Treating of solid earthen material and a method for measuring moisture content and resistivity of solid earthen material

A method of treating solid earthen material comprising the steps of:

• inserting a plurality of electrodes into a region of solid earthen material to be treated;
• applying at least six phases of voltages to corresponding ones of the electrodes to create current paths between pairs of the electrodes and through the region of material;
• and
• heating the region of material to a temperature below a melting temperature of the solid earthen material.

A method of treating solid earthen material comprising the steps of:

• inserting a plurality of peripheral electrodes into solid earthen material, the peripheral electrodes being arranged in a selected geometric perimeter which defines an internal region of material to be treated;
• inserting at least one electrically neutral electrode in the region of material to be treated;
• and
• applying multiple phases of voltages to corresponding ones of the peripheral electrodes to create current paths between (1) pairs of the peripheral electrodes, and (2) the peripheral electrodes and the neutral electrode, the current paths passing through and substantially uniformly heating the region of material.

A method for treating solid earthen material comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrodes into solid earthen material;
• (b) applying a first phase of voltage to the first electrode;
• (c) applying a second phase of voltage to the second electrode;
• (d) applying a third phase of voltage to the third electrode;
• (e) applying a fourth phase of voltage to the fourth electrode;
• (f) applying a fifth phase of voltage to the fifth electrode;
• (g) applying a sixth phase of voltage to the sixth electrode;
• (h) the voltages applied to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrodes being sufficient to create current paths between pairs of the electrodes through the material, the current paths heating the material;
• wherein
• (i) the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrodes are arranged in sequential order in a hexagonal geometric configuration in which the first and fourth electrodes, the second and fifth electrodes, and the third and sixth electrodes are positioned in diametrically opposing relation;
• and
• (j) wherein the first and fourth phases are approximately 180.degree. apart, the second and fifth phases are approximately 180.degree. apart, and the third and sixth phases are approximately 180.degree. apart.

A method for treating solid earthen material having volatile, semi-volatile, and non-volatile contaminates, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting multiple electrodes into solid earthen material, the electrodes defining a region of material to be treated;
• applying multiple phases of voltages to corresponding ones of the electrodes;
• adjusting the voltages within a first selected range of voltages to heat the material to a temperature sufficient to substantially remove volatile and semi-volatile contaminates from the region of material;
• creating dry regions of material around individual electrodes as the material is heated, the dry regions having a periphery which defines a boundary between the dry regions of material and earthen material exterior to the dry regions;
• increasing the voltages to a second selected range of voltages to create a corona at the boundary between the dry regions of material and earthen material exterior to the dry regions;
• moving the boundary of the dry regions radially outward from the individual electrodes through the region of material, the corona being moved with the boundary of the dry regions;
• and
• decomposing the non-volatile contaminates as the corona carrying boundary passes over the non-volatile contaminates.

A method for treating solid earthen material having volatile, semi-volatile, and non-volatile contaminates, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting multiple electrodes into solid earthen material, the electrodes defining a region of material to be treated;
• applying multiple phases of voltages to corresponding ones of the electrodes;
• adjusting the voltages within a first selected range of voltages to heat the material to a temperature sufficient to substantially remove volatile and semi-volatile contaminates from the region of material;
• creating dry regions of material around individual electrodes as the material is heated, the dry regions having a periphery which defines a boundary between the dry regions of material and earthen material exterior to the dry regions;
• increasing the voltage through a second selected range of voltages effective to form vitrescent earthen material fragments within the dry regions of material;
• moving the boundary of the dry regions radially outward from the individual electrodes through the region of material;
• and
• decomposing the non-volatile contaminates as the boundary passes over the non-volatile contaminates.

A method for treating fluids comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a plurality of peripheral electrodes into solid earthen material, the peripheral electrodes being arranged at vertices of a substantially equilateral polygon, together with a neutral electrode at approximately a geometric center of the polygon;
• (b) applying at least six phases of voltages to corresponding ones of the peripheral electrodes to create an electric field through the material;
• (c) passing fluid to be treated into the material through the electric field;
• (d) removing fluid from the material;
• (e) recycling the fluid removed from the material back into the material.

A method for measuring resistivity and moisture content of solid earthen material comprising the steps of:

• (a) arranging at least six electrodes into a region of solid earthen material in a geometric configuration having diametrically opposing pairs of electrodes, the pairs defining opposing first and second electrodes;
• (b) applying first and second phases of voltages to the respective first and second electrodes of respective pairs of electrodes, the first and second phases of voltages having voltage amplitudes which are substantially equal, the first and second phases being approximately 180.degree. out of phase with respect to one another and creating current paths between pairs of the electrodes;
• (c) adjusting the voltages to a level sufficient to form an electric field within the region of material without substantially altering resistivity and moisture content of the region;
• (d) monitoring the voltages;
• (e) monitoring the current passing between the pairs of the electrodes;
• and
• (f) computing resistivity and moisture content of the material based upon the current and the voltages monitored.

A method of treating solid earthen material comprising the steps of:

• (a) arranging the plurality of electrodes in a geometric configuration having at least one diametrically opposing pair of electrodes, the pair(s) defining opposing first and second electrodes;
• (b) inserting a plurality of electrodes into a region of solid earthen material to be treated;
• and
• (c) applying first and second phases of voltages to the respective first and second electrodes of respective pairs of electrodes, the first and second phases of voltages having voltage amplitudes which are substantially equal, the first and second phases being approximately 180.degree. out of phase with respect to one another and creating current paths between the electrodes and through the region of material;
• and
• (d) heating the region of material to a temperature below a melting temperature of the solid earthen material.

A method for treating solid earthen material comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth peripheral electrodes into solid earthen material, together with a central neutral electrode;
• (b) applying a first phase of voltage to the first electrode;
• (c) applying a second phase of voltage to the second electrode;
• (d) applying a third phase of voltage to the third electrode;
• (e) applying a fourth phase of voltage to the fourth electrode;
• (f) applying a fifth phase of voltage to the fifth electrode;
• (g) applying a sixth phase of voltage to the sixth electrode;
• (h) the voltages applied to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth electrodes being sufficient to create current paths between pairs of the electrodes through the material, the current paths heating the material.

A method for treating fluids comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a plurality of peripheral electrodes into solid earthen material, the peripheral electrodes being arranged at vertices of a substantially equilateral polygon and defining at least one diametrically opposed peripheral electrode pair;
• (b) applying first and second phases of voltages to the respective first and second electrodes of respective pairs of electrodes, the first and second phases of voltages having voltage amplitudes which are substantially equal, the first and second phases being approximately 180.degree. out of phase with respect to one another and creating an electric field within the solid earthen material;
• (c) passing fluid to be treated into the material through the electric field;
• (d) removing fluid from the material;
• (e) recycling the fluid removed from the material back into the material.

A method for measuring resistivity and moisture content of solid earthen material comprising the steps of:

• (a) arranging at least six peripheral electrodes in a geometric configuration having diametrically opposing pairs of electrodes, the pairs defining opposing first and second electrodes together with a neutral electrode approximately at a geometric center of the geometric configuration;
• (b) applying a plurality of phases of voltages to corresponding peripheral electrodes;
• (c) adjusting the voltages to a level sufficient to form an electric field within the region of material without substantially altering resistivity and moisture content of the region;
• (d) monitoring the voltages;
• (e) monitoring the current passing between the pairs of the electrodes;
• and
• (f) computing resistivity and moisture content of the material based upon the current and the voltages monitored.