Active cooling-based surface confinement system for thermal soil treatment
US5681130A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB09C2101/00
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A thermal barrier is disclosed for surface confinement with active cooling to control subsurface pressures during thermal remediation of shallow (5-20 feet) underground contaminants. If steam injection is used for underground heating, the actively cooled thermal barrier allows the steam to be injected into soil at pressures much higher (20-60 psi) than the confining strength of the soil, while preventing steam breakthrough. The rising steam is condensed to liquid water at the thermal barrier-ground surface interface. The rapid temperature drop forced by the thermal barrier drops the subsurface pressure to below atmospheric pressure. The steam and contaminant vapors are contained by the thermal blanket, which can be made of a variety of materials such as steel plates, concrete slabs, membranes, fabric bags, or rubber bladders.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.