Adjustable Capacity Gas Incinerator

Abstract

An adjustable capacity gas incinerator includes a base portion defining a lower chamber through which combustion air can flow from outside the gas incinerator into the lower chamber. A combustion stack extending vertically upward from the base portion and having a wall defining a combustion chamber and a combustion gas exit opening through which products of combustion can exit the combustion chamber. The combustion stack includes a lower stack section and an upper stack section removably joined to the lower stack section and which is removable from the lower stack section to change a combustion capacity of the combustion chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for incinerating gas comprising the steps of:
 providing a gas incinerator that has a base portion defining a lower chamber through which combustion air can flow from outside the gas incinerator into said lower chamber, a combustion stack extending vertically upward from said base portion and having a wall defining a combustion chamber in communication with said lower chamber at one end and a combustion gas exit opening at its opposite end through which products of combustion can exit said combustion chamber, and said combustion stack having a lower stack section and an upper stack section removably connected to said lower stack section by a bolt and flange coupling;   injecting gas from a source of gas at a flow rate into said combustion chamber and combusting said gas in said combustion chamber; and   removing said upper stack section from said lower stack section when said flow rate of said gas declines to a rate in which said upper stack section is not required to maintain combustion of said gas without said combustion occurring beyond said combustion gas exit opening.   
     
     
         2 . A gas incinerator comprising:
 a base portion defining a lower chamber through which combustion air can flow from outside the gas incinerator into said lower chamber;   a combustion stack extending vertically upward from said base portion and having a wall defining a combustion chamber and a combustion gas exit opening through which products of combustion can exit said combustion chamber; and   wherein said combustion stack includes a lower stack section and an upper stack section removably joined to said lower stack section and which is removable from said lower stack section to change a combustion capacity of said combustion chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The gas incinerator of  claim 2 , wherein said lower stack section and said upper stack section are removably joined together by a bolted flange coupling. 
     
     
         4 . The gas incinerator of  claim 3 , wherein said bolted flange coupling includes a first flange member extending around said wall of said lower stack section and a second flange member extending around said wall of said upper stack section. 
     
     
         5 . The gas incinerator of  claim 3 , wherein said first flange member reinforces said wall of said lower stack section and wherein said second flange member reinforces said wall of said upper stack section. 
     
     
         6 . The gas incinerator of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more lifting lugs disposed on said upper stack section. 
     
     
         7 . The gas incinerator of  claim 6 , wherein said one or more lifting lugs are removably connected to said upper stack section.