A PORTABLE AIR CURTAIN DESTRUCTOR FOR BURNING TREES AND BRUSH

A PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT MEANS OF BURNING TREES AND BRUSH FROM CLEARING OPERATIONS WAS DEVISED WHICH GREATLY REDUCED THE EMISSION OF SMOKE AND UNBURNED PARTICLES INTO THE AIR. THE AIR CURTAIN DESTRUCTOR ESTABLISHED A CURTAIN OF HIGH VELOCITY AIR ABOVE THE FIRE BURNING IN A PIT THROUGH THE USE OF NOZZLES. THE AIR STRUCK THE FAR SIDE OF THE PIT AND DEFLECTED DOWNWARD AND HORIZONTALLY INTO THE FIRE RESULTING IN HIGHER TEMPERATURES (OVER 2000 DEGREES F) TO INSURE COMPLETE COMBUSTION. PARTICLES IN THE AIR ABOVE THE BURNING MATERIAL WERE PICKED UP BY THE AIR CURTAIN AND RETURNED TO THE BURNING PIT AND ONLY THE GASEOUS PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION PASSED THROUGH. THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE DEVICE WERE AN INDUSTRIAL ENGINE, A CENTRIFUGAL FAN, AND A CYLINDRICAL DRUM OR PLENUM WITH LONGITUDINALLY SLOTTED NOZZLES FOR DELIVERING THE CURTAIN OF AIR TO THE BURNING PIT. THE FIRE BURNED IN A PIT THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET LONG, 12-15 FEET WIDE, AND 10-12 FEET DEEP. THE COMPONENTS OF THE DESTRUCTOR WERE MOUNTED ON A DETACHABLE TRUCKBED ENABLING IT TO BE EASILY MOVED. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE DESTRUCTOR WAS $10,000.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 2, No 1, PP 52-56, 7 FIG
• Authors:
  • Wofford, J T
• Publication Date: 1970-2

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Highway Focus

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air; Air quality management; Brush control; Burners; Combustion; Costs; Equipment; Nozzles; Portable equipment; Temperature; Trees
• Uncontrolled Terms: Brush
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218707
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 8 1971 12:00AM