Process and apparatus for the partitioning and thermal treatment of heterogeneous feedstock
US6204427A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E20/12
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A novel process and apparatus for the thermal partitioning of heterogeneous feedstock for the production of a metal product, a glass ceramic product and a gaseous product. The process includes the capability for thermal treatment of hazardous waste as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which also contains radioactive isotopes in some cases (mixed waste as defined by the Department of Energy) and the production of stable long-lived products as a result of treatment. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel process and apparatus whereby an input feed stream of a widely heterogeneous nature in the descriptors of physical form, combustibility, chemical content, and particle size and contaminated with varying concentrations of hazardous components and/or radioisotopes is treated in a direct current graphite electrode arc melter with a contiguous thermal oxidizing reactor for the production of a metal product, a basalt-like glass ceramic product and a fully combusted offgas. The apparatus described incorporates an offgas fast quench configuration for the minimization of dioxin formation and subsequent ease of cleansing of the offgas stream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.