Tunable, self-powered integrated arc plasma-melter vitrification system for waste treatment and resource recovery

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:871801

Titus, Charles H ^[1]; Cohn, Daniel R ^[2]; Surma, Jeffrey E ^[3]

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1. Newtown Square, PA
2. Chestnuthill, MA
3. Kennewick, WA

The present invention provides a relatively compact self-powered, tunable waste conversion system and apparatus which has the advantage of highly robust operation which provides complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable, nonleachable solid product at a single location with greatly reduced air pollution to meet air quality standards. The system provides the capability for highly efficient conversion of waste into high quality combustible gas and for high efficiency conversion of the gas into electricity by utilizing a high efficiency gas turbine or by an internal combustion engine. The solid product can be suitable for various commercial applications. Alternatively, the solid product stream, which is a safe, stable material, may be disposed of without special considerations as hazardous material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the arc plasma furnace and joule heated melter are formed as a fully integrated unit with a common melt pool having circuit arrangements for the simultaneous independently controllable operation of both the arc plasma and the joule heated portions of the unit without interference with one another. The preferred configuration of this embodiment of the invention utilizes two arc plasma electrodes with an elongated chamber for the molten pool such that the molten pool is capable of providing conducting paths between electrodes. The apparatus may additionally be employed with reduced or without further use of the gases generated by the conversion process. The apparatus may be employed as a self-powered or net electricity producing unit where use of an auxiliary fuel provides the required level of electricity production.

• Research Organization: Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5798497
• OSTI ID: 871801
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

tunable
self-powered
integrated
plasma-melter
vitrification
waste
treatment
resource
recovery
provides
relatively
compact
conversion
apparatus
advantage
highly
robust
operation
complete
substantially
wide
range
streams
useful
gas
stable
nonleachable
solid
product
single
location
greatly
reduced
air
pollution
meet
quality
standards
capability
efficient
combustible
efficiency
electricity
utilizing
turbine
internal
combustion
engine
suitable
various
commercial
applications
alternatively
stream
safe
material
disposed
special
considerations
hazardous
preferred
embodiment
plasma
furnace
joule
heated
melter
formed
unit
common
melt
pool
circuit
arrangements
simultaneous
independently
controllable
portions
interference
configuration
utilizes
electrodes
elongated
chamber
molten
capable
providing
conducting
paths
additionally
employed
gases
generated
process
net
producing
auxiliary
fuel
required
level
production
elongated chamber
joule heated
gases generated
hazardous material
conversion process
product stream
waste stream
internal combustion
preferred embodiment
gas turbine
wide range
combustion engine
highly efficient
combustible gas
waste streams
solid product
greatly reduced
substantially complete
waste treatment
molten pool
stable material
plasma electrodes
preferred configuration
plasma furnace
melt pool
circuit arrangement
air quality
complete conversion
commercial applications
single location
efficient conversion
fuel provides
heated portions
air pollution
auxiliary fuel
plasma electrode
relatively compact
robust operation
efficiency gas
greatly reduce
waste conversion
tunable waste
net electric
highly robust
plasma-melter vitrification
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