Method and apparatus of treating waste

Abstract

A waste treatment system processes waste upon the application of energy. The system includes a vessel, and a plurality of plasma torches. Organic and/or inorganic waste may be introduced into the vessel, and the plasma torches may supply energy to treat the waste. The vessel is shaped to facilitate a cyclonic or substantially cyclonic flow of the contents within the vessel. The plasma torches may be positioned to enhance the cyclonic flow within the vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a waste treatment system.

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic of a waste treatment system.

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of the vessel of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a waste treatment system.

Claims

1. A waste treatment system, comprising: a vessel, the vessel having an open space that facilitates a substantially cyclonic flow of contents within the vessel; anda plurality of plasma torches mounted to the vessel, the plurality of plasma torches positioned to enhance the substantially cyclonic flow in the vessel.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a waste feed system coupled to the vessel.

3. The system of claim 2, where the waste feed system comprises a solid waste feed system.

4. The system of claim 2, where the waste feed system comprises a solvent waste feed system.

5. The system of claim 2, where the vessel comprises a generally cylindrical lower section, a generally frustoconical section coupled to the lower section, and a generally cylindrical upper section coupled to the generally frustoconical section.

6. The system of claim 5, where the generally cylindrical lower section comprises a substantially larger outer diameter than a bottom portion of the generally cylindrical upper section.

7. The system of claim 6, where the generally frustoconical section comprises a wall section angled at an angle of about 45°.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a detector that identifies chemical species output from the vessel in terms of their different isotopic masses.

9. The system of claim 8, where the detector is configured to detect species selected from the group consisting of CO, CO2, H2, CH4, N2, O2, and H2S.

10. The system of claim 9, where one of the plurality of plasma torches is oriented at a downward angle of about 45° with respect to a vertical axis.

11. The system of claim 10, where one of the plasma torches is positioned at an angle of about 17 degrees with respect to an imaginary center line extended from the one plasma torch and passing through a center point of the vessel.

12. The system of claim 11, where the waste feed system comprises a plurality of nozzles positioned to introduce liquid waste into the vessel.

13. The system of claim 12, where the plurality of plasma torches are positioned above the plurality of nozzles.

14. The system of claim 13, where the plurality of plasma torches comprise alternating current torches.

15. The system of claim 13, where the plurality of plasma torches comprise direct current torches.

16. A method of treating waste, comprising: connecting a plurality of plasma torches to a vessel that facilitates a cyclonic flow of contents within the vessel;introducing organic waste into the vessel;gasifying the organic waste;dissociating molecules of the gasified organic waste;reforming the dissociated molecules of the gasified organic waste into elemental components and hydrogen gas;where the plurality of plasma torches enhance the cyclonic flow within the vessel.

17. The method of claim 16, where the act of providing organic waste comprises providing solvent waste.

18. The method of claim 17, where the act of dissociating molecules of the gasified organic waste comprises subjecting the gasified organic waste to a plasma energy field for a time period between about 1.75 seconds and about 2.00 seconds.

19. The method of claim 17, where the act of dissociating molecules of the gasified organic waste further comprises subjecting the gasified organic waste to the plasma energy field in a low oxygen environment.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising injecting solvent waste through a plurality of nozzles at substantially the same time.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising injecting solvent waste through a plurality of nozzles in an alternating manner.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising detecting chemical species output from the vessel.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising altering a feed rate at which the organic waste is provide to the vessel in response to the detected chemical species.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising altering a composition of feed stock of the organic waste provided to the vessel in response to the detected chemical species.

25. The method of claim 16, where the act of providing organic waste comprises providing solid waste that comprises organic material.

26. The method of claim 25, where the act of dissociating molecules of the gasified organic waste comprises subjecting the gasified organic waste to a plasma energy field for a time period between about 1.75 seconds and about 2.00 seconds.

27. The method of claim 17, where the act of dissociating molecules of the gasified organic waste further comprises subjecting the gasified organic waste to the plasma energy field in a low oxygen environment.

28. A waste treatment system, comprising: a lower generally cylindrical chamber;an upper generally cylindrical chamber; anda middle section being frustoconically shaped to provide a substantially larger outer diameter adjacent a top end of the lower generally cylindrical chamber and a substantially smaller outer diameter adjacent a bottom portion of the upper generally cylindrical chamber;where the middle section supports a plurality of plasma torches operable to dissociate organic waste within the lower generally cylindrical chamber into elemental components.

29. A waste treatment system, comprising: a vessel, the vessel having a generally conical shape that facilitates a cyclonic flow of the vessel's contents;means for introducing solid waste to the vessel;mean for introducing solvent waste to the vessel;means for enhancing the cyclonic flow of the vessel's contents.