# US 5,199,363 A · Method and apparatus for making solid waste material environmentally safe using heat

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- Number: US 5,199,363 A
- Document ID: US5199363A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/792,515
- Filed: 1991-11-13
- Granted: 1993-04-06
- Earliest claimed: 1989-09-21
- Assignees: Phoenix Environmental, Ltd.
- Inventors: Eric Cheetham
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5199363A

## CPC

- F23G 5/085: {High-temperature heating means, e.g. plasma, for partly melting the waste}
- B01J 19/121: {Coherent waves, e.g. laser beams (lasers per se H01S3/00)}
- B03C 3/017: Combinations of electrostatic separation with other processes, not otherwise provided for
- B03C 3/06: characterised by presence of stationary tube electrodes
- B03C 3/41: Ionising-electrodes
- C03B 5/005: {of glass-forming waste materials (disposal or transformation of solid waste in general B09B; treatment of radioactive waste G21F9/00)}
- C03B 5/025: {by arc discharge or plasma heating}
- F23G 5/006: {General arrangement of incineration plant, e.g. flow sheets}
- F23J 15/04: using washing fluids {(scrubbers for removing solids only F23J15/022)}
- F23G 2202/20: to temperatures melting waste
- F23G 2204/201: Plasma
- F23G 2204/202: Laser
- F23G 2209/30: Solid combustion residues, e.g. bottom or flyash
- F23L 2900/07007: using specific ranges of oxygen percentage
- Y02E 20/34: Indirect CO2mitigation, i.e. by acting on non CO2directly related matters of the process, e.g. pre-heating or heat recovery
- Y02P 40/50: Glass production, e.g. reusing waste heat during processing or shaping
- F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B)
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- F23J: REMOVAL OR TREATMENT OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OR COMBUSTION RESIDUES; FLUES (combustion apparatus for consuming smoke or fumes, e.g. exhaust gases, F23G7/06)
- F23L: SUPPLYING AIR OR NON-COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS OR GASES TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS IN GENERAL ({air-supply arrangements for fluent fuels F23C;} firebridges with means for feeding air or steam F23M3/04; baffles or shields with air supply passages F23M9/04); VALVES OR DAMPERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CONTROLLING AIR SUPPLY OR DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS {(dampers and throat restrictors for open fire-places F24; air inlet valves for open fire fronts F24)}; INDUCING DRAUGHT IN COMBUSTION APPARATUS; TOPS FOR CHIMNEYS OR VENTILATING SHAFTS; TERMINALS FOR FLUES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Harmful constituents are removed from non-combustible solid waste, such as incinerator ash, by continuously feeding a mixture of the solid waste and a combustible excitation material into a reaction chamber, igniting the mix in said chamber and causing it to react in the presence of oxygen until the heat of the reaction causes the solid waste material to become a molten slag and the temperature within the chamber above the molten slag is high enough to destroy substantially all of the harmful constituents in the gaseous effluent released by the formation of the molten slag. The excess molten slag is conducted from the reaction chamber. The effluent is conducted from the reaction chamber into a second chamber where it is rapidly cooled to cause particulate material to precipitate out of the effluent. The effluent is thereafter treated to remove substantially all of the remaining particulate and harmful gases to achieve acceptable environmental quality. The thus treated effluent is released into the atmosphere.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for removing harmful constituents from non-combustible solid waste material, comprising:
means for continuously feeding a particulate mix of said solid waste material and a combustible excitation material as a source of heat energy into a reaction chamber, `a reaction chamber,
means for introducing oxygen into said reaction chamber,
said reaction chamber having means for reacting the mix in said chamber in the presence of oxygen until the solid waste becomes a molten slag and the temperature within the chamber above the bath of molten slag is high enough to destroy substantially all of the harmful constituents of the gaseous effluent generated by the formation of the molten slag,
means for conducting excess molten slag from the reaction chamber,
means for conducting the gas and particulate effluent generated by the formation of the molten slag from the reaction chamber into a second chamber,
said second chamber having means for rapidly cooling the effluent therein to cause particulate material to precipitate out of the effluent,
and means for treating the effluent to remove substantially all of the remaining particulate and harmful constituents to achieve acceptable environmental quality,
and means for releasing the effluent into the atmosphere.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus for removing harmful constituents from non-combustible solid waste material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for treating the effluent includes at least one electrostatic precipitator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus for removing harmful constituents from non-combustible solid waste material in accordance with claim 1 includes a wind tunnel for treating the effluent includes an electrostatic precipitator, filtering means, and a liquid bath, and means for causing said effluent to pass through said liquid bath.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus for removing harmful constituents from non-combustible solid waste material in accordance with claim 1 includes a wind tunnel for mixing the treated effluent with atmospheric air prior to releasing it into the atmosphere.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

Apparatus for removing harmful constituents from non-combustible solid waste material in accordance with claim 2 wherein said electrostatic precipitator comprises an elongated tube, a set of elongated electrodes within said tube, said electrodes