US 5,443,618 A · Earth melter

Abstract

An apparatus, and method of operating the apparatus, wherein a feed material is converted into a glassified condition for subsequent use or disposal. The apparatus is particularly useful for disposal of hazardous or noxious waste materials which are otherwise either difficult or expensive to dispose of. The apparatus is preferably constructed either by excavating a melt zone in a quantity of soil or rock, or by constructing a melt zone in an apparatus above grade and lining the melt zone with a back fill material if refractory properties are needed. The feed material is fed into the melt zone and, preferably, combusted to an ash, whereupon the heat of combustion is used to melt the ash to a molten condition. Electrodes may be used to maintain the molten feed material in a molten condition, and to maintain homogeneity of the molten materials.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for melting feed materials for subsequent use or safe disposal in a relatively harmless condition, said apparatus constructed above grade and comprising:

(a) side walls defining a melt zone for melting the feed materials;
(b) a cover extending over the side walls and defining an air-filled space between a quantity of melted feed materials and the cover;
(c) feed material inlet means extending through the cover to permit feed materials to be introduced onto the melt zone;
(d) means for heating the feed material such that a molten pool of feed materials is produced in the melt zone;
and
(e) means to withdraw a portion of the molten pool of feed materials from the melt zone.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Earth melter

Life of this patent

Earth melter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17