U.S. patent application number 14/087914 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-20 for carbonizing device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mamoru Ito, Akiyuki Kaneko, Megumi Takeuchi. Invention is credited to Mamoru Ito, Akiyuki Kaneko, Megumi Takeuchi.
Application Number | 20140079598 14/087914 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43826439 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140079598 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ito; Mamoru ; et
al. |
March 20, 2014 |
CARBONIZING DEVICE
Abstract
The carbonizing apparatus includes a heating chamber that
thermally decomposes a treatment object by heating, a preliminary
chamber through which the treatment object is carried from an
outside into the heating member in a state in which the heating
chamber is substantially shielded from the outside, the preliminary
chamber being provided between the heating chamber and the outside,
a plurality of cooling chambers in which the treatment object is
treated after thermal decomposition, shielding doors that close the
preliminary chamber, the heating chamber, and the cooling chambers
arranged in series, a transport means that transports the treatment
object while opening and closing the shielding doors, and exhaust
pipes through which gas discharged from the preliminary chamber,
the heating chamber, and the cooling chambers is exhausted. The
treatment object is carbonized while being sequentially passed
through the preliminary chamber, the heating chamber, and the
cooling chambers.
Inventors: |
Ito; Mamoru; (Tokyo, JP)
; Kaneko; Akiyuki; (Tokyo, JP) ; Takeuchi;
Megumi; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ito; Mamoru
Kaneko; Akiyuki
Takeuchi; Megumi |
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
43826439 |
Appl. No.: |
14/087914 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13435237 |
Mar 30, 2012 |
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14087914 |
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PCT/JP2010/067604 |
Sep 30, 2010 |
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13435237 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
422/164 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 50/10 20130101;
F23G 2209/281 20130101; F23G 5/027 20130101; C10B 47/40 20130101;
C10B 53/00 20130101; C10B 41/08 20130101; F23G 2201/40 20130101;
F23G 7/12 20130101; F23G 2900/50205 20130101; C10K 1/08 20130101;
C10B 47/46 20130101; Y02E 50/14 20130101; C10B 57/02 20130101; F23G
2201/303 20130101; C10B 7/14 20130101; F23G 5/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/164 |
International
Class: |
C10B 41/08 20060101
C10B041/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 1, 2009 |
JP |
2009-243873 |
Oct 1, 2010 |
JP |
2010-233031 |
Claims
1. A carbonizing apparatus comprising: a heating chamber that
thermally decomposes a treatment object by heating; a preliminary
chamber through which the treatment object is carried from an
outside into the heating chamber in a state in which the heating
chamber is substantially shielded from the outside, the preliminary
chamber being provided between the heating chamber and the outside;
a plurality of cooling chambers in which the treatment object is
treated after thermal decomposition; shielding doors that close the
preliminary chamber, the heating chamber, and the cooling chambers
arranged in series; transport means that transports the treatment
object while opening and closing the shielding doors; and exhaust
pipes through which gas discharged from the preliminary chamber,
the heating chamber, and the cooling chambers is exhausted, wherein
the treatment object is carbonized while being sequentially passed
through the preliminary chamber, the heating chamber, and the
cooling chambers, and wherein the preliminary chamber is kept
unheated.
2. The carbonizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
transport means includes a container that receives the treatment
object, and a conveyor that transports the container.
3. A carbonizing apparatus that carbonizes a treatment object
received in a container by passing the treatment object through at
least a heating chamber.
4. The carbonizing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
container includes a box-shaped body formed by an open upper face,
a bottom portion, and side wall portions provided on all sides, and
a treatment-object set portion inclined with respect to the bottom
portion such that the treatment object is set on the
treatment-object set portion.
5. The carbonizing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of a
pair of faces of the side wall portions has a slot through which
the treatment object is fed in the treatment-object set portion,
and the other of the pair of faces of the side wall portions has a
vent hole.
6. The carbonizing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a
stepped portion that prevents the fed treatment object from falling
off through the vent hole is provided between the vent hole and the
treatment-object set portion.
7. The carbonizing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
container includes a box-shaped body formed by an open upper face,
a bottom portion, and side wall portions provided on all sides, and
a treatment-object set portion inclined with respect to the bottom
portion such that the treatment object is set on the
treatment-object set portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/435,237, filed on Mar. 30, 2012, which is a continuation of
PCT/JP2010/067604 filed Sep. 30, 2010, the entire contents of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an improvement of a
carbonizing apparatus that recycles an organic treatment object to
be treated, such as a waste tire, wood, and other wastes, into oil,
gas, a carbonized product, etc. by dry distillation.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Dry distillation gas is generated when an organic treatment
object to be treated, such as rubber or plastics, is decomposed by
heating. When the dry distillation gas passes through a cooling
device, oil is separated therefrom. In the cooling device, surplus
gas containing a low-boiling-point component that is not liquefied
is generated. This surplus gas has odor, and therefore, cannot be
directly discharged into the air. For this reason, in conventional
carbonizing apparatuses, surplus gas is burnt in an odor and smoke
eliminating device (combustion furnace) to be detoxified and
deodorized.
[0004] In such a conventional carbonizing apparatus, a plurality of
treatment chambers, which are closed by shielding doors, are
arranged in series, and a carry-in step, a preheating step, a
thermal decomposition (dry distillation) step, a cooling step, a
carry-out step, etc. are performed in order in the treatment
chambers (see Patent Literature 1).
[0005] In a system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, first and
second preliminary chambers are provided on an upstream side of a
plurality of heating chambers. In the second preliminary chamber
adjacent to the first heating chamber, a treatment object in a
container is preheated by a heater on a predetermined temperature
condition. By thus preheating the treatment object before the
treatment objects enters the first heating chamber, heating
efficiency in the first heating chamber is enhanced. [0006] Patent
Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 2008-291076
[0007] However, in the carbonizing apparatus disclosed in Patent
Literature 1, since preheating is performed in the second
preliminary chamber, dry distillation gas may be generated from the
treatment object according to the type of the treatment object. If
dry distillation gas is generated and is exhausted outside through
the first preliminary chamber, even a risk of explosion exists.
This is significantly undesirable. That is, in terms of safety, the
system needs to completely eliminate at least the risk of
explosion, even if the heating efficiency is reduced somewhat.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-described problems, and an object of the invention is to
provide a carbonizing apparatus that can completely eliminate the
possibility that dry distillation gas will leak out of the
apparatus and explode.
[0009] A carbonizing apparatus according to the present invention
includes: a heating chamber that thermally decomposes a treatment
object by heating; a preliminary chamber through which the
treatment object is carried from an outside into the heating
chamber in a state in which the heating chamber is substantially
shielded from the outside, the preliminary chamber being provided
between the heating chamber and the outside; a plurality of cooling
chambers in which the treatment object is treated after thermal
decomposition; shielding doors that close the preliminary chamber,
the heating chamber, and the cooling chambers arranged in series; a
transport means that transports the treatment object while opening
and closing the shielding doors; and exhaust pipes through which
gas discharged from the preliminary chamber, the heating chamber,
and the cooling chambers is exhausted. The treatment object is
carbonized while being sequentially passed through the preliminary
chamber, the heating chamber, and the cooling chambers. The
preliminary chamber is kept unheated.
[0010] The transport means includes a container that receives the
treatment object, and a conveyor that transports the container.
[0011] 3. The present invention carbonizes a treatment object
received in a container by passing the treatment object through at
least a heating chamber.
[0012] The container includes a box-shaped body formed by an open
upper face, a bottom portion, and side wall portions provided on
all sides, and a treatment-object set portion inclined with respect
to the bottom portion such that the treatment object is set on the
treatment-object set portion.
[0013] One of a pair of faces of the side wall portions has a slot
through which the treatment object is fed in the treatment-object
set portion, and the other of the pair of faces of the side wall
portions has a vent hole.
[0014] A stepped portion that prevents the fed treatment object
from falling off through the vent hole is provided between the vent
hole and the treatment-object set portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a carbonizing apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an enlarged system diagram of a part of the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged system diagram of a part of the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an enlarged system diagram of a part of the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an oil recovery device
in the embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a safety device in the
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a container
used in the carbonizing apparatus of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view of another
container used in the carbonizing apparatus of the invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0023] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a
carbonizing apparatus for carbonizing an organic waste material by
thermal decomposition will be described below with reference to the
attached drawings.
[0024] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, in a carbonizing apparatus
of the embodiment, first and second preliminary chambers 11 and 12,
first to fourth heating chambers (carbonizing chambers) 21 to 24,
and first to third cooling chambers 31 to 33 are arranged in series
in a flow direction of a carbonizing procedure.
[0025] As shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, a treatment object to be
treated (an object to be carbonized) fed in the first preliminary
chamber 11 passes through the second preliminary chamber 12, and is
converted to the treatment chambers 21 to 24 and 31 to 33 in order.
In the treatment chambers 21 to 24 and 31 to 33, as will be
described below, the treatment object is sequentially subjected to
treatment processes for carbonizing an organic material in the
treatment object, whereby a carbonized product is taken out from
the third cooling chamber 33.
[0026] The setting numbers of preliminary chambers 11 and 12 and
treatment chambers 21 to 24 and 31 to 33 are not limited thereto,
and may be increased or decreased, for example, according to the
required processing performance. For example, instead of four
heating chambers, that is, the first to fourth heating chambers 21
to 24, three or less, or five or more heating chambers may be
provided.
[0027] The carbonizing apparatus includes, as a transport means, a
container 100 that receives a treatment object, and a conveyor that
transports the container 100. The conveyor extends through the
interiors and exteriors of the treatment chambers 11, 12, 21 to 24,
and 31 to 33, and transports the container 100 in a flow direction
shown by the arrow (a substantially horizontal direction).
[0028] The carbonizing apparatus includes ten shielding doors 5
serving as means for opening and closing the preliminary chambers
11 and 12 and the treatment chambers 21 to 24 and 31 to 33. The
shielding doors 5 are moved up and down by an unillustrated driving
mechanism. When the shielding doors 5 are pulled up to
predetermined opening positions, they open doorways of the
preliminary chambers 11 and 12 and the treatment chambers 21 to 24
and 31 to 33 so that the container 100 transported by the conveyor
can pass therethrough. In contrast, when the shielding doors 5 are
pulled down to predetermined closing positions, they hermetically
close the preliminary chambers 11 and 12 and the treatment chambers
21 to 24 and 31 to 33.
[0029] Each of the preliminary chambers 11 and 12 and the treatment
chambers 21 to 24 and 31 to 33 is provided with a nitrogen-gas
injection pipe 2 through which nitrogen gas is injected, and an
exhaust pipe 3 through which gas is exhausted from the chamber. A
low oxygen concentration atmosphere is produced by nitrogen
substitution in which nitrogen gas is injected through the
nitrogen-gas injection pipe 2 and gas in the chamber is forcedly
exhausted through the exhaust pipe 3.
[0030] The first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24 are arranged
side by side at the center in the flow direction of the carbonizing
procedure. In the first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24, a
treatment object in the container 100 is heated by an unillustrated
heater on a predetermined temperature condition (e.g., about 360 to
450.degree. C.), and the treatment object is carbonized by thermal
decomposition (dry distillation) without being burnt in the low
oxygen concentration atmosphere. In the first to fourth heating
chambers 21 to 24, high-calorie dry distillation gas is generated
from the treatment object by this thermal decomposition, and gas
exhausted from the first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24 to the
exhaust pipes 3 by nitrogen substitution has a high concentration
of combustible components.
[0031] In this way, carbonization for thermally decomposing the
treatment object is performed in the first to fourth heating
chambers 21 to 24. In contrast, in the embodiment, the preliminary
chambers 11 and 12 are kept unheated, and therefore, thermal
decomposition of the treatment object is not performed in the
preliminary chambers 11 and 12. As a result, dry distillation gas
is not generated from the treatment object.
[0032] The second preliminary chamber 12 is provided between the
first heating chamber 21 and the first heating chamber 21, and the
container 100 is transported from the second preliminary chamber 12
to the first heating chamber 21 while opening and closing the
shielding door 5. In the second preliminary chamber 12, nitrogen
substitution is performed.
[0033] Since the second preliminary chamber 12 is kept unheated, a
state in which no dry distillation gas is generated from the
treatment object is maintained. However, when the shielding door 5
is opened and closed, dry distillation gas in the adjacent first
heating chamber 21 flows into the second preliminary chamber 12, so
that gas exhausted from the second preliminary chamber 12 to the
exhaust pipe 3 by nitrogen substitution has a somewhat high
concentration of combustible components.
[0034] The first preliminary chamber 11 is provided on the most
upstream side in the flow direction of the carbonizing procedure.
While the shielding door 5 is opened and closed, the container 100
is carried in the first preliminary chamber 11, where nitrogen
substitution is performed.
[0035] The first preliminary chamber 11 is provided on an upstream
side of the second preliminary chamber 12. While the shielding door
5 is opened and closed, the container 100 is carried from the first
preliminary chamber 11 into the second preliminary chamber 12. In
the first preliminary chamber 11, dry distillation gas is not
generated from the treatment object because thermal decomposition
of the treatment object is not performed. Although a small amount
of dry distillation gas remaining in the adjacent second
preliminary chamber 12 flows in the first preliminary chamber 11
when the shielding door 5 is opened and closed, gas exhausted from
the first preliminary chamber 11 to the exhaust pipe 3 by nitrogen
substitution has a low concentration of combustible components.
[0036] On a downstream side of the first to fourth heating chambers
21 to 24, the first to third cooling chambers 31 to 33 are provided
as cooling chambers where treatment after thermal decomposition is
performed.
[0037] The first cooling chamber 31 is provided on a downstream
side of the fourth heating chamber 24. While the shielding door 5
is opened and closed, the container 100 is carried from the fourth
heating chamber 24 into the first cooling chamber 31. In the first
cooling chamber 31, a first cooling step for the treatment object
is performed. Dry distillation gas is generated from the treatment
object by residual heat, and dry distillation gas flows from the
adjacent fourth heating chamber 24 in the first cooling chamber 31
when the shielding door 5 is opened and closed, so that gas
exhausted from the first cooling chamber 31 to the exhaust pipe 3
has a somewhat high concentration of combustible components.
[0038] The second cooling chamber 32 is provided on a downstream
side of the first cooling chamber 31. While the shielding door 5
thereof is opened and closed, the container 100 is carried from the
first cooling chamber 31 into the second cooling chamber 32. In the
second cooling chamber 32, a second cooling step for the treatment
object is performed, and little dry distillation gas is generated
from the treatment object by residual heat. Although a small amount
of dry distillation gas remaining in the adjacent first cooling
chamber 31 flows into the second cooling chamber 32 when the
shielding door 5 is opened and closed, gas exhausted from the
second cooling chamber 32 to the exhaust pipe 3 by nitrogen
substitution has a low concentration of combustible components.
[0039] The third cooling chamber 33 is provided on a downstream
side of the second cooling chamber 32. While the shielding door 5
is opened and closed, the container 100 is carried from the second
cooling chamber 32 into the third cooling chamber 33. In the third
cooling chamber 33, a third cooling step for the treatment object
is performed, and little distillation gas is generated from the
treatment object by residual heat. Although a very small amount of
dry distillation gas remaining in the adjacent second cooling
chamber 32 flows into the third cooling chamber 33 when the
shielding door 5 is opened and closed, gas exhausted from the third
cooling chamber 33 to the exhaust pipe 3 by nitrogen substitution
has a low concentration of combustible components.
[0040] The third cooling chamber 33 is provided on the most
downstream side in the flow direction of the carbonizing procedure.
While the shielding door 5 thereof is opened and closed, the
container 100 is carried from the third cooling chamber 33 to the
outside.
[0041] In the first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24,
high-calorie dry distillation gas is generated from the treatment
object during thermal decomposition. This dry distillation gas
contains a lot of combustible hydrocarbon components. When the dry
distillation gas passes through the exhaust pipes 3 and is heated
by cooling devices 6, the combustible components are liquefied and
combustible oil is recovered. However, surplus gas passing through
the cooling devices 6 contains a low-boiling-point combustible
component that is not liquefied. For example, the surplus gas has a
calorie of about 1000 to 10000 kcal/m.sup.3.
[0042] Since the second preliminary chamber 12 is kept unheated, no
dry distillation gas is generated from the treatment object.
However, when the shielding door 5 is opened and closed, dry
distillation gas in the adjacent first heating chamber 21 flows
into the second preliminary chamber 12. Thus, when gas exhausted
from the second preliminary chamber 12 through the exhaust pipe 3
is cooled by a cooling device 6, combustible components are
liquefied and combustible oil is recovered. Surplus gas passing
through the cooling device 6 contains some low-boiling-point
combustible components that are not liquefied.
[0043] In the first cooling chamber 31, dry distillation gas is
generated by residual heat during cooling of the treatment object,
and dry distillation gas in the adjacent fourth heating chamber 24
flows in the first cooling chamber 31 when the shielding door 5 is
opened and closed. Thus, when gas exhausted from the first cooling
chamber 31 through the exhaust pipe 3 and is cooled by a cooling
device 6, combustible components are liquefied and combustible oil
is recovered. Surplus gas passing through the cooling device 6
contains some low-boiling-point combustible components that are not
liquefied.
[0044] As equipment for treating gas exhausted from the treatment
chambers 11, 32, and 33, a safety device 8 for preventing backflow
of the gas and a first odor and smoke eliminating device 51 for
burning the gas are provided.
[0045] As equipment for treating gas exhausted from the treatment
chambers 12, 21 to 24, and 31, cooling devices 6 for separating oil
by cooling the gas, oil recovery devices 7 for recovering oil
contained in surplus gas, safety devices 8 and 9 for preventing
backflow of the gas, and second odor and smoke eliminating devices
61 are provided.
[0046] While two second odor and smoke eliminating devices 61 and
one first odor and smoke eliminating device 51 are provided in the
embodiment, alternatively, the setting number of odor and smoke
eliminating devices may be increased or decreased, for example,
according to the required processing performance.
[0047] Gas containing few combustible components and exhausted from
the first preliminary chamber 11, the second cooling chamber 32,
and the third cooling chamber 33 passes through a first exhaust
passage 50, and is introduced into the first odor and smoke
eliminating device 51, where odor and smoke of the gas are
eliminated by a high-temperature atmosphere. Then, the gas is
exhausted outside from a heat exhaust pipe 55 of the first odor and
smoke eliminating device 51.
[0048] The exhaust pipes 3 extending from the first preliminary
chamber 11, the second cooling chamber 32, and the third cooling
chamber 33 are connected to one safety device 8, and gas passing
through the safety device 8 is guided to the first odor and smoke
eliminating device 51 through the first exhaust passage 50. That
is, in a path through which gas from the first preliminary chamber
11, the second cooling chamber 32, and the third cooling chamber 33
is guided to the first odor and smoke eliminating device 51, a
cooling device and an oil recovery device are not provided.
[0049] The safety device 8 has a structure similar to that of
below-described safety devices 9 (see FIG. 6), and serves to stop
backfire from the first odor and smoke eliminating device 51 by
water stored therein. To the safety device 8, gas is also
introduced from a primary oil tank 41, secondary oil tanks 42,
centrifugal separators 97, a clean oil tank 43, an indoor tank 47,
and an overflow receiving tank 44 which will be described
below.
[0050] A suction fan 56 is provided in the first exhaust passage
50, and gas is sent into the first odor and smoke eliminating
device 51 through the suction fan 56.
[0051] The first odor and smoke eliminating device 51 includes a
combustion furnace 54 where gas is retained, a burner 53 facing the
interior of the combustion furnace 54 to maintain the temperature
in the combustion furnace, and a heat exhaust pipe 55 through which
gas burnt in the combustion furnace 54 is exhausted outside.
[0052] The burner 53 for maintaining the temperature in the
combustion furnace is provided near an exit of the combustion
furnace 54. The burner 53 burns supplied fuel in the combustion
furnace 54 to maintain a predetermined temperature (e.g., about
800.degree. C.) in the combustion furnace 54.
[0053] In the first odor and smoke eliminating device 51, the
combustion furnace 54 has a capacity such that a predetermined gas
retention time can be obtained. While gas (dry distillation
gas+nitrogen) passes through a high-temperature atmosphere in the
combustion furnace 54, odor is efficiently eliminated from the
gas.
[0054] Gas containing a lot of combustible components and exhausted
from the second preliminary chamber 12, the first to fourth heating
chambers 21 to 24, and the first cooling chamber 31 passes through
second exhaust passages 60, and is introduced into the second odor
and smoke eliminating devices 61, where it is burnt. After that,
odor and smoke are eliminated from the gas in a high-temperature
atmosphere, and is exhausted outside from heat exhaust pipes 65 of
the second odor and smoke eliminating devices 61.
[0055] In the exhaust pipes 3 through which gas is exhausted from
the second preliminary chamber 12, the first to fourth heating
chambers 21 to 24, and the first cooling chamber 31, cooling
devices 6, oil recovery devices 7, and safety devices 9 are
arranged in series.
[0056] Dry distillation gas exhausted from the second preliminary
chamber 12, the first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24, and the
first cooling chamber 31 through the exhaust pipes 3 is cooled by
the cooling devices 6, so that oil contained in the dry
distillation gas is liquefied.
[0057] Each of the cooling devices 6 includes a group of cooling
water pipes through which cooling water flows, and a heat
exchanging unit where cooling water circulates around a gas tube
through which dry distillation gas passes. The cooling device 6
cools the dry distillation gas by these components, and recovers
sludge, such as liquefied oil and sulfur contents, from the dry
distillation gas.
[0058] The oil liquefied in the cooling devices 6 is sent to a
primary oil tank 41 through pipes 15, oil in the primary oil tank
41 is sent to three secondary oil tanks (oil tanks) 42 through
pipes 16 and oil transfer pumps 26, and oil in the secondary oil
tanks 42 is sent to a clean oil tank 43 through pipes 17 and oil
transfer pumps 27, and is stored in the clean oil tank 43.
[0059] An overflow receiving tank 44 is provided to store oil
overflowing from the primary oil tank 41 and the secondary oil
tanks 42 and 43. Oil overflowing from the primary oil tank 41 is
sent to the overflow receiving tank 44 through a pipe 35, oil
overflowing from the secondary oil tanks 42 is sent to the overflow
receiving tank 44 through pipes 36, and oil overflowing from the
clean oil tank 43 is sent to the overflow receiving tank 44 through
a pipe 19. Oil in the overflow receiving tank 44 is returned to the
primary oil tank 41 through a pipe 37 and an oil transfer pump
38.
[0060] Fuel oil, such as heavy oil A, is stored in an underground
tank 46 and an indoor tank 47. Oil overflowing the indoor tank 47
is sent to the underground tank 46 through a pipe 49. Oil in the
underground tank 46 is returned to the indoor tank 47 via an oil
transfer pump 48.
[0061] Oil in the indoor tank 47 and oil in the clean oil tank
(fuel tank) 43 are sent to combustion furnace burners 62 and 63 in
the second odor and smoke eliminating devices 61 and the burner 53
in the first odor and smoke eliminating device 51 through a fuel
supply passage 18. The indoor tank 47 is connected to the fuel
supply passage 18 via a switch valve 58, and the clean oil tank
(fuel tank) 43 is connected to the fuel supply passage 18 via a
switch valve 59.
[0062] At the start of dry distillation (a state in which clean oil
is not stored in the clean oil tank 43) and when clean oil runs out
in the clean oil tank 43 during dry distillation, the switch valve
59 is closed and the switch valve 58 is opened to supply heavy oil
from the indoor tank 47 to the combustion furnace burners 53, 62,
and 63 through the fuel supply passage 18. When a sufficient amount
of clean oil is stored in the clean oil tank 43, the switch valve
59 is opened and the switch valve 58 is closed to supply the clean
oil from the clean oil tank 43 to the combustion furnace burners
53, 62, and 63 through the fuel supply passage 18.
[0063] A wastewater tank 45 is provided to store wastewater taken
out of the safety devices 9 and the safety device 8. Into the
wastewater tank 45, wastewater from the safety devices 9 is guided
through a pipe 67, and wastewater from the safety device 8 is
guided through a pipe 68.
[0064] The combustion furnace burners 53, 62, and 63 are of a water
combine combustion type that mixes and burns oil supplied from the
clean oil tank 43 or the indoor tank 47 through the fuel supply
passage 18 and flow-rate adjusting valves 57 and wastewater
supplied from the wastewater tank 45 through a wastewater supply
passage 69 and flow-rate adjusting valves 20. The amounts of fuel
oil and water supplied to the combustion furnace burners 53, 62,
and 63 are adjusted by the openings of the flow-rate adjusting
valves 57 and the flow-rate adjusting valves 20 so that the oil and
the water are mixed at a proper mixing ratio.
[0065] Surplus gas passing through the cooling devices 6 is sent to
the oil recovery devices 7, where oil and sludge contained in the
surplus gas are recovered. The oil and sludge recovered by the oil
recovery devices 7 are sent to the primary oil tank 41 through
pipes 10.
[0066] As will be described below, the oil recovery devices 7 store
oil adsorbing liquid, and pass surplus gas in the oil adsorbing
liquid. When the oil contained in the surplus gas is liquefied by
contact with the oil adsorbing liquid, and is then recovered.
Surplus gas emerging on the oil adsorbing liquid in the oil
recovery devices 7 is sent to the safety devices 9 through pipes
8.
[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the oil recovery devices 7
includes an oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 that stores oil adsorbing
liquid. A space above a surface of the oil adsorbing liquid is
divided into three gas chambers 76 to 78 by two partitions 79.
Three gas inflow pipes 71 to 73 are provided to cause surplus gas
to flow into the oil adsorbing liquid below the gas chambers 76 to
78.
[0068] The number of gas chambers 76 to 78 and the number of gas
inflow pipes 71 to 73 are not limited thereto, and are arbitrarily
set, for example, according to the required processing
performance.
[0069] Surplus passing through the cooling device 6 flows into the
oil adsorbing liquid in the oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 through
the gas inflow pipe 71. The surplus gas emerging in the gas chamber
76 above the surface of the oil adsorbing liquid flows into the oil
adsorbing liquid in the oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 through the
gas inflow pipe 72, the surplus gas emerging in the gas chamber 77
above the oil adsorbing liquid flows into the oil adsorbing liquid
in the oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 through the gas inflow pipe 73,
and the surplus gas emerging in the gas chamber 78 above the
surface of the oil adsorbing liquid flows out through a gas outflow
pipe 85. The surplus gas coming out of the oil recovery device 7
through the gas outflow pipe 85 is guided into the safety device 9
through a surplus-gas introducing pipe 85.
[0070] The oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 includes gas-permeable
plates 81 serving as a bubble dividing means 80 through which
bubbles of the surplus gas rising after flowing out from the gas
inflow pipes 71 to 73 pass to be divided into fine bubbles. The
surplus gas flowing out in the form of large bubbles from the gas
inflow pipes 71 to 73 passes through the gas-permeable plates 81
while rising in the oil adsorbing liquid, so that the large bubbles
are turned into fine bubbles. This urges oil contained in the
surplus gas to be liquefied by contact with the oil adsorbing
liquid and to be mixed in the oil adsorbing liquid.
[0071] The gas-permeable plates 81 have a lot of small holes
opening at predetermined intervals. The bubble dividing means 80 is
not limited to the gas-permeable plates 81, and, for example, may
be formed by a mesh material.
[0072] Three gas-permeable plates 81 are arranged in the up-down
direction. Lower ends of the gas inflow pipes 71 to 73 extend
through the gas-permeable plates 81. The number of gas-permeable
plates 81 is not limited thereto, and is arbitrarily set, for
example, according to the required processing performance.
[0073] A gas intake port 82 shaped like a cutout is provided in an
upper portion of an open end of each of the gas inflow pipes 72 and
73 at the gas chamber 77, and an oil-mist collision plate 83 is
fixed to oppose the gas intake port 82. Thus, gas in the gas
chamber 77 flows from the gas intake port 82 into a relay pipe 88
beyond the oil-mist collision plate 83. When the oil adsorbing
liquid in the oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 bubbles and oil mist is
produced in the gas chamber 77, the oil mist is urged to be
liquefied by colliding with the oil-mist collision plate 83.
[0074] A disc-shaped oil-mist collision plate 86 is provided to
oppose an open end of the gas outflow pipe 85 in the gas chamber
77. Thus, gas in the gas chamber 77 flows into the gas outflow pipe
85 while bypassing the oil-mist collision plate 86. When the oil
adsorbing liquid in the oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 bubbles and
oil mist is produced in the gas chamber 77, this oil mist is urged
to be liquefied by colliding with the oil-mist collision plate
86.
[0075] In a lower portion of the oil adsorbing liquid tank 75, an
exit 87 is opened, and a valve 89 is provided to open and close the
exit 87. The oil adsorbing liquid tank 75 has a bottom portion 88
that slopes toward the exit 87. Sludge contained in the oil
adsorbing liquid is collected at the exit 87 through the bottom
portion 88 by gravity. When the valve 89 is opened, the sludge is
sent together with the oil adsorbing liquid to the primary oil tank
41 through the pipe 10.
[0076] To the oil adsorbing liquid tank 75, heavy oil A is supplied
as oil adsorbing liquid from the indoor tank 47 through a pipe 91
via an oil transfer pump 92. The oil adsorbing liquid tank 75
includes a liquid level gauge (not illustrated) which detects the
liquid surface level of the oil adsorbing liquid. When the detected
liquid surface level is lower than a predetermined value, a valve
90 is opened to supply heavy oil A from the indoor tank 47 to the
oil adsorbing liquid tank 75.
[0077] Heavy oil A is used as oil adsorbing liquid. It was
confirmed by experiment that heavy oil A could obtain a viscosity
suited to liquid for entrapping bubbles of surplus gas and could
provide an oil recovery rate higher than that of light oil or the
like having a lower viscosity.
[0078] The oil adsorbing liquid is not limited to heavy oil A, and
it is conceivable to use another fuel oil or water. However, when
water is used as oil adsorbing liquid, an oil-water separator or
the like is needed to recover oil floating on the water.
[0079] Oil adsorbing liquid overflowing from the oil adsorbing
liquid tank 75 flows out from an exhaust pipe 95, and is sent to
the primary oil tank 41 through the pipe 15.
[0080] Surplus gas passing through the oil recovery device 7 is
sent to the second odor and smoke eliminating device 61 through the
safety device 9, and is burnt in the second odor and smoke
eliminating device 61.
[0081] Water is stored in the safety device 9. This water blocks
the flow of gas that flows back from the second odor and smoke
eliminating device 61 through the pipe 50. Since the water in the
safety device 9 is contaminated by the passage of surplus gas, it
is periodically exhausted to the wastewater tank 45 through the
pipe 67.
[0082] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the safety device 9 includes a
water tank 93 that stores water, and a surplus-gas inlet pipe 94
that extends in the water in the water tank 93. Surplus gas guided
through the surplus-gas inlet pipe 94 flows out as bubbles into the
water in the water tank 93, and the surplus gas emerging above the
water is sent to the second odor and smoke eliminating device 61
through the pipe 50. The flow of gas flowing back from the second
odor and smoke eliminating device 61 through the pipe 50 is stopped
by the water stored in the safety device 9. Flame propagating from
the second odor and smoke eliminating device 61 through the pipe 50
is blocked by the water stored in the safety device 9.
[0083] The water tank 93 of the safety device 9 stores water
supplied through a pipe 68. Discharged water overflowing from the
water tank 93 flows into the wastewater tank 45 through the pipe
67. During maintenance, the water is drained from the safety device
9 with a valve 39 being opened.
[0084] Sludge is deposited from dry distillation gas flowing
through the cooling device 6 and the oil recovery device 7. This
sludge is sent together with liquefied oil to the primary oil tank
41 through the pipe 15, and is collected into the corresponding
secondary oil tank 42 through the pipe 16.
[0085] Each secondary oil tank 42 is provided with an oil
circulation circuit 96 that circulates oil stored therein. In the
oil circulation circuit 96, a centrifugal separator 97 is provided
to separate and remove sludge and the like contained in the oil.
The oil circulation circuit 96 is formed by a plurality of pipes
that communicate between the secondary oil tank 42 and the
centrifugal separator 97. Oil in the secondary oil tank 42 is
sucked into a pump of the centrifugal separator 97 through one of
the pipes, and oil flowing out of the centrifugal separator 97
flows to the secondary oil tank 42 through the other pipe. The
centrifugal separator 97 separates sludge from the oil circulating
therein by centrifugal force. After such a sludge separating and
removing process for separating sludge is finished, the oil
transfer pump 27 is driven to send and collect the oil in the
secondary oil tank 42 into the clean oil tank 43 through the pipe
17.
[0086] A clean-oil circulation circuit 99 is provided to circulate
the oil in the clean oil tank 43 via a circulation pump 98. A
suction port of the clean-oil circulation circuit 99 is connected
to a lower portion of the clean oil tank 43. When the oil in the
clean oil tank 43 is circulated in the clean-oil circulation
circuit 99 by driving the circulation pump 98, it is stirred so
that a tar substance contained in the oil of the clean oil tank 43
does not precipitate. Thus, the tar substance is uniformly mixed in
the oil to be sent from the clean oil tank 43 to the combustion
furnace burners 62, 63, and 53 through the fuel supply passage 18,
and is burnt together with the oil in the combustion furnace
burners 62, 63, and 53.
[0087] Suction fans 66 are provided in the second exhaust passages
60, and gas is sent into the second odor and smoke eliminating
devices 61 via the suction fans 66.
[0088] Each of the second odor and smoke eliminating devices 61
includes a combustion furnace 64 in which gas is retained, a
combustible-gas ignition small-capacity burner 62 facing the
interior of the combustion furnace 64, a large-capacity burner 63
for maintaining the temperature in the combustion furnace, and a
heat exhaust pipe 65 that exhausts, to the outside, gas burnt in
the combustion furnace 64.
[0089] The combustible-gas ignition small-capacity burner 62 is
provided near an entrance of the combustion furnace 64. The
small-capacity burner 62 burns supplied fuel in the combustion
furnace 64, and ignites a combustible component contained in the
gas flowing into the combustion furnace 64.
[0090] The large-capacity burner 63 for maintaining the temperature
in the combustion furnace is provided near an exit of the
combustion furnace 64, and burns supplied fuel in the combustion
furnace 64 so as to maintain a predetermined temperature (e.g.,
about 800.degree. C.) or more in the combustion furnace 64.
[0091] The second odor and smoke eliminating device 61 burns a
combustible component in gas (dry distillation gas+nitrogen) to
detoxify the gas and to eliminate odor from the gas, and secures
the capacity of the combustion furnace 64 so that the temperature
in the combustion furnace 64 does not rise above a permitted value
(e.g., one thousand and several hundred degrees Celsius) with
combustion of the combustible component in the gas. In the
combustion furnace 64, abnormal combustion is prevented, and
explosion is prevented.
[0092] Next, a description will be given of the container 100 used
in the carbonizing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional perspective view of the container 100.
[0093] The container 100 includes a box-shaped body 102 having an
open upper face 103, a bottom portion 104, and side wall portions
105 provided on all sides, and a plurality of treatment-object set
portions 110 which are inclined with respect to the bottom portion
104 and which receive treatment objects.
[0094] One face 106 of a pair of faces of the side wall portions
105 has slots 112 through which treatment objects are fed into the
treatment-object set portions 110, and the other face 107 of the
pair of faces of the side wall portions 105 has a plurality of vent
holes 114.
[0095] Between the vent holes 114 and surfaces of the
treatment-object set portions 110 on which treatment objects are
placed, stepped portions 116 are provided corresponding to the
treatment-object set portions 110 to prevent the fed treatment
objects from falling off through the vent holes 114.
[0096] The treatment-object set portions 110 are inclined to slope
downward from the slots 112 side toward the vent holes 114. The
interval between the treatment-object set portions 110 may be
arbitrarily set, for example, according to the size or usage of
treatment objects, and the treatment-object set portions 110 may be
attached in various manners, for example, by fitting or by integral
formation. Further, the treatment-object set portions 110 can be
variously modified without departing from the object of the present
invention, for example, the treatment-object set portions 110 may
be formed of a material having high thermal conductivity, or a
heater or the like may be set in the treatment-object set portions
110.
[0097] In general, in a container having no treatment-object set
portions 110, treatment objects fed in the container are heaped up
into a mountain, and the heat transfer area, that is, the contact
area between the treatment objects and a low oxygen concentration
atmosphere (nitrogen atmosphere) for transferring heat from a
heater is small. Hence, heat is not sufficiently transferred into
the fed treatment objects. For this reason, in such a container
having no treatment-object set portions 110, it is necessary to
reduce treatment objects to be fed into the container or to
manually level the treatment objects.
[0098] However, in the container 100 having the above-described
structure, treatment objects are substantially uniformly leveled
along the inclination of the treatment-object set portions 110 by
being simply fed from the slots 112. This allows heat of the heater
to be efficiently transferred to the treatment objects.
[0099] The vent holes 114 provided in the other face 107 of the
pair of faces of the side wall portions 105, which faces the one
face 106 of the pair of faces of the side wall portions 105, allow
the low oxygen concentration atmosphere (nitrogen atmosphere) to
pass between the slots 112 and the vent holes 114. Hence, the
treatment objects are heated efficiently.
[0100] Further, the stepped portions 116 provided on the vent holes
114 side can not only prevent the treatment objects from falling
off through the vent holes 114 when being fed, but also prevent the
treatment objects, which are thermally decomposed and fluidized by
heating, from flowing out of the container 100 and leaking to a
driving unit for the device, such as the conveyor for conveying the
container 100, and to other units in the carbonizing apparatus of
the invention.
[0101] Next, a description will be given of another container 200
used in the carbonizing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional perspective view of another container 200.
[0102] The container 200 includes a box-shaped body 202 having an
open upper face 203, a bottom portion 204, and side wall portions
205 provided on all sides, and a plurality of treatment-object set
portions 210 which are inclined with respect to the bottom portion
204 and which receive treatment objects.
[0103] The treatment-object set portions 210 are inclined with
respect to the bottom portion 204 at an angle different from a
vertical angle. The interval between the treatment-object set
portions 210 may be arbitrarily set, for example, according to the
size and usage of the treatment objects, and the treatment-object
set portions 110 may be attached in various manners, for example,
by fitting or by integral formation. Further, the treatment-object
set portions 210 can be variously modified without departing from
the object of the present invention, for example, the
treatment-object set portions 210 may be formed of a material
having high thermal conductivity, or a heater or the like may be
set in the treatment-object set portions 210.
[0104] In the container 200 having such a structure, treatment
objects are substantially uniformly leveled along the inclination
of the treatment-object set portions 210 by being simply fed from
the upper face 203. Hence, heat from the heater is efficiently
transferred to the treatment objects.
[0105] The above-described configuration is provided. Next,
operation and advantages will be described.
[0106] By being indirectly heated in an oxygen-free condition in
the first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24 hermetically closed
by the shielding doors 5, organic materials are subjected to dry
distillation to form carbonized products, and dry distillation gas
containing oil is taken out through the exhaust pipes 3.
[0107] High-temperature dry distillation gas taken out of the first
to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24 is cooled by the cooling
devices 6, so that the oil in the dry distillation gas is liquefied
and recovered.
[0108] Surplus gas taken out from the cooling devices 6 contains
oil that is not liquefied thereat. This oil is liquefied by contact
with the oil adsorbing liquid stored in the oil recovery devices 7,
and the liquefied oil is entrapped in the oil adsorbing liquid and
is recovered.
[0109] The surplus gas is sent to the safety devices 9 after oil is
sufficiently removed therefrom by the oil recovery devices 7. This
can inhibit the oil from being liquefied and floating on the water
stored in the safety devices 9, and can prevent shortage of water
to be supplied via the wastewater tank 45 to the combustion furnace
burners 62, 63, and 53 of a water combine combustion type.
[0110] In contrast, the surplus gas taken out via the safety
devices 9 is transferred to the second odor and smoke eliminating
devices 61. Since oil contained in the surplus gas passing through
the safety devices 9 is reduced, the oil contained in the surplus
gas is prevented from being liquefied and dripping outside at the
gas suction fans provided at the entrances of the second odor and
smoke eliminating devices 61.
[0111] In this way, gas exhausted from the second preliminary
chamber 12, the first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24, and the
first cooling chamber 31 and containing a lot of combustible
components passes through the second exhaust passages 60, is
introduced into the second odor and smoke eliminating devices 61,
and is burnt in the second odor and smoke eliminating devices 61.
Also, odor and smoke are eliminated from the gas in
high-temperature atmospheres in the second odor and smoke
eliminating devices 61, and the gas is exhausted out from the heat
exhaust pipes 65 of the second odor and smoke eliminating devices
61.
[0112] The carbonizing apparatus of the embodiment includes a
plurality of preliminary chambers (first and second preliminary
chambers 11 and 12) where a treatment object is safely transferred
to heating chambers for performing thermal decomposition, heating
chambers (first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24) where the
treatment object is thermally decomposed by heating, a plurality of
cooling chambers (first to third cooling chambers 31 to 33) where
processes after thermal decomposition of the treatment object are
performed, shielding doors 5 that close the preliminary chambers
(first and second preliminary chambers 11 and 12), the heating
chambers (first to fourth heating chambers 21 to 24), and the
cooling chambers (first to third cooling chambers 31 to 33) which
are arranged in series, a transport means that transports the
treatment object while opening and closing the shielding doors 5,
and exhaust pipes 3 through which gas exhausted from the
preliminary chambers (first and second preliminary chambers 11 and
12), the heating chambers (first to fourth heating chambers 21 to
24) and the cooling chambers (first to third cooling chambers 31 to
33) are taken out. In the carbonizing apparatus, the treatment
object is carbonized while being sequentially passed through the
preliminary chambers, the heating chambers, and the cooling
chambers. Since the preliminary chambers are kept unheated, the
treatment object is not heated in the preliminary chambers during
passage therethrough.
[0113] As a result, the fear that dry distillation gas will be
generated from the treatment object in the preliminary chambers is
completely eliminated. Therefore, generation of dry distillation
gas caused by preheating the treatment object in the preliminary
chambers, even if the generation is slightly supposed, is
completely prevented. In this way, even when the preliminary
chambers communicate with the outside of the apparatus, dry
distillation gas will not leak out of the apparatus because it is
not generated in the preliminary chambers. Therefore, the risk of
explosion of dry distillation gas is completely eliminated, and a
considerably high level of safety is secured.
[0114] It is needless to say that the present invention is not
limited to the above-described embodiment and that various
modifications are possible without departing from the object of the
present invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0115] According to the present invention, when a treatment object
passes through the preliminary chambers, it is not heated through
the passage of the preliminary chambers, because the preliminary
chambers are kept unheated. As a result, the fear that dry
distillation gas will be generated from the treatment object in the
preliminary chambers is completely eliminated. Therefore,
generation of dry distillation gas caused by preheating the
treatment object in the preliminary chambers, even if the
generation is slightly supposed, is completely prevented. In this
way, even when the preliminary chambers communicate with the
outside of the apparatus, dry distillation gas will not leak out of
the apparatus because it is not generated in the preliminary
chambers. Therefore, the risk of explosion of dry distillation gas
is completely eliminated, and a considerably high level of safety
is secured.
[0116] Further, according to the present invention, the
treatment-object set portions in the container that receive the
treatment object enhance thermal decomposition efficiency in
heating treatment for carbonizing the organic material in the
treatment object by thermal decomposition (dry distillation).
* * * * *