Process for vitrifying asbestos containing waste, infectious waste, toxic materials and radioactive waste
First Claim
1. A process for vitrifying materials into a silicate, comprising:
- heating a silicate melt within an electrical glass melting furnace by passing an electric current through the melt between at least two electrodes so as to maintain the melt at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the materials;
generating a curtain of gas bubbles in the melt across a substantial portion of the current path between the at least two electrodes to increase the power density of the melt in the region of the curtain of gas bubbles;
supplying materials to the furnace above the melt so that the materials fall onto the melt and the materials are melted to silicate; and
withdrawing molten silicate from the furnace at a temperature of at least 900°
C.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Material, such as, for example, sealed double bags of asbestos containing waste or ash from infectious waste or toxic material or radioactive waste, is transferred into a glass melt of a furnace. Gas bubbles released into the melt form a gas curtain which causes enhanced mixing of the material to accelerate the dissolution of the components of the added material. The presence of the gas bubbles reduces the cross-section of the molten glass through which current passes, which in turn increases the electrical resistance of the glass melt and therefore increases power generation of the melt or power density at constant current. A highly oxidizing hot region is produced under the location where the material is introduced into the furnace. Drawn off glass is shaped and quenched into at least two sizes of approximate spheres. The spheres are cooled sufficiently fast to be thermally tempered and have a surface compressive strength level above 5000 psi.
99 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A process for vitrifying materials into a silicate, comprising:
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heating a silicate melt within an electrical glass melting furnace by passing an electric current through the melt between at least two electrodes so as to maintain the melt at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the materials; generating a curtain of gas bubbles in the melt across a substantial portion of the current path between the at least two electrodes to increase the power density of the melt in the region of the curtain of gas bubbles; supplying materials to the furnace above the melt so that the materials fall onto the melt and the materials are melted to silicate; and withdrawing molten silicate from the furnace at a temperature of at least 900°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A process for converting waste materials into a silicate, comprising:
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heating a silicate melt within an electrical glass melting furnace by passing an electric current through the melt between at least two electrodes so as to maintain the melt at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the waste materials; supplying waste materials to the furnace above the melt so that the waste materials fall onto the melt and the waste materials are melted to silicate; withdrawing molten silicate from the furnace at a temperature of at least 900°
C.; andshaping the withdrawn molten silicate into spherical shape having at least two sizes in which the diameter of the smaller spheres is less than half the diameter of the larger spheres. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A process for vitrifying asbestos containing waste materials comprising:
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heating a silicate melt within an electrical glass melting furnace by passing an electric current through the melt between at least two electrodes so as to maintain the melt at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of asbestos, the furnace having a melt outlet and a skimmer outlet adjacent the top of the melt; supplying asbestos containing waste materials to the furnace above the melt so that the asbestos-containing materials fall onto the melt, the asbestos is melted to a molten silicate and dehydrated calcium sulfate which accumulates on the surface of the melt; periodically discontinuing the supply of asbestos containing waste materials to the furnace so that the area above the melt is heated to above about 900°
C.;removing the accumulated calcium sulfate from the surface of the melt through the skimmer outlet; withdrawing molten silicate from the furnace at a temperature of at least 900°
C.; andgenerating a curtain of gas bubbles across a substantial portion of the current path between the at least two electrodes to increase the power density of the melt in the region of the curtain of gas bubbles. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 56)
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40. A process for converting waste materials onto a silicate, comprising:
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heating a silicate melt with a glass melting furnace so as to maintain the melt at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of the waste materials; supplying waste materials to the furnace above the melt so that the waste materials fall onto the melt and the waste materials are melted to silicate; withdrawing molten silicate from the furnace at a temperature of at least 900°
C.; andshaping the withdrawn molten silicate into spherical shape having at least two sizes in which the diameter of the smaller spheres is less than half the diameter of the larger spheres. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A process for vitrifying asbestos containing waste materials comprising:
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heating a silicate melt within an electrical glass melting furnace by passing an electric current through the melt between at least two electrodes so as to maintain the melt at a temperature above the decomposition temperature of asbestos, the furnace having a melt outlet and a skimmer outlet adjacent the top of the melt; supplying asbestos containing waste materials to the furnace above the melt so that the asbestos-containing materials fall onto the melt, the asbestos is melted to a molten silicate and dehydrated calcium sulfate which accumulates on the surface of the melt; periodically discontinuing the supply of asbestos containing waste materials to the furnace so that the area above the melt is heated to above about 900°
C.;removing the accumulated calcium sulfate from the surface of the melt through the skimmer outlet; withdrawing molten silicate from the furnace at a temperature of at least 900°
C.; andwithdrawing the molten glass from the furnace through a melt outlet adjacent the bottom of the furnace, the melt outlet being connected to an airlift conduit in which gas bubbles are introduced to create an effective head pressure to force the melt up the airlift and out of the furnace. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification