Joule melter for the processing of radioactive wastes

• US 4,627,069 A
• Filed: 05/23/1984
• Issued: 12/02/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (Government of Canada)
• Original Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (Government of Canada)
• Inventors: Litke, Cynthia D., Porth, Robert J., Harvey, Keith B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Application Number:
  US06/613,335
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 373/27, 373/29, 373/30, 373/31, 373/32, 373/33, 373/36, 373/38, 373/35, 252/629, 252/628, 65/325, 65/326, 65/327
• US Class Current: 373/29
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/005 of glass-forming waste materials disposal or transformation of solid waste in general B09B; treatment of radioactive waste G21F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/0275 Shaft furnaces C03B5/0277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 5/0336 Shaft furnaces C03B5/0338 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/305 Glass or glass like matrix C03B5/005 takes precedence; compositional aspects C03C
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/60 Heating arrangements wherein the heating current flows through granular powdered or fluid material, e.g. for salt-bath furnace, electrolytic heating H05B3/38 takes precedence

Abstract

The joule melter has an outer cylindrical electrode which forms the outer wall of the melt containment, an inner cylindrical electrode which protrudes upward in the containment and forms the outlet for the melt, thus, also determining the depth of the melt. A non-conducting sealing material forms a base plug between the electrodes. A cylindrical electrically conductive baffle is located between the electrodes and includes an opening which allows the melt to flow from near the outer electrode where the melt material is first inserted into the melter, to the inner electrode which is the outlet. In addition to the inner and outer electrodes, the baffle may be connected to a power supply to modify the currents flowing at each of the electrodes.

Claims

1. A joule melter for glass related products comprising:

inner and outer concentric electrodes adapted to be connected to a power supply, the outer electrode forming an outer wall of the melt chamber having a predetermined depth to contain the melt, the inner electrode being hollow to form an outlet for the melt;

non-conducting seal means between the inner and outer electrodes to form a base plug for the melt chamber; and

insulating refractory material enclosing the melt chamber.

2. A joule melter as claimed in claim 1 which further includes conductive baffle means located between the inner and outer electrodes and concentric therewith, the baffle means having an opening below the melt depth level.

3. A joule melter as claimed in claim 2 which further includes inlet means for receiving melt materials between the outer electrode and the baffle means.

4. A joule melter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner electrode, outer electrode and baffle means are cylindrical.

5. A joule melter as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inner electrode protrudes into the melt chamber to determine the depth of the melt.

6. A joule melter as claimed in claim 5 which includes further inlet means for receiving liquid radioactive waste between the outer electrode and the baffle means.

7. A joule melter as claimed in claim 6 which includes heater means positioned between the insulating refractory material and the outer electrode to provide initial heat to the melt chamber.

8. A joule melter as claimed in claim 7 wherein the baffle means includes a lead for connection to a power supply.