Combustion Apparatus with a Radiant Tube Arranged in the Interior of the Combustion Chamber, Modern Cremation

Abstract

A combustion apparatus ( 2 ) is furnished with a loading device, a cremation chamber ( 10 ), a heating device ( 14 ) for heating the cremation chamber ( 10 ), a fresh air supply device, an exhaust gas manifold ( 18 a ) for discharging the exhaust gas from the cremation chamber ( 10 ), a post-cremation chamber ( 28 ), and an exhaust air processing device ( 38 ). In order to provide a combustion apparatus with which, with a minimal energy expenditure and a reduced quantity of exhaust gas to be filtered, an accelerated course of the cremation process is possible, it is proposed that the heating device ( 14 ) is operatively connected to a gas-tight radiant pipe ( 12 ) which is heated by the heating device ( 14 ) and which is arranged in the interior of the cremation chamber ( 10 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A combustion apparatus comprising:
 a cremation chamber;   a heating device configured to heat the cremation chamber;   an air supply device configured to feed supply air to the cremation chamber;   a first exhaust gas manifold configured to discharge an exhaust air from the cremation chamber, the first exhaust gas manifold comprising an exhaust air processing device;   a post-combustion chamber arranged downstream of the cremation chamber;   a gas-tight radiant tube arranged in an interior of the cremation chamber and operatively connected to the heating device so as to be heated by the heating device.   
     
     
         36 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the heating device is arranged outside of the cremation chamber. 
     
     
         37 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the heating device is configured to combust a gaseous or liquid fuel, wherein a second exhaust gas manifold is connected to the heating device and is configured to discharge an exhaust gas produced by combusting the gaseous or liquid fuel into an environment by bypassing the cremation chamber. 
     
     
         38 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the gas-tight radiant tube is designed for an operating temperature above 900° C. and is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a high temperature-resistant steel, a ceramic material, and a composite material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the cremation chamber comprises walls, wherein at least one of the walls of the cremation chamber is configured as a double wall comprising a first wall and a second wall and an intermediate space between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall is facing the cremation chamber and the second wall is facing away from the cremation chamber, wherein the intermediate space is an air guiding channel for supply of the supply air into the cremation chamber or for discharge of the exhaust air from the cremation chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein a plurality of deflection elements are arranged in the intermediate space of the double wall so that a flow of the supply air or of the exhaust air in the double wall is deflected by the plurality of deflection elements and a distance to be traveled by the flow of the supply air or of the exhaust is extended. 
     
     
         41 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 39 , wherein the intermediate space is utilized for heating the supply air or the intermediate space provides the post-combustion chamber for the exhaust air, wherein a first double wall volume of the intermediate space for heating the supply air is larger than a second double wall volume of the intermediate space utilized as the post-combustion chamber. 
     
     
         42 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , further comprising a lifting device, wherein the cremation chamber comprises a bottom segment, wherein the lifting device is connected to the bottom segment and configured to move back and forth the bottom segment in a vertical direction between a closed position closing the cremation chamber in a downward direction and an open position arranged below the closed position, wherein the cremation chamber is opened in the downward direction in the open position. 
     
     
         43 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein the bottom segment comprises thermal insulation at circumferential rims thereof and/or at a bottom side thereof and/or at an interface thereof to the lifting device. 
     
     
         44 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 42 , further comprising water cooling arranged at the bottom segment at circumferential rims thereof and/or at a bottom side thereof and/or at an interface thereof to the lifting device and/or arranged at components of the combustion apparatus adjoining the bottom segment. 
     
     
         45 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein the bottom segment is connected to an interrupter switch configured to shut off or regulate down the heating device, a supply air blower of the air supply device and/or an exhaust air blower when the bottom segment is not in the closed position. 
     
     
         46 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 42 , further comprising an interchangeable vessel configured to be placed onto the bottom segment, wherein the interchangeable vessel comprises carrying elements, wherein the interchangeable vessel is moveable by the carrying elements. 
     
     
         47 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein the interchangeable vessel is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of a high temperature-resistant steel, a ceramic material, and a composite material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 46 , further comprising a conveying device arranged below the cremation chamber, wherein the conveying device comprises a loading station, an interchange station, and a discharge station, wherein the conveying device is configured to supply the interchangeable vessel to the bottom segment and/or to remove the interchangeable vessel from the bottom segment. 
     
     
         49 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein the conveying device further comprises a conveying carriage with at least two placement positions for the interchangeable vessel. 
     
     
         50 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 48 , wherein a solids discharge opening is provided at the interchangeable vessel and/or at an interchangeable casket. 
     
     
         51 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 46 , further comprising a tilting device for tilting the interchangeable vessel and/or an interchangeable casket, wherein the tilting device optionally comprises a cover with a solids discharge opening. 
     
     
         52 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 51 , further comprising an inspection station arranged upstream or downstream of the tilting device and arranged upstream of a grinding processor for inspecting cremated remains of a corpse, wherein the inspection station comprises a metal separator. 
     
     
         53 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , further comprising an electronic control and regulation device for process control of a cremation process in the combustion apparatus, wherein the air supply device comprises a supply air blower connected to cremation chamber and/or an exhaust air blower is connected to the first exhaust gas manifold, wherein the supply air blower and/or the exhaust air blower are connected to the electronic control and regulation device, wherein the control and regulation device comprises a software program configured to regulate conveying outputs of the supply air blower and/or of the exhaust air blower. 
     
     
         54 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 53 , wherein the supply air blower and/or the exhaust air blower can be regulated by the software program to output values adjusting an atmospheric pressure or an excess pressure in the cremation chamber. 
     
     
         55 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the air supply device comprises a supply air blower connected to the cremation chamber, wherein the combustion apparatus has no exhaust air blower, wherein the supply air blower forces the exhaust air from the cremation chamber into the post-combustion chamber and into the first exhaust gas manifold, and wherein the cremation chamber is gas-tight with the exception of an exhaust air opening to the post-combustion chamber. 
     
     
         56 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , further comprising a heat exchanger connected to the post-combustion chamber and further comprising an energy recovery device, wherein heat from an exhaust air flow is transferred to a heat medium circulating between the heat exchanger and the energy recovery device in a loop. 
     
     
         57 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 56 , wherein the heat medium is a phase-changing liquid and the energy recovery device is a steam turbine driven by the phase-changing liquid, wherein the steam turbine has arranged downstream thereof a current generator driven by the steam turbine, and wherein the current generator converts a rotation energy of the steam turbine into electric current. 
     
     
         58 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the exhaust air processing device comprises a separator for separation of solids from the exhaust air, wherein the separator is connected downstream of the post-combustion chamber. 
     
     
         59 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 58 , further comprising a collection container connected to the separator and further comprising a cycle lock arranged between the collection container and the separator. 
     
     
         60 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises a dust gas filter connected to the separator downstream of the separator in a flow direction of the exhaust air and configured to filter the exhaust air. 
     
     
         61 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 60 , wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises an absorption device connected to the separator or connected to the dust gas filter and configured to filter the exhaust air. 
     
     
         62 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 61 , further comprising a heat exchanger arranged between the separator, the dust gas filter and/or the absorption device. 
     
     
         63 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 58 , wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises at least two dust gas filters for filtering the exhaust gas, connected in parallel and alternately operable, arranged downstream of the separator in a flow direction of the exhaust air, wherein a respective inactive dust gas filter of the at least two dust gas filters is operable in a cleaning mode. 
     
     
         64 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 58 , further comprising an interface for pollutant measurement arranged at the first exhaust gas manifold at a location between the separator and a blow-out end of the first exhaust gas manifold. 
     
     
         65 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the exhaust air processing device further comprises a lime water cleaning stage, wherein the exhaust gas is passed via a supply line and a discharge line through the lime water cleaning stage prior to being released into the environment. 
     
     
         66 . The combustion apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the first exhaust gas manifold comprises a branch, wherein a line connected to the cremation chamber is connected to the branch for return of at least a portion of the exhaust gas into the cremation chamber. 
     
     
         67 . A method for cremating a corpse in a combustion apparatus, the method comprising heating with at least one radiant tube a temperature in a cremation chamber of the combustion apparatus to a value of at least 650° C. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the at least one radiant tube is gas-tight, further comprising arranging the at least one gas-tight radiant tube in an interior of the cremation chamber, operatively connecting the at least one gas-tight radiant tube to a heating device, and heating the at least one gas-tight radiant tube by the heating device.