Method and system for high-temperature waste treatment
US6355904B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1996 |
| Grant date | Mar 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 24, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S588/90
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A waste treatment system is provided, including a waste melter system and an air pollution control system. Hazardous and/or radioactive waste in drums is conducted through a waste feed system into a plasma chamber where the waste is exposed to heat from a plasma torch. A part of the waste volatilizes and leaves the plasma chamber for a secondary reaction chamber, in which the waste is combusted to form a waste gas stream. The air pollution control system treats the waste gas stream through quenching, filtering and scrubbing, to produce a clean gas stream suitable for release to the atmosphere. Offgas may be recirculated through the waste treatment system as desired. The waste remaining inside the plasma chamber melts and drops onto sloped processing surfaces inside a hearth located below the plasma torch. The hearth includes ground electrodes configured for electrical contact with waste held in the hearth so that the melted waste in the hearth may be further heated by the plasma torch. As the melted waste is heated inside the hearth, the hearth is static, enabling the melted waste to separate into a first metal fraction having a high specific gravity and a second slag fraction havi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.