Inventors:
James A. Batdorf - Idaho Falls ID
John D. Dalton - Idaho Falls ID
Raymond M. Geimer - Idaho Falls ID
Robert L. Gillins - Idaho Falls ID
Milo M. Larsen - Idaho Falls ID
Gary L. Leatherman - Idaho Falls ID
Steven D. Poling - Idaho Falls ID
William P. Wolfe - Idaho Falls ID
Assignee:
Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA
International Classification:
B23K 1000
US Classification:
21912159, 21912148, 21912136, 21912137, 21912138, 373 18, 588900, 110346
Abstract:
A waste treatment system is provided, including a waste melter system and an air pollution control system. Hazardous and/or radioactive waste in drums is conducted through a waste feed system into a plasma chamber where the waste is exposed to heat from a plasma torch. A part of the waste volatilizes and leaves the plasma chamber for a secondary reaction chamber, in which the waste is combusted to form a waste gas stream. The air pollution control system treats the waste gas stream through quenching, filtering and scrubbing, to produce a clean gas stream suitable for release to the atmosphere. Offgas may be recirculated through the waste treatment system as desired. The waste remaining inside the plasma chamber melts and drops onto sloped processing surfaces inside a hearth located below the plasma torch. The hearth includes ground electrodes configured for electrical contact with waste held in the hearth so that the melted waste in the hearth may be further heated by the plasma torch. As the melted waste is heated inside the hearth, the hearth is static, enabling the melted waste to separate into a first metal fraction having a high specific gravity and a second slag fraction having a relatively lower specific gravity.
