Temperature-controlled incinerator dryer grates

Abstract

Incinerator dryer grates with temperature control provided by two-phase steam. Very wet bulk refuse entering an incinerator sits on a grate before falling onto a hearth floor below. This drives off volatile hydrocarbons and allows drying. The grate may also provide combustion air. The drying process causes the moisture content of the refuse to fall below 50 percent where combustion may occur. Two-phase steam passes through separate channels in the grate to control its temperature. The oxygen-containing gas emanating from the grate into the combustion chamber may contain gaseous products of combustion, or flue gas, with or without air to make use of the former's heat and moisture content. When the flue gas contains chlorine, its temperature should, through the addition of cool air, fall within the range of 400° to 750° F. To avoid chlorine corrosion, blowers propelling the flue gas must either remain out of the gas stream entirely or should only contact the flue gas after cooled to this temperature range. For particulate or shredded refuse, a second grate staggered below the first achieves sufficient dwell time for the material to dry and lose its volatile hydrocarbons. A loader enters the incinerator to push the refuse onto the grate and limit the refuse thickness so that the grate's gas can penetrate it.

1 . In a system for drying material comprising a chamber, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material, and gas means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing a gas into said chamber through said grate means, the improvement comprising temperature-controlling means, coupled to said grate means, for passing a fluid other than said gas and of a temperature within a predetermined range, through said grate means and separate from said gas.  
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said temperature-controlling means passes a two-phase fluid of a temperature within a predetermined range, through said grate means.  
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 2  wherein said system further includes boiler means, coupled to said chamber, for transferring heat from said chamber to a two-phase fluid and wherein said temperature-controlling means is coupled to said boiler means and said grate means and passes said two-phase fluid between said boiler means and said grate means.  
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said temperature-controlling means passes a fluid other than said gas and having a generally known temperature through a closed system circulating through said grate means and separate from said gas.  
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means comprises gaseous products of combustion.  
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said grate means comprises at least one passageway through which said gas passes prior to being introduced into said chamber, said passageway has a composition of steel, and at least a portion of said passageway is directly exposed to the interior of said chamber.  
   
   
       7 . A method for drying material in a system comprising a chamber and grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material comprising (a) introducing a gas into said chamber through said grate means and (b) passing a fluid other than said gas and of a temperature within a predetermined range, through said grate means and separate from said gas.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said fluid is a two-phase fluid of a temperature within a predetermined range.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising transferring heat in gaseous products of combustion to said two-phase fluid prior to passing said two-phase fluid through said grate means.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein, after said fluid has passed through said grate means said fluid is passed through a closed system back through said grate means.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means comprises gaseous products of combustion.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said grate means comprises at least one passageway having a composition of steel through which said gas passes and is then introduced into said chamber and further comprising directly exposing a portion of said steel passageway to combustion occurring within said chamber.  
   
   
       13 . In a system comprising a chamber, a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber, for holding burning material thereon, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allowing said material to drop through to said floor means, and oxygenating means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means, the improvement comprising temperature-controlling means, coupled to said grate means, for passing a fluid other than said oxygen-containing gas and of a temperature within a predetermined range, through said grate means and separate from said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       15 . The improvement of  claim 14  wherein the temperature in said enclosed chamber around said grate means is above said range.  
   
   
       16 . The improvement of  claim 14  wherein the temperature of said oxygen-containing gas in said grate means is above the temperature of said fluid in said grate means.  
   
   
       17 . The improvement of  claim 14  wherein the temperature of said oxygen-containing gas in said grate means is below the temperature of said fluid is said grate means.  
   
   
       18 . The improvement of  claim 14  wherein said oxygen-containing gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means is air.  
   
   
       19 . The improvement of  claim 14  wherein said oxygen-containing gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means comprises said gaseous products of combustion in said enclosed chamber.  
   
   
       20 . The improvement of  claim 19  wherein said oxygen-containing gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means is a combination of air and. said gaseous products of combustion in said enclosed chamber  
   
   
       21 . The improvement of  claim 13  wherein said fluid passed through said grate means is a two-phase fluid.  
   
   
       22 . The improvement of  claim 21  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       23 . The improvement of  claim 22  wherein said two-phase fluid is a water-steam combination.  
   
   
       24 . The improvement of  claim 21  wherein said system further comprises boiler means, coupled to said chamber, for transferring heat in gaseous products of combustion from said chamber to said two-phase fluid, said improvement further comprising temperature-controlling means, coupled to said boiler means and said grate means, for passing said two-phase fluid between said boiler means and said grate means.  
   
   
       25 . The improvement of  claim 21  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       26 . The improvement of  claim 21  wherein said temperature-controlling means, passes said fluid through a closed system circulating through said grate means.  
   
   
       27 . The improvement of  claim 26  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       28 . The improvement of  claim 13  wherein said oxygen-containing gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means comprises gaseous products of combustion from said chamber.  
   
   
       29 . The improvement of  claim 28  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       30 . The improvement of  claim 29  wherein said oxygenating means also introduces air into said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas and further includes proportioning means for controlling the relative amounts of air and said flue gas in said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       31 . The improvement of  claim 30  wherein said oxygenating means further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said oxygen-containing gas introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       32 . The improvement of  claim 29  wherein said oxygenating means also introduces air into said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas and further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said oxygen-containing gas introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       33 . The improvement of  claim 13  wherein said grate means comprises at least one passageway through which said oxygen-containing gas passes prior to being introduced into said chamber, said passageway has a composition of steel, and at least a portion of said passageway is directly exposed to combustion occurring within said chamber.  
   
   
       34 . The improvement of  claim 33  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       35 . The improvement of  claim 34  wherein said portion of said passageway directly exposed to the combustion occurring within said chamber is at least half of said passageway.  
   
   
       36 . A method for controlling the temperature within a system comprising a chamber, a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber, for holding material thereon, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allowing said material to drop through to said floor means comprising (a) introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means and (b) passing a fluid other than said oxygen-containing gas and of a temperature within a predetermined range, through said grate means and separate from said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said fluid passed through said grate means comprises a two-phase fluid of a temperature within a predetermined range.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising transferring heat in gaseous products of combustion to said two-phase fluid prior to passing said two-phase fluid through said grate means.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 41  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 36  wherein, after said fluid has passed through said grate means, said fluid is passed through a closed system back through said grate means.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means comprises gaseous products of combustion.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said grate means comprises at least one passageway having a composition of steel through which said gas passes and is then introduced into said chamber and further comprising directly exposing a portion of said steel passageway to combustion occurring within said chamber.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       48 . In a system for drying material comprising a chamber, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material, and gas means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing a gas into said chamber through said grate means, the improvement wherein said grate means comprises a membrane tube wall formed into a conduit from sections of relatively thin, substantially heat conducting material and having at least two spaced-apart, substantially fluid-tight tubules formed from substantially heat conducting material and in thermal contact with said sections.  
   
   
       49 . The improvement of  claim 48  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding burning material thereon and oxygenating means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means, said grate means, after holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time, allowing said material to drop through to said floor means.  
   
   
       50 . The improvement of  claim 49  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       51 . The improvement of  claim 50  wherein sections and said tubules are integral with each other.  
   
   
       52 . The improvement of  claim 51  wherein sections and said tubules are welded to each other.  
   
   
       53 . The improvement of  claim 50  wherein two of said tubules are in fluid-tight, fluid communication with each other.  
   
   
       54 . The improvement of  claim 50  wherein said grate means comprises a plurality of grate arms, each of said arms comprises said membrane tube wall in the form of a conduit, and said oxygenating means introduces said oxygen-containing gas through said membrane tube wall.  
   
   
       55 . The improvement of  claim 54  wherein said oxygen-containing gas comprises said gaseous products of combustion.  
   
   
       56 . The improvement of  claim 54  wherein said oxygen-containing gas comprises air.  
   
   
       57 . The improvement of  claim 54  wherein said oxygen-containing gas comprises a combination of said gaseous products of combustion and air.  
   
   
       58 . A method for controlling the temperature in a system comprising a chamber and grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding material thereon comprising (a) introducing a gas into said chamber through a conduit formed in a membrane tube wall from sections of relatively thin, substantially heat conducting material and having at least two spaced-apart, substantially fluid-tight tubules from substantially heat conducting material and in thermal contact with said sections, said membrane tube wall comprising at least part of said grate means, and (b) passing a fluid other than said gas through said substantially fluid-tight tubules.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding burning material thereon, said grate means, after holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time, allows said material to drop through to said floor means, and said gas is an oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       61 . In a system for drying material comprising a chamber with an inlet opening, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material, and gas means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing a gas into said chamber through said grate means, the improvement comprising loader means, coupled to said chamber in proximity to said inlet opening, for (1) moving said material into said chamber through said inlet opening onto said grate means and (2) limiting the height of said material above the top of said grate means.  
   
   
       62 . The improvement of  claim 61  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding burning material thereon and oxygenating means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means, said grate means, after holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time, allowing said material to drop through to said floor means.  
   
   
       63 . The improvement of  claim 62  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       64 . The improvement of  claim 63  wherein said loader means takes the form of a plug loader with motive means for moving said plug loader in a direction toward said inlet opening and the interior of said enclosed chamber.  
   
   
       65 . The improvement of  claim 64  wherein said motive means moves said loader through said inlet opening and into said interior of said chamber.  
   
   
       66 . The improvement of  claim 65  wherein said motive means moves said loader through said inlet opening and into said interior of said chamber in a direction and to a depth within said chamber that said loader is at a position where said loader substantially reaches the end of said grate means.  
   
   
       67 . The improvement of  claim 66  wherein said motive means moves said loader through said inlet opening and into said interior of said chamber to a number of positions in said chamber wherein, in each of said positions, said loader is located at a different depth within said chamber than at the other of said positions, and further including control means, coupled to said motive means, for selecting the particular position for said positions to which said motive means moves said loader.  
   
   
       68 . The improvement of  claim 65  further including a heat and corrosion resistant material on the exterior of said loader.  
   
   
       69 . The improvement of  claim 65  further including cooling means, coupled to said loader, for reducing the temperature of said loader.  
   
   
       70 . A method for drying material in a system comprising a chamber and grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material comprising (1) placing said material onto said grate means and (2) limiting the height of said material above the top of said grate means.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding burning material thereon and said grate means, after holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time, allows said material to drop through to said floor means.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       73 . In a system for drying material comprising a chamber, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material, and gas means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing a gas into said chamber through said grate means, the improvement wherein said gas means introduces gaseous products of combustion into said chamber through said grate means as at least a part of said gas.  
   
   
       74 . The improvement of  claim 73  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding burning material thereon, said gas means is an oxygenating means, coupled to said grate means and to said outlet means, for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means, and said grate means, after holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time, allows said material to drop through to said floor means.  
   
   
       75 . The improvement of  claim 74  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       76 . The improvement of  claim 75  wherein said oxygenating means also introduces air into said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas and further includes proportioning means for controlling the relative amounts of air and said flue gas in said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       77 . The improvement of  claim 76  wherein said oxygenating means further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said oxygen-containing gas introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       78 . The improvement of  claim 75  wherein said oxygenating means also introduces air into said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas and further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said oxygen-containing gas introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       79 . The improvement of  claim 73  wherein said gas means establishes the temperature of said oxygen-containing gas to within a predetermined range prior to said oxygen-containing gas entering said grate means.  
   
   
       80 . The improvement of  claim 79  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding burning material thereon, said gas means is an oxygenating means, coupled to said grate means and to said outlet means, for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means, and said grate means, after holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time, allows said material to drop through to said floor means.  
   
   
       81 . The improvement of  claim 80  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       82 . The improvement of  claim 81  wherein said temperature range is about 400 to 750 degrees F.  
   
   
       83 . The improvement of  claim 82  wherein said oxygenating means establishes said temperature of said oxygen-containing gas by combining with said gaseous products of combustion with a separate oxygen-containing gas having a temperature lower than said gaseous products of combustion.  
   
   
       84 . The improvement of  claim 83  wherein said separate oxygen-containing gas is air.  
   
   
       85 . The improvement of  claim 81  wherein said oxygenating means also introduces air into said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas and further includes proportioning means for controlling the relative amounts of air and said flue gas in said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       86 . The improvement of  claim 85  wherein said oxygenating means further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said oxygen-containing gas introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       87 . The improvement of  claim 81  wherein said oxygenating means also introduces air into said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas and further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said oxygen-containing gas introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       88 . The improvement of  claim 73  wherein said gas means (a) includes a conduit in fluid communication with a source of products of combustion and said grate means and blower means, coupled to said conduit for introducing under pressure air from outside said chamber into said conduit to make a mixture of said products of combustion and said air, said blower means remaining out of contact with said gaseous products of combustion and said mixture, and (b) introduces at least a portion of said mixture of said products of combustion and air into said chamber through said grate means as at least a part of said gas.  
   
   
       89 . The improvement of  claim 79  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding burning material thereon, said chamber has an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, said conduit is in fluid communication with said outlet, said grate means, after holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time, allows said material to drop through to said floor means, and said gas means is an oxygenating means, introduces air from outside of said chamber into said conduit to make a mixture of said products of combustion and said air, and introduces at least a portion of samd mixture of products of combustion and said air into said chamber through said grate means.  
   
   
       90 . The improvement of  claim 89  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       91 . The improvement of  claim 90  wherein said oxygenating further includes proportioning means for controlling the relative amounts of air and said flue gas in said mixture.  
   
   
       92 . The method of  claim 91  wherein said oxygenating means further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said mixture introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       93 . The improvement of  claim 90  wherein said oxygenating means further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of mixture introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       94 . The improvement of  claim 89  wherein (1) said gas means inlet means coupled to said conduit between said source of the products of combustion and said grate means, for providing a pathway for the introduction of air into said gaseous products of combustion, and (2) said blower means is coupled to said conduit between said inlet means and said grate means, for (a) drawing under a partial negative pressure air from said inlet means into said gaseous products of combustion to form said mixture of said air and said gaseous products of combustion and (b) introducing under pressure said mixture of said air and said gaseous products of combustion into said grate means through said conduit and into said chamber through said grate means as at least a part of said gas.  
   
   
       95 . The improvement of  claim 94  wherein said chamber has an outlet opening for the egress of gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber, for holding burning material thereon, and said grate means is for holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allowing said material to drop through to said floor means, said conduit is in fluid communication with said outlet opening and said blower means is for drawing under a partial negative pressure air from said inlet means into said gaseous products of combustion from said outlet opening to form said mixture of said air and said gaseous products of combustion.  
   
   
       96 . The improvement of  claim 95  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       97 . The improvement of  claim 96  wherein said oxygenating further includes proportioning means for controlling the relative amounts of air and said flue gas in said mixture.  
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 97  wherein said oxygenating means further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of said mixture introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       99 . The improvement of  claim 96  wherein said oxygenating means further includes volume means for controlling the total amount of mixture introduced through said grate means.  
   
   
       100 . The improvement of  claim 96  wherein (a) said conduit is a first conduit, said mixture is a first mixture, and said oxygenating means includes a second conduit in fluid communication with said outlet means, said first conduit, and said grate means and (b) said blower means couples to said second conduit and introduces under pressure said first mixture into said second conduit to make a second mixture of said first mixture and said products of combustion, said blower means remaining out of contact with said gaseous products of combustion and said second mixture, and (b) introduces at least a portion of said second mixture of said first mixture and said products of combustion said chamber through said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       101 . A method for drying material in a system comprising a chamber and grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material comprising introducing into said chamber through said grate means gaseous products of combustion.  
   
   
       102 . The method of  claim 101  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding material thereon and grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allowing said material to drop through to said floor means and wherein at least a portion of said gaseous products of combustion from said chamber comprise at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       103 . The improvement of  claim 102  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       104 . The method of  claim 101  further comprising establishing the temperature of said gaseous products of combustion to within a predetermined range prior to said gaseous products of combustion entering said grate means.  
   
   
       105 . The method of  claim 101  wherein said chamber has an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber and a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding material thereon and said grate means having holds said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allows said material to drop through to said floor means and said gaseous products of combustion from said chamber comprise at least a portion of said gaseous products of combustion introduced into said chamber through said grate means as at least a part of said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       106 . The improvement of  claim 105  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       107 . The method of  claim 101  wherein introducing said gaseous products of combustion into said chamber comprises (a) introducing under pressure air from outside said chamber into initial gaseous products of combustion through the use of blower means to form a mixture of said initial products and air, (b) introducing at least a portion of said mixture of air and said initial gaseous products of combustion into said chamber through said grate, and (c) keeping said blower means out of contact with said initial gaseous products of combustion and said mixture.  
   
   
       108 . The method of  claim 107  wherein said chamber further comprises an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber and a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding material thereon, said grate means holds said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allows said material to drop through to said floor means and wherein said initial products of combustion are obtained from said outlet opening.  
   
   
       109 . The method of  claim 108  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       110 . The method of  claim 101  wherein introducing said gaseous products of combustion into said chamber comprises (a) introducing under a partial negative pressure, provided by a blower means, air from outside of said chamber into initial gaseous products of combustion, (b) forming a mixture of said air and said initial gaseous products of combustion prior to said initial products of combustion reaching said blower means, and (c) introducing under positive pressure said mixture of said air and said initial gaseous products of combustion into said grate means and into said chamber through said grate means.  
   
   
       111 . The method of  claim 110  wherein said chamber further comprises an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber and a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding material thereon, said grate means holds said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allows said material to drop through to said floor means and wherein said initial products of combustion are obtained from said outlet opening.  
   
   
       112 . The method of  claim 111  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       113 . In a system for drying material comprising a chamber, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material, and gas means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing a gas into said chamber through said grate means, the improvement wherein said grate means is a first grate means and generally defines a first upper surface and comprising second grate means having openings therethrough, located within said chamber, and generally defining a second upper surface, said second upper surface generally lying below said first upper surface and below said first grate means.  
   
   
       114 . The improvement of  claim 113  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber, for holding burning material thereon, said grate means is for holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allowing said material to drop through to said floor means, and said gas means is an oxygenating means is for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means.  
   
   
       115 . The improvement of  claim 114  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       116 . The improvement of  claim 115  wherein said second grate means is removable from said chamber.  
   
   
       117 . The improvement of  claim 116  wherein said oxygenating means passes an oxygen-containing gas through said second grate means.  
   
   
       118 . The improvement of  claim 117  further comprising temperature-controlling means, coupled to said first and second grate means, for passing a first and second fluid, respectively, other than said oxygen-containing gas and of a temperature within a predetermined range, through said first and second grate means and separate from said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       119 . The improvement of  claim 113  wherein said first grate means comprises a first plurality of elongated arms attached to said chamber, the tops of said first plurality of arms generally defining said first upper surface and said second grate means comprises a second plurality of elongated arms lying generally parallel to said first plurality of arms, the tops of said second plurality of arms generally defining said second upper surface with said arms of said first plurality lying generally parallel to but staggered from the horizontal location of said arms of said second plurality.  
   
   
       120 . The improvement of  claim 119  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber, for holding burning material thereon, said grate means is for holding said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allowing said material to drop through to said floor means, and said gas means is an oxygenating means is for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means.  
   
   
       121 . The improvement of  claim 120  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       122 . The improvement of  claim 121  wherein said second plurality of arms is removable from said chamber.  
   
   
       123 . The improvement of  claim 121  wherein one end of each of the arms of said first and second plurality of arms is attached to and cantilevered from said chamber.  
   
   
       124 . The improvement of  claim 121  wherein said oxygenating means passes an oxygen-containing gas through said second grate means.  
   
   
       125 . The improvement of  claim 124  further comprising temperature-controlling means, coupled to said first and second grate means, for passing a first and second fluid, respectively, other than said oxygen-containing gas and of a temperature within a predetermined range, through said first and second grate means and separate from said oxygen-containing gas.  
   
   
       126 . A method for drying material in a system comprising a chamber and first and second grate means each having openings therethrough, each of said first and second grate means generally defining, respectively, first and second upper surfaces with said second upper surface generally lying below said first upper surface and below said first grate means comprising passing a gas through said first grate means and into said chamber, placing material upon said first upper surface, allowing said material to drop through said first grate means, then placing said material upon said second upper surface, then allowing said material to drop through said second grate means, and then placing said material upon a floor means below said second grate means.  
   
   
       127 . The method of  claim 126  wherein (a) said system comprisies a substantially enclosed chamber having a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding and burning material thereon, and an inlet opening for the introduction of said material, (b) said method further comprises passing an oxygenating-containing gas through said first grate means and into said chamber, (c) material newly introduced through said inlet opening is placed upon said first upper surface, and (d) said material is placed upon said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       128 . The method of  claim 127  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       129 . The method of  claim 126  wherein said first and second grate means are located within said chamber with each of said first and second grate means generally comprising, respectively, a first and second pluralities of elongated arms attached to said chamber with said first plurality extending away from said inlet opening, said second plurality of elongated arms lying generally parallel to said first plurality of arms, the tops of said first and second pluralities of arms generally defining, respectively, said first and second upper surfaces, with said arms of said first plurality lying generally parallel to but staggered from the horizontal location of said arms of said second plurality and further comprising passing a gas through said first grate means and into said chamber, allowing said material to drop through said first plurality of arms, then placing said material upon said second upper plurality of arms, then allowing said material to drop through said second plurality of arms, and then placing said material upon floor means below said second grate means.  
   
   
       130 . The method of  claim 129  wherein (a) said system comprises a substantially enclosed chamber having a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding and burning material thereon, and an inlet opening for the introduction of said material, (b) said method further comprises passing an oxygenating-containing gas through said first grate means and into said chamber, (c) material newly introduced through said inlet opening is placed upon said first upper surface, and (d) said material is placed upon said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       131 . The method of  claim 130  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       132 . In a system for drying material comprising a chamber, grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material, and gas means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing a gas into said chamber through said grate means, the improvement comprising regulating means, coupled to said grate means and separate from said gas means, said gas, and gases in said chamber, for controlling the temperature of said grate means.  
   
   
       133 . The improvement of  claim 132  wherein said system further comprises fire-resistant floor means within said chamber, for holding burning material thereon, said grate means hold is said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allows said material to drop through to said floor means, said gas means oxygenating means, coupled to said grate means, for introducing an oxygen-containing gas into said chamber through said grate means, and said regulating means is separate from said oxygenating means, said oxygen-containing gas, and gaseous products of combustion in said chamber.  
   
   
       134 . The improvement of  claim 133  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.  
   
   
       135 . The improvement of  claim 134  wherein said oxygen-containing gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means is air.  
   
   
       136 . The improvement of  claim 134  wherein said oxygen-containing gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means comprises said gaseous products of combustion in said enclosed chamber.  
   
   
       137 . The improvement of  claim 136  wherein said oxygen-containing gas introduced into said chamber through said grate means is a combination of air and. said gaseous products of combustion in said enclosed chamber  
   
   
       138 . A method for drying material in a system comprising a chamber and grate means having openings therethrough and located within said chamber for holding said material comprising passing a gas through said grate means and into said chamber and controlling the temperature of said grate means independently of the temperature of said gas and the interior of said chamber.  
   
   
       139 . The method of  claim 138  wherein said system further comprises a fire-resistant floor means within said chamber for holding material thereon, said grate means holds said material above said floor means for a limited period of time and then allows said material to drop through to said floor means, said gas is an oxygen-containing gas, and the temperature of said grate means is controlled independently of the temperature of said oxygen-containing gas and any gaseous products of combustion in said chamber.  
   
   
       140 . The method of  claim 139  wherein said system is an incinerator system for bulk refuse and hydrocarbon-containing liquids, said material is solid bulk refuse, said chamber is substantially enclosed with an inlet opening for the introduction of bulk refuse and an outlet opening for the egress of the gaseous products of combustion from said chamber, and said grate means is located adjacent to said inlet opening and holds refuse newly introduced through said inlet opening for a limited period of time and then allows said refuse to to drop through to said floor means while burning.