Plasma vitrification of waste materials
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsDavid F. McLaughlin, Shyam V. Dighe, William R. Gass
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Abstract
This invention provides a process wherein hazardous or radioactive wastes in the form of liquids, slurries, or finely divided solids are mixed with finely divided glassformers (silica, alumina, soda, etc.) and injected directly into the plume of a non-transferred arc plasma torch. The extremely high temperatures and heat transfer rates makes it possible to convert the waste-glassformer mixture into a fully vitrified molten glass product in a matter of milliseconds. The molten product may then be collected in a crucible for casting into final wasteform geometry, quenching in water, or further holding time to improve homogeneity and eliminate bubbles.
Claims11
A method of processing waste materials to form molten glass comprising the steps of:
- providing a waste material-glassformer mixture of waste material and glass forming material;
- injecting said mixture into a tuyere;
- providing a plasma torch capable of producing a plasma plume within the tuyere to produce melting and oxidation of the mixture resulting in vitrification of the mixture while the mixture is flowing within the tuyere and molten glass exiting the tuyere;
- and
- solidifying the vitrified mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.