Combustion chamber for the incineration of waste products

Abstract

A combustion chamber for use in the incineration of waste products includes an inner refractory wall which extends vertically within an outer protective wall in a spaced relationship so as to define a plenum therebetween. The inner refractory wall is constructed using a plurality of precast, refractory blocks which are stacked and arranged to define a cylindrical interior cavity. The refractory blocks include mating features on adjacent surfaces to facilitate assembly and provide structural support. For additional support, selected blocks are fixedly connected to vertical support tubes by metal tie-back anchors. To facilitate combustion, a selection of the blocks is precast with a tuyere hole in order to deliver a uniform and balanced supply of air from the plenum into the interior cavity. The precast nature of the refractory blocks enables the inner refractory wall to be constructed with great precision, thereby optimizing incineration and minimizing material degradation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combustion chamber for the incineration of waste products, the combustion chamber comprising:
 (a) an outer protective wall; and   (b) an inner refractory wall extending within the outer protective wall, the inner refractory wall being shaped to define an interior cavity;   (c) wherein the inner wall comprises a plurality of precast, refractory blocks.   
     
     
         2 . The combustion chamber of  claim 1  wherein the inner refractory wall is spaced in from the outer protective wall so as to define a plenum therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The combustion chamber of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of precast, refractory blocks is stacked in layers and together, at least in part, define the interior cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The combustion chamber of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of precast, refractory blocks matingly engages one another when stacked in layers. 
     
     
         5 . The combustion chamber of  claim 3  wherein each of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a left end surface and a right end surface. 
     
     
         6 . The combustion chamber of  claim 5  wherein the inner surface for each of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks has a fixed radial curvature. 
     
     
         7 . The combustion chamber of  claim 5  wherein a projection is formed on the top surface of each of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks. 
     
     
         8 . The combustion chamber of  claim 7  wherein a recess is formed on the bottom surface of each of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks. 
     
     
         9 . The combustion chamber of  claim 8  wherein the recess on one of the plurality, of precast, refractory blocks is dimensioned to fittingly receive the projection on another of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks when arranged in a stacked relationship. 
     
     
         10 . The combustion chamber of  claim 5  wherein a tongue extends out from one of the left end surface and the right end surface of each of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks. 
     
     
         11 . The combustion chamber of  claim 10  wherein a groove is formed in the other of the left end surface and the right end surface of each of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks. 
     
     
         12 . The combustion chamber of  claim 11  wherein the groove on one of the plurality, of precast, refractory blocks is dimensioned to fittingly receive the tongue on another of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks when arranged in an end-to-end relationship. 
     
     
         13 . The combustion chamber of  claim 5  wherein at least two of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks differ in length. 
     
     
         14 . The combustion chamber of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks is shaped to define a tuyere hole. 
     
     
         15 . The combustion chamber of  claim 14  wherein the tuyere hole is circular in transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         16 . The combustion chamber of  claim 15  wherein the tuyere hole extends downward and horizontally from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         17 . The combustion chamber of  claim 5  further comprising a vertical support tube fixedly coupled to the outer protective wall. 
     
     
         18 . The combustion chamber of  claim 17  wherein at least one of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks is secured the vertical support tube with a tie-back anchor. 
     
     
         19 . The combustion chamber of  claim 18  wherein the at least one of the plurality of precast, refractory blocks is shaped to define a groove which is dimensioned to fittingly receive at least a portion of the tie-back anchor.