Apparatus and method of oxidation utilizing a gliding electric arc
AssigneeCeramatec, Inc.
InventorsJoseph J. Hartvigsen, Singaravelu Elangovan, Michele Hollist, Piotr Czernichowski
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for oxidizing a combustible material. The method includes introducing a volume of the combustible material into a plasma zone of a gliding electric arc oxidation system. The method also includes introducing a volume of oxidizer into the plasma zone of the gliding electric arc oxidation system. The volume of oxidizer includes a stoichiometrically excessive amount of oxygen. The method also includes generating an electrical discharge between electrodes within the plasma zone of the gliding electric arc oxidation system to oxidize the combustible material.
Claims17
A system to oxidize a combustible material, the system comprising:
- at least one channel to direct the combustible material and an oxidizer into a plasma zone of a plasma generator, wherein the plasma generator comprises a gliding electrical arc oxidation system;
- an oxygen controller to control an amount of oxygen of the oxidizer into the plasma zone of the plasma generator, the oxygen controller to provide a stoichiometrically excessive amount of oxygen;
- and
- a plurality of electrodes within the plasma zone of the plasma generator, the plurality of electrodes enclosed within a housing, the plurality of electrodes to generate a plasma to oxidize the combustible material, wherein the gliding electrical arc oxidation system is maintained within an operating temperature of less than approximately 980° C.;
- wherein an interior surface of an outer wall of the housing transfers heat from a stream of an oxidation product, resulting from oxidation of the combustible material, to the outer wall of the housing.
An oxidation apparatus comprising:
- means for introducing a combustible material into a plasma zone of a plasma generator;
- means for introducing a stoichiometrically excessive amount of oxygen into the plasma zone of the plasma generator;
- and
- means for oxidizing substantially all of the combustible material to render a harmful chemical into a safe material for disposal, wherein the means for oxidizing is maintained within an operating temperature of less than approximately 980° C., wherein the plasma generator comprises a plurality of electrodes within a housing, wherein an interior surface of an outer wall of the housing transfers heat from a stream of an oxidation product, resulting from oxidation of the combustible material, to the outer wall of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.