Process for vitrifying environmentally hazardous waste material in a glass melting furnace
First Claim
1. Process for vitrifying environmentally hazardous waste material in a glass melting furnace, comprising:
- forming a glass melt having a surface in the furnace;
forming a batch containing the waste material and an additive consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phonolite and SiO2 containing materials;
adding the batch to the furnace so that a batch layer is formed on the molten glass;
heating the molten glass after the batch layer is formed thereon, solely by devices in the molten glass;
producing a gall layer of glass gall on the surface of the glass melt between the glass melt and the batch layer, said glass gall consisting essentially of at least one of an alkali salt and an alkaline earth salt;
withdrawing glass gall from the gall layer as necessary and controlling the composition, supply, and distribution of the batch so that the gall layer and the batch layer are maintained at respective thicknesses which are sufficient to maintain the furnace atmosphere above the batch layer at a sufficiently low temperature so that substantially all of the condensable components which emerge from the molten glass and the gall layer condense in the batch layer; and
withdrawing the molten glass from the furnace via a first outlet means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Process for vitrifying environmentally hazardous waste material in a glass melting furnace includes forming a batch including the waste material and no more than 30 weight percent additives including phonolite and SiO2 containing substances. A gall layer 2-5 cm thick including alkali salts or alkaline earth salts is produced on the molten glass, and batch is added so that a batch layer over 5 cm thick is formed on top of the gall layer. After the batch layer is formed, the molten glass is heated solely by electrodes, and the thickness of the batch layer is maintained to produce a steep enough temperature gradient therein so that the furnace atmosphere remains relatively cool, and substantially all of the condensable components which emerge from the molten glass condense in the batch layer.
24 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Process for vitrifying environmentally hazardous waste material in a glass melting furnace, comprising:
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forming a glass melt having a surface in the furnace; forming a batch containing the waste material and an additive consisting of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phonolite and SiO2 containing materials; adding the batch to the furnace so that a batch layer is formed on the molten glass; heating the molten glass after the batch layer is formed thereon, solely by devices in the molten glass; producing a gall layer of glass gall on the surface of the glass melt between the glass melt and the batch layer, said glass gall consisting essentially of at least one of an alkali salt and an alkaline earth salt; withdrawing glass gall from the gall layer as necessary and controlling the composition, supply, and distribution of the batch so that the gall layer and the batch layer are maintained at respective thicknesses which are sufficient to maintain the furnace atmosphere above the batch layer at a sufficiently low temperature so that substantially all of the condensable components which emerge from the molten glass and the gall layer condense in the batch layer; and withdrawing the molten glass from the furnace via a first outlet means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification