# US 7,005,112 B1 · Thermal decomposer for waste > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,005,112 B1 - Document ID: US7005112B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/673,680 - Filed: 2000-02-18 - Granted: 2006-02-28 - Earliest claimed: 1999-02-18 - Assignees: Kyowa Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Hiroyuki Takahashi; Kiyoe Takahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7005112B1 ## CPC - C10B 19/00: Heating of coke ovens by electrical means - C10B 53/00: Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form (wet carbonising of peat C10F) - F23G 5/027: pyrolising or gasifying stage (pyrolisation of sludge C02F11/00; destructive distillation of carbonaceous materials C10B53/00) - F23G 5/0276: {using direct heating} - F23G 5/10: electric - F23G 2900/51001: using arc discharge electrodes to provide heat - C10B: DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF GAS, COKE, TAR, OR SIMILAR MATERIALS (cracking oils C10G; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295) - F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION ## Abstract A thermal decomposition apparatus for wastes comprises: a heating chamber; an inlet port; at least one pair of electrodes provided within the heating chamber; a plurality of balls each taking the shape of a sphere whose primary ingredient is carbon, provided between the at least one pair of electrodes so as to produce an electric discharge when a voltage is applied across the at least one pair of electrodes; an outlet port for discharging the gases into which the wastes are thermally decomposed; oxygen free or vacuum environment forming means or evacuating means. According to the present invention, an inexpensive thermal decomposition apparatus for wastes is provided which thermally decomposes almost all wastes at a high temperature of not lower than about 3000° C. without producing harmful substances such as soot, dust, chlorine compounds; nitrogen compounds and/or dioxin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermal composition apparatus for waste comprising: a heating chamber for heating the wastes; an inlet port for introducing the wastes into said heating chamber; at least one pair of electrodes provided within said heating chamber; a light emitting heater consisting of a plurality of balls which contain carbon as a main ingredient, said light emitting heater being provided between said at least one pair of electrodes so as to produce an electric discharge when a voltage is applied across said at least one pair of electrodes; and an outlet port for discharging substantially harmless gases out of said heating chamber; wherein the wastes have been thermally decomposed into the substantially harmless gasses and further comprising means for decompressing said heating chamber such that said plurality of balls are placed in a vacuum. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of balls are each made of a material selected from the group consisting of charcoal, graphite, a carbon composite material, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of balls is impermeable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of balls each take the form of a sphere. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means, provided within said heating chamber, for pressing the wastes against said plurality of balls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a filter made of a material selected from the group consisting of active carbon, charcoal, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a vacuum meter for measuring the pressure within said heating chamber; and means for adjusting the pressure within said heating chamber to a predetermined value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an intervening spacer which contains carbon as a main ingredient, the intervening spacer being placed between said plurality of balls and an inner wall of said heating chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least portions of an inner wall of said heating chamber are placed in contact with said plurality of balls and wherein at least portions of the inner wall are made of a monolithic refractory material selected from the group consisting of boron nitride, niobium, silicon carbide, boron carbide, magnesium oxide, hafnium oxide, hafnium dioxide, beryllium aluminum oxide, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the pairs of electrodes may take the form of a rod or horn surrounded by said plurality of balls. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pipe for introducing liquid wastes into said heating chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a decomposed gas harm eliminating device for thermally decomposing harmful materials remaining in the decomposed gases into harmless gases, the decomposed gas harm eliminating device comprising: a decomposed gas heating chamber for heating the decomposed gases; a decomposed gas inlet port for introducing the decomposed gases into said decomposed gas heating chamber; at least one pair of second electrodes provided within said decomposed gas heating chamber; a second light emitting heater consisting of a plurality of second balls which contain carbon as a main ingredient, provided between said at least one pair of second electrodes so as to produce an electric discharge when a voltage is applied across said at least one pair of second electrodes; a harmless gas outlet port for discharging harmless gases to which the decomposed gases have been rendered; and a filter comprising a material selected from the group consisting of active carbon, charcoal, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said decomposed gas harm eliminating device further comprises: a second vacuum meter for measuring the pressure within said decomposed gas heating chamber; and second means for adjusting the pressure within said decomposed gas heating chamber to a predetermined value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said decomposed gas harm eliminating device further comprises a second intervening spacer which contains carbon as a main ingredient, placed at least between said plurality of second balls and the inner wall of said decomposed gas heating chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said decomposed gas harm eliminating device further comprises at least portions of the inner wall of said decomposed gas heating chamber which are placed in contact with said plurality of second balls being made of a monolithic refractory material selected from the group consisting of boron nitride, niobium, silicon carbide, boron carbide, magnesium oxide, hafnium oxide, hafnium dioxide, beryllium aluminum oxide, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The thermal decomposition apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said decomposed gas harm eliminating device further comprises a second pair of electrodes having at least a part thereof in the form of a rod or horn surrounded by said plurality of second balls.