Actively Controlled Vortex Disposal System for Sludge Wastes

The development of an advanced sludge treatment concept is underway for applications to sludge wastes. The concept integrates primary treatment of sludge in an advanced vortex containment combustor (VCC) with subsequent post treatment in an actively controlled acoustic afterburner. Past efforts have advanced the application of the acoustic afterburner while current activities are focused on development of the VCC. The VCC resembles a cyclone particle separator that is specifically engineered to generate a suspended, spinning combustion zone. In the VCC, combustion air is introduced through a number of tangentially directed slots into a conical shaped combustor. The design establishes an aerodynamic separator that effectively traps particles and fly ash in the chamber via centrifugal forces. The tangential co-injection of fuel and sludge into the large radius, narrow width region of the combustor generates a suspended cloud of fuel and sludge particles. The particles remain in a tight spinning reaction zone just above the air injection vanes where they burn in a suspended phase away from the walls. Fine ash particles are then selectively separated from the combustion region and move to the ash removal cone. The ash eventually migrates to the bottom of the chamber where it is removed. Presented at International Conference (19th) on Incineration and Thermal Treatment Technologies, Portland, OR, 8-12 May 2000.