Thermal Oxidizer With Enhanced Gas Mixing

Abstract

A burner cone has protrusions that facilitate turbulence of combustion gases. Such cones can advantageously be utilized in thermal oxidizers that receive syn gases from pyrolyzing municipal or other wastes. Preferred cones have a frustoconical shape and numerous protrusions and associated openings. Use of such cones in thermal oxidizers can significantly increase the efficiency of oxidizing syn gases produced by pyrolyzing municipal and other wastes.

1 . A method of facilitating combustion of a mixture of combustible gases derived from a solid fuel, comprising:
 providing a burner cone having a wall disposed between first and second ends, the wall having (a) first and second openings and (b) first and second protrusions that extend from the wall by at least 2 cm; and   flowing the gases through the openings and around the protrusions such that combustion of the gases is increased relative to a similar burner without the protrusions.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the burner has a frustoconical shape. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the first and second openings disposed at an equal distance from the first end. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the first and second openings disposed at different distances from the first end. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least twenty additional openings disposed in the wall. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening has an area of between 50 cm 2  and 200 cm 2 . 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening has a curved edge. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion extends outwardly from the wall by at least 5 cm. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion extends outwardly from the wall by at least 10 cm. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion extends outwardly from the wall at and angle of at least 50°. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion includes a compound curve. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion is disposed at a location other than an opening. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second protrusions are disposed at the first opening. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion is derived from a portion of the wall forming the first opening. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening has an upstream edge and a downstream edge, and the first protrusion is disposed at one of the upstream and downstream edges. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening has an upstream edge and a downstream edge, and the first protrusion is disposed intermediate the upstream and downstream edges. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wall has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the first protrusion extends inwardly from the inner surface. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wall has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the first protrusion extends outwardly from the outer surface. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving at least one of the gases from a pyrolysis device. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising pyrolyzing a municipal waste in the pyrolysis device.