High shear mixer and glass melting method
First Claim
1. A method of recycling coated mineral fibers having an organic coating comprising the steps of:
- depositing coated mineral fibers into a vessel containing a molten glass bath;
stirring the molten glass bath at a speed sufficient to create a surface currents which convey the coated mineral fibers along with the surface currents;
heating the coated mineral fibers while being conveyed by the surface currents to decompose said organic coating on the mineral fibers leaving a residue and mineral fibers, said residue comprising carbon;
oxidizing a first portion of said residue as said mineral fibers are conveyed by said surface currents across a portion of the surface of said molten glass bath;
dispersing the mineral fibers and a second portion of the residue into the molten glass bath with a stirrer rotating at a speed sufficient to make a mineral fiber and residue dispersion in the molten glass bath; and
heating the mineral fiber and residue dispersion to melt the mineral fibers with said second portion of said residue to create a carbon/glass melt as carbon from said second portion of residue is released into said molten glass bath.
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Abstract
A glass melter 30 having a mixing impeller 34 for converting a feed stream 38 supplied to a vessel 32 into a vitrified glass melt 50. Heating means such as electrodes 36 or a gas burner 58 are used to heat the glass melt 50. Electrode 36 arrangements are proposed for minimizing current flow through the impeller 34. Current flow through a special continuous circular impeller or conical pump 70 is disclosed. A cylindrical vessel 98, triangular vessel 94, square vessel 32, and hexagonal vessel 96 are disclosed. Methods of processing particular waste streams are disclosed including coated mineral fibers, fly ash, radioactive material, chemical waste and the like.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of recycling coated mineral fibers having an organic coating comprising the steps of:
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depositing coated mineral fibers into a vessel containing a molten glass bath; stirring the molten glass bath at a speed sufficient to create a surface currents which convey the coated mineral fibers along with the surface currents; heating the coated mineral fibers while being conveyed by the surface currents to decompose said organic coating on the mineral fibers leaving a residue and mineral fibers, said residue comprising carbon; oxidizing a first portion of said residue as said mineral fibers are conveyed by said surface currents across a portion of the surface of said molten glass bath; dispersing the mineral fibers and a second portion of the residue into the molten glass bath with a stirrer rotating at a speed sufficient to make a mineral fiber and residue dispersion in the molten glass bath; and heating the mineral fiber and residue dispersion to melt the mineral fibers with said second portion of said residue to create a carbon/glass melt as carbon from said second portion of residue is released into said molten glass bath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification