Method and apparatus for thermal processing

A thermal processing apparatus for processing contaminated liquids and solid wastes, comprising:

• a first chamber, comprising:
• a water-filled burner chamber, comprising:
• a pulse jet burner, fully immersed in the water and comprising:
• an inlet;
• an outlet;
• and
• a combustion chamber, comprising inner and outer walls, wherein the inner wall is thermally insulated from the outer wall and is comprised of high temperature metal, and wherein the outer wall is in contact with the water;
• and
• a first steam outlet;
• and
• an air-filled supercharger box configured to provide air to the inlet and outlet of the pulse jet burner;
• a second chamber, comprising an array of heat exchanger tubes having a first steam inlet and a second steam outlet, wherein the first steam inlet is configured to receive steam from the first steam outlet;
• a third chamber, comprising an array of coagulator tubes or plates having a second steam inlet, wherein the second steam inlet is configured to receive steam from the second steam outlet;
• and
• a fourth chamber, configured as a dryer for wet solid wastes and comprising:
• an inner chamber;
• an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber;
• a first inlet configured to receive a first portion of hot flue gas from the supercharger box and to inject the first portion into the inner chamber tangentially, thereby inducing vortex motion of gases within the inner chamber;
• a steam generating coil configured in the space outside the inner chamber and inside the outer chamber;
• and
• a second inlet configured to receive a second portion of hot flue gas from the supercharger box and to inject the second portion into the space outside the inner chamber and inside the outer chamber, thereby heating the steam generating coil to produce steam.

A thermal processing apparatus for processing contaminated liquids and solid wastes, comprising:

• a first chamber, comprising:
• a water-filled burner chamber, comprising:
• a forced draft burner, fully immersed in the water and comprising:
• a first outlet;
• a second outlet;
• and
• a combustion chamber;
• and
• a first steam outlet;
• and
• an air-filled supercharger box configured to provide pressurized air to the first and second outlets;
• a second chamber, comprising an array of heat exchanger tubes having a first steam inlet and a second steam outlet, wherein the first steam inlet is configured to receive steam from the first steam outlet;
• a third chamber, comprising an array of coagulator tubes or plates having a second steam inlet, wherein the second steam inlet is configured to receive steam from the second steam outlet;
• and
• a fourth chamber, configured as a dryer for wet solid wastes and comprising:
• an inner chamber;
• an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber;
• a first inlet configured to receive a first portion of hot flue gas from the supercharger box and to inject the first portion into the inner chamber tangentially, thereby inducing vortex motion of gases within the inner chamber;
• a steam generating coil configured in the space outside the inner chamber and inside the outer chamber;
• a second inlet configured to receive a second portion of hot flue gas from the supercharger box and to inject the second portion into the space outside the inner chamber and inside the outer chamber, thereby heating the steam generating coil to produce steam;
• and
• a secondary dryer for partially drying wet solid waste, wherein the secondary dryer is configured to inject the partially dried solid wastes into the inner chamber, and wherein the secondary dryer comprises an auger configured to inject wet solid waste into the secondary dryer.

A method for thermal processing of contaminated liquids and solid wastes, comprising:

• burning fuel within a pulse jet burner, wherein the pulse jet burner is fully immersed in water inside a first chamber, and wherein the burning process is pulsing, to:
• generate hot flue gases;
• heat the pulse jet burner to a temperature sufficient to boil water in contact with the outside surfaces of the pulse jet burner, thereby creating steam;
• and
• generate pressure pulses within the water;
• flowing water into a steam generating coil, configured in a space outside an inner chamber and inside an outer chamber;
• and
• directing a first portion of the hot flue gases into the space outside the inner chamber and inside the outer chamber, thereby heating the water in the steam generating coil to produce steam.