Waste vitrification melter
US5643350A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S588/90
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A glass melter for vitrifying material including radioactive and hazardous materials. In one embodiment, the melter comprises an inner vessel or container having a solidified glass skull, at least one pair of vertically-oriented, retractable electrodes, a first wall spaced apart from said inner vessel to define a dry annulus therebetween for radiatively cooling the inner vessel, and a second wall spaced apart from said first wall to define a second annulus that serves as a water jacket when filled with water. Each electrode has a protective sleeve therearound with means formed therebetween for passing a purging gas therethrough. A central access nozzle allows waste material and glass formers to be fed into the inner vessel while simultaneously venting the off-gas generated in the inner vessel. Also, the dry annulus can have fluid circulating therethrough for regulated cooling or leak detection. An alternative embodiment contains a top entry glass tap, allowing the removal of vitrifiable material without penetrating the skull of the melter. Another embodiment provides a retractable oxygen lance which provides oxygen control to both the atmosphere above the batch and the batch itself…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.