US5127347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the reduction of solid waste material using coherent radiation
Assignee: PEL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
•
Filing: 1990-04-09
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Granted: 1992-07-07
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Expires: 2010-04-09
Abstract
Abstract Coherent radiation is used to provide the energy, excite and sustain of plasma in which solid waste materials are reduced to a slag-like material from which has been removed the more harmful constituents. The effluvia of the plasma reduction process is scrubbed to remove particulates and the gas is processed by additional heating to eliminate products of incomplete combustion and/or chemically convert harmful constituents. The remaining gas is then safely exhausted into the atmosphere. The solid waste material may be the ash by-product of prior incineration.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Cheetham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:28
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23J; F23J15/00; F23J15/02; F23J15/04; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/121; B03; B03C; B03C3/00; B03C3/017; C; C03; C03B; C03B5/00; C03B5/005; C03B5/02; C03B5/025; F23G; F23G5/00; F23G5/006; F23G5/08; F23G5/085; F23G2202/00; F23G2202/20; F23G2204/00; F23G2204/20; F23G2204/201; F23G2204/202; F23G2209/00; F23G2209/30; F23L; F23L2900/00; F23L2900/07007; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from the ash by-product of previously incinerated waste material, comprising the steps of: raising the temperature of the ash to form a molten slag in a primary reaction chamber using coherent radiation directed upon the ash, permitting the molten slag to flow from the primary reaction chamber and collecting the removed slag, directing the gas and particulate effluent generated by the formation of the molten slag into a second reaction chamber and reburning the effluent in said secondary reaction chamber to reduce remaining products of incomplete combustion, electrostatically scrubbing particulates from the effluent, treating the gaseous part of the effluent to remove harmful chemicals therefrom, and releasing the treated gaseous portion of the effluent to the atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from the ash by-product of previously incinerated waste material, comprising the steps of: raising the temperature of the ash to form a molten slag in a primary reaction chamber using coherent radiation directed upon the ash, permitting the molten slag to flow from the primary reaction chamber and collecting the removed slag, directing the gas and particulate effluent generated by the formation of the molten slag into a second reaction chamber and reburning the effluent in said secondary reaction chamber to reduce remaining products of incomplete combustion, electrostatically scrubbing particulates from the effluent, treating the gaseous part of the effluent to remove harmful chemicals therefrom, and releasing the treated gaseous portion of the effluent to the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ash by-product of previously incinerated waste material is fly ash.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein combustible excitation waste is converted to a molten state in the secondary reaction chamber and then conducted to the primary reaction chamber, and said effluent is conducted from the primary reaction chamber to the secondary reaction chamber in contact with the molten excitation material flowing from the secondary reaction chamber to the primary reaction chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for removing certain constituents from the solid product of prior combustion, comprising the steps of: heating said solid product to a molten state in a primary reaction chamber using coherent radiation, conducting the molten material from the primary reaction chamber, conducting the gaseous and particulate effluent resulting from heating said solid product to a secondary reaction chamber, further heating said effluent in said secondary reaction chamber to substantially complete the combustion of products of incomplete combustion in said effluent, and processing said effluent to make it acceptable for release into the atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process for removing certain constituents from the solid product of prior combustion, comprising the steps of: heating said solid product to a molten state in a primary reaction chamber using coherent radiation, conducting the molten material from the primary reaction chamber, conducting the gaseous and particulate effluent resulting from heating said solid product to a secondary reaction chamber, further heating said effluent in said secondary reaction chamber to substantially complete the combustion of products of incomplete combustion in said effluent, and processing said effluent to make it acceptable for release into the atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process in accordance with claim 4 wherein the step of processing the effluent includes removing particulate matter and chemically reacting the effluent in water to convert certain constituents therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process in accordance with claim 5 including diluting the effluent with air and releasing it into the atmosphere primarily as a mixture of carbon dioxide and air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process in accordance with claim 5 where the particulate matter is removed from the effluent using an electrostatic scrubber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The process in accordance with claim 4 including: heating a combustible material in the secondary reaction chamber to form a molten product, conducting the molten product of the combustion of the combustible material from the secondary reaction chamber to the primary reaction chamber along the same path as taken by the effluent flowing from the primary reaction chamber to the secondary reaction chamber, thereby heating the effluent as it flows to the secondary reaction chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process in accordance with claim 4 wherein said solid product is particulate fly ash.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process in accordance with claim 9 wherein said solid product is continuously fed into the primary reaction chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process is accordance with claim 4 including forming said molten material into a pebble-like material upon removal form the primary reaction chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process in accordance with claim 4 including heating said effluent in said secondary reaction chamber with coherent radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from incombustible waste material, comprising the steps of: raising the temperature of the waste material to form a molten slag in a primary reaction chamber, permitting excess slag to flow from the primary reaction chamber, directing the gas and particulate effluent generated by formation of the molten slag into a second reaction chamber and reburning the effluent in said second reaction chamber to reduce the remaining products of incomplete combustion, removing particulates from the effluent, treating the gaseous part of the effluent to remove harmful chemicals therefrom, and releasing the treated gaseous portion of the effluent to the atmosphere.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from incombustible waste material, comprising the steps of: raising the temperature of the waste material to form a molten slag in a primary reaction chamber, permitting excess slag to flow from the primary reaction chamber, directing the gas and particulate effluent generated by formation of the molten slag into a second reaction chamber and reburning the effluent in said second reaction chamber to reduce the remaining products of incomplete combustion, removing particulates from the effluent, treating the gaseous part of the effluent to remove harmful chemicals therefrom, and releasing the treated gaseous portion of the effluent to the atmosphere.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from waste materials, comprising the steps of: heating the waste material in a primary reaction chamber until it reaches a molten state, conducting excess molten waste material from the primary reaction chamber and collecting the removed material, reburning the effluent resulting from the conversion of the waste material in a secondary reaction chamber, hearing a combustible material in the secondary reaction chamber to form a molten product, conducting said molten product from the secondary reaction chamber to the primary reaction chamber along the same path taken by the effluent flowing from the primary reaction chamber to the secondary reaction chamber, thereby heating the effluent as it flows to the secondary reaction chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from waste materials, comprising the steps of: heating the waste material in a primary reaction chamber until it reaches a molten state, conducting excess molten waste material from the primary reaction chamber and collecting the removed material, reburning the effluent resulting from the conversion of the waste material in a secondary reaction chamber, hearing a combustible material in the secondary reaction chamber to form a molten product, conducting said molten product from the secondary reaction chamber to the primary reaction chamber along the same path taken by the effluent flowing from the primary reaction chamber to the secondary reaction chamber, thereby heating the effluent as it flows to the secondary reaction chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from fly ash, comprising the steps of: providing a primary reaction chamber and a secondary reaction chamber, converting excitation waste to a molten state in the secondary reaction chamber and conducting the molten excitation waste from the secondary reaction chamber to the primary reaction chamber, heating fly ash and excitation waste in the primary reaction until it reaches a molten state sin coherent radiation, conducting the resultant molten waste material from the primary reaction chamber and collecting the removed material, and reburning the effluent resulting from the conversion of the fly ash to a molten state in the secondary reaction chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process for removing harmful constituents from fly ash, comprising the steps of: providing a primary reaction chamber and a secondary reaction chamber, converting excitation waste to a molten state in the secondary reaction chamber and conducting the molten excitation waste from the secondary reaction chamber to the primary reaction chamber, heating fly ash and excitation waste in the primary reaction until it reaches a molten state sin coherent radiation, conducting the resultant molten waste material from the primary reaction chamber and collecting the removed material, and reburning the effluent resulting from the conversion of the fly ash to a molten state in the secondary reaction chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process in accordance with claim 15 including the step of electrostatically scrubbing particulates from the effluent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-01-06 | 1996-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-07 | 2000-01-06 | 2000-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-07 | 2004-01-06 | 2004-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |