In-situ vitrification of waste materials
AssigneeAssociated Universities, Inc.
InventorsJames R. Powell, Morris Reich, Robert Barletta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for the in-situ vitrification of waste materials in a disposable can that includes an inner container and an outer container is disclosed. The method includes the steps of adding frit and waste materials to the inner container, removing any excess water, heating the inner container such that the frit and waste materials melt and vitrify after cooling, while maintaining the outer container at a significantly lower temperature than the inner container. The disposable can is then cooled to ambient temperatures and stored. A device for the in-situ vitrification of waste material in a disposable can is also disclosed.
Claims80
A method for the in-situ vitrification of waste materials in a disposable can, the disposable can comprising an inner container and an outer container, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) adding frit materials and the waste materials to the inner container;
- (b) removing any excess water;
- (c) heating the inner container in such a way that the inner container attains a temperature at which the frit materials and the waste materials melt and vitrify after cooling while maintaining the outer container at a significantly lower temperature;
- (d) cooling the disposable can to ambient temperatures;
- and
- (e) storing the disposable can.
A device for the in-situ vitrification of waste materials in a disposable can, the device comprising:
- (a) a disposable can, the disposable can comprising an inner container and an outer container;
- (b) a means for adding frit materials and the waste materials to the inner container;
- (c) a means for removing water;
- (d) a means for heating the inner container in such a way that the inner container attains a temperature at which the frit materials and the waste materials melt and vitrify while the outer container maintains a significantly lower temperature;
- and
- (e) a means for cooling the disposable can to ambient temperatures.
A device for the in-situ vitrification of solid waste, comprising:
- a disposable can, the disposable can comprising an electrically conducting inner container and an outer container;
- a fill tube extending from the inner container through the outer container to the atmosphere for adding waste materials from outside the disposable can to the inner container;
- an external vent tube extending from the inner container through the outer container to the atmosphere for venting gases from the inner container to the atmosphere;
- a power transformer comprising a multi-turn inductive coil as the primary, the inner container acting as the secondary of the power transformer when the inductive heating coil is energized with an electric current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.