is open or closed.
[0022] The upper and lower gates are automatically controlled to be
open or closed with a predetermined time difference, and operated
by a cylinder.
[0023] In another aspect, there is provided a pyrolysis apparatus
of a waste material including a pyrolysis furnace thermally
decomposing a waste material introduced into an inner space of the
pyrolysis furnace by using air introduced through an air inlet port
to exhaust gas into an exhaust pipe, a main valve connected with
the exhaust pipe, installed in a main pipe communicating with an
inner part of the pyrolysis furnace, and turned on in thermal
decomposition of the waste material to properly adjust an internal
pressure of the pyrolysis furnace, a sub-valve connected with the
exhaust pipe, installed in a sub-pipe communicating with the inner
part of the pyrolysis furnace, and turned on if the internal
pressure of the pyrolysis furnace exceeds a preset pressure to
exhaust gas, and a gas purifying unit receiving gas exhausted from
the pyrolysis furnace, aerating the gas into water so that a toxic
material of the gas is adsorbed onto the water, and purifying the
gas through a filter.
[0024] The pyrolysis apparatus further includes a gas removing
valve connected with the exhaust pipe, and installed in a gas
removing pipe communicating with the storage space to exhaust gas
remaining in the storage space.
[0025] The pyrolysis apparatus further includes an exhaust pump
serving as a power source to exhaust gas from the pyrolysis furnace
and the storage space. The exhaust pump operates at an RPM higher
than a normal RPM to exhaust the gas when the sub-valve or the gas
removing valve is open.
[0026] The pyrolysis apparatus further includes an exhaust pipe to
exhaust gas discharged from a bubbling vessel, a carbon monoxide
reduction unit to make a carbon monoxide component of introduced
gas react with catalysis and change the carbon monoxide into carbon
dioxide, in order to make gas discharged from the bubbling vessel
react with the catalysis to lower the concentration of the gas, so
that the gas having a lowered concentration is exhausted through
the exhaust pipe, and a heater to heat the gas making contact with
the catalysis at a proper temperature so that the gas reacts with
the catalysis.
[0027] The pyrolysis apparatus further includes magnets provided in
an inlet port to supply air into the pyrolysis furnace.
[0028] As described above, according to the present invention,
upper and lower gates are installed in double at the waste material
introduction portion used to introduce waste materials. The lower
gate is open in a state that the upper gate is closed. Accordingly,
the gas remaining between the upper and lower gates does not leak
to the outside, so that a work environment can be improved. Since
the gates are operated by cylinders, the workability can be
improved.
[0029] According to the present invention, the exhaust pipe is
installed at the exhaust port, and carbon monoxide of the gas is
changed into carbon dioxide. Accordingly, the concentration of
exhausted gas can be lowered.
[0030] According to the present invention, if the internal pressure
of the pyrolysis furnace is increased, gas can be effectively
exhausted by the sub-valve. Accordingly, the gas can be prevented
from flowing back, and the thermal decomposition of the waste
materials can be stably performed.
[0031] According to the present invention, the tar element prevents
the operating efficiency from being lowered due to the storage of
tar components and easily performs maintenance. The drain exhaust
unit is installed and simply manipulated, so that drains can be
easily exhausted. The heater and the carbon monoxide reduction unit
are separately installed, so that the maintenance time can be
increased. Toxic exhaust gas can be prevented, and the operating
maintenance cost can be saved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is an apparatus for incinerating a flammable waste
material according to the related art;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a view showing a pyrolysis furnace according to
the related art;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of a pyrolysis
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
in which a vertical plane of the pyrolysis apparatus matches with
the ground;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a waste material
introduction port of the pyrolysis apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0036] FIG. 5 is view showing the structure of a pyrolysis
apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a view showing the sectional surface of the tar
element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Hereinafter, a pyrolysis apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to accompanying drawings.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of a pyrolysis
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a waste material
introduction port of the pyrolysis apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pyrolysis apparatus according
to the present invention includes a pyrolysis furnace 1. The
pyrolysis furnace 1 is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No.
10-2008-0042579 by applicant of the present application in which
various waste materials can be thermally decomposed under a
temperature of about 300.degree. C. while dioxin or bad smell is
being prevented.
[0041] The pyrolysis furnace 1 is a place in which waste materials
are actually decomposed through heating, and surrounded by
refractory bricks 2. The refractory bricks 2 have a cylindrical
shape and form a closed region to surround the pyrolysis furnace 1
to actually isolate the pyrolysis furnace 1 from an external
space.
[0042] Since the lateral surface and the bottom surface of the
pyrolysis furnace 1 make contact to a thermal decomposition
reaction region according to the entrance state of waste materials,
a high temperature exceeding a thermal decomposition temperature
may locally occur. Accordingly, the lateral surface and the bottom
surface of the pyrolysis furnace may be constructed by using the
refractory bricks 2. However, since the upper portion of the
pyrolysis furnace 1 makes contact with only gas after reaction,
even a local region of the upper portion of the pyrolysis furnace 1
is not exposed to an abnormal temperature. Accordingly, the
refractory bricks 2 may not be provided in the upper portion of the
pyrolysis furnace 1. However, a protection member against the high
temperature may be installed in the upper portion of the pyrolysis
furnace 1 according to the installation places for the purpose of
safety.
[0043] Meanwhile, air inlet ports 4 and 5 (see FIG. 2) are provided
in the lower portion of the pyrolysis furnace 1 to supply air for
thermal decomposition to the pyrolysis furnace 1. The air inlet
port is provided in such a manner that a plurality of valves
surround the edges of the pyrolysis furnace 1. An air passage of
the air inlet port is provided therein with a magnet to form a
magnetic field. Two or four magnets are attached onto inner walls
of the air passage to apply a magnetic field to air passing through
the air passage. In this case, north poles of the magnets may face
each other, or north and south poles of the magnets may face each
other. In addition, the north and south poles of the magnets may be
offset from each other. When air is introduced in a state that the
magnet field is applied to the air, fire is not distinguished even
in low-temperature thermal decomposition. However, if air without
the magnetic field is introduced, fir may be distinguished in the
low-temperature thermal decomposition. Accordingly, applying a
magnetic field to the air passage of the air inlet port is very
important.
[0044] The pyrolysis furnace 1 is provided therein with an upper
waste material support 6 and a lower waste material support 8.
Waste materials introduced into the pyrolysis furnace 1 are
supported by the upper and lower waste material supports 6 and 8.
The upper and lower waste material supports 6 and 8 are provided
therein with a heat transfer module (not shown) such as charcoal to
supply heat required to thermal decomposition of the waste
materials. Although not shown, other details of the pyrolysis
furnace 1 are disclosed in Korean Patent Application No.
10-2008-0042579.
[0045] A waste material introduction port 10 is provided at an open
upper portion of the pyrolysis furnace 1. The waste material
introduction port 10 has a width and a height smaller than those of
the pyrolysis furnace 1. The waste material introduction port 10
protrudes from the pyrolysis furnace 1 and is installed at a
predetermined height. The waste material introduction port 10 is a
place in which waste materials are primary stored before the waste
materials are put into the pyrolysis furnace 1.
[0046] The waste material introduction port 10 is open or closed by
a cover 12. The cover 12 is rotatably mounted on an upper end of
the waste material introduction port 10 to open or close the waste
material introduction port 10.
[0047] In addition, the waste material introduction port 10 is
provided therein with a storage space 14 in which waste materials
are primarily stored. The storage space 14 is provided at upper and
lower portions thereof with rotatable upper and lower gates 16 and
18, respectively. The upper and lower gates 16 and 18 rotate by
upper and lower cylinders 17 and 19 installed in the lateral
surfaces of the waste material introduction port 10. As shown in
FIG. 3, the upper gate 16 is rotatable upward, and the lower gate
18 is rotatable downward.
[0048] According to the present invention, gates are installed in
double at the waste material introduction port 10, so that gas
generated from waste materials is prevented from leaking to the
outside. In detail, the gates 16 and 18 are not simultaneously
open, but open with a predetermined time difference through an
additional program.
[0049] In addition, since the double gates are installed at the
waste material introduction port 10, the thermal decomposition
environment of the pyrolysis furnace 1 can be stably maintained, so
that waste materials can be continuously introduced.
[0050] In detail, when a worker presses a start button in the open
state of the cover 12, the upper gate 16 is open, so that the waste
materials can be introduced. Then, after 10 seconds elapse, the
upper gate 16 may be automatically closed, or may be manually
closed. If a predetermined time elapses after the upper gate 16 is
closed, the lower gate 18 is open so that the waste materials can
be introduced into the pyrolysis furnace 1. The automatic operation
is controlled by a controller. The controller may include a typical
electronic controller to receive signals from a sensor to control
operating devices. The controller is not shown in the accompanying
drawings in order to avoid the complexity of the drawings.
[0051] The gas generated from the waste materials are blocked by
the upper and lower gates 16 and 19 so that the gas leakage can be
minimized, and external air is not introduced into the pyrolysis
furnace 1. In addition, only if the worker presses the start
button, the above procedure is achieved, so that the thermal
decomposition work can be simplified.
[0052] In addition, after the waste materials are introduced into
the pyrolysis furnace 1, gas remaining in the storage space 14 in
the closed state of the lower gate 18 is discharged to the outside
by a gas removing valve 30 to be described below.
[0053] As described above, since the upper and lower gates 16 and
18 are open or closed with a predetermined time difference, the
waste materials can be continuously decomposed. In detail,
conventionally, after the waste materials have been completely
decomposed, the cover 12 must be open and waste materials must be
introduced and thermally decomposed. However, according to the
present invention, the upper gate 16 can be open so that new waste
materials can be introduced during the thermal decomposition of
existing waste materials. In addition, during the thermal
decomposition of the waste materials, the lower gate 18 can open
and waste materials can additionally introduced. Accordingly,
thermal decomposition can be continuously achieved.
[0054] A main pipe 20 is installed in the pyrolysis furnace 1 to
communicate with an outside. The main pipe 20 communicates with the
internal part of the pyrolysis furnace 1 to properly adjust the
pressure of the pyrolysis furnace 1. Gas exhausted through the main
pipe 20 is adjusted by a main valve 22. The main valve 22 is
controlled to be always turned on if the pyrolysis apparatus is
turned on, and to be closed if the pyrolysis apparatus is turned
off. Therefore, according to the present invention, when the
pyrolysis apparatus is in the turn-on state, the gas of the
pyrolysis furnace 1 is exhausted through the main pipe 20 so that
the pressure can be properly maintained.
[0055] For reference, the pressure of the pyrolysis furnace 1 is
measured by an external differential pressure gauge.
[0056] The pyrolysis furnace 1 is provided therein with a sub-pipe
24 as well as the main pipe 20 for the purpose of the communication
with the outside. Gas exhausted through the sub-pipe 24 is adjusted
by a sub-valve 26. The sub-valve 26 exhausts gas through the
sub-pipe 24 when the internal pressure of the pyrolysis furnace 1
is higher than a present pressure value, so that the gas cannot be
exhausted only through the main pipe 20. In other words, the main
valve 22 is always maintained in an open state, and the sub-valve
26 may be open or closed according to the internal pressure of the
pyrolysis furnace 1.
[0057] Meanwhile, gas remaining in the storage space 14 of the
waste material introduction port 10 is exhausted through a gas
removing pipe 28. The gas exhausted through the gas removing pipe
28 is adjusted by a gas removing valve 30. In other words, gas
remaining between the upper and lower gates 16 and 18 when the
waste material is introduced is removed through the gas removing
pipe 28 by turning on the gas removing valve 30.
[0058] The main pipe 20, the sub-pipe 24, and the gas removing pipe
28 are combined with each other in an exhaust pipe 32. The exhaust
pipe 32 allows gases exhausted through the pipes 20, 24, and 28 to
meet with each other and transfers the gases to bubbling vessels 34
and 40.
[0059] The bubbling vessels 34 and 40 make bubbles from introduced
gas and exhaust the bubbles upward. Water contained in the bubbling
vessels 34 and 40 is maintained at a level higher than an outlet of
the exhaust pipe 32. The water contained in the bubbling vessels 34
and 40 may include chemicals such as calcium hydroxide solution or
sodium hydroxide, alkalescent synthetic detergent, and a defoamer
according to the neutralization action of gas. If gas is aerated
into the bubbling vessels 34 and 40, toxic materials such as
dioxin-based materials, tar-components, halogen-based components
such as chloride or fluoride, or pyroligneous liquor are
neutralized.
[0060] The bubbling vessel 40 is provided at the upper end thereof
with a smoke passage 41 having a U shape. The contaminants of gas
introduced into the bubbling vessel 40 are adsorbed by adsorbents
42 while passing through the water. The adsorbents 42 can lower the
toxicity of chlorinated organic compounds, such as dioxin-based
materials or PCB-based materials, representing high toxicity, or
chlorinated organic compounds such as chlorobenzene-based materials
serving as precursors of the above toxic compounds. The adsorbents
42 may include inorganic adsorbents such as zeolite, silica, or
alumina as well as carbon adsorbents such as activated carbon or a
coking coal. In addition, the toxin of gas subject to absorbents 44
is removed when the gas passes through a filter provided in the
bubbling vessel 40.
[0061] The bubbling vessels 34 and 40, the smoke passage 41, the
adsorbents 42, the absorbents 44, and the filter 46 purify gas,
which are referred to as a gas purifying device.
[0062] The gas subject to the bubbling vessels 40 passes through an
exhaust pump 48. The exhaust pump 48 supplies power so that gas
filled in the pyrolysis furnace 1 and the storage space 14 can be
exhausted. If the gas filled in the pyrolysis furnace 1 has a
pressure greater than a predetermined pressure, the sub-valve 26 is
turned on, so that the exhaust pump 48 operates at above a normal
RPM for a predetermined time (e.g., 40 seconds) to exhaust gas. In
addition, the exhaust pump 48 operates at a high RPM when
exhausting gas remaining in the storage space 14.
[0063] The gas, which has passed through the exhaust pump 48, is
introduced into an exhaust pipe 50. The exhaust pipe 50 is provided
therein with a heater 52 and a carbon monoxide reduction device 54.
The heater 52 heats gas at a predetermined temperature to minimize
the moisture of the gas, so that the gas has a state to smoothly
react with a catalyst.
[0064] The carbon monoxide reduction device 54 accelerates the
reaction with the gas to reduce the concentration of gas. In other
words, the carbon monoxide reduction device 54 reacts with carbon
monoxide mainly constituting exhaust gas to make carbon dioxide, so
that the concentration of the gas can be minimized. Since the
carbon monoxide reduction device 54 reacts with gas purified
through the adsorbents 42, absorbents 44, and the filter 46, a
smaller amount of catalyst can be required, and the life span of
the catalyst can be increased.
[0065] Hereinafter, the process of thermally decomposing waste
materials and the process of exhausting gas generated in the
thermal decomposition process in the pyrolysis apparatus according
to the present invention will be described.
[0066] Before the waste materials are introduced, power is supplied
to devices for the purpose of operation, and the pyrolysis furnace
has been prepared.
[0067] A worker presses an external start button (not shown) in the
state that the cover 12 is open. Then, the upper gate 16 is open
and the waste materials are introduced. The upper gate 16 is
manually open or closed after a predetermined time elapses. The
lower gate 18 is open in a state that the upper gate 16 is closed.
Next, after the waste materials are dropped into the pyrolysis
furnace 1, the lower gate 18 is closed again. The automatic
operations of the gates 16 and 18 are simply started or terminated
through the pressing operation for the start button of the
worker.
[0068] Gas remaining in the storage space 14 between the upper and
lower gates 16 and 18 is exhausted through the gas removing pipe
28. In other words, the gas removing valve 30 is open, and the
exhaust pump 48 effectively exhausts gas by operating at above a
normal RPM. In this case, the main valve 22 and the sub-valve 26
are in the closed state. The gas removing valve 30 is in an open
state for a predetermined time, for example, about 40 seconds, and
closed again. The waste materials are thermally decomposed in the
pyrolysis furnace 1.
[0069] The main valve 22 is open during the thermal decomposition
of the waste materials, and the exhaust pump 48 operates at a
normal RPM, so that the gas of the pyrolysis furnace 1 can be
maintained at a proper pressure.
[0070] When the waste materials are thermally decomposed through
the above procedure, the gas filled in the pyrolysis furnace 1 may
have a pressure exceeding a preset pressure value. If the pressure
of the gas exceeds the preset pressure value, the gas may flow
back. Accordingly, the gas must be exhausted to the outside. The
internal pressure of the pyrolysis furnace 1 can be checked by an
external difference pressure gauge.
[0071] If the internal pressure of the pyrolysis furnace 1 exceeds
a predetermined pressure value, the sub-valve 26 is open.
Simultaneously, the exhaust pump 48 operates at above a normal RPM.
The gas is exhausted through the main pipe 20 and the sub-pipe 24
by the power of the exhaust pump 48. For reference, the gas
removing valve 30 is not open, but maintained in a closed
state.
[0072] The gases exhausted through the main pipe 20 and the
sub-pipe 24 meet with each other in the exhaust pipe 32 and are
introduced to the bubbling vessels 34 and 40. The gas introduced
into the bubbling vessels 34 and 40 are aerated into water of the
bubbling vessels 34 and 40, that is, water including alkalescent
synthetic detergent, a defoamer, calcium hydroxide solution, sodium
hydroxide, or other chemicals. In this aeration procedure, toxic
materials such as dioxin-based materials, tar-components,
halogen-based components such as chloride or fluoride, or
pyroligneous liquor are neutralized.
[0073] In addition, gas (smoke), which has passed through the
bubbling vessel 40, passes through the adsorbents 42, the
absorbents 44, and the filter 46 along the smoke passage 41, so
that environment stress materials such as heavy metal materials or
dioxin-based materials are removed from the gas. Accordingly, the
gas can be purified.
[0074] The gas, which has passed through the bubbling vessel 40 and
the smoke passage 41, is introduced into the exhaust pipe 50
through the exhaust pump 48. The gas introduced into the exhaust
pipe 50 is heated through the heater 52, so that the gas has a
temperature to sufficiently react with catalysis. Then, the gas
reacts with the catalysis, so that carbon monoxide is converted
into carbon dioxide. Accordingly, the contaminants are completely
removed from the gas, so that purified gas is exhausted to the
outside.
[0075] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a
tar element 200 is added to the first embodiment of the present
invention, and a heater 300 and a carbon monoxide reduction device
400 are separately installed in an exhaust pipe, so that a more
safe operation can be performed.
[0076] The pyrolysis furnace 1 and the components 100 of the
pyrolysis furnace 1 have features identical to those of the first
embodiment of the present invention except that drain valves 36 and
43 are installed at the lower portion of the bubbling vessels 34
and 40 for the convenience of the clean, an observation window 45
is additionally installed on the bubbling vessel 40 so that the
inner part of the bubbling vessel 40 can be observed, and a drain
exhaust unit 47 is provided at the end portion of a reverse U shape
smoke passage 41.
[0077] The drain exhaust unit 47 is connected to the end portion of
the smoke passage through a valve 47-1 to collect drains, so that
the collected drains can be exhausted to the outside through the
valve 47-1. When the hot gas is aerated in a bubbling vessel,
purified, and then exhausted upward, the hot gas obtains moisture,
and is condensed on the outer wall of the smoke passage 41 having a
temperature similar to an ambient temperature. Accordingly, the
condensed water must be removed from the outer wall of the smoke
passage 41 and exhausted. In this case, the drain exhaust unit 47
is required.
[0078] According to the first embodiment, the heater 52 and the
carbon monoxide reduction unit 54 are installed in one vertical
case. However, according to the present embodiment, the heater 300
is installed in an individual case having a longer length in the
horizontal direction, and the carbon monoxide reduction unit 400 is
installed in an individual case and arranged in a vertical
direction. Then, the exhaust pump 48 is installed at the rear end
of the carbon monoxide reduction unit 400. If the heater and the
carbon monoxide reduction unit accommodated in one case according
to the first embodiment are separated from each other, metallic
components are oriented in the transverse direction when metallic
catalysis is used so that the metallic components may drop onto the
heater and make contact with a nichrome wire of the heater, thereby
causing spots.
[0079] The heater adjusts the temperature of heated gas. In other
words, the heater controls power through the detection of gas
temperature at an output port of the carbon monoxide reduction
unit, so that a proper temperature of the gas can be maintained.
Since carbon monoxide is subject to exothermic reaction when the
carbon monoxide is changed into carbon dioxide to increase a
temperature, the temperature adjustment of the heater is required
to maintain the proper temperature.
[0080] The tar element 200 may generally include a cyclone or a
filter-type dust collector to collect dust of gas. The sectional
surface of the tar element 200 according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6.
[0081] The tar element 600 includes a partition plate 230, which
has a sectional surface of "T" shape in a case 240 and is attached
to a case cover 245, in order to guide the flow of air in the
direction of arrows. The case 240 and the case cover 245 are
coupled with each other in the form of a flange. Accordingly, the
case 240 and the case cover 245 are separated from each other for
the purpose of cleaning according to occasions. The exhaust pipe 32
of the pyrolysis furnace is connected to an inlet pipe 210 of the
tar element 200, and an outlet pipe of the tar element 200 is
connected to an inlet pipe of the bubbling vessel 34.
[0082] The gas flows in the direction of arrows within the tar
element 200. However, when the gas collides with a partition plate
so that the direction of gas flow is changed, tar particles are
separated from the flow of the gas, so that the tar particles are
piled on the tar element 200. If a horizontal blade 235 is attached
to the partition plate, the tar particles may be piled more
effectively. The piled tar particles and dusts are cleaned through
the separate of the case 240 and the case cover 245.
[0083] Since the operation of the pyrolysis furnace according to
the second embodiment is identical to the operation of the
pyrolysis furnace according to the first embodiment, the details of
the operation of the pyrolysis furnace according to the second
embodiment are omitted. The exhaust of the piled tar or the
manipulation of the drain exhaust unit 47 may be manually
performed.
[0084] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention
have been described, it is understood that the present invention
should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various
changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in
the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as
hereinafter claimed.
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