Method for sequestering heavy metal particulates using H2O, CO2, O2, and a source of particulates

• US 10,065,135 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Powerdyne, Inc. (Powerdyne International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Powerdyne, Inc. (Powerdyne International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirson, Geoffrey, Shouse, Gus F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, Cameron J
• Application Number:
  US15/283,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20170209815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0009 Settling tanks making use of electricity or magnetism electric ultra filters B01D61/425; filters making use of electricity or magnetism B01D35/06; magnetic or electrostatic separation B03C
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/01 using flocculating agents for purifying water C02F1/52; for liquid radioactive waste G21F9/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 12/002 carried out in the plasma state generating or handling plasma H05H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/088 giving rise to electric discharges for heating purposes H05B7/00; for the production of ozone C01B13/11, H01T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0809 employing two or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0815 involving stationary electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0875 Gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0898 Hot plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/29 involving a melting or softening step
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/062 Hydrocarbon production, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch process
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/0861 by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/042 Decomposition of water
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/12 by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 1/04 from carbon monoxide with hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2/32 with the use of catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1238 by plasma
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1671 with the production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 2300/1675 making use of a steam turbine
• CPC Class Codes: C10J 3/00 : Production of combustible gases containing carbon monoxide from solid carbonaceous fuels destructive distillation processes C10B
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/00 : Liquid carbonaceous fuels
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 : for spark ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/08 : for compression ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0415 : Light distillates, e.g. LPG, naphtha
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0423 : Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/043 : Kerosene, jet fuel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0446 : Diesel
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/38 : Applying an electric field or inclusion of electrodes in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/42 : Fischer-Tropsch steps
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/101 : Removal of contaminants
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 : Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/06 : using mixtures of different fluids plants using mixtures of steam and gas F01K21/04
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 7/16 : the engines being only of turbine type the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure F01K7/32; the engines being of extraction or non-condensing type F01K7/34
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/05 : characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/31 : in steam turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/76 : an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 : Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/42 : with provisions for introducing materials into the plasma, e.g. powder, liquid arc stabilising or constricting arrangements H05H1/3405; coaxial protecting fluids H05H1/341; electrostatic spraying, spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically B05B5/00 ; cf. B23K9/324, B05B7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/44 : using more than one torch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 : Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 : Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines

Abstract

Methods of sequestering toxin particulates are described herein. In a primary processing chamber, a carbon source of toxin particulates may be combined with plasma from three plasma torches to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue. Each torch may have a working gas including oxygen gas, water vapor, and carbon dioxide gas. The vitrified toxin residue is removed. The first fluid mixture may be cooled in a first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture. The second fluid mixture may contact a wet scrubber. The final product from the wet scrubber may be used as a fuel product.

Claims

1. A method of sequestering toxin particulates, the method comprising:

providing a first working fluid;

exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field to produce a first fluid plasma;

providing a second working fluid;

exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field to produce a second fluid plasma;

providing a third working fluid;

exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field to produce a third fluid plasma;

providing an amount of toxin particulates;

contacting the toxin particulates with the third fluid plasma, the second fluid plasma, and the first fluid plasma within a primary processing chamber to form a first fluid mixture and vitrified toxin residue;

removing the vitrified toxin residue;

transporting the first fluid mixture to a first heat exchange device, wherein the first heat exchange device is a heat recovery steam generator;

cooling the first fluid mixture using the first heat exchange device to form a second fluid mixture, wherein the second working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of steam generated by the heat recovery steam generator; and

transporting the second fluid mixture to a wet scrubber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first working fluid is oxygen gas.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second working fluid is water vapor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third working fluid is carbon dioxide gas.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the toxin particulates comprise one or more of the following:

pulverized mine tailings and heavy metal particulates.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface, to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing a first high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and

causing the first working fluid to traverse the gap.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing a second high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and

causing the second working fluid to traverse the gap.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field comprises:

providing an anode surface;

providing a cathode surface at a distance from the anode surface to create a gap between the anode surface and the cathode surface;

providing a third high voltage electric potential between the anode surface and the cathode surface of about 2.4 kV times the distance in centimeters to about 60 kV times the distance in centimeters; and

causing the third working fluid to traverse the gap.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third high voltage electric potential has a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 50 MHz.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the first working fluid to a first high voltage electric field comprises causing the first working fluid to pass through a first plasma torch.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the second working fluid to a second high voltage electric field comprises causing the second working fluid to pass through a second plasma torch.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein exposing the third working fluid to a third high voltage electric field comprises causing the third working fluid to pass through a third plasma torch.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the toxin particulates further comprise one or more binding particulates.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more binding particulates include one or more of the following:

silicates and clays.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first fluid mixture has a temperature of about 7230°

F. (4000°

C.) to about 36000°

F. (20000°

C.).

18. The method of claim 1, wherein cooling the first fluid mixture comprises cooling the first fluid plasma mixture to a temperature of about 100°

F. (38°

C.) to about 2950°

F. (1620°

C.).

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid mixture further comprises carbon dioxide.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the third working fluid comprises at least in part an amount of carbon dioxide obtained from the second fluid mixture.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid mixture further comprises one or more of the following:

toxic material silicates, toxic material carbonates, and vitreous compositions including the toxic materials.