System for continuous thermal combustion of matter, such as waste matter

Abstract

The system for continuous thermal combustion of matter, such as waste matter, is provided with an incinerator comprising an inlet, an outlet and a combustion path extending between the inlet and the outlet. The system further comprises air supply means for supplying heated air to the combustion path. The system is further provided with regulating means for automatically regulating the magnitude of the air supply and/or the temperature of the air supplied with the aid of the air supply means, depending on the heating value of the matter (the amount of heat which is generated upon combustion of the matter in the incinerator).

1 . A system for continuous thermal combustion of matter such as waste matter, provided with an incinerator comprising an inlet for supplying matter to be burned, an outlet for removing burned matter, a combustion path extending between the inlet and the outlet and along which, in use, the matter is continuously transported in a transport direction from the inlet to the outlet for combustion of the matter, and air supply means for supplying heated air to the combustion path, wherein the system is further provided with regulating means for automatically regulating at least one of the magnitude of the air supply and the temperature of the air supplied responsive to the heating value of the matter determined on the basis of the amount of heat which is generated in the incinerator upon combustion of the matter, per kilogram of matter, characterized in that the regulating means include sensor means for determining the heating value of the matter in the incinerator.  
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the combustion path, viewed in the transport direction of the matter along the combustion path, is divided into at least a first combustion zone for heating and evaporating the matter, a main combustion zone in which the matter is substantially burned, and a final zone for burnout of the matter, respectively, and wherein the regulating means are arranged for regulating the magnitude of the air supply to the main combustion zone, in response to the heating value of the matter in the incinerator.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the regulating means reduces the temperature of the air supplied when the heating value increases and increases the temperature of the air supplied when the heating value decreases.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the regulating means reduces the magnitude of the air supplied when the heating value increases and increases the magnitude of the air supplied when the heating value decreases.  
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the regulating means closes off the air supply to the main combustion zone when the heating value exceeds a first predetermined value and releases the air supply to the main combustion zone again when the heating value decreases below a second predetermined value.  
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein, the sensor means are located in the incinerator.  
   
   
       7 . A method for continuous thermal combustion of matter, such as waste matter, in an incinerator comprising supplying matter to be burned into an inlet of a combustion path through the incinerator, removing burned matter from an outlet of the combustion path, continuously transporting matter to be burned in a transport direction from the inlet to the outlet for combustion of the matter, supplying heated air to the combustion path, sensing the magnitude of the heating value of the matter being burned in the incinerator, feeding the sensed magnitude of the heating value to a control station and controlling at least one of the magnitude and temperature of the supply of heated air to the combustion path responsive to the sensed magnitude of the heating value of the matter being generated in the incinerator upon combustion of matter, on a per kilogram of matter basis.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the temperature of the air supplied is reduced when the heating value increases and the temperature of the air supplied is increased when the heating value decreases.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the magnitude of the air supply is reduced when the heating value increases and the magnitude of the air supply is increased when the heating value decreases.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the combustion path, viewed in the transport direction of the matter along the combustion path, is divided into at least a first combustion zone for heating and evaporating the matter, a main combustion zone wherein the matter is substantially burned, and a final zone for burnout of the matter, respectively, while, depending on the heating value, the magnitude of the air supply to the main combustion zone is regulated.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the air supply to the main combustion zone is closed off when the heating value exceeds a predetermined value and the air supply is released again when the heating value decreases below a predetermined value.