Multistage system for solid waste burning and vitrification

A method of treating and disposing of both classified and unclassified waste materials in a multistage process using a plurality of appropriately and operably integrated and interconnected primary and secondary combustion and exhaust systems and having a selective range of pressures and temperatures and fuel to oxygen ratios in each of the systems and wherein a generally low temperature degradation of the classified waste placed in a primary combustion chamber furnishes fuel for generally high temperature combustion and vitrification of the unclassified waste placed in a secondary combustion chamber, using existing equipment and technology, including the steps of:

• a) introducing a selected quantity of generally defined, classified, primarily organic waste which is amenable to low temperature degradation, into a suitable primary combustion system chamber having means for pressure and temperature and atmosphere control;
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• b) introducing a selected quantity of generally undefined, unclassified waste containing both organic and inorganic material in random ratios into a suitable secondary combustion system appropriately and operably connected to the primary combustion system and having means for pressure and temperature and atmosphere control;
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• c) heating the introduced organic waste in the primary combustion chamber by suitable means until thermal degradation commences and becomes self sustaining and then ceasing further supplemental heating;
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• d) simultaneously introducing into the primary combustion system an appropriate, selective, low oxygen to waste ratio atmosphere containing an amount less than 20% oxygen by volume and controlling thermal degradation of the waste and the rate of vaporization and evolution of low molecular weight, combustible products from the waste;
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• e) exhausting the volatile and combustible products of the thermal degradation of said waste, controllably, as gases and particulate materials, from the primary combustion system and into an operably connected, suitable, mixing chamber;
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• f) mixing the exhaust materials appropriately in said mixing chamber with an externally supplied concentration of oxygen selected from 20% to 100% by volume;
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• g) igniting by suitable means the mixed gases evolving from the mixing chamber at the tip of a suitable and operably attached torch which is appropriately and sealably located within an operably connected, secondary combustion system and creating a flame which is directed toward the unclassified waste contained therein;
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• h) igniting and burning the unclassified waste in said secondary system by means of said torch flame at a temperature sufficiently high to fully combust virtually all combustible waste materials therein;
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• i) adding sufficient vitreous material, to the unclassified waste as it is being introduced into the secondary combustion chamber, in an appropriate selective ratio to be able to form a molten envelope for any unburned solids waste which may remain after all combustible waste has been burned;
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• j) using the high temperature flame and heating the vitreous material and unburned solids waste to a sufficiently high temperature and melting said vitreous material and enclosing the unburned solids waste in a molten envelope;
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• k) allowing the molten, vitrified waste solids to flowably and controllably exit the high temperature combustion chamber through an appropriate, closable, sealable and controllable opening in said chamber and receiving said waste in a suitable external, fluidly connected container and appropriately disposing of said vitrified waste;
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• l) simultaneously exhausting all unburned waste gases from the secondary high temperature combustion chamber through a plurality of suitable, controllable openings for standard, appropriate and selective handling, treatment and disposition;
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• m) having standard, existing means for and selectively and, as needed, maintaining, cleaning, changing, loading, heating, cooling and discharging contents of each of said plurality of primary and secondary combustion chambers during the operation of the multistage waste treatment process;
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• n) having standard, existing, temperature and pressure and atmosphere sensors and controls appropriately and operably installed and connected to each of said plurality of primary and secondary combustion chambers and using said sensors and controls to monitor and control the integrated and individual and selective operation of each and all of the plurality of said combustion chambers of the multistage waste treatment process.