Patent US4479443A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4479443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for thermal decomposition of stable compounds
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-05-28
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Granted: 1984-10-30
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Expires: 2002-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for thermal decomposition of stable substances, preferably chemical hazardous waste. The invention achieves a high decomposition temperature by giving the waste the necessary decomposition temperature through the use of a plasma generated in a plasma burner. The waste itself can be carried through a plasma generator. Alternately, part, or all of the waste can be mixed with the plasma in a reaction chamber where decomposition takes place. The carrier gas of the plasma can be given a temperature of 3000° to 4000° C., or under certain conditions even a higher temperature. The invention also includes additional steps to eliminate toxic gases that might form during the decomposition of the waste or the cooling of the resultant gases.
Inventors
- 👤 Inge Faldt
- 👤 Leif Bjorklund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:02
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; C; C10; C10B; C10B53/00; F; F23; F23G; F23G5/00; F23G5/08; F23G5/085; F23G7/00; F23G2204/00; F23G2204/20; F23G2204/201; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S588/00; Y10S588/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: introducing the hazardous waste into the input end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete thermal decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: introducing the hazardous waste into the input end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete thermal decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of pretreating the hazardous waste to give it a consistency suitable for decomposition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the pretreatment step includes a thermal preheat treatment resulting in a partial decomposition of said hazardous waste.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the pretreatment step includes the step of modifying solid hazardous waste to give the waste a consistency suitable for introduction into said plasma generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of introducing to said plasma generator a neutralization agent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of rapidly cooling the gases exhausted from said plasma generator to avoid the formation of toxic substances during the cooling of said gases.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising: a plasma generator for producing a high temperature plasma in which all molecules of the plasma reach at least a desired minimum temperature; means for feeding hazardous waste to and through said plasma generator; means for feeding sufficient oxidizing agents to said hazardous waste to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and means for controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of hazardous waste through said plasma generator so that the hazardous waste can reach a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising: a plasma generator for producing a high temperature plasma in which all molecules of the plasma reach at least a desired minimum temperature; means for feeding hazardous waste to and through said plasma generator; means for feeding sufficient oxidizing agents to said hazardous waste to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and means for controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of hazardous waste through said plasma generator so that the hazardous waste can reach a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for feeding a neutralizing agent to said hazardous waste.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a primary cooling chamber connected to said plasma generator for receiving the exhaust gases from said plasma generator and rapidly supercooling the gases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 8 further comprising a combustion chamber connected to the output of said plasma generator for accepting the exhaust from said plasma generator and holding the expanded gases at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent the formation of toxic gases, and a primary cooling chamber connected to said combustion chamber for receiving the exhaust gases of said combustion chamber and rapidly supercooling the gases.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing hazardous waste into the reaction chamber through the plasma generator; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing hazardous waste into the reaction chamber through the plasma generator; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; subjecting the hazardous waste to a thermal preheat treatment resulting in a partial decomposition of said hazardous waste; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; subjecting the hazarous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; subjecting the hazardous waste to a thermal preheat treatment resulting in a partial decomposition of said hazardous waste; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; subjecting the hazarous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein some hazardous waste is introduced into the reaction chamber through the plasma generator.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; recircling some gas exhausted from said reaction chamber into a member of the group consisting of the plasma generator and the reaction chamber; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; recircling some gas exhausted from said reaction chamber into a member of the group consisting of the plasma generator and the reaction chamber; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; feeding the exhaust gases of the reaction chamber to a combustion chamber designed to hold the expanding gases at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent the formation of toxic gases in said chamber, said combustion chamber having a heat resistant filling to improve the residence time distribution of the exhaust gases and wherein decomposition catalyzing substance is applied on the filling of the combustion chamber; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
186 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; feeding the exhaust gases of the reaction chamber to a combustion chamber designed to hold the expanding gases at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent the formation of toxic gases in said chamber, said combustion chamber having a heat resistant filling to improve the residence time distribution of the exhaust gases and wherein decomposition catalyzing substance is applied on the filling of the combustion chamber; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; feeding the exhaust gases of the reaction chamber to a combustion chamber designed to hold the expanding gases at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent the formation of toxic gases in said chamber; exhausting the gases from the combustion chamber into a super cooler wherein the exhaust gases are subjected to a sufficient slurry of finely divided particles of neutralization agents to cool the gases below 350° in less than a second and to reduce the hydrogen halogenids in the exhausted gases; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
203 words
A method for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising the steps of: forming a reaction chamber directly at the outlet end of a plasma generator; producing a high temperature plasma in the plasma generator and introducing said plasma into the reaction chamber; introducing the hazardous waste into the reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; feeding the exhaust gases of the reaction chamber to a combustion chamber designed to hold the expanding gases at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent the formation of toxic gases in said chamber; exhausting the gases from the combustion chamber into a super cooler wherein the exhaust gases are subjected to a sufficient slurry of finely divided particles of neutralization agents to cool the gases below 350° in less than a second and to reduce the hydrogen halogenids in the exhausted gases; subjecting the hazardous waste to sufficient oxidizing agents to permit the complete decomposition of the hazardous waste to stable products; and controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste reaches a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising: a plasma generator for producing a high temperature plasma; a reaction chamber connected directly at the output end of the plasma generator for receiving the plasma and hazardous waste, said reaction chamber being designed to produce a mixture in which all molecules of hazardous waste reach at least a desired minimum temperature; means for feeding hazardous waste to said reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator, said means including a pipe connected to the input of said plasma generator; means for feeding sufficient oxidizing agents to said hazardous waste to permit the complete decomposition of said hazardous waste to stable final products; and means for controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste can reach a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for the thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising: a plasma generator for producing a high temperature plasma; a reaction chamber connected directly at the output end of the plasma generator for receiving the plasma and hazardous waste, said reaction chamber being designed to produce a mixture in which all molecules of hazardous waste reach at least a desired minimum temperature; means for feeding hazardous waste to said reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator, said means including a pipe connected to the input of said plasma generator; means for feeding sufficient oxidizing agents to said hazardous waste to permit the complete decomposition of said hazardous waste to stable final products; and means for controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste can reach a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising: a plasma generator for producing a high temperature plasma; a reaction chamber connected directly at the output end of the plasma generator for receiving the plasma and hazardous waste, said reaction chamber being designed to produce a mixture in which all molecules of hazardous waste reach at least a desired minimum temperature; means for feeding hazardous waste to said reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; a combustion chamber connected to the output of said reaction chamber for accepting the exhaust from said reaction chamber and holding the expanded gases at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent the formation of toxic gases; a primary cooling chamber connected to said combustion chamber for receiving the exhaust gases of said combustion chamber and rapidly supercooling the gases; a device within the primary cooling chamber for spraying a neutralizing slurry over the gases exhausted from said combustion chamber; means for recirculating exhaust gases from primary cooling chambers to said reaction chamber; means for feeding sufficient oxidizing agents to said hazardous waste to permit the complete decomposition of said hazardous waste to stable final products; and means for controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste can reach a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
238 words
An apparatus for thermal decomposition of hazardous waste comprising: a plasma generator for producing a high temperature plasma; a reaction chamber connected directly at the output end of the plasma generator for receiving the plasma and hazardous waste, said reaction chamber being designed to produce a mixture in which all molecules of hazardous waste reach at least a desired minimum temperature; means for feeding hazardous waste to said reaction chamber at a point proximate to the output end of the plasma generator; a combustion chamber connected to the output of said reaction chamber for accepting the exhaust from said reaction chamber and holding the expanded gases at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent the formation of toxic gases; a primary cooling chamber connected to said combustion chamber for receiving the exhaust gases of said combustion chamber and rapidly supercooling the gases; a device within the primary cooling chamber for spraying a neutralizing slurry over the gases exhausted from said combustion chamber; means for recirculating exhaust gases from primary cooling chambers to said reaction chamber; means for feeding sufficient oxidizing agents to said hazardous waste to permit the complete decomposition of said hazardous waste to stable final products; and means for controlling the temperature of the plasma and the flow of the hazardous waste so that the hazardous waste can reach a sufficiently high temperature for a sufficient period of time to thermally decompose completely to stable final products.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein decomposition catalyst substances are applied onto a filling of the combustion chamber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pretreatment unit including an atomizing unit for preheating and evaporating the hazardous waste.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of pretreating the hazardous waste to give it a consistency suitable for decomposition before introducing it into said reaction chamber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the pretreatment step includes the step of modifying solid hazardous waste to give the waste a consistency suitable for introduction into said reaction chamber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of introducing to said reaction chamber a neutralization agent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the neutralizing agent is selected from the group consisting of lime, sodium compounds, calcined lime, and calcium hydrate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of feeding the exhaust gases of the reaction chamber to a combustion chamber designed to hold the expanding gases at a temperature sufficiently high to prevent the formation of toxic gases in said chamber.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the exhaust gases within the combustion chamber are kept well above 900° C.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the exhaust gases within the combustion chamber are kept at between 1100° and 1200° C.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of rapidly cooling the gases exhausted from said combustion chamber to avoid the formation of toxic substances during the cooling of said gases.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the gases are rapidly cooled to a temperature below 350° C.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of reducing the content of hydrogen halogenids in the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber by exposing the exhaust gases to a neutralization agent.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for feeding hazardous waste and oxygen includes a pipe connected to said reaction chamber.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising means for feeding a neutralization agent to said reaction chamber.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a combustion chamber connected to the output of said reaction chamber for accepting the exhaust from said reaction chamber and holding the expanded gases at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent the formation of toxic gases.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the combustion chamber has a filling to improve the residence time distribution of gases flowing through the combustion chamber.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a pretreatment unit to give the hazardous waste a consistency suitable for decomposition before introducing it to said reaction chamber.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a primary cooling chamber connected to said combustion chamber for receiving the exhaust gases of said combustion chamber and rapidly supercooling the gases.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the primary cooling chamber includes a device for spraying a neutralizing slurry over the gases exhausted from said combustion chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-30 | 1988-04-30 | 1988-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-30 | 1992-04-30 | 1992-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-30 | 1996-04-30 | 1996-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |