Tornadic fuel processor

Abstract

A method of effecting burning is described wherein combustible materials are introduced into a vortex having a high pressure periphery and a lower pressure center, or are caused to form such a vortex and there is provided further fluid to provide for the combustion of this material, and the mixture is ignited whilst in the vortex. A variation of this is method of effecting burning which includes the step of introducing as a burnable mixture, a mixture into a vortex of a type having an outer periphery with a higher pressure than its pressure at a center of the vortex. The methods are useful for generating heat, steam or disposal of wastes.

1 . A method of effecting burning of combustible materials comprising the steps of: 
 causing the combustible materials to be entrained as a vortex which is of a type having a higher pressure periphery and a lower pressure center;    then effecting passage of such a vortex through a downstream passageway where the vortex is caused to enter into a chamber which has a larger cross-sectional area and is then caused to enter thereafter a passageway that is smaller than the chamber of larger cross sectional area; and    effecting ignition of the combustible materials, the forgoing all being arranged such that any ongoing burning is constrained to be only within the chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The method of effecting burning as in  claim 1  wherein the forgoing steps are also all arranged that the outer temperature of outermost sides of the vortex burning in the chamber is approximately ambient.  
   
   
       3 . The method of effecting burning as in  claim 1  which includes the step of introducing a burnable mixture, into a vortex of a type having an outer periphery with a higher pressure than its pressure at a center of the vortex.  
   
   
       4 . The method of effecting burning of  claim 2  are wherein the burnable mixture includes a combustible material and fluid.  
   
   
       5 . The method of effecting burning of  claim 1  wherein there is a continuous supply of combustible materials and of further fluid.  
   
   
       6 . The method of effecting burning of  claim 1  wherein the combustible materials and/or further fluid are in a gaseous state.  
   
   
       7 . The method of effecting burning of  claim 1  wherein the combustible materials include propane or hydrogen gas.  
   
   
       8 . The method of effecting burning of  claim 5  wherein the further fluid is air.  
   
   
       9 . A method of generating heat that uses the method of effecting burning of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       10 . A method of processing waste that incorporates a method of effecting burning of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       11 . A method of processing waste materials wherein the waste materials are used as or supplement the combustible material feed used in the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       12 . A method of generating steam wherein water is introduced into the vortex used in the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       13 . A continuous feed burner apparatus wherein in use at least one of a continuous feed and burnable mixture is introduced into a vortex having a high-pressure periphery and a lower pressure center; and 
 wherein passage of the vortex is through a downstream passageway;    wherein the vortex is caused to enter into a chamber which has a larger cross-sectional area and is caused to enter thereafter a passageway that is smaller than the chamber of larger cross-sectional area.    
   
   
       14 . A heating apparatus having a vortex-forming chamber having an arrangement of apertures to effect a vortex of a type having a pressure at the center which is lower than the pressure at the periphery; and 
 wherein passage of the vortex is through a downstream passageway;    wherein the vortex is caused to enter into a further chamber which has a larger cross-sectional area and is caused to enter thereafter a passageway that is smaller than the further chamber of larger cross-sectional area.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  having a chamber with a downstream outlet passageway and at least one inlet aperture which is directed substantially at a right angle to a central axis of an inner cylindrical shape of the chamber in which one end is closed and the other end opens into a combustion area and where an inlet aperture is directed so it is other than directly aligned to intersect the said central axis.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  including a heat transfer element for transferring some of the heat from the combustion of the burnable mixture to an inlet location.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein proximal to the inlet location there is an appropriate catalyst for permitting a thermocatalytic reaction to take place prior to introduction of the burnable mixture into the vortex.  
   
   
       18 . The method of effecting burning of  claim 2  wherein there is a continuous supply of combustible materials and of further fluid.  
   
   
       19 . The method of effecting burning of  claim 2  wherein the combustible materials and/or further fluid are in a gaseous state.  
   
   
       20 . A method of processing waste that incorporates the method of effecting burning of  claim 2 .  
   
   
       21 . A method of processing waste materials wherein the waste materials are used as or supplement the combustible material feed used in the method of  claim 2 .  
   
   
       22 . A method of generating steam wherein water is introduced into the vortex used in the method of  claim 2 .  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 14  having a chamber with a downstream outlet passageway and at least one inlet aperture which is directed substantially at a right angle to a central axis of an inner cylindrical shape of the chamber in which one end is closed and the other end opens into a combustion area and where an inlet aperture is directed so it is other than directly aligned to intersect the said central axis.