US3327455A

US3327455A - Apparatus for controlling air pollution or the like

Info

Publication number: US3327455A
Application number: US563864A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sidney B Wertheimer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-07-08
Filing date: 1966-07-08
Publication date: 1967-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-27

Description

June 27, 1%67 s B, W RT E ER 3,327,455

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1966 .I MAGNETIC PARTICLE GEAR Moro/e REMOVE? 78 M 4 2 44 H I Dusi:

Collector w X 333% K 66 38 :J SEPAR'T'R Q0 70 701 .;.ir:4 104 40 m CONVE OR MASTER INVENTOI? TA N K .S'z'drw B. Werihez'mer mw zz, Mu 2 a 9L ways June 27, 1967 s. a. WERTHEIMER 3,327,455

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION OR THE LIKE Filed July 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

ll; 2 IN VE N TOR fiG 4 2. dnqy 3, Wer iiez'mer United States Patent O 3,327,455 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION OR THE LIKE Sidney B. Wertheimer, 7403 Woodmar Ave, Hammond, Ind. 46323 Filed July 8, 1966, Ser. No. 563,864 12 Claims. (Cl. 55100) This invention relates to an apparatus or system for eliminating or controlling industrial air pollution and other similar types of air pollution. In some of its aspects, the present invention represents a further development of my invention as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 434,547, filed Feb. 23, 1965, now Patent No. 3,282,047.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for removing the solid particles and air polluting fumes from industrial smoke and other types of smoke.

A further object is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the foregoing character having means for removing magnetic particles from the smoke.

Another object is to provide such a new and improved apparatus having means for washing other solid particles and noxious fumes from the smoke.

A further object is to provide such a new and improved apparatus in which a special liquid or solution is sprayed into the smoke to wash down the solid particles and noxious fumes, and in which means are provided to collect the liquid and to separate the solid particles from the liquid, so that the liquid may again be used. A further object is to provide such a new and improved air pollution control apparatus which is highly effective and efficient, yet is reasonably low in cost and inexpensive to operate.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational section showing an air pollution control apparatus or system to be described as an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section, taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section, taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section, taken generally along the line 44 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational section taken generally along the curved line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control circuit for the device for removing magnetic particles from the smoke.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, it will be seen that FIG. 1 illustrates an air pollution control apparatus 10 for removing most or all of the solid particles and noxious fumes from industrial smoke or the like. The illustrated apparatus 10 is adapted to treat the smoke traveling upwardly through a smoke stack 12. The various components of the air pollution control apparatus 10 are mounted in the lower portion of the smoke stack 12 or adjacent thereto. The stack 12 is adapted to carry the smoke discharged by one or more boilers, blast furnaces, steel-making furnaces, or the like.

The air pollution control apparatus 10 comprises means for removing magnetic particles from the smoke. Such magnetic particles are often present in the smoke discharged by blast furnaces, steel-making furnaces, and other similar furnaces employed in steel mills. In the arrangement of FIG. 1, the magnetic particles are removed by a plurality of magnets 14 which move through a portion of the stack 12 so that the smoke will come ice into contact with the magnets. As shown to best advantage in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are four such magnets 14 which project into the stack 12 through openings or slots 16 in the cylindrical wall 18 thereof. Each of the illustrated magnets 14 is in the form of a relatively thick disc or drum.

A suitable gear motor 18 or the like is provided to rotate each magnet at a relatively low speed so that the magnetic particles collected by the magnet will be carried out of the stack 12. All of the magnets 14 may be rotated by a single drive, if desired.

A housing 20 is preferably provided to enclose the portion of each magnet 14 which is disposed outside the smoke stack 12. The illustrated housing 20 is cylindrical in shape and is provided with a plurality of radial partitions 22 to divide the housing into a series of compartments 24, one compartment being provided for each of the magnets 14.

Preferably, each magnet 14 is divided into a plurality of parts or sectors 26, each of which constitutes a separate electromagnet. Each sector or electromagnet 26 is preferably energized as it passes through the smoke stack 12, and then is de-energized after it moves into the hous ing 20. In this way, the magnetic particles are collected from the smoke in the stack 12, and then are released after the particles are carried by the magnets 14 into the housing 20. This selective energization of the electromagnets may be accomplished by an arrangement of brushes and slip rings, as shown in FIG. 6. Each electromagnet 26 is connected between an individual slip ring 21 and a common slip ring 23. Power is fed to the

slip rings

21 and 23 from a direct current supply 25 through brushes 27 and 29'.

Rotary brushes 28 are also preferably provided in the housing 20 to remove the magnetic particles from the magnets 14. As shown, the brushes 28 engage the lower faces of the magnets 14. Most of the magnetic particles are collected on such lower faces, because they come into direct contact with the smoke. Other brushes, scrapers, or the like may be provided to remove the collected particles from the other surfaces of the magnets, if desired. The brushes or the like may be either stationary of power driven.

The particles removed from the magnets 14 drop into collecting hoppers 30 and are drawn off through pipes or conduits 32, which preferably are connected to the suction line of an industrial vacuum cleaning or dust collecting system 34. In this way, the magnetic particles may be recovered and collected. The collected magnetic particles are mostly particles of iron and iron ore, and thus may be re-used in the production of steel. Thus, the present invention obviates the economic waste which would other- Wise be involved in the loss of these magnetic particles. In addition, the present invention prevents the serious air pollution that would otherwise be involved in the discharge of the magnetic particles into the atmosphere. When such magnetic particles of iron and iron ore are discharged into the atmosphere, they settle from the air to produce a particularly objectionable form of dust.

The air pollution control apparatus 10 also comprises means for Washing the smoke with a purifying liquid, so as to remove solid particles and noxious fumes and gases from the smoke. Thus, the illustrated apparatus 10 comprises a tank or reservoir 36 for holding a supply of the purifying liquid. Additional liquid may be added to the tank 36 as needed. The purifying liquid may comprise a water or lime water base solution which preferably contains additives for oxidizing, neutralizing and breaking down the various noxious components of the smoke.

A pump 38 is preferably provided to Withdraw the puri fying liquid from the tank 36 through a suction pipe 40.

The pump 38 discharges the purifying liquid under pressure through an outlet pipe 42. Preferably, the outlet pipe 42 is connected to a spray assembly 44 which is mounted within the smoke stack 12. The illustrated spray assembly 44 comprises a plurality of generally horizontal spray pipes 46 which radiate in the manner of a spider from a central hub or casing 48 to which the pressure pipe 42 is connected. The outer ends of the horizontal spray pipes 46 are turned downwardly to provide a plurality of vertical spray pipes 50, disposed just inside the cylindrical wall 18 of the smoke stack 12. The horizontal and

vertical spray pipes

46 and 50 are formed with a multitude of spray openings 52, through which the purifying liquid is discharged in a large number of fine streams into the smoke within the smoke stack 12. If desired, the spray as sembly 44 may be rotatably mounted on the centrally disposed pressure pipe 42. The spray openings 52 may be angled so that the spray assembly 44 will be rotated by the reaction to the streams of liquid discharged from the openings. However, it is not necessary to rotate the spray assembly 44, and it generally is preferred to maintain the spray assembly in a stationary position, for the sake of long life and trouble-free operation.

The horizontal spray pipes 46 provide downwardly directed streams, while the vertical pipes 50 provide generally horizontal streams of the purifying liquid. The resulting spray is intimately mixed with the smoke as it travels upwardly through the smoke stack 12. As a result, most if not all of the solid particles and noxious fumes are washed down from the smoke.

A deflector 56 is preferably providedin the smoke stack 12 below the lower end of the spray assembly 44, to deflect the spray outwardly so that it will be collected in a channel or trough 58. The deflector 56 is preferably cone shaped, with its apex directed upwardly. One or more arms 58 may be connected between the deflector 56 and the cylindrical wall 18 to support the deflector in the center of the smoke stack 12. The deflector 56 prevents the spray from falling downwardly through the central portion of the stack 12. Instead, the spray is deflected outwardly so that it falls into the trough or tray 58.

Another deflector 60 is preferably connected to the lower end of the deflector 56 to deflect the smoke outwardly as it passes upwardly through the stack 12. The deflector 69 is also in the form of a cone with its apex directed downwardly. One or more suitable arms 62 may be provided to support the deflector 60. The upper end of the deflector 60 is preferably joined with the lower end of the deflector 56. It is preferred to arrange the deflector 56 so that it is lower and overhangs the upper end of the deflector 60 to a slight extent so as to prevent the spray from running down the outside of the deflector 60.

The illustrated trough 58 is ring shaped and is disposed just within the cylindrical wall 18 of the smoke stack 12 so as to collect all of the purifying liquid, along with the solid particles and noxious materials which have been Washed out of the smoke. While the trough 58 might be stationary, it is preferred that it be rotatable so that the purifying liquid, with its burden of solid materials and noxious materials, will be carried to a discharge housing 66 in one side of the smoke stack 12. Thus, the trough 58 is preferably provided with a plurality of supporting rollers 68 which travel along an annular ledge 70. It will be seen that the ledge 70 projects inwardly from the cylindrical wall 18 of the smoke stack 12.

Means are provided for rotating the annular trough 58 at a relatively low speed. In the illustrated arrangement, the trough 58 is fitted with a large ring gear 72 so that the trough may readily be driven by a motor '74. A small gear or pinion 76 is mounted on the shaft of the motor 74. While the gear 76 might mesh directly with the ring gear 72, it is preferred to provide an intermediate idler gear 78 which extends through a slot or opening 80 in the cylindrical wall 18 of the smoke stack 12.

An inclined annular flange or deflector 82 is preferably mounted on the inside of the cylindrical wall 18 to prevent any liquid from running down between the cylindrical wall 18 and the trough 58. The flange 82 slopes downwardly from the wall 18 and overhangs the trough 58.

As shown to best advantage in FIGS. 1 and 4, the trough 58 is preferably provided with a plurality of radial partitions 86 which divide the trough into a series of compartments or moved over the housing 66, the liquid and other material accumulated in the compartment is dumped into the housing, from which it is drained outwardly through a pipe 90.

As shown to .best advantage in FIGS. 4 and 5, each compartment 88 is preferably provided with a separate drop bottom 92 which swings downwardly as the compartment moves over the discharge housing 66. A hinge 94 is preferably provided between the leading edge of each drop bottom 92 and the lower edge of the corresponding partition 86. As shown, each drop bottom 92 is in the form of a sector-shaped plate.

The drop bottoms 92 are supported by the ledge 70, so that the drop bottoms are held in their horizontal or closed positions, until they move over the discharge housing 66. Each drop bottom 92 then swings downwardly by gravity into the housing 66. As a result, the accumulated liquid and solid materials in the corresponding compartment 88 are dumped into the housing 66. To close the drop bottoms 92, the housing 66 is provided with an inclined wall 96 which forms a ramp leading upwardly to the ledge 70. At the upper end of the ramp 96, each drop bottom is swung upwardly into its closed position.

If desired, suction may be applied to the discharge pipe to draw the liquid and solid materials out of the housing 66. The suction may be supplied by a separator unit 100, to which the pipe 90 is connected. The separator 100 is of a type adapted to separate the solid particles from the purifying liquid, so that the liquid may be re-used. Thus, a return pipe 102 is connected between the separator unit 100 and the main storage tank 36. A conveyor 104 is preferably provided to receive the separated solid materials from the separator unit 100. It will be understood :that the conveyor 104 carries the solid materials to a storage area from which the solid materials are eventually removed and disposed of.

In the operation of the air pollution control apparatus 10, the pump 38 is energized so as to withdraw the purifying liquid from the master storage tank 36. The purifying liquid is forced through the pipe 42 and the spray assembly 44, so that the liquid is discharged into the smoke stack 12 in the form of a multitude of fine streams or sprays. The smoke travels upwardly through the smoke stack 12 and is deflected outwardly by the deflector 60 so that thelsmoke is intimately mixed with the spray of the purifying liquid. As a result, most, if not all, of the solid particles and noxious fumes are washed from the smoke and are carried downwardly by the liquid into the rotary trough or tray 58. The liquid is deflected outwardly into the trough by the deflector 56.

The collected liquid accumulates in each compartment 88 of the trough 58 until the compartment moves over the discharge housing 66, whereupon the corresponding bottom plate 92 swings downwardly into the housing 66 so that the accumulated mixture of liquid and solid materials will drain into the housing. As each compartment 88 moves away from the housing 66, the corresponding bottom plate 92 is swung upwardly into its closed position by the ramp 96.

The liquid and solid materials are withdrawn or sucked into the separator unit 100 through the pipe 90. The separator unit 100 is of a type to separate the solid material from the liquid so that the solid material may be delivered to the conveyor 104, while the liquid material is returned to the main storage tank 36 through the pipe 102.

buckets 88. As each compartment 88 is The magnetic separator may be disposed either above or below the liquid washing system in the smoke stack. As shown, the rotary magnets 14 are disposed above the liquid spray assembly 44, so that any remaining particles of iron, iron ore, or other magnetic materials will be attracted to the magnets. As each electromagnetic sector or portion 26 of the magnets 14 is moved into the housing 20, the corresponding electromagnet is de-energized so that the magnetic particles will be released from the magnet. The magnetic particles are positively removed by the rotary brushes 28, whereupon the magnetic particles are sucked or withdrawn from the housing 20 through the pipes 32.

It will be evident that the air pollution control apparatus is effective and eflicient in operation. Nevertheless, the apparatus is reasonably low in cost and economical to operate. The apparatus is self-cleaning, so that it does not need to be shut down periodically for cleaning. The apparatus does not involve the use of any high voltages or other safety hazards. In addition to removing solid particles from the smoke, the apparatus is adapted to wash down noxious fumes and gases.

Various other modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be employed without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling air pollution,

comprising the combination of a smoke stack for carrying smoke or the like upwardly,

a spray assembly mounted in said smoke stack,

means for supplying a purifying liquid under pressure to said spray assembly for producing a spray of the liquid within said smoke stack to wash down solid particles and noxious components from the smoke,

an annular trough disposed around the inside of said smoke stack and spaced below said spray assembly for collecting the liquid and the solid particles washed from the smoke,

means for removing the collected liquid and solid material from said trough,

a deflector disposed in said smoke stack between said spray assembly and said trough for deflecting the liquid outwardly into said trough while providing for the upward movement of the smoke around said deflector means for rotating said trough within said stack, and a housing for receiving the accumulated liquid and solid material from said trough at one side of said stack.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, V

in which said spray assembly comprises a plurality of generally horizontal spray pipes extending radially in said stack.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1,

in which said spray assembly comprises a plurality of generally vertical spray pipes spaced around the inside of said stack.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1,

in which said spray assembly comprises a plurality of generally horizontal spray pipes extending radially in said stack,

and a plurality of generally vertical spray pipes extending downwardly from said horizontal spray pipes and spaced around the inside of said stack.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a storage tank for holding a supply of the purifying liquid,

and a pump for pumping the liquid from said tank to said spray assembly.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a plurality of rotatable magnets having portions projecting into said stack for collecting magnetic particles,

and means outside said stack for removing the magnetic particles from said magnets.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a plurality of partitions dividing said trough into a plurality of compartments,

each of said compartments having a drop bottom swingably mounted on said trough,

an annular ledge for supporting said drop bottoms,

and a housing at one point around said ledge for rereceiving said drop bottoms whereby the accumulated liquid and solid materials are discharged into said housing.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7,

including a separator unit connected to said housing for separating the solid material from the liquid.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1,

in which said deflector comprises a conical member having its apex above its base for deflecting the liquid and solid materials outwardly into said trough.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9,

in which said deflector comprises an additional conical member with its apex below its base for deflecting the smoke outwardly around said first-mentioned conical member,

said additional conical member being'disposed with its upper end joined to the lower end of said first-mentioned conical member.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1,

comprising a plurality of rotary magnets having portions projecting into said stack above said spray assembly for collecting magnetic particles,

housing means mounted around said magnets outside said stack,

and means for removing the magnetic particles from said magnets within said housing means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11,

including rotary brushes for removing the magnetic particles from said magnets within said housing means,

and means for withdrawing said magnetic particles from said housing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957,138 5/ 1934 Hasselbach. 2,08 8,364 7/ 1937 Ellis et al 210-222 X 2,103,521 1-2/1937 Luly 55227 X 2,188,516 1/1940 Payne 210-222 X 2,282,770 5/ 1942 Sarver 55-117 X 2,348,418 5/1944 Roesch et a1. 2,387,345 10/ 1945 Pearl 55--223 X 2,387,473 10/ 1945 Spitzka 55229 X 2,539,344 1/ 1951 Carraway 2613 2,646,263 '7/ 1953- Goldberg. 2,677, 3 6'8 5/ 1954 Janecek 261-118 X 2,786,575 3/ 1957 Roberts 5-5100 X 2,853,193 9/1958 Crumb 210- 328 2,874,839 2/1959 Rogers 55-100 X 3,266,553 8/ 1966 Munters 2613 3,282,032 11/1966 King et a1 55228 X FOREIGN PATENTS 444,880 10/ 191 2 France. 568,287 10/ 1957 Italy.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application No. 1,081,614, printed May 1960.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

D. TALBERT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION, COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A SMOKE STACK FOR CARRYING SMOKE OR THE LIKE UPWARDLY, A SPRAY ASSEMBLY MOUNTED IN SAID SMOKE STACK, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A PURIFYING LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID SPRAY ASSEMBLY FOR PRODUCING A SPRAY OF THE LIQUID WITHIN SAID SMOKE STACK TO WASH DOWN SOLID PARTICLES AND NOXIOUS COMPONENTS FROM THE SMOKE, AN ANNULAR TROUGH DISPOSED AROUND THE INSIDE OF SAID SMOKE STACK AND SPACED BELOW SAID SPRAY ASSEMBLY FOR COLLECTING THE LIQUID AND THE SOLID PARTICLES WASHED FROM THE SMOKE, MEANS FOR REMOVING THE COLLECTED LIQUID AND SOLID MATERIAL FROM SAID TROUGH, A DEFLECTOR DISPOSED IN SAID SMOKE STACK BETWEEN SAID SPRAY ASSEMBLY AND SAID TROUGH FOR DEFLECTING THE LIQUID OUTWARDLY INTO SAID TROUGH WHILE PROVIDING FOR THE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SMOKE AROUND SAID