Process for vitrifying asbestos containing waste, infectious waste, toxic materials and radioactive waste
US5340372A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 29, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S65/04
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Material, such as, for example, sealed double bags of asbestos containing waste or ash from infectious waste or toxic material or radioactive waste, is transferred into a glass melt of a furnace. Gas bubbles released into the melt form a gas curtain which causes enhanced mixing of the material to accelerate the dissolution of the components of the added material. The presence of the gas bubbles reduces the cross-section of the molten glass through which current passes, which in turn increases the electrical resistance of the glass melt and therefore increases power generation of the melt or power density at constant current. A highly oxidizing hot region is produced under the location where the material is introduced into the furnace. Drawn off glass is shaped and quenched into at least two sizes of approximate spheres. The spheres are cooled sufficiently fast to be thermally tempered and have a surface compressive strength level above 5000 psi.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.