# US 5,230,292 A · Apparatus for making solid waste material environmentally safe using heat

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- Number: US 5,230,292 A
- Document ID: US5230292A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/908,670
- Filed: 1992-07-02
- Granted: 1993-07-27
- Earliest claimed: 1989-09-21
- Assignees: Phoenix Environmental, Ltd.
- Inventors: Jason Workman; Peter DellaValle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5230292A

## CPC

- 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
- B09B 3/50: involving radiation, e.g. electro-magnetic waves
- 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}
- F23G 5/085: {High-temperature heating means, e.g. plasma, for partly melting the waste}
- F23G 5/16: in a separate combustion chamber
- F23J 15/006: {Layout of treatment plant}
- F23J 15/04: using washing fluids {(scrubbers for removing solids only F23J15/022)}
- F23L 7/00: Supplying non-combustible liquids or gases, other than air, to the fire, e.g. oxygen, steam
- F23L 7/007: {Supplying oxygen or oxygen-enriched air}
- F23G 2202/20: to temperatures melting waste
- F23G 2203/70: Modular furnace
- F23G 2204/201: Plasma
- F23G 2204/202: Laser
- F23G 2209/30: Solid combustion residues, e.g. bottom or flyash
- F23G 2900/7011: Incinerating PCB-materials
- F23J 2217/101: Baghouse type
- 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
- 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)
- B09B: DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C03B: MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
- F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
- 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

## Abstract

Harmful constituents are removed from solid hazardous waste material by heating the waste in the presence of a continuous flow of oxygen until the waste material becomes an agitated molten aggregate and generates effluvia. The effluvia is conducted through a high temperature zone to destroy organic and other harmful constituents. The effluvia is further processed to achieve acceptable environmental quality. The effluvia processing includes a dual reburn/heat exchanger compartment. The generated molten aggregate is thoroughly mixed and hardens into a ceramic-like aggregate which is environmentally safe. An apparatus for accomplishing the process is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for removing harmful constituents from solid waste material, comprising:
a reaction chamber having multiple zones;
means for continuously feeding a particulate mix of said solid waste material into a first zone of the reaction chamber;
a rotating and retractable lance assembly for introducing oxygen into the first zone of the reaction chamber, the first zone of the reaction chamber being adapted to react the mix in the chamber in the presence of oxygen until the solid waste becomes an agitated molten aggregate and the temperature within the first zone of the reaction chamber above the bath of molten aggregate is high enough to destroy substantially all of the harmful constituents of the effluvia generated by the formation of the molten aggregate;
means for further mixing the agitated molten aggregate in the first zone of the reaction chamber;
means for conducting excess molten aggregate from the first zone of the reaction chamber;
means for conducting the effluvia generated by the formation of the molten aggregate from the first zone of the reaction chamber into a second zone of the reaction chamber, the second zone of the reaction chamber being adapted for reburning the effluvia therein to destroy substantially all organic material;
means for treating the effluvia to remove substantially all of the remaining particulate and any remaining organic material to achieve acceptable environmental quality; and
means for releasing the treated effluvia into the atmosphere.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for treating the effluvia comprises a filtering means, a liquid bath, and means for causing the effluvia to pass through the liquid bath.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a third zone of the reaction chamber into which the excess molten aggregate is conducted from the first zone of the reaction chamber, the third zone of the reaction chamber having a means for mixing thoroughly the molten aggregate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mixing means comprises at least one compressed air lance.