Electrode systems for in situ vitrification
Abstract
An electrode comprising a molybdenum rod is received within a conductive collar formed of graphite. The molybdenum rod and the graphite collar may be physically joined at the bottom. A pair of such electrodes are placed in soil containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the combination, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is suitably filled with a conductive ceramic powder that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquefies at operating temperatures. The center of the molybdenum rod, used with a collar of separately, can be hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquefies at operating temperatures. Connection to electrodes can be provided below ground level to avoid open circuit due to electrode deterioration, or sacrificial electrodes may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes cna be utilized to square up a vitrified area.
- Inventors:
-
- Richland, WA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867522
- Patent Number(s):
- 4956535
- Assignee:
- Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B09 - DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE B09C - RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E02 - HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING E02D - FOUNDATIONS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- electrode; systems; situ; vitrification; comprising; molybdenum; rod; received; conductive; collar; formed; graphite; physically; joined; bottom; pair; electrodes; placed; soil; containing; buried; waste; material; electric; current; passed; therebetween; vitrifying; enhances; thermal; conductivity; combination; bringing; heat; surface; preventing; formation; cold; cap; ground; annulus; suitably; filled; ceramic; powder; sinters; protecting; oxidation; consumed; metal; liquefies; operating; temperatures; center; separately; hollow; powdered; copper; connection; provided; below; level; avoid; circuit; due; deterioration; sacrificial; employed; operation; started; outboard; cna; utilized; square; vitrified; situ vitrification; ground level; graphite collar; ceramic powder; buried waste; electric current; thermal conductivity; waste material; operating temperature; operating temperatures; metal powder; conductive ceramic; powdered metal; electrode comprising; ground surface; molybdenum rod; physically joined; soil containing; rod electrode; below ground; cold cap; collar formed; oil containing; electrode systems; /219/166/299/392/405/
Citation Formats
Buelt, James L, Carter, John G, Eschbach, Eugene A, FitzPatrick, Vincent F, Koehmstedt, Paul L, Morgan, William C, Oma, Kenton H, and Timmerman, Craig L. Electrode systems for in situ vitrification. United States: N. p., 1990.
Web.
Buelt, James L, Carter, John G, Eschbach, Eugene A, FitzPatrick, Vincent F, Koehmstedt, Paul L, Morgan, William C, Oma, Kenton H, & Timmerman, Craig L. Electrode systems for in situ vitrification. United States.
Buelt, James L, Carter, John G, Eschbach, Eugene A, FitzPatrick, Vincent F, Koehmstedt, Paul L, Morgan, William C, Oma, Kenton H, and Timmerman, Craig L. Mon .
"Electrode systems for in situ vitrification". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867522.
@article{osti_867522,
title = {Electrode systems for in situ vitrification},
author = {Buelt, James L and Carter, John G and Eschbach, Eugene A and FitzPatrick, Vincent F and Koehmstedt, Paul L and Morgan, William C and Oma, Kenton H and Timmerman, Craig L},
abstractNote = {An electrode comprising a molybdenum rod is received within a conductive collar formed of graphite. The molybdenum rod and the graphite collar may be physically joined at the bottom. A pair of such electrodes are placed in soil containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the combination, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is suitably filled with a conductive ceramic powder that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquefies at operating temperatures. The center of the molybdenum rod, used with a collar of separately, can be hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquefies at operating temperatures. Connection to electrodes can be provided below ground level to avoid open circuit due to electrode deterioration, or sacrificial electrodes may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes cna be utilized to square up a vitrified area.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1990},
month = {1}
}