Abstract:
A system and for incinerating solid waste material that generates energy and minimal emissions. The incinerator system of the present disclosure is modular and may be configured to fit within a desired location. The system accepts raw solid material and processes, dries and ignites the waste material in an, optionally automated process.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/894,224 entitled “Solid Waste Incinerator System,” filed on Oct. 22, 2013; the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein relate to a Solid Waste Incinerator system that can generate energy from the combustion of solid waste. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Numerous solid waste systems have been developed to convert solid waste into thermal energy that may be used to produce electricity or heat. Previous attempts often required the use of an external fuel to promote combustion of the material. The use of fossil fuels in particular often results in emissions that negate any environmentally friendly gains sought by the incineration of the waste. Therefore, a need exists for a scalable system to incinerate and converter solid-waste to energy in an environmentally-sound manner with minimal to no harmful emissions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure relates to a system for processing and incinerating solid waste. In one embodiment, the system includes a solid waste receiving system, a waste dryer, and a waste pulverizer. In one aspect, the dryer further includes a rotating drum, a plurality of ribs, and a condensation removal system mounted within the rotating drum. 
         [0005]    The incinerator system also includes a fuel material transportation system, an incinerator, a boiler system, and an emissions control system. In one aspect, the incinerator further includes a multi-stage air jet system to aid in the continuous combustion of the waste material. In another aspect, the boiler system includes at least one gear-driven rotating cleaning rod to clean the tubes of the boiler. In another embodiment, the incinerator system includes a heat exchange system that converts at least a portion of the exhaust from the boiler system to provide heat to the waste dryer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a solid-waste incinerator system according to one embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a dryer viewed along line B-B as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a dryer viewed along line A-A as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a storage container viewed along line C-C as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an incinerator system viewed along line D-D as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an incinerator system viewed along line E-E as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a boiler system and a boiler tube cleaning system viewed along line F-F as shown in  FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of boiler tube arrangement viewed along line G-G as shown in  FIG. 7 , and a cleaning rod according to one embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of an emissions control system according to one embodiment 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a filter and dryer wire arrangement according to one embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of a centrifugal fan according to one embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a spray fan blade according to one embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger according to one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view the heat exchanger viewed along line H-H as shown in  FIG. 13 , according to one embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a partial cross-sectional view of the incinerator system that includes heat-exchange piping, according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The present disclosure generally relates to a solid-waste incinerator system that is configured to process and incinerator solid waste for energy production. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the solid-waste incinerator system  10  includes a waste receiving system  100 , a dryer  200 , a pulverizer  300 , a fuel transportation system  400 A-B, a storage system  500 , an incinerator  600 , a boiler system  700 , an emission control system  800 , and various heat exchange components  900 . In various embodiments, one or more of the incinerator system  10  components may be modular and mobile, such that the system may be easily built on site. Alternately, the system  10  may be easily moved and reconfigured to fit to the desired placement location. 
         [0023]    The waste receiving system  100  includes a dumpster  102  or other receptacle to receive solid waste from a variety of sources. In one aspect, the solid-waste incinerator system  100  is well suited for use with non-recyclable solid waste. The dumpster  100  is in communication with a conveyor mechanism  104  to transport waste from the dumpster to the dryer  200 . 
         [0024]    The conveyor mechanism  104  may include a belt-type conveyor that incorporates a bag ripper  106  to puncture and shred any bags or other containers containing the waste. In various other embodiments, any suitable mechanism for transporting solid waste may be used. In various aspects, the conveyor system  104  includes a metal detection system  108  as well as a “scavenger area”  110  for the manual inspection of the solid waste. The metal detection system  108  includes an innovative X-ray fluorescence (XRF) system to detect heavy metals. The system  108  is similar to XRF used in the mining industry for grading ore. In various aspects the system  108  can be configured to trigger an alarm at specific conditions or the detection of specific compositions and automatically stop the conveyor mechanism  104  for the removal of the identified waste. In one aspect, hand-held metal detectors may also be used. In addition to allowing manual inspection of the waste, the scavenger area  110  also serves as a location to input easily combustible solid waste, including but not limited to yard waste, mulch, or limbs. 
         [0025]    The conveyor mechanism  104  transfers the solid waste to a dryer  200  for drying. In one embodiment, the waste material on the conveyor mechanism  104  enters the dryer  200  via a chute  112 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , the dryer  200  includes a generally cylindrical rotating drum  202  that may rotate about a central longitudinal axis. The drum  202  is rotated by a drive motor  204  in communication with a chain (not shown) that extends around the outer circumference of the drum  202 . The chain engages a plurality of drive sprockets  206  mounted on the exterior surface of the drum  202 . To facilitate the rotation of the drum  202  by the drive motor  204 , the drum is supported on a roller system, generally indicated as  208 , mounted within a support frame  210 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the drum  202  may rest on two or more roller systems  208  and support frames  210 . The exterior surface of the drum  202  also includes one or more roller guides  212  that engage the roller system  208 . 
         [0028]    In various embodiments, the drum  202  may have a single-wall construction or have a multi-wall construction, with at least one interior wall  214 A and an exterior wall  214 B. The space between the walls may include one or more struts  215 . Typically, the exterior of the dryer drum  202  is insulated. The wall of the drum  202  also defines one or more air channels  216  for providing air to the interior of the dryer  200 . In one aspect, the air channels  216  are defined by a series of portholes within the struts  215 . The air channels  216  may extend the entire length of the drum  202 . Alternately, in various other embodiments, the air channels  216  may have various lengths to deliver air to different portions of the dryer  200 . By way of example and not limitation, the air circulated in the dryer may be in a range between approximately 350°-450° F. 
         [0029]    In one aspect, a plurality of dryer drum ribs  218  project away from the interior surface of the drum  202 . Each drum rib includes a distal portion that is engaged to the interior surface of the drum  202  and a proximal portion that is held away from the wall  214 A by a rib strut  220 . The ribs are positioned to move the waste through the dry as the drum rotates. For example, the ribs are oriented to move material in the dryer from the chute  112  to a distal end  217  of the dryer at a range between approximately 2 inches per revolution to approximately 6 inches per revolution. In one embodiment, the dryer  200  is dimensioned to dry approximately 75-155 tons of material in a 24 hour period. In one aspect, each rib  218  extends the length of the dryer drum  202 . The width of each rib may depend on the number of ribs in the drum  202 . 
         [0030]    In one aspect, the leading edge of each rib, relative to the direction of rotation is engaged to the wall  214 A, while the trailing edge is extended away from the wall by the strut  220 . Each rib is positioned over an aperture  222  in the wall  214 A that is in fluid communication with the one or more of the air channels  216 . As such, air flowing through the air channels  216  enters the interior of the drum  202  via the ribs  218 , as indicated by  224 . 
         [0031]    The dryer  200  also includes one or more exhaust ports  226  and a condensation and drainage system  228  that are suspended within the dryer  200  by a girder support system  232 . In one aspect, the condensation and drainage system  228  includes an arrangement of condensation tubes or coils  230  that are maintained at a temperature lower than the dryer by an externally located air conditioning unit (not shown) or a draft fan that also draws air from the exhaust ports  226  and removes it from the interior of the dryer  200 . 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, the dried waste material is pushed from the dryer, at least in part, by the rotation of the inclined ribs  218 , and enters a pulverizer  300 . The pulverizer  300  further reduces the solid waste to small pieces referred to herein as refuse derived fuel (“RDF”) or fuel material. The pulverized solid waste or fuel material is therefore ground, cut, or otherwise reduced to a size that can be transported the fuel transportation system  400 A-B. By way of example and not limitation, the pulverizer  300  reduces the solid waste to RDF that is approximately ½″×½″ or ½″ in diameter. In other embodiments, the size of the RDF may be smaller or greater as determined by the operator. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, the fuel transportation system  400 A-B includes one or more draft fans  402  that transfer the fuel material pneumatically. An embodiment of the storage system  500 , as shown in  FIG. 2  includes multiple of storage containers  502 . The fuel transportation system  400 A is in communication with a fill inlet  504  located at or near the top of each storage container  502  and includes a diverter  504  that allows a user of the incinerator system  10  to select a particular storage container to receive the fuel material. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , one embodiment of the storage container  502  includes a screen and moisture vent  506  to trap and collect any dust and moisture within the storage container. The storage containers also include an agitator mechanism  508  to break up large chunks of the fuel material as well as mixing the fuel material to provide a heterogeneous mixture of fuel material. As shown, the agitator mechanism  508  may include a number of rotating baffles  518  that are positioned at various heights and locations within the storage container  502 . The agitator mechanism  508  is driven by an agitator drive motor  510  located in a lower portion  520  of the storage container that is isolated from the fuel material. As shown, in one embodiment, the agitator drive motor  510  is operatively engaged to a shaft of the agitator mechanism  508  via a chain or belt  512  and a drive sprocket  514 . 
         [0035]    Fuel material that enters the fill inlet  504  is mixed and agitated as it falls through the storage container  502  before collected on the floor of the container. In one aspect, the floor of the storage container  502  permits hot air pumped in to the lower portion  520  to rise through the fuel material to dry the material if necessary and to collect dust or moisture that are collected at the vent  506 . The storage container  502  may also include an access door  516  to access the interior of the container  502  for cleaning or maintenance. 
         [0036]    The fuel material stored in the storage container  502  may be withdrawn as desired by a second section of the fuel transportation system  400 B. This portion of the fuel transportation is in communication with outlets located at or near the bottom of the storage containers  502 . Similar to the first portion of the fuel transportation system  400 A, one or more draft fans  402  delivers the fuel material to the incinerator  600 . In one aspect, the draft fans  402  can deliver up to approximately  200  pounds per minute for RDF. In other aspects, greater or lesser amounts of fuel may be transported by the fuel transportation system  400 A-B. This may depend on the desired operation of the system  10  and the size of the RDF. In one aspect, the amount of fuel can be varied automatically by a computing or processing device (not shown) in communication with the incinerator system. For example, the forced air volume moved by the draft fans  402  may be varied, thus altering the amount of fuel delivered to the incinerator  600 . 
         [0037]    The incinerator  600 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-6  is an air-assisted flow-through incinerator. The incinerator includes a housing composed of a solid refractory material that further includes sidewalls  602  engaged to a top wall  604 . In one aspect, the walls  602  and  604  of the incinerator housing are composed of a solid refractory material thereof, as well as sufficient insulation. In another aspect, the walls  602 - 604  may be composed of granite or another material, suitable to withstand the temperatures within the incinerator. In one embodiment, the top wall  604  is modular and may be removed in sections to provide access to the incinerator interior  606  for maintenance. 
         [0038]    Each of the sidewalls  602  includes at least two draft shaft openings  608  that align with corresponding openings on the opposite wall to receive a driveshaft  610  there through. The draft shaft openings  608  may further include a roller bearing  609  to engage the driveshaft  610  and to permit smooth rotation of the driveshaft. In one embodiment each portion of the driveshaft that extends away from the sidewalls  602  is engaged to a drive sprocket  612 . At least one of the drive sprockets is engaged to a drive motor (not shown). In one aspect, the drive sprocket is configured for use with a universal jack shaft and/or worm drive to rotate the drive shaft at any desired speed. 
         [0039]    Within the incinerator  600 , each driveshaft is further engaged to at least one conveyor drive sprocket  614  that operatively engages series of ball-bearing carriage rollers  616  attached to a conveying surface. The conveyor sprockets  614  receive the ball-bearing rollers  616  in the region between the teeth of the sprockets. The rollers  616  are engaged to a conveying surface that extends that transports the fuel material through the incinerator  60 . In one embodiment, the carriage rollers  616  are engaged to a roller chain loop (not shown) that is also engaged to the conveyor drive sprocket  614 . In this embodiment, the chain may have links that are approximately 4 inches by 8 inches and approximately ⅜ to ½ inch thick. 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, the conveyor surface has a speed of approximately 2 feet to 10 feet per minute. In one aspect, the conveyor may convey approximately three cubic feet of fuel material  618  per linear foot of conveyor surface  620 . It is believed that between approximately 100 tons and up to 144 tons of fuel material may be burned in the incinerator in a 24 hour period. In various other embodiments, smaller or greater volumes of fuel material may be burned. 
         [0041]    The conveyor surface is further covered with a series of spacers  622  to elevate the fuel material such that it remains in the burn area, generally indicated as  624 , while moving through the incinerator. The conveyor surface  620  also includes a number of staves  626  that engage and pull or alternately push the fuel material as the conveyor surface moves. 
         [0042]    The conveyor surface is further supported by a support structure  628  that functions to support the mass of fuel on the conveyor surface as well as shielding the driveshaft and portions of the conveyor drive sprocket from the heat of the incinerator. In addition, the support structure  628  includes a support ledge  630  for supporting the underside of the conveyor surface  620  as it returns and transitions into the upper fuel carrying surface  621 . In one aspect, a chain tightening and lubricating mechanism (not shown) is housed beneath the support structure  628 . The support structure  628  may be composed of high-heat grade abrasion resistant steel or any other suitable material. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the support structure also defines one or more air ducts  632  beneath the conveyor surface  620 . The air ducts  632  provide positive air flow to cool the conveyor sprockets, driveshaft, and other sensitive equipment. 
         [0043]    The incinerator  600  also includes an arrangement of heat shields  634  that insulate the fuel burning area  624  and also shield other equipment in the incinerator from the high temperatures of combustion. As shown in  FIG. 6 , additional heat shielding may be used to partition the interior if the incinerator  600  to form air-cooled regions, generally indicated as  636 . The heat shielding may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to granite. In one embodiment, elongated heat shields are positioned alongside the burn area  624 . The heat shields are angled away from the conveyor surface  620  to form a fuel material guide that funnels loose material downward back to the conveyor surface. The angled side heat shields  634  also include a series of openings to receive an air jet supply system  640  and a burner starter system  642 . 
         [0044]    The burner starter system  642  provides the initial ignition for the fuel material that enters the incinerator. In one embodiment, once the fuel material is ignited by the gas burner system  642 , no other external fuel is necessary. The combustion of the fuel material is aided and controlled by the air jet supply system  640 . In one aspect, the air jet supply system  640  is a four-stage jet system that delivers jet streams of air to the incinerator. In one embodiment, the air jet supply system  640  delivers air at a rate of between about 15,000 cubic feet per min (CFM) and 25,000 CFM. An operator of the incinerator system  10  may adjust or vary the flow rate of air along the length of the incinerator to achieve the desired burn rate or alternately the desired temperature in the incinerator  600 . For example, an operator may vary the operation of one or more fans or any other suitable electrical control system to adjust the volume and rate at which air is supplied by the air jet supply system  640 . In one aspect, the air flow to the incinerator  600  may be used to provide a burning temperature of approximately 1500 to 2000° F. 
         [0045]    In one aspect, the conveyor is a vibrating sifting conveyor where the unburned fuel matter may be channeled to a designated container (not shown), while ash, indicated as  644 , from burned fuel material is collected in an ash receptacle  646  for subsequent processing and packing. In one aspect, the ash may be collected for use in the manufacture of asphalt. 
         [0046]    The heat and exhaust gas generated from the incineration of the fuel material  618  are directed towards a boiler system  700 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The boiler system  700  includes a boiler  702  in communication with an exhaust outlet  704  and a boiler tube cleaning system  706 . The boiler contains water or any other suitable fluid that is heated by the combustion of the fuel material  618 . The steam or vaporized fluid may then be used for any desired purpose, including but not limited to the generation of electricity via a turbine or other suitable mechanisms. 
         [0047]    One embodiment of the boiler  702  includes an arrangement of tubes  708  within a cylindrical vessel  710 .  FIG. 8  is a cross-section of the tubes  708  as viewed along line F-F. For example, in a boiler vessel  710  approximately ten feet in diameter, an arrangement of approximately 444 tubes, in a 18×18 tube grid, with a layered arrangement of approximately thirty additional tubes on each side of the grid. In one aspect, the tubes  708  are each approximately 22 feet long and have a diameter of approximately 3 inches. In one embodiment, it is estimated that each tube provides approximately at least eight square feet of surface area for a total of approximately 3,552 square feet for heating exchange. As shown, one end of the tubes  708  are in fluid communication with the incinerator, while the other ends are in communication with the exhaust outlet  704  that carries exhaust gases and other materials, including unburned fuel material away from the boiler. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, each cleaning rod  712  includes an elongated square shaft  714  positioned coaxially within a rotating cylinder  716 . For example, the cleaning rod may have a length of approximately 25-30 feet; however other lengths may be used based upon the dimensions of the boiler  702  and boiler tubes  708 . The square shaft is held within the cylinder such that the square shaft rotates with the cylinder. As shown, a telescoping air supply tube extends along the entire length of the square shaft  714 . The air supply tube  718  may run along the interior of the square shaft  714 . In another embodiment, the air supply tube  718  may be external to the square shaft. The proximal end  720  of each cleaning rod  712  is engaged to a high pressure air inlet where pressurized is provided to the air supply tube associated with each cleaning rod. The distal end  722  of each cleaning rod  712  includes a number of tools that may be used to clean the tubes  708  of the boiler  702 . For example, each cleaning rod may include a nozzle to direct pressurized air at the interior walls of the tubes  708 . Similarly, each cleaning rod  712  may include a wire brush and a scraper to engage and clean the interior walls of each tube  708 . The cleaning rid may also include a sandblaster  724  and supply tube (not shown) that may be used in conjunction with or instead of the air supply tube. Any combination of suitable tools may be used with the cleaning rods to clean the tubes  708  of the boiler  702 . 
         [0049]    The boiler tube cleaning system  706  includes an arrangement of cleaning rods  712  that are positioned adjacent to the exhaust outlet  704  and opposite the boiler. In one embodiment, the wall  726  of the boiler adjacent to the exhaust outlet  704  includes a number of openings  728  corresponding to and aligned with the tubes  708 . When deployed, the cleaning rods  712  are received through the openings  728 , extend across the exhaust outlet  704 , and enter the tubes  708  of the boiler. The cleaning rods  712  are extended into the boiler  702  and the boiler tubes  708  by a gear arrangement (not shown). In one aspect, the rotation of the cylinder is air driven, while the air-driven gear arrangement engages one or more sides of the square shaft  714 . In one embodiment, the gear arrangement also includes mechanisms to provide a high torque impact to the cleaning rods similar to an impact wrench. Therefore the cleaning rod will rotate about its central longitudinal axis as it travels along the tube  708 . Similarly other embodiments include mechanisms to provide repetitive lateral motion similar to an impact driver. While another embodiments, may contain mechanisms to provide both functionalities simultaneously or in an alternating manner 
         [0050]      FIGS. 9-12  depict features of the emission control system  800  according to one embodiment. The emission control system  800  is housed within a concrete structure and includes an arrangement of fans  802 - 804 , filters  806 , dryer wires  808 , and an emissions stack  830 . As shown, exhaust from the boiler  702  may enter the emission control system  800  at approximately 25,000 to 33,000 cubic feet per min or greater. The intake portion of the emission control system  800  includes a draft equalizer  810  that may open and close to regulate a positive air control within the system. The draft equalizer  810  may be operated manually or automatically by a computing device and one or more sensors (not shown). 
         [0051]    The exhaust entering the emission control system  800  first passes through a series of spray fans  802  that a mist or fog of water to capture any large particles in the exhaust. The blades  812  of spray fans  802  include a number of nozzles  814 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , that emit water delivered by water supply tubes  708  to provide a water treatment commonly used to manage the pH level, the content level of various salts ad minerals in the exhaust. The nozzles may be attached to the surface of the fan blades  812 , or in one embodiment, may be embedded within the fan blades along with associated water supply lines  818 . Runoff from the water treatment is collected in a drain  816 . 
         [0052]    In one aspect, the spray fans rotate in the opposite direction relative to the immediately adjacent fans. The spray fans are driven by drive motors  820 . Each of which may be engaged to a reduction gear arrangement to decrease the rate of rotation for the corresponding spray fan  802 . 
         [0053]    The exhaust next enters a centrifugal fan  804  driven by a pair of drive motors  822 . The centrifugal fan  804 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , includes a series of thin-slotted air foil blades  824  to reduce moisture by applying both draft and centrifugal forces to the exhaust. In one aspect, the blades  824  of the centrifugal fan are perforated and contain a plurality of holes. 
         [0054]    Before entering an emissions stack  830  to cool and be released to the environment, the exhaust passes through a series of electronic filters  806  and heater wires  808 . In one embodiment, the filters  806  include charged metallic plates (e.g. nickel) that are held a voltage in a range between about 240 V to about 480 V. The charged plates collect additional particulates in the exhaust through electromagnetic attraction similar to static electricity as used in ionic air purifiers. The electronic filters, as shown in  FIG. 10 , are removable and may be removed during operation of the incinerator system  10  without stopping operation of the system. The filters are also reusable and may be washed and replaced. 
         [0055]    Between the filters  806 , one or more unshielded metallic wires (e.g. nickel) are held a high temperature to dry the air, aid the collection of particulates on the filters, and if necessary burn of any residual gas that may remain in the exhaust. In one aspect, the dryer wires  808  may be heated as a result of resistive heating when exposed to the voltage also applied to the filters  806 . 
         [0056]    In various other embodiments, the exhaust from the boiler  702  may be provided to a baghouse or other bag or fabric based emission system. In one embodiment, the exhaust may first enter a baghouse before entering the emission control system  800 . Other arrangements and other emission control systems may also be used. 
         [0057]    In one embodiment, the heat from the exhaust of the boiler  702  may be captured at a heat exchanger before entering the emission control system  800 .  FIGS. 13 and 14  depict one embodiment of a heat exchanger that may be used to capture and reuse the heat from the boiler exhaust. As shown, the exhaust may be drawn over a heat exchange system  900 , where the heat is transferred to other systems. The heat exchanges system  900  includes a fresh air intake pipe  902  engaged to one or more heat exchange coils  904  that traverse the exhaust outlet  704  of the boiler  702 . The heat exchange coils  904  are also engaged to a discharge pipe  906  that channels the heated fresh air for use. For example the heated fresh air may be directed to the dryer  200  and used in the drying process to reduce the amount of external energy costs to operate the dryer. Similarly, the heat fresh air may be used to heat a building interior or other similar use. 
         [0058]    In one aspect, the intake pipe  902  includes one or more draft fans  908  to draw in fresh air and deliver the air the heat exchange coils  904  at a rate to permit the desired level of heating from the exhaust. Both the intake pipe  902  and the discharge pipe  906  may be removed for cleaning or maintenance without impacting the operation of the incinerator system  10 . As shown, the exhaust is pulled through the heat exchanger  900  by another discharge fan  910  and provided to the emission control system  800 . In one aspect, the discharge fan may remove the exhaust from the system  10  at approximately 35,000 CFM. 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , another embodiment of the incinerator  600  includes one or more coils or lengths of heat-exchange piping  1000  embedded in the top wall  604 . In other embodiments, the heat-exchange pipes  1000  may be embedded in other refractory material portions of the incinerator  600 . To allow for expansion and contraction of the piping  1000 , the piping may be coated with a foam substance. Any other suitable resilient substance, including solids, liquids, and/or gases, may be applied to or otherwise used to surround or shield the piping  1000  within the incinerator  600 . For liquid and gas shielding, any necessary components to supply or evacuate the shielding may be located external to the incinerator  600 , or alternatively, incorporated into portions of the incinerator  600 , such as the top wall  600 . As well understood in the art, the piping  1000  may be filled with any suitable medium for capturing and transferring heat from the incinerator  600  to a heat exchanger  1100 . In one aspect, the heat exchanger  1100  may be a boiler; however, other heat exchangers may be used. 
         [0060]    In one embodiment, the heat exchange piping  1000  circulates water through the top wall  604  were it is heated and converted into steam. The stream may be used to drive a turbine directly, or it may be sent to the heat exchanger  1100 . The heat exchanger  1100  may further include one or more circulator pumps  1102  that regulate the pressure of steam within the piping  1000 . By way of example, the circulator pumps  1102  may use thermo/pressure switches and gauges to regulate the pressure of the steam based on temperature, pressure, or both. As such, operation of the circulator pumps  1102  may be automated to maximize the amount of heat captured from the incinerator  600  before the exhaust enters the emissions control system  800 . 
         [0061]    The incorporated heat-exchange piping  1000  may reduce the amount of emissions control and heat exchange systems in similar systems. As such, the incorporation of the heat-exchange piping may reduce installation and maintenance costs. By capturing additional heat from the incinerator  600  through the heat-exchange piping  1000 , more efficient combustion and fewer emissions are possible. Additionally, this permits the use of multiple fuel types, including mixtures of different fuels. 
         [0062]    It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. 
         [0063]    While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular implementations. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various embodiments of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow. 
         [0064]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations from the specific embodiments disclosed above are contemplated by the invention. The following invention should not be restricted to the above embodiments, but should be measured by the following claims.