[0001] This invention relates to heating matter and is particularly, but not exclusively,
applicable to methods of heating matter using apparatus as disclosed in Specification
EP-B-68853 and copending British Specifications Nos. 2202618A, 2203670A, 2205049A
and 2211597A, and in which matter is moved in a band continuously along an annular
path in an annular zone by directing fluid flow into the zone over the annular extent
thereof with both circumferential and vertical flow components. It will be understood
that by utilising heated fluid for the fluid flow over at least a portion of the annular
extent of the zone, there will be a heat transfer between the heated fluid and matter
as the heated fluid passes through the band thereby heating the matter.
[0002] A gaseous mixture which is reactable to produce heat may be used to provide a heated
fluid flow, for example the gaseous mixture may be a combustible gaseous mixture,
typically comprising an air-gaseous fuel mixture.
[0003] However it will be understood that, for the above process of producing a heated fluid
flow to be efficient in a method of heating matter as described above wherein the
heated fluid flow passes through a band of the matter which is moving continuously
along an annular path in an annular zone, the reaction which produces the heated fluid
flow should occur in the zone and must be rapid to ensure that the reaction is substantially
completed within the extent of the band, which for example is typically 50mm deep.
[0004] We have found that the required rapid reaction can be achieved by supplying the gaseous
mixture at a temperature above that at which fuel dissociation occurs such that spontaneous
ignition occurs and no flame front exists.
[0005] The invention in its broadest aspect includes a method of heating matter comprising
supplying a gaseous mixture, which is reactable to produce heat, at a temperature
above that at which spontaneous ignition occurs, to a heating zone such that the gaseous
mixture reacts in said heating zone to provide a heated fluid flow therein, and supplying
matter to be heated to said heating zone.
[0006] Advantageously the reaction utilised is a combustion reaction and the invention also
includes a method of heating matter comprising supplying a combustible gaseous mixture
at a temperature above that at which spontaneous ignition occurs to a heating zone
such that a combustion reaction occurs in said heating zone to provide a heated fluid
flow therein and supplying matter to be heated to said heating zone.
[0007] Furthermore, in presently preferred embodiments a combustible air-gaseous fuel mixture
is utilised and the invention further includes a method of heating matter comprising
supplying a combustible air-gaseous fuel mixture at a temperature above that at which
spontaneous ignition of the gaseous fuel occurs to a heating zone such that a combustion
reaction occurs in said heating zone to provide a heated fluid flow therein, and supplying
said matter to said heating zone.
[0008] Although the invention is applicable to other methods of heating matter, it is especially
applicable to the above-described method, in which case the matter to be heated is
moved in a band continuously along an annular path in an annular zone by directing
fluid flow into said zone over the annular extent thereof with both circumferential
and vertical flow components, said fluid flow comprising said gaseous mixture over
at least a portion of the annular extent of said zone, and the reaction thereof being
substantially completed within the extent of said band.
[0009] The fluid flow may comprise said gaseous mixture over the annular extent of said
zone.
[0010] The matter may comprise particulate material which forms a resident bed moving in
said band along said annular path.
[0011] The gaseous mixture may be directed into a first annular region of said annular zone,
which region is contiguous with and disposed inwardly of a second annular region of
said annular zone such that said reaction occurs substantially in said first annular
region, and said matter is circulated between said regions whilst moving in said band.
[0012] In embodiments of the invention described hereinafter the gaseous mixture comprises
an air-gaseous fuel mixture and the fluid flow is directed into said annular zone
through an annular inlet comprising an annular array of fixed inclined vanes arranged
in overlapping relationship, said gaseous fuel being mixed with heated air immediately
upstream of respective passages defined between said vanes and combustion occurring
downstream of said vanes.
[0013] Preferably the air-gaseous fuel mixture is confined substantially to the region above
the vanes by directing respective flows through said annular inlet at the radially
inner and outer edges thereof with radially outwardly and radially inwardly flow components
respectively.
[0014] The gaseous fuel may comprise natural gas, and in an embodiment of the invention
an air-natural gas mixture is supplied at a temperature greater than 700
oC. The temperature of this mixture is obtained by mixing the natural gas with heated
air at a temperature of less than about 1000
oC, for example between 850 and 900
oC.
[0015] In order that the invention may be better understood, some embodiments thereof will
now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a graph showing the effect of the temperature of an air-gaseous fuel mixture
on combustion rate;
Figure 2 is a schematic axial cross-section of an apparatus for heating matter;
Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line III-III of Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows the portion indicated by IV in Figure 2 to a larger scale and in more
detail than in Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a section taken along the line V-V in Figure 4 showing four blades of
the apparatus;
Figure 6 is a top, part section view of three blades of the apparatus;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a single blade of the apparatus;
Figure 8 is a schematic top plan view of another apparatus for heating matter; and
Figure 9 is an axial cross-section of the same apparatus taken along the line VIII-VIII
of Figure 8.
[0016] Referring first to Figure 1, the effect of the temperature of a combustible air-gaseous
fuel mixture prior to combustion on the rate of combustion is indicated. It will be
noted that combustion of the mixture at the lowest temperature A is comparatively
slower than combustion of the mixture at higher temperatures B and C, the temperature/time
curves in the latter cases being substantially J-shaped, the temperature generated
by the combustion rising rapidly soon after combustion commences. In the embodiments
of the present invention described hereinafter an air gaseous fuel mixture is provided
for combustion at a temperature above that at which dissociation of the fuel occurs
so that rapid combustion is achieved.
[0017] Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the illustrated apparatus comprises a chamber 10
having a circumferential wall 12 which is disposed radially outwardly of an annular
inlet 14. The wall 12 slopes towards the annular inlet, and as shown comprises a cylindrical
portion 16 extending upwardly from a sloping portion 18. In the illustrated apparatus,
the sloping portion 18 extends downwardly to the outer edge of the annular fluid inlet.
[0018] Within the chamber 10 there is a first annular region disposed above the annular
inlet and designated 22 in Figure 2 and a second annular region contiguous with the
first annular region and disposed between that region and the circumferential wall
12. The second region is disposed above the sloping portion 18 of the wall in the
embodiment.
[0019] The apparatus also includes means for directing fluid through the annular inlet 14
with vertical and circumferential flow components. The direction of the fluid flow
through the inlet is indicated in Figure 2 by arrows 26 and 28. The flow of fluid
through the inlet is such that it will move matter in the chamber 10 in a band continuously
along an annular path in the regions 22, 24. This matter is moved vertically and circumferentially
whilst in the first region 22 by the flow of fluid therein, is moved out of this flow
of fluid in the first region into the second region by circumferential force and is
directed back into the first region by the slope 18. The movement of the matter into
and out of the flow of fluid is indicated by arrows 30 in Figure 2. It will be understood
that whilst the matter is being circulated as indicated by arrows 30 it is also moving
in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, it will be understood that when the
matter moves into the outer annular region 24 it is not subjected therein to the flow
of fluid and falls under gravity towards the annular inlet 14 whereupon it re-enters
the fluid flow and is moved circumferentially and vertically by the fluid flow therein.
[0020] The fluid exits the chamber 10 upwardly as indicated by arrows 32 after it has passed
through the annular region 22.
[0021] In the illustrated apparatus the chamber 10 includes a second circumferential wall
34 extending upwardly and disposed radially inwardly of the annular fluid inlet 14.
This circumferential wall 34 has a slope towards the annular fluid inlet such that
matter introduced centrally into the chamber as indicated by arrows 36 will be directed
into the first annular region 22 above the annular fluid inlet 14. Whilst the whole
of the second circumferential wall is provided with such a slope in the embodiment
and this slope extends to the radially inner edge 38 of the annular fluid inlet 14,
it is to be understood that only a portion of the circumferential wall 34 need be
provided with such a slope and that slope need not extend to the edge 38.
[0022] Referring now particularly to Figures 4 to 7, the means for directing fluid through
the annular inlet 14 with vertical and circumferential flow components in the illustrated
apparatus comprises an annular array of fixed inclined vanes 40 arranged in overlapping
relationship, and defining therebetween respective flow passages 42 which extend vertically
and circumferentially. A portion of the annular array of vanes is schematically illustrated
in Figure 3, however it is to be understood that the array extends completely around
the annular inlet 14.
[0023] Each vane 40 is part of a respective blade 44 which is best shown in Figure 7. Adjacent
blades 44 nest together as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 so as to dispose the vanes
in overlapping relationship with the passages therebetween. Each blade 44 is also
provided with respective side vanes 46 and 48 extending upwardly from radially outer
and radially inner sides of its vane 40. The side vanes 46 and 48 of the blades overlap
to define therebetween respective flow passages 50 and 52. The vanes 46 and 48 are
inclined towards each other and the flows through the passages 50 and 52 at the radially
outer and inner edges of the inlet 14, indicated by arrows 28 in Figure 2, have radially
inwardly and radially outwardly flow components respectively causing the flow through
the passages 42, indicated by arrow 26 in Figure 2, to be confined substantially to
the annular region 22 above the vanes 40.
[0024] The blades are provided with radially outer and radially inner mounting portions
54 and 56, by which they are mounted on annular ledges 58 and 60 respectively radially
outwardly and radially inwardly of the annular inlet 14. Intermediate the mounting
portions the blades are provided with a ribbed portion 62 which extends vertically
to the upstream ends of the vanes 40, 46 and 48. The ribs 64 of the portion 62, extend
vertically and are provided on only one side of the portion 62 in the illustrated
blade and define with the plain opposite side 66 of the portion 62 of an adjacent
blade vertically extending flow passage means 68 communicating with the flow passages
42, 50 and 52 defined between that blade and the adjacent blade. Each blade is provided
with a passage for receiving a gaseous fuel distributor, or so-called 'sparge' pipe
70. This passage comprises a bore 72 in an enlarged free end portion 74 of the mounting
portion 54 and a slot 76 aligned with the bore 72 and extending therefrom through
the remaining portion 78 of the mounting portion 54 into the ribbed portion 62 and
terminating short of the mounting portion 56. In the ribbed portion 62 the slot is
completely open at the plain side 66 thereof but bridged at spaced apart locations
by the ribs 64 at the other side.
[0025] As shown in Figures 5 and 6 a pipe 70 is received in the passage therefor in alternate
blades 44, each pipe being provided with radial openings arranged to supply gaseous
fluid to the flow passages defined by the blade in which the pipe is fitted and the
blades on each side of that blade. The pipes 70 are all connected
via conduit means 80 to an annular gas header tube, or manifold, 82 disposed externally
of the circumferential wall 12 of the chamber.
[0026] In use heated air is caused to swirl about an annular chamber 84 beneath the annular
inlet 14 and to flow through the passage means 68 defined between adjacent blades
in the passages 42, 50 and 52 defined between the vanes of those blades. This air
mixes with gaseous fuel from the pipes 70 to form a heated air-gaseous fuel mixture
in the passage means 68 and this mixture is combusted in the annular region of 22
of the chamber 10 above the inlet 14. The air-gaseous fuel mixture is heated prior
to combustion by the mixing of the gaseous fuel with the heated air to a temperature
above that at which spontaneous ignition of the gaseous fuel occurs such that a rapid
combustion reaction occurs as explained hereinbefore in connection with Figure 1.
The rate of combustion is such that although the velocity of the air mixing with the
fuel is greater than the flame propagation velocity thereof so that the resulting
flow is able to move matter in a band along an annular path in the chamber 10, combustion
occurs, and is substantially completed, within the extent of the band, that is before
the mixture passes through the matter in the band. Additionally because the gaseous
fuel is mixed with the air immediately upstream of the passages 42, most of the combustion
occurs downstream of the blades 44 and accordingly they are not subjected to the full
heat of the combustion reaction.
[0027] The above-described embodiment is particularly applicable for use in heating matter
comprising a particulate material which has to be heated to a predetermined temperature
which is at or below the temperature at which fast combustion reactions occur, or
which is adversely affected by being continuously subjected to temperatures above
that predetermined temperature during treatment.
[0028] In such an application the combustion reaction occurs substantially in the first
annular region 22 in the chamber 10. The particulate matter to be heated is supplied
to the chamber centrally thereof and is fed to the region 22 by the slope of the inner
circumferential wall 34. This particulate material is then moved in a band continuously
along an annular path in the regions 22 and 24. The particulate material is moved
vertically and circumferentially by the fluid flow whilst in the first region, is
moved out of the flow in the first region into the second region by circumferential
force and is thereafter directed back into the first region by the slope 18 of the
outer circumferential wall 12. Thus, the particulate material is moved in a band continuously
around the regions 22, 24 whilst being circulated in this band between the regions
such that the material moves into and out of the heated flow during movement around
the regions.
[0029] It will be appreciated that as the combustion reaction is maintained spaced from
the walls 18 and 34 these are not raised to the temperature of the region 22 and therefore
contact by the particulate matter of these walls does not adversely affect the matter.
[0030] Although the above-described embodiment is applicable to heating many types of particulate
matter, particular examples of its application are the heating of perlite, slate and
clay to expand the same.
[0031] Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is illustrated an apparatus for heating matter
which is similar to the apparatus illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Accordingly like
reference numerals in these figures designate like or similar parts. The annular inlet
14 is spanned by an annular array of inclined vanes 86 (only a portion of the array
being shown in Figure 8) which are preferably arranged in overlapping relationship
for directing fluid flow into the annular zone 88 above the inlet 14 with both circumferential
and vertical flow components for moving a resident bed of particulate matter in the
zone 88 continuously along an annular path in a compact band 90.
[0032] Heated air is caused to swirl about annular chamber 84 beneath the inlet 14 and to
flow between the vanes 86 into the zone 88. This air mixes with gaseous fuel from
fuel pipes 70 immediately upstream of the vanes to form a heated air-gaseous fuel
mixture which is combined in zone 88. As in the previous embodiment, the heated mixture
prior to combustion is at a temperature above that at which spontaneous ignition of
the gaseous fuel occurs such that a rapid combustion occurs. The rate of combustion
is such that combustion is substantially completed within the extent of the band of
particulate matter forming the resident bed, thus efficiently heating that matter.
Further matter to be heated is either added to the resident bed or passed therethrough
such that heat is transferred to the further matter from the heated particulate matter
of the bed. This further matter may comprise gases, liquids or solids.
[0033] In the case where the further matter to be heated is a gas, the heated air-gaseous
fuel mixture is passed through the bed along a portion of the annular extent of the
zone 88 to heat the bed and the gas is passed through the bed along another portion
of the annular extent of the zone 88 to be heated by the matter in the bed.
[0034] One example of solid matter which may be heated by being added to the resident bed
is fine powder.
[0035] The apparatus and method described above in connection with Figures 8 and 9 may be
used to heat matter, especially particulate matter directly without the use of a resident
bed. In this case it will be appreciated that the matter to be heated is introduced
into the zone 88 and is moved continuously along an annular path in a compact band
by the passage of the heated fluid flow provided by the combustion of the heated air-gaseous
fuel mixture through the matter whilst heating it.
[0036] It is to be understood that an arrangement of nested blades with fuel sparge pipes
fitted to alternate blades substantially as described in connection with Figures 4
to 7 may be used in the apparatus shown in Figures 8 and 9 instead of the more simple
overlapping vane arrangement schematically illustrated.
[0037] Although other gaseous fuels, such as propane, methane and vapourised oil, may be
used, in the embodiments described above the gaseous fuel is natural gas and the air-natural
gas mixture prior to combustion is at a temperature above 700
oC. To obtain such a mixture temperature the air is preferably at a temperature of
between 850 and 900
oC. Other air temperatures may be used, but it has been found that at air temperatures
above about 1000
oC carbon deposits are likely to form in the fuel pipes 70. Thus it is advantageous
to use an air temperature of less than about 1000
oC.
[0038] Although the embodiments have been described utilising a heated air-gaseous fuel
mixture to provide a heated flow, other combustible gaseous mixtures or gaseous mixtures
which react to produce heated flow and whose reaction rate is typified by a substantially
J-shaped temperature/time curve which the mixture prior to commencement of the reaction
is at a temperature above that at which spontaneous ignition occurs may be used.
1. A method of heating matter comprising supplying a gaseous mixture, which is reactable
to produce heat, at a temperature above that at which spontaneous ignition occurs
to a heating zone such that the gaseous mixture reacts to provide a heated fluid flow
in said heating zone, and supplying matter to be heated to said heating zone.
2. A method of heating matter comprising supplying a combustible gaseous mixture at
a temperature above that at which spontaneous ignition occurs to a heating zone such
that a combustion reaction occurs in said heating zone to provide a heated fluid flow
therein and supplying matter to be heated to said heating zone.
3. A method of heating matter comprising supplying a combustible air-gaseous fuel
mixture at a temperature above that at which spontaneous ignition of the gaseous fuel
occurs to a heating zone such that a combustion reaction occurs in said heating zone
to provide a heated fluid flow therein, and supplying said matter to said heating
zone.
4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air- gaseous fuel mixture is provided
at said temperature by mixing gaseous fuel with heated air.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the matter to be
heated is moved in a band continuously along an annular path in an annular zone by
directing fluid flow into said zone over the annular extent thereof with both circumferential
and vertical flow components, said fluid flow comprising said gaseous mixture over
at least a portion of the annular extent of said zone, and the reaction thereof being
substantially completed within the extent of said band.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fluid flow comprises said gaseous
mixture over the annular extent of said zone.
7. A method as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said matter comprises particulate
material which forms a resident bed moving in said band along said annular path.
8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said gaseous mixture is directed into a
first annular region of said annular zone, which region is contiguous with and disposed
inwardly of a second annular region of said annular zone such that said reaction occurs
substantially in said first annular region, and said matter is circulated between
said regions whilst moving in said band.
9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 when appended to claim 3, wherein
said fluid flow is directed into said annular zone through an annular inlet comprising
an annular array of fixed inclined vanes, said gaseous fuel being mixed with heated
air immediately upstream of respective passages defined between said vanes and wherein
combustion occurs downstream of said vanes.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, including confining said air-gaseous fuel mixture
substantially to the region above the vanes by directing respective flows through
said annular inlet at the radially inner and outer edges thereof with radially outwardly
and radially inwardly flow components respectively.
11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein said gaseous fuel comprises
natural gas and said mixture is supplied at a temperature greater than 700oC.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said temperature of said mixture is obtained
by mixing said natural gas with heated air at a temperature of less than about 1000oC.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said air is at a temperature of between
850 and 900oC.