Performance Features

NO COOL DOWN REQUIRED BETWEEN CREMATIONS

Virtually every manufacturer of standard size human cremators recommend a 20 to 30 minute cool-down between cremations to prevent overheating and visible emissions (smoke) from the stack. U.S. Cremation Equipment’s “Classic” model with its advanced operating system automatically controls the rate of combustion so that extended cool-down between consecutive cremations is not necessary. Eliminating cool-down results in faster cremation cycles, longer refractory life and can reduce fuel usage by up to 50% on the second and successive cremations of the day.

24 HOUR CONTINUOUS OPERATION

Extra-heavy duty insulation, an improved drafting system along with an operating system that monitors and controls chamber temperatures by continuously adjusting firing rate of the burners and combustion air supply enables the “Classic” to operate around the clock in emergency situations or during periods of peak demand without generating visible emissions or odor.

DESIGNED TO CREMATE OBESE CASES

The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) automatically controls the firing rate of the cremation burner and combustion air supply to the primary chamber to maintain optimal operating temperature. This prevents an excessive combustion rate in large and obese cases that can lead to overheating, fluid problems and visible emissions. The “Classic” can accommodate cases up to 800 lbs.

CREMATE UP TO SIX BODIES IN A TEN HOUR WORK DAY

Eliminating cool-down along with faster cremation cycles allow for a greater daily throughput. The “Classic” can consistently cremate up to six average size bodies in ten hours and outperforms all other cremators in its price and size class.

FULLY AUTOMATIC PLC OPERATING SYSTEM

Standard to the “Classic” is a proven and tested automatic operating system with color touch screen control as standard.  Load the body and container in the primary chamber, set the timer and press the Start button to begin the cycle. The system is programmed to begin a 45 second purge cycle before igniting the secondary chamber burner to start the preheat cycle. Once the proper temperature is reached in the pollution control chamber the primary burner is ignited to begin the cremation cycle. Upon completion of the cremation the system advances to the cool down cycle at which time the burners shut down and clean out of the cremated remains can be made.

POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM ELIMINATES VISIBLE EMISSIONS

Complete combustion is achieved in the “Classic’s” temperature controlled large secondary chamber. Greater than 99% of volatilized carbon created in the combustion process is converted to carbon dioxide. In addition, an Opacity Sensor is located at the base of the stack to monitor the clarity of the exhaust gases. Once the exhaust gases reach 20% opacity the PLC automatically shuts down the primary burner and adjusts combustion air supply to slow the combustion rate and prevent visible emissions from exiting the stack.

QUIET-PAK INSULATION FOR LO-NOISE OPERATION

The combustion air blower and motor assembly are shrouded with an acoustic sound deadening material that substantially reduces the noise level of the cremator when it is in full operation. This allows placement of the cremator adjacent to high traffic areas without disrupting normal operations.

ADVANCED COMBUSTION AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The number and size of the air ports in the primary chamber have been increased to supply more combustion air when operating in a production mode. While fresh air is necessary for combustion it also can act as a cooling effect to control the rate of combustion. Moreover, the “Classic is equipped with a refractory lined draft inducer.  Air injected into the Inducer creates a constant negative pressure in the primary chamber to improve air flow into the secondary chamber and on into the stack.  This enables the operator to remove the cremated remains from the primary chamber following the cremation cycle as the hot air flows away from the open Charging Door to the rear of the cremator.  An added benefit is as the hot exhaust gases pass through the secondary chamber into the draft inducer they are cooled reducing the exit temperatures of the hot gases into the atmosphere in half. 

Equipment Features

POWER CHARGING DOOR WITH DUAL HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS

Most manufacturers use a single hydraulic cylinder and a series of chains and sprockets to raise and lower the door. Unfortunately, a low fluid level, leak in the hydraulic fluid line, or a break in the chain during operation can lead to an unsafe condition where the heavy door would fall. To reduce this risk these same manufacturers have installed a manual door stop that is engaged when the door is in the fully open position. Despite this safety measure it will not prevent the door from falling when the door is raised or lowered. 

U.S. Cremation Equipment utilizes two hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the door. No chains are used and a manual door stop is not required as the heavy door will lower very slowly if there is a failure in the system.

PRIMARY CHAMBER VIEW PORT

Standard to the "Classic" is a view port located in the power charging door. This allows the operator to visually observe the status of the cremation. Since the cremation cycle is based on a time setting, the operator has the option of reducing time, adding time or advancing to the next cycle depending on the stage of the process. Raising the door to check on the status during the combustion process exposes the operator to radiant heat or possible flashback.

3000° F CASTABLE REFRACTORY ‘HOT HEARTH’

In hot hearth design units the primary or cremation chamber is located directly above the secondary or pollution control chamber. The floor or hearth of the cremation chamber serves as the roof of the secondary chamber. Environmental regulations generally require the secondary chamber temperature to be maintained at 1600° F (872 C°) and the gases retained for at least one second before exiting the chamber. This temperature and residence time is necessary to assure complete combustion and to prevent smoke and/or odor from being emitted from the stack.

During the preheating of the secondary chamber as well as during the cremation process, heat transfers through the roof of the secondary chamber to the floor and walls of the cremation chamber creating a “hot hearth effect”. There are two distinct advantages to this fuel efficient design. One is that it lowers fuel consumption by utilizing heat generated in the hotter secondary chamber to enhance the combustion process in the cremation chamber. Secondly, a hot hearth vaporizes fluids released from the body during cremation more quickly so they burn off rapidly and do not collect on the floor. This is particularly important when cremating large and obese cases that contain large amounts of body fats and fluids.

In cold hearth units the secondary chamber is located above or at the rear of the cremation chamber. None of the heat generated in this chamber is efficiently utilized to heat the cremation chamber. Moreover, a too rapid release of fluids, particularly in large and obese cases can result in a fluid build up on the floor. Since the fluids cannot vaporize or burn off fast enough there is a potential for the hot excess fluids to flow through the loading door creating a fire hazard.

PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER (PLC)

The proven and field tested PLC Operating System monitors and controls chamber temperatures, combustion air supply and timing cycles for purging, preheating the pollution control chamber, cremation and cool-down cycles.  The system is fully automatic requiring the operator to simply select the time for the cremation cycle and press the Start button to begin the cycle.  Once the secondary chamber is preheated the system automatically advances to the next and subsequent cycle without operator involvement through shut down.

While the PLC is programmed at the factory and checked at start-up the standard program does allow for changes to be made in temperature set points, timing of cycles and combustion air adjustments if necessary.  The color touch screen allows the operator to visually check each stage and status of the process including chamber temperatures, combustion air, elapsed time and burner operation.

COLOR TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL

Standard to all our cremator models is a color touch screen that displays the status of the process through various screens available to the operator.  Door, Start and Stop Controls are on the main screen.  Other screens display burner operation, chamber temperature, temperature set points, elapsed time as well as other functions.

The touch screen is mounted on a swivel at eye level and can be positioned from zero to 180 degrees for easy viewing.  Through the various screens, the operator can monitor many functions as well as exercise more control over the process.

APPEARANCE

As viewing of the body being placed in the cremator has become more popular and families are requestiing to see the equipment and premises prior to cremation, the overall appearance of the equipment is important.  The "Classic" has been designed to resemble a modern appliance.  The exterior wall and front panels are finished in a dark gray powder coat finish and trimmed in stainless steel.  The Power Door and Ash Compartment Drawer are clad in stainless steel.  All major components are housed in the rear compartment away from view.

REAR SERVICE COMPARTMENT

A rear compartment houses nearly all the major components such as the Power Door Hydraulic Motor & Pump, Secondary Burner, Fuel & Air Train, Combustion Air Blower & Motor and Rear Electrical Panel.  All components are easily accessible for routine service and/or maintenance and the rear location mitigates noise levels during operation.

CLEAN-OUT TRAY

The "Classic" cremator is a front load/front clean-out unit.  Upon completion of the cremation the Power Door can be partially raised and with clean-out rakes and brushes provided, the cremated remains are pulled toward and through the door opening where they fall through a chute integral to the unit and into the slide-out Clean-Out Tray.  The Tray is large enough to collect all the cremated remains.  Fabricated of heavy duty aluminum and clad in stainless steel, the Tray can also be used as a cooling compartment for the hot cremated remains while the next cremation is in progress.

Fuel Efficiency

The Most Fuel Efficient Machine On The Market In Its Class - And Here's Why:

As the cost of fuel continues to escalate fuel consumption has become a critical issue in the operation of a crematory. We have been able to verify that the fuel efficiency of our “Classic” cremator is superior to other units on the market. There are several variables in fuel efficiency such as preheat time, number of consecutive cremations, weight and size of the body, cremation time, and quality of the cremated remains. Once combustion starts and as heat is absorbed into the refractory walls, roof, and hearth the body becomes its own fuel and proper operating temperature can be maintained by controlling the combustion air.

The preheat time must always be included in fuel usage for the first cremation of the day. Subsequent cremations require less time depending upon how much cool down is allowed.  Most cremators require a minimum of 30 minutes up to one hour cool down in order to remove the cremated remains and to prevent the cremator from overheating and emitting visible emissions (smoke) during the next cremation. The “Classic” requires no cool down and will not generate smoke due to overheating. This unique feature of our control system results in substantial fuel savings when performing several cremations per day.

Eliminating the cremator's cool down can save about 50% of the fuel usage for the next cremation. The primary and secondary chambers remain hotter and this can shorten the cremation period by as much as 20%. By the third consecutive cremation the secondary burner is firing mostly at low-fire and chamber temperatures are maintained primarily by controlling combustion air. Keep in mind this is being accomplished without emitting smoke common in other units.  The “Classic” cremator will cremate up to 6 bodies in 10 hours with an average cremation time of between 60-90 minutes.

A cremation is only completed when there is no black ash and the cremated remains are white and very brittle.  There is a lot of variation between bodies and the way they burn. The muscle mass, fat content and even health issues prior to death will affect the combustion process. Our control system is designed to automatically account for these differences.