Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for the heat processing of particulate materials

US4475936A · kind A · utility

37Cited by
7References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 1983
Grant dateOct 9, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 10, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC03B19/1025
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vortex combustion furnace (1) for the production of glass beads or the like is generally cylindrical and has an outlet flue (24) at its upper end. A burner (13) at the lower end burns a gas/air mixture. Secondary air is introduced into the chamber through tangential air inlets (16) and creates a vortex (71) within the chamber. Tertiary air is introduced through a ring of angled nozzles (71) surrounding the burner further to swirl the flame. The vortex has a top-hat temperature profile with a central heating region with a temperature in excess of 1000.degree. C. and a surrounding cooling region with a temperature not much above ambient. Glass cullet is supplied to a fluidized bed (53) and then entrained in a pipe (44) to be injected into the chamber. The cullet follows a spiral path in the vortex, is heated, melts to form glass beads, is then cooled and finally is collected after striking the wall of the chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.