ES2736159B2 - Operation procedure of an energetically improved crematorium oven and electrical energy storage burial urn - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Operation procedure of an energetically improved crematorium oven and electrical energy storage burial urn

Object and sector of the technique to which the invention refers

The present invention refers to a crematory oven that recommends an energy improvement as well as a new type of funerary urn and columbarium to deposit the urns.

The object of the invention consists of an energetically improved crematory oven that has the capacity to generate electrical energy through an electrical energy generation system, store electrical energy in a new energetic funerary urn, and guard a plurality of urns through a new columbarium.

The invention is located in the technical field of electro-mechanical engineering and more specifically in that related to cremation engineering.

Generalities and closest previous state of the art

In the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (23rd edition, 2014), we can find cremation defined as cremation, this being the action and effect of cremating. Cremation is commonly known as the action of burning a person's corpse to reduce it to ashes; This practice is also used in animals for people who want to keep the ashes of their pets.

The Catholic Church authorized the cremation of the corpses of its faithful in 1964. During the papacy of John XXIII, this matter was reviewed, and it was ruled that cremation did not oppose any dogma of the Church, and therefore it was approved. by his successor Paul VI.

The invention is individual with a single objective that advocates the generation, storage and custody of electrical energy obtained in an energetically improved crematorium oven and complementary accessories through a new cremation process; For clarity in the exhibition, the description is made in three sections: crematorium, funerary urn and columbarium.

crematorium oven

Cremation takes place in a place called a cremation oven, being an increasingly popular alternative for the final disposal of a corpse as opposed to burial or burial. Different types of crematorium ovens are known in the state of the art. Depending on how they are heated, they are classified into electric ovens and flame ovens. Electric furnaces can be resistance, arc and induction, as well as diesel and natural gas flame furnaces. The temperature reached in the The temperature inside this type of oven during the cremation process is between 800 and 1150 °C to ensure that a large part of the body is vaporized and oxidized. Bones that represent less than 5% of the total body weight require a much higher temperature to achieve their vaporization, a factor that is unfeasible for economic reasons. The cremation lasts between one and two hours, depending on the size and type of body, leaving bone fragments at the end, characterized by being hard but very fragile, which are taken to a cremulator, an independent stage of the oven, to proceed to crush said pieces. shards to get the final set of ashes.

In a known manner, the main structure of a crematorium consists of two chambers: a main combustion chamber where the corpse is incinerated and a secondary post-combustion chamber that serves to burn the unburned gases present in the smoke coming from the first one with the purpose of reduce emissions into the atmosphere; each of the chambers has its corresponding burner.

Crematorium ovens must meet certain operating standards. In particular, in Spain, what is established in Royal Decree 816/2013, of October 18, which approves the Regulation on industrial emissions and the development of Law 16/2002, of July 1, on integrated prevention and control of pollution, which prescribes that the fumes coming from post-combustion must be at a temperature greater than or equal to 850°C. Likewise, the combustion chamber must be preheated to a minimum temperature of 350°C, before the cremation operation itself. In addition, the combustion gases must remain for at least two seconds in the post-combustion chamber, after the last injection of combustion air.

Different types of crematorium ovens are known in the state of the art, finding in the closest technique, among many others, the following documents:

In the patent document called D01 with publication reference ES 2144898 B1, filing date: 01.30.1996, entitled: "Crematory oven for corpses and remains of exhumations", a crematory oven is described in which the floor allows the recirculation of air, without the need for permanent combustion and has pneumatic regulation means, others for thermal exchange of the supply air with exhaust gases, others for consecutive combustion of gases, a secondary decantation chamber for recirculated particulates and, all of this, with regulation of flows and pressures, depending on both time and temperature.

In the patent document called D02 with publication reference EP 2045525 A2, filing date: 01.30.1996, entitled: "Mobile cremation systems", an invention is described that refers to a system and a funeral cell for the cremation of deceased and exhumed bodies. The system is on wheels to be towed and can be used anywhere. It comprises as a whole a cremation chamber, a post-combustion device, a smoke/air exchanger, a fan for the recirculation of gaseous fluids and control means of the process to be carried out, all installed on a bed of a vehicle, in particular a semi-trailer, which may be connected to a motor vehicle.

In the patent document called D03 with publication reference ES 2429263 B1, filing date: 01.06.2012, entitled: "new crematorium for incineration of human or animal bodies", a new crematorium is described that comprises: - a chamber combustion comprising at least one primary burner supplied with fuel and combustion air and at least one combustion air inlet, said combustion chamber comprising a combustion zone of volume V1 intended to receive the body to be incinerated; - a post-combustion chamber comprising at least one secondary burner fed by fuel, said post-combustion chamber comprising a post-combustion zone with a volume V2 greater than V1 positioned above the combustion zone; - a relief chimney; characterized in that the combustion and post-combustion chambers are arranged in one and the same closed enclosure, and in that the post-combustion zone is arranged in the extension of said combustion zone over its entire section.

We can find different types of crematorium ovens on the following website: http://www.kalfrisa.com/productos.aspx.

Although different types of crematory ovens are known in the state of the art, none of the type recommended by the invention is known, that is, one that can transform the thermal energy from the self-combustion of the corpse to be cremated, transmitted by convection to the fumes, into electrical energy to be partially stored in an energetic funeral urn and the rest of the energy from the cremation delivered to the electrical installation for self-consumption or generation, e.g. mainly dedicated to external lighting of funeral facilities, delivery of surplus to the public network or re-charging batteries.

funeral urn

A funerary urn, also called a cinerary, is a closed vessel traditionally made of ceramic, stone, bronze, marble, alabaster or glass, in which the relatives of a deceased collect their ashes after cremation. Different types of funerary urns are known in the state of the art. In recent years, and due to the increase in this practice, companies that supply these funerary articles have increased their range of products, currently offering careful designs made of a wide variety of materials, many of them biodegradable, which allow these items to be deposited in any natural space without compromising the environment. The first biodegradable urns were made of sand and gelatin, and are now known as "green urns".

We can find different funeral urns on the following website: https://www.urnas-funerarias.es/.

Different types of funerary urns are known in the state of the art, all of which are cinerary, none of the type recommended by the invention being known, that is to say, that instead of storing ashes they store electrical energy.

columbarium

The name of columbarium is given to the niches destined to contain the funerary urns. In the state of the art, different types of columbariums are known in order to house a plurality of urns.

We can find different types of columbariums on the following website: https://columbarios.es/.

Different types of columbariums are known in the state of the art, all of them for guarding funerary urns, none of the type recommended by the invention being known, that is, instead of guarding funerary urns, they guard funerary urns accumulating electrical energy.

technical problem raised

The systems of the prior state of the art present a problem that is fundamentally focused on the following aspects:

crematorium oven

X They do not allow the generation of electricity from the incineration of a human body or a pet.

funeral urn

X They do not allow the storage of electrical energy from the incineration of a human body or a pet.

columbarium

X They do not allow the custody of electrical energy storage burial urns.

Technical advantage provided by the invention

The device (1) and procedure (P1) that the invention recommends fully satisfactorily resolve the aforementioned problem, in each and every one of the different aspects discussed.

It is therefore a necessity that has been sought for a long time in a cremation to make it possible, in addition to retaining the mass of the deceased in the form of ashes, to retain its energy in the form of electrical energy.

Brief description of the figures

To complement the description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of illustrative and non-limiting figures is attached as an integral part of said description.

reference glossary

( 0 ) Crematory oven, from the state of the prior art;

(01) Coffin;

(02) Introducer of coffins;

(03) Cremation chamber;

(04) Cremation burner;

(05) Post-combustion chamber;

(06) Post-combustion burner;

(07) Fan;

(08) Main fireplace;

( 1 ) energetically improved crematory oven, object of the invention;

( 1A ) Electric power generation system;

(1A1) Main valve;

(1A2) Secondary valve;

(1A3) Smoke duct;

(1A4) Steam boiler;

(1A5) Secondary fireplace;

(1A6) Thermal ring;

(1A7) Rankine module;

(1A8) Cooling ring;

(1A9) Fan heater;

(1A10) Electrical panel;

(1A11) Generation line;

( 1A12 ) Charging subsystem;

(1A121) Switch;

(1A122) Rectifier;

(1A123) Current Source;

(1A13) PLC;

( 1B ) Funeral urn accumulating electrical energy;

(1B1) Glass;

(1B2) Cover;

(1B3) Urn peephole;

(1B4) Accumulator;

(1B5) Resistance;

(1B6) Pilot light;

(1C) Columbarium;

(1C1) Paralepipedal niche;

(1C2) Surrounding structure;

(1C3) External door;

(1C4) Niche door;

(1C5) Niche peephole;

(P1) Preferred procedure for generating electrical energy with storage in funerary urns (P1), through the use of an energetically improved crematorium oven (1), object of the invention.

symbols glossary

AC Alternating Current;

DC Direct Current;

EDLC Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitor ;

PLC Programmable Logic Controller;

TV Steam Turbine;

G Generator;

R Regenerative;

B. Bomb.

Figure 01 ( Fig.01 ).- shows an elevation view of a crematorium (0), from the prior state of the art.

Figure 02 ( Fig.02 ).- shows an elevation view of an energetically improved crematorium oven (1), object of the invention.

Figure 03 ( Fig.03 ).- shows a flow diagram of the transformation of thermal energy into electrical energy.

Figure 04 ( Fig.04 ).- shows a diagram of a charging subsystem (1A12).

Figure 05 ( Fig.05 ).- shows an electrical energy storage funerary urn (1B).

Figure 06 ( Fig.06 ).- Shows an elevation view and details of a columbarium (1C). Detailed description of the invention and detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail, among the different possible alternatives, by enumerating its components as well as their functional relationship based on references to the figures, which have been included, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, according to the principles of claims.

Reference is made to the figures as necessary in order to gain a better understanding of what is shown therein.

The invention recommends an energetically improved crematory oven and complementary accessories ( 1 ), of the type that incorporates, Fig.01, a coffin introducer (02), a cremation chamber (03) equipped with one or more cremation burners ( 04) fed by fuel and combustion air intended to receive a coffin (01) to be incinerated, a post-combustion chamber (05) equipped with one or more post-combustion burners (06) fed by fuel and combustion air intended to receive the fumes from the front chamber, a fan (07) to provide combustion air and a main chimney (08), which is characterized by the fact that it includes:

a. an electrical power generation system ( 1A ), Fig.02 , which has the purpose of transforming the thermal energy produced during cremation into electrical energy, which contains: a main valve (1A1) that when open allows the smoke outlet coming from the post-combustion chamber (05) to the outside environment and when it is closed it derives them to a flue (1A3), which through a secondary valve (1A2) reach a steam boiler (1A4), finally exiting to the environment by means of a secondary chimney (1A5); In said steam boiler (1A4), Fig.03 , by means of a smoke-heat transfer fluid thermal exchange, steam is generated that is conducted through a thermal ring (1A6) to a Rankine module (1A7) that transforms the thermal energy of the steam into electrical energy that distributes to an electrical panel (1A10) and that sends the steam cooled by a cooling ring (1A8) to a fan heater (1A9) to dissipate its thermal energy or to be consumed in a hot water receiving facility, eg. heating, ACS, etc.; Fig.04 , in said electrical panel (1A10) the elements of protection, generation (preferably an isolated inverter equipment combined with batteries or an inverter equipment with connection to the electrical network if batteries are not available) and regulation necessary to be able to deliver the electrical energy generated through a generation line (1A11) to the corresponding electrical installation as well as a load subsystem ( 1A12 ) that contains a switch (1A121), to allow or not the load, a rectifier (1A122), to convert from AC to DC, an intensity source (1A123), to control and charge with constant intensity (1B4) an accumulator (1B4) that once charged will be placed in an electrical energy accumulator burial urn ( 1B ), controlled by the entire system a PLC (1A13);

b. a funerary urn accumulating electric energy ( 1B ) for each cremation, Fig.05 , which has the purpose of accumulating electric energy coming mainly from the thermal energy produced in the self-combustion of the corpse, made up of a glass (1B1), a lid (1B2), a ballot box peephole (1B3) and inside which there is an accumulator (1B4) at whose terminals a series circuit formed by a resistor (1B5) and a pilot light (1B6) is connected, which can be seen from the exterior through said ballot box peephole (1B3) that is transparent or translucent;

c. a columbarium ( 1C )), Fig.06 , composed of a plurality of parallelepiped niches (1C1) within an enveloping structure (1C2) provided with one or more external doors (1C3) transparent or translucent and that each niche has a niche door (1C4) with a transparent or translucent niche peephole (1C5) through which you can see the pilot light (1B3) of the electrical energy storage funerary urn (1B ) that guards.

Sizing of the electric power generation system (1A)

In a preferred embodiment, the Rankine module (1A7) consists of a compact unit like the one we can find at www.rankweb.es [last access 05/11/2019], based on an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), which uses as heat transfer fluid water or thermal oil.

The heat transfer fluid evaporates in the steam boiler (1A4) from the heat source from the thermal energy of the smoke from the cremation to subsequently reduce its enthalpy by expanding the steam at high pressure in the steam turbine ( TV), producing mechanical energy of rotation that in a generator (G) is transformed into electrical energy. As it is a closed cycle, the steam from the steam turbine outlet (TV) is condensed in an air heater (1A9) and then the liquid is pressurized by means of a pump (B) to start the cycle again. To increase the efficiency of the system, the heat present in the low-pressure steam at the turbine outlet is used through a regenerator (R). In case of demanding thermal energy, instead of dissipating it in the fan heater (1A9), it can be sent to the receiving installation, eg heating, DHW, etc.

In the case of a natural gas flame crematory oven, the average consumption for a cremation is 80-85 m3, in order to maintain the regulatory temperatures for cremation. The Lower Calorific Value (PCI) of natural gas is 10.5 kWH/m3, therefore a thermal energy of 840-892.5 kWH is generated, that is to say an average value of 866 kWH.

Estimating a global performance of 25%, about 200 kWh of electrical energy will be obtained per cremation, which considering an average time per cremation of 120 minutes, the power of the system will be 100 kW.

Dimensioning of an electrical energy accumulating funerary urn (1B)

Characterization of the pilot light (1B3)

In one embodiment, the pilot light (1B3) is a neon lamp (discovered in 1898 by the French chemist George Claude) which is a low-pressure neon gas discharge lamp contained in a glass receptacle. When powered by DC, glow occurs only on the negative terminal. As an application example, a 230VAC nominal voltage NE-2 model has been tested in the laboratory, verifying that a minimum voltage of 90VDC is required to start operation. The equation that models consumption as a function of DC supply voltage has been obtained:

I = 10.508 Vdc - ^850.77

being: intensity (I), in |aA; voltage (V ^dc ), in V.

Choosing a voltage of 125 VDC as an example of implementation, we obtain that the annual energy consumed by the pilot light (1B3) will be 0.51 kWh, as can be seen in the following table:

Characterization of the accumulator (1B4)

In one embodiment, the accumulator 1B4 is an ultra-double layer capacitor (EDLC), which is a type of electrochemical capacitor that has a high energy density compared to conventional capacitors.

We will size the accumulator (1B4) in such a way that it has an autonomy of, for example, 1 year to power the pilot light (1B3), therefore requiring an accumulation energy of 0.51 kWh after deducting the losses due to to self-consumption, for this we will obtain the equivalent circuit according to the IEC 62391:2006 standard, which is based on a model suggested by de Levie to model the behavior of EDLCs, requiring 14 ultracapacitors of 63F of 125 V, connected in parallel, according to can be seen in the following table:

The accumulator (1B4) in this embodiment has a total weight of 0.833 kg and a volume of 1.2 liters, the full charge time being about 80 seconds.

The start and end of the charge will be controlled by a PLC (1A13) acting on the switch (1A121) and controlling the current source (1A123).

In this detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is estimated that the electrical energy accumulating funerary urn (IB) can help enormously to overcome the mourning phase for the family, compared to the conventional funerary urn, since when the Luminous pilot (1B3) helps to think that the deceased, through its energy, is still present and accompanying the relatives. Regarding the duration of one year, it is believed that it is enough and that after the same the deceased definitively leaves the earth to go to another better place, depending on the religious beliefs of the family. However, with the exposed system, it is practically possible to achieve any time since the energy of the self-combustion of organic matter allows it.

Preferred procedure for the generation of electrical energy with storage in funeral urns ( P1), through the use of an energetically improved crematorium oven ( 1)

A preferred procedure for generating electrical energy with storage in funerary urns (P1) that uses an energetically improved crematory oven (1) is described in detail by enumerating the stages to be executed according to the indicated order, said procedure being characterized in that it comprises at least the following stages:

Stage "a". Preheating of the cremation chamber (03) and the post-combustion chamber (05).

The main valve (1A1) opens and the secondary valve (1A2) closes, so the circuit is prepared so that when fumes from the combustion of the burners are produced, they go out into the environment through the main chimney (08). The cremation burners (04) and post-combustion (06) ignite, the spark jumps and the fuel begins to enter. The flame ignites and the combustion process begins, increasing the temperature progressively in both chambers (03.05). The cremation chamber (03) must be preheated to a minimum temperature of 350°C and the post-combustion chamber (05) must be at a temperature greater than or equal to 850°C; In addition, the combustion gases must remain for at least two seconds in the post-combustion chamber (05), after the last injection of combustion air. Therefore, the burners (04.06) continue to operate independently until thermocouples located in the respective chambers (03,05) detect that said temperatures have been reached, unlocking the coffin inlet gate (01). If the temperature drops below the limit indicated for each chamber (03.05) its corresponding burner (04.06) will activate again. The fan (07) at this stage normally remains off. This preheating stage lasts an average of 45 minutes.

Stage "b". Introduction of a coffin (01).

When the coffin (01) is loaded into the coffin introducer (02), the gate will automatically open and it will be inserted, until once fully inserted, the gate closes. As an additional security measure, the cremation burner (04) is turned off while the hatch remains open.

Stage "c". Start of cremation.

The high temperature inside the cremation chamber (03) together with the action of the cremation burner (04), if the set temperature requires it, cause the coffin (01) to start burning. The fan (07) in this stage is turned on providing hot air (feedback heated by an exchanger with the exhaust fumes) so that cremation can take place practically without the need for the cremation burner (04) to be turned on. The entrance gate has a viewer that allows to observe the interior of the cremation chamber (03). When the operator verifies that the coffin (01) has been incinerated and a specially arranged artificial vision camera confirms this, the order is given to finish the stage to move on to the next.

Stage "d". Second section of the cremation or generation of electrical energy for charging an electrical energy accumulating funerary urn (1B).

The main valve (1A1) closes and the secondary valve (1A2) opens, so the circuit is prepared so that the fumes from the combustion of the burners go out into the environment through the secondary chimney (1A5). The cremation (04) and post-combustion (06) burners remain off even though the thermocouples indicate a temperature below the set point. The fan (07) preferably also remains off. At this precise moment, the thermal energy released by the self-combustion of the corpse is transformed into electrical energy through the electrical energy generation system (1A) and is used to charge the accumulator (1B4) of the electrical energy accumulator funerary urn (1B) through the charging subsystem (1A12). Simultaneously, the generation surplus can be delivered to a self-consumption network, batteries or to an electrical network. When said ballot box is charged (in the embodiment described as an example in the previous section, the charging time is 80 seconds) operation controlled by the PLC (1A13), it will be electrically disconnected from the charging system and the order to finish the stage to move on to the next one.

Stage "e". Third section of cremation or electricity generation for various uses.

The body consumes itself without any contribution of heat as long as the temperature is maintained and the necessary oxygen is provided to maintain combustion. However, it is necessary to provide heat through the burners for various reasons, such as accelerating the time of a cremation to normal limits, which by itself and without heat input would be excessively long.

The cremation (04) and post-combustion (06) burners remain activated, turning on or off depending on the indication of the thermocouples in relation to the set temperature, since as the cremation process progresses the heat released by the load progresses. it decreases, causing a higher frequency of ignition, especially the cremation burner (04). The fan (07) remains on. At this moment, the thermal energy released by the action of the burners (04,06), fan (07) and self-combustion of the load is transformed into electrical energy. through the electric power generation system (1A), delivered to the electrical installation for self-consumption or generation, mainly dedicated to exterior lighting of funeral facilities, delivery of surpluses to the public network or re-charging batteries. Through the viewer of the entrance gate, the evolution of the cremation can be observed. This stage of cremation itself has an average duration between 60 and 120 minutes.

Stage "f". Completion of cremation.

The regulations require individual cremations to be carried out, so the entrance gate remains blocked. When the operator verifies that the cremation process has finished and a photoelectric cell confirms it, the gate is opened and, after a cooling time, the cremation remains are extracted to, once cremulated, stored. in a conventional cremation urn. Finally, the accumulator (1B4) is inserted into the glass (1B1) and closed with the lid (1B3) so that the electric energy accumulator funerary urn (1B) will be ready to deliver to the family.

Claims (2)

1. Operating procedure for an energetically improved crematory furnace, of the type that incorporates a crematory furnace with its cremation (03) and post-combustion (05) chambers, and cremation (04) and post-combustion (06) burners, and connection of the post-combustion chamber (05) with the steam boiler (1A4) of a Rankine cycle (1A7) associated with an electrical power generation system (1A), the procedure comprising the following stages: - Stage "a" . Preheating of the cremation chamber (03) and of the post-combustion chamber (05); - Stage "b". Introduction of a coffin (01); - Stage "c". Start of cremation; - Stage "e" . Cremation or generation of electricity for various uses; - Stage “P' . Completion of cremation; said procedure being characterized in that it comprises the following intermediate stage to be carried out between stages ce: Stage "d". Second section of the cremation or generation of electrical energy to charge an electrical energy accumulating funeral urn (1B) , consisting of the fact that the cremation burners (04) and post-combustion burners (06) remain off even though the thermocouples indicate a lower temperature to the set point, allowing at this precise moment that the thermal energy released by the self-combustion of the corpse be transformed into electrical energy through the electrical energy generation system (1A), using said energy to charge an accumulator (1B4) and allowing Simultaneously, the generation surplus can be delivered to a self-consumption network, batteries or to an electrical network; When said ballot box is charged, it will be electrically disconnected from the charging system and an order will be given to finish the stage to move on to the next. 2. An electrical energy accumulator funerary urn (1B), consisting of a glass (1B1), a lid (1B2), an urn peephole (1B3) and inside which there is an accumulator (1B4) in whose terminals it is connected a series circuit formed by a resistor (1B5) and a pilot light (1B6) visible from the outside through said ballot box peephole (1B3) that is transparent or translucent, characterized in that the accumulator (1B4) inside it is charged using the procedure according to claim 1.