Multiple plasma generator hazardous waste processing system
AssigneeRCL Plasma, Inc.
InventorsAndreas V. Tsangaris, George W. Carter, Jesse Z. Shen, D. Michael Feasby, Kenneth C. Campbell
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Abstract
A waste processing system is provided herein which entails the use of at least one fixed-position plasma arc generator for primary processing and at least one moveable plasma arc generator for secondary processing assistance and/or final conditioning of the slag prior to exit from the reactor vessel. This optimum processing environment is provided by control of reactor vessel configuration and real time control of processing characteristics to ensure maximum processing efficiency.
Claims29
An apparatus for the disposal of waste and/or hazardous materials, comprising:
- a refractory-lined reactor vessel;
- plasma-generating means within said refractory-lined reactor vessel for producing a high temperature plasma processing zone which has a substantially-uniform high temperature across the entire periphery of said refractory-lined reactor vessel, said plasma-generating means comprising at least one fixed-position plasma arc generator, and at least one movable plasma arc generator;
- first feeding means for feeding said waste and/or hazardous materials to, and through, said high temperature plasma processing zone;
- second feeding means for feeding sufficient process additive agents to said high temperature plasma processing zone to cause the substantially-complete decomposition of said waste and/or hazardous materials and conversion into stable non-hazardous materials;
- controlling means for controlling said plasma generating means and the flow of said waste and/or hazardous materials through said high temperature plasma processing zone to ensure that all said waste and/or hazardous material reaches a sufficiently high temperature, for a sufficient period of time thermally to decompose said waste and/or hazardous materials and convert them into said stable non-hazardous final products;
- gas removal means for removing product gas from said refractory lined reactor vessel with a gas exit velocity conducive to gasborne solids to fall back into the reactor vessel as opposed to being carried out of the reactor vessel with the exiting gas;
- monitoring means for monitoring said product gas to determine the amount of particulate matter in said product gas and regulate said gas exit velocity;
- and
- slag removing means for removing stable non-hazardous slag from said apparatus.
A method for the disposal of waste and/or hazardous materials, comprising:
- providing a refractory-lined cylindrical reactor vessel with plasma-generating means within said refractory-lined reactor vessel and producing a high temperature plasma processing zone therein which has a substantially-uniform high temperature processing zone across the entire periphery of said refractory-lined reactor vessel, by using plasma-generating means comprising at least one fixed-position plasma arc generator, and at least one movable plasma arc generator;
- feeding solid and/or liquid said waste and/or hazardous materials to, and through, said high temperature plasma processing zone;
- selectively feeding sufficient process additive agents to said high temperature plasma processing zone, for completely decomposing said waste and/or hazardous materials and converting them into stable, non-hazardous gases and slag materials;
- removing gaseous products from said high temperature plasma zone;
- monitoring said gaseous products to determine the amount of particulate material in said gaseous products;
- removing stable non-hazardous final slag product from said refractory-lined reactor vessel;
- and
- injecting steam as process additive agent at a product gas exit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.