Methods and apparatus for treating waste
AssigneeIntegrated Environmental Technologies, LLC
InventorsCharles H. Titus, Jeffrey E. Surma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for treating waste are provided. Waste is converted in an arc plasma-joule heated melter system utilizing one or more arc plasma electrodes and a plurality of joule heating electrodes. The arc plasma electrode(s) can be configured for operation utilizing AC or DC power, or for switching between AC and DC power. The arc plasma electrodes can also be configured for independent arc voltage and arc current control. The joule heating circuits are configured for simultaneous operation with the arcing electrodes, but without detrimental interaction with the arcing electrodes. The systems provide stable, non-leachable products and a gaseous fuel. The gaseous fuel can be utilized in a combustion or non-combustion process to generate electricity.
Claims54
A power supply source for supplying direct current to first, second and third arc plasma electrodes in a waste conversion unit, the power supply source comprising:
- a transformer having first, second and third primary windings and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings connected to an AC power source that provides an AC current and an AC voltage;
- first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings;
- first, second and third switches respectively connected in series to the first, second and third current limiting reactors;
- first, second and third rectifiers for converting the AC power to DC power having a DC current and a DC voltage, the rectifiers each having first and second outputs;
- and
- first, second and third DC inductors, each inductor having first and second ends, the first ends of the first, second and third inductors respectively connected to the first outputs of the first, second and third rectifiers, and the second ends of the first, second and third inductors respectively connected to the first, second and third arc plasma electrodes.
A power supply source for supplying alternating current to first, second and third arc plasma electrodes, the power supply source comprising:
- a transformer having first, second and third primary windings and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings connected to an AC power source that provides an AC current and an AC voltage;
- first, second and third current limiting reactors each having first and second ends, the first ends of the first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings;
- first, second and third capacitors reactors respectively connected to the second ends of the first, second and third current limiting reactors;
- and
- first, second and third switches respectively connected in series to the first, second and third capacitors and respectively connected to the first, second and third joule heating electrodes.
A power supply source for supplying direct current to first and second arc plasma electrodes in a waste conversion unit, the power supply source comprising:
- a transformer having first, second and third primary windings and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings connected to an AC power source that provides an AC current and an AC voltage;
- first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings;
- first, second and third switches respectively connected in series to the first, second and third current limiting reactors;
- a diode bridge rectifier for converting the AC current and the AC voltage to DC power having a DC current and a DC voltage, the rectifier having first, second and third inputs and first and second outputs, the first, second and third inputs respectively connected to the first, second and third switches;
- first and second inductors, each inductor having first and second ends, the first ends of the first and second inductors respectively connected to the first and second outputs of the rectifier, and the second ends of the first and second inductors respectively connected to the first and second arc plasma electrodes.
A power supply source for supplying direct current to first and second arc plasma electrodes in a waste conversion unit, the power supply source comprising:
- a first transformer having first, second and third primary windings and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings connected to an AC power source that provides an AC current and an AC voltage;
- first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings;
- a thyristor rectifier having first, second and third inputs and first and second outputs, the first, second and third thyristor rectifier inputs respectively connected to the first, second and third current limiting reactors;
- first and second DC inductors, each inductor having first and second ends, the first ends of the first and second inductors respectively connected to the first and second outputs of the thyristor rectifier, and the second ends of the first and second inductors respectively connected to the first and second arc plasma electrodes;
- a second transformer having first, second and third primary windings and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings of the first transformer;
- first, second and third linear inductors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings of the second transformer;
- and
- a diode bridge rectifier having first, second and third inputs and first and second outputs, the first, second and third inputs respectively connected to the first, second and third linear inductors, the first output connected to the first DC inductor and the second output connected to the second DC inductor.
A power supply source for supplying direct current to first and second arc plasma electrodes in a waste conversion unit, the power supply source comprising:
- a transformer having first, second and third primary windings and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings connected to an AC power source that provides an AC current and an AC voltage;
- first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings;
- a thyristor rectifier having first, second and third inputs and first and second outputs, the first, second and third thyristor rectifier inputs respectively connected to the first, second and third current limiting reactors;
- first, second, third and fourth DC inductors, each inductor having first and second ends, the first ends of the first and second inductors respectively connected to the first and second outputs of the thyristor rectifier, the second ends of the first and second inductors respectively connected to the first and second ends of the third and fourth inductors and the second ends of the third and fourth inductors respectively connected to the first and second arc plasma electrodes;
- first, second and third linear inductors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings of the transformer;
- and
- a diode bridge rectifier having first, second and third inputs and first and second outputs, the first, second and third inputs respectively connected to the first, second and third linear inductors, the first output connected to the first DC inductor and the second output connected to the second DC inductor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.