Earth melter and method of disposing of feed materials

Patent · Tue Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:7187224

Chapman, C C

An apparatus, and method of operating the apparatus is described, wherein a feed material is converted into a glassified condition for subsequent use or disposal. The apparatus is particularly useful for disposal of hazardous or noxious waste materials which are otherwise either difficult or expensive to dispose of. The apparatus is preferably constructed by excavating a melt zone in a quantity of soil or rock, and lining the melt zone with a back fill material if refractory properties are needed. The feed material is fed into the melt zone and, preferably, combusted to an ash, whereupon the heat of combustion is used to melt the ash to a molten condition. Electrodes may be used to maintain the molten feed material in a molten condition, and to maintain homogeneity of the molten materials. 3 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• Assignee: Battelle Memorial Inst., Richland, WA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5354355; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 8-024886
• OSTI ID: 7187224
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1 Mar 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FURNACES
DESIGN
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
COMBUSTION
VITRIFICATION
COMBUSTION HEAT
EXCAVATION
LINING PROCESSES
SOILS
WASTE DISPOSAL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY
ENTHALPY
HEAT
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
OXIDATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REACTION HEAT
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)