Patent Application
20140021854
The present invention relates generally to plasma torches.
Glow discharge and plasma systems are becoming every more present with the emphasis on renewable fuels, pollution prevention, clean water and more efficient processing methods. Glow discharge is also referred to as electro-plasma, plasma electrolysis and high temperature electrolysis. In liquid glow discharge systems a plasma sheath is formed around the cathode located within an electrolysis cell.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,266 issued to Shim, Soon Yong (Seoul, KR) titled, “Water treatment apparatus using plasma reactor and method thereof” discloses a water treatment apparatus using a plasma reactor and a method of water treatment. The apparatus includes a housing having a polluted water inlet and a polluted water outlet; a plurality of beads filled into the interior of the housing; a pair of electrodes, one of the electrodes contacting with the bottom of the housing, another of the electrodes contacting an upper portion of the uppermost beads; and a pulse generator connected with the electrodes by a power cable for generating pulses.
The major drawback of Shim's '266 patent is the use of a pulse generator and utilizing extremely high voltages. For example, Shim discloses in the Field of the Invention the use of extremely dangerous high voltages ranging from 30 KW to 150KV. Likewise, he further discloses “In more detail, a voltage of 20-150KV is applied to the water film having the above-described thickness, forming a relatively high electric magnetic field. Therefore, plasmas are formed between the beads 5 in a web shape. The activated radicals such as O, H, O3, H2 O2, UV, and e−aq are generated in the housing 2 by the generated plasmas. The thusly generated activated radicals are reacted with the pollutants contained in the polluted water.”
In addition, Shim discloses, “Namely, when pulses are supplied to the electrodes 6 in the housing 2, a web-like plasma having more than about 10 eV is generated. At this time, since the energy of 1 eV corresponds to the temperature of about 10,000° C., in theory, the plasma generated in the housing 2 has a temperature of more than about 100,000° C.”
Finally, Shim claims, a plasma reactor, comprising: a housing having a polluted water inlet, a polluted water outlet and an air inlet hole; a plurality of beads disposed in the interior of the housing, said beads being selected from the group consisting of a ferro dielectric material, a photocatalytic acryl material, a photocatalytic polyethylene material, a photocatalytic nylon material, and a photocatalytic glass material; a pair of electrodes, one of said electrodes contacting the bottom of the housing, another of said electrodes contacting an upper portion of the uppermost beads; and a pulse generator connected with the electrodes.”
Shim's '266 plasma reactor has several major drawbacks. For it must use a high voltage pulsed generator, a plurality of various beads and it must be operated such that the reactor is full from top to bottom. Likewise, Shim's plasma reactor is not designed for separating a gas from the bulk liquid, nor can it recover heat. Shim makes absolutely no claim to a method for generating hydrogen. In fact, the addition of air to his plasma reactor completely defeats the sole purpose of current research for generating hydrogen via electrolysis or plasma or a combination of both. In the instant any hydrogen is generated within the '266 plasma reactor, the addition of air will cause the hydrogen to react with oxygen and form water. Also, Shim makes absolutely no mention for any means for generating heat by cooling the cathode. Likewise, he does not disclose nor mention the ability to coke organics unto the beads, nor the ability to reboil and concentrate spent acids such as tailing pond water from phosphoric acid plants nor concentrate black liquor from fiber production and/or pulp and paper mills. In particular, he does not disclose nor teach any method for concentrating black liquor nor recovering caustic and sulfides from black liquor with his '266 plasma reactor.
The following is a list of prior art similar to Shim's '266 patent.
Shim's '266 patent does not disclose, teach nor claim any method, system or apparatus for a solid oxide electrolysis cell coupled to a plasma arc torch. In fact, Shim's '266 patent does not distinguish between glow discharge and plasma produced from an electrical arc. Finally, Shim's '266 patent teaches the use of nylon and other plastic type beads. In fact, he claims the plasma reactor must contain three types of plastics: a photocatalytic acryl material, a photocatalytic polyethylene material, a photocatalytic nylon material. In contradiction, he teaches, “At this time, since the energy of 1 eV corresponds to the temperature of about 10,000° C., in theory, the plasma generated in the housing 2 has a temperature of more than about 100,000° C.”
Quite simply, the downfall of Shim's patent is that the plasma will destroy the organic beads, converting them to carbon and or carbon dioxide and thus preventing the invention from working as disclosed. In fact, the inventor of the present invention will clearly show and demonstrate why polymers will not survive within a glow discharge type plasma reactor.
Plasma arc torches are commonly used by fabricators, machine shops, welders and semi-conductor plants for cutting, gouging, welding, plasma spraying coatings and manufacturing wafers. The plasma torch is operated in one of two modes—transferred arc or non-transferred arc. The most common torch found in many welding shops in the transferred arc plasma torch. It is operated very similar to a DC welder in that a grounding clamp is attached to a workpiece. The operator, usually a welder, depresses a trigger on the plasma torch handle which forms a pilot arc between a centrally located cathode and an anode nozzle. When the operator brings the plasma torch pilot arc close to the workpiece the arc is transferred from the anode nozzle via the electrically conductive plasma to the workpiece. Hence the name transferred arc.
The non-transferred arc plasma torch retains the arc within the torch. Quite simply the arc remains attached to the anode nozzle. This requires cooling the anode. Common non-transferred arc plasma torches have a heat rejection rate of 30%. Thus, 30% of the total torch power is rejected as heat.
A major drawback in using plasma torches is the cost of inert gases such as argon and hydrogen. There have been several attempts for forming the working or plasma gas within the torch itself by using rejected heat from the electrodes to generate steam from water. The objective is to increase the total efficiency of the torch as well as reduce plasma gas cost. However, there is not a single working example that can run continuous duty. The Multiplaz torch is a small hand held torch that must be manually refilled with water. The technology behind the Multiplaz 2500 is patented worldwide.
Russian patents: N 2040124, N 2071190, N 2103129, N 2072640, N 2111098, N 2112635. European patents N 0919317 Al. American patents: N 6087616, N 6156994. Australian patents N 736916.
Also, the device is covered by international patent applications N RU 96-00188 and N RU 98-00040 in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Nederland, Portugal, Sweden, Korea, USA, Australia, Brasilia, Canada, Israel.
The inventor of the present invention purchased a first generation multiplaz torch. It worked until the internal glass insulator cracked and then short circuited the cathode to the anode. Next, he purchased two multiplaz 2500's. One torch never stayed lit for longer than 15 seconds. The other torch would not transfer its arc to the workpiece. The power supplies and torches were swapped to ensure that neither were at fault. However, both systems functioned as previously described. Neither torch worked as disclosed in the aforementioned patents.
Furthermore, the Multiplaz is not a continuous use plasma torch.
Hypertherm's U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,268, titled “Arc Plasma Torch and method using contact starting” and issued on Dec. 13, 1988 teaches and discloses “an arc plasma torch includes a moveable cathode and a fixed anode which are automatically separated by the buildup of gas pressure within the torch after a current flow is established between the cathode and the anode. The gas pressure draws a nontransferred pilot arc to produce a plasma jet. The torch is thus contact started, not through contact with an external workpiece, but through internal contact of the cathode and anode. Once the pilot arc is drawn, the torch may be used in the nontransferred mode, or the arc may be easily transferred to a workpiece. In a preferred embodiment, the cathode has a piston part which slidingly moves within a cylinder when sufficient gas pressure is supplied. In another embodiment, the torch is a hand-held unit and permits control of current and gas flow with a single control.”
There is absolutely no disclosure of coupling this torch to a solid oxide glow discharge cell.
Weldtronic Limited's, “Plasma cutting and welding torches with improved nozzle electrode cooling” U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,245 issued on Jul. 31, 1984 discloses “A plasma torch (40) comprises a handle (41) having an upper end (41B) which houses the components forming a torch body (43). Body (33) incorporates a rod electrode (10) having an end which cooperates with an annular tip electrode (13) to form a spark gap. An ionizable fuel gas is fed to the spark gap via tube (44) within the handle (41), the gas from tube (44) flowing axially along rod electrode (10) and being diverted radially through apertures (16) so as to impinge upon and act as a coolant for a thin-walled portion (14) of the annular tip electrode (13). With this arrangement the heat generated by the electrical arc in the inter-electrode gap is substantially confined to the annular tip portion (13A) of electrode (13) which is both consumable and replaceable in that portion (13A) is secured by screw threads to the adjoining portion (13B) of electrode (13) and which is integral with the thin-walled portion (14).”
Once again there is absolutely no disclosure of coupling this torch to a solid oxide glow discharge cell.
The following is a list of prior art teachings with respect to starting a torch and modes of operation.
High temperature steam electrolysis and glow discharge are two technologies that are currently being viewed as the future for the hydrogen economy. Likewise, coal gasification is being viewed as the technology of choice for reducing carbon, sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions from coal burning power plants. Renewables such as wind turbines, hydroelectric and biomass are being exploited in order to reduce global warming.
Water is one of our most valuable resources. Copious amounts of water are used in industrial processes with the end result of producing wastewater. Water treatment and wastewater treatment go hand in hand with the production of energy.
Therefore, a need exists for an all electric system that can regenerate, concentrate or convert waste materials such as black liquor, spent caustic, phosphogypsum tailings water, wastewater biosolids and refinery tank bottoms to valuable feedstocks or products such as regenerated caustic soda, regeneratred sulfuric acid, concentrated phosphoric acid, syngas or hydrogen and steam. Although world-class size refineries, petrochem facilities, chemical plants, upstream heavy oil, oilsands, gas facilities and pulp and paper mills would greatly benefit from such a system, their exists a dire need for a distributed all electric mini-refinery that can treat water while also cogenerate heat and fuel.
The present invention provides a plasma torch that includes an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel, a hollow electrode, a first insulator, a concentric reducer, a tangential inlet, an electrode housing and a first electrode. The electrically conductive cylindrical vessel has a first end and a second end, a first outlet, a second outlet and an inlet. The hollow electrode has an inlet and an outlet aligned with a longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and extends at least from the first end into the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The first insulator seals the first end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode. The first outlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel is disposed proximate to the first end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The inlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel is disposed between the first end and the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel proximate to the inlet of the hollow electrode. The second outlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel is disposed between the inlet and the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. A non-conductive granular material is disposed within the substantially equidistant gap and allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode. The combination of the non-conductive granular material and the electrically conductive fluid prevents electrical arcing between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode during an electric glow discharge. The concentric reducer is disposed within the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and extends from the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel to the hollow electrode. The tangential inlet is connected to or proximate to the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The electrode housing is connected to the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The first electrode is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and extends through the electrode housing into the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel.
In addition, the present invention provides a plasma torch that includes an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel, a hollow electrode, a first insulator, a pump, a concentric reducer, a tangential inlet, a three-way valve, an electrode housing, a first electrode, a linear actuator, a switch, a workpiece connector, a first DC electrical power supply, and a second DC electrical power supply. The electrically conductive cylindrical vessel has a first end and a second end, a first outlet, a second outlet and an inlet. The hollow electrode has an inlet and an outlet aligned with a longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and extends at least from the first end into the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The first insulator seals the first end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode. The first outlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel is disposed proximate to the first end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The inlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel is disposed between the first end and the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel proximate to the inlet of the hollow electrode. The second outlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel is disposed between the inlet and the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The pump is connected to the inlet and the first outlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. A non-conductive granular material is disposed within the substantially equidistant gap and allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode. The combination of the non-conductive granular material and the electrically conductive fluid prevents electrical arcing between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode during an electric glow discharge. The concentric reducer is disposed within the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and extends from the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel to the hollow electrode. The tangential inlet is connected to or proximate to the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The three-way valve connects the second outlet of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel to the tangential inlet. The electrode housing is connected to the second end of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The first electrode is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and extends through the electrode housing into the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The linear actuator is connected to the first electrode to adjust a position of the first electrode within the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel along the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel. The switch is electrically connected to the first electrode. The workpiece connector is electrically connected to the switch. The first DC electrical power supply is electrically connected to the electrically conductive cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode is a cathode. The second DC electrical power supply is electrically connected to the first DC electrical power supply and the switch.
The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The above and further advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
Now referring to
As a result, plasma arc torch 100 includes a cylindrical vessel 104 having a first end 116 and a second end 118. A tangential inlet 120 is connected to or proximate to the first end 116 and a tangential outlet 102 (discharge volute) is connected to or proximate to the second end 118. An electrode housing 122 is connected to the first end 116 of the cylindrical vessel 104 such that a first electrode 112 is aligned with the longitudinal axis 124 of the cylindrical vessel 104, extends into the cylindrical vessel 104, and can be moved along the longitudinal axis 124. Moreover, a linear actuator 114 is connected to the first electrode 112 to adjust the position of the first electrode 112 within the cylindrical vessel 104 along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel 124 as indicated by arrows 126. The hollow electrode nozzle 106 is connected to the second end 118 of the cylindrical vessel 104 such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle 106 is aligned with the longitudinal axis 124 of the cylindrical vessel 104. The shape of the hollow portion 128 of the hollow electrode nozzle 106 can be cylindrical or conical. Moreover, the hollow electrode nozzle 106 can extend to the second end 118 of the cylindrical vessel 104 or extend into the cylindrical vessel 104 as shown. As shown in
A power supply 130 is electrically connected to the plasma arc torch 100 such that the first electrode 112 serves as the cathode and the hollow electrode nozzle 106 serves as the anode. The voltage, power and type of the power supply 130 is dependant upon the size, configuration and function of the plasma arc torch 100. A gas (e.g., air), fluid (e.g., water) or steam 110 is introduced into the tangential inlet 120 to form a vortex 132 within the cylindrical vessel 104 and exit through the tangential outlet 102 as discharge 134. The vortex 132 confines the plasma 108 within in the vessel 104 by the inertia (inertial confinement as opposed to magnetic confinement) caused by the angular momentum of the vortex, whirling, cyclonic or swirling flow of the gas (e.g., air), fluid (e.g., water) or steam 110 around the interior of the cylindrical vessel 104. During startup, the linear actuator 114 moves the first electrode 112 into contact with the hollow electrode nozzle 106 and then draws the first electrode 112 back to create an electrical arc which forms the plasma 108 that is discharged through the hollow electrode nozzle 106. During operation, the linear actuator 114 can adjust the position of the first electrode 112 to change the plasma 108 discharge or account for extended use of the first electrode 112.
Referring now to
In order to determine the sheath glow discharge length on the cathode 202 as well as measure amps and volts the power supply was turned on and then the linear actuator 204 was used to lower the cathode 202 into an electrolyte solution of water and baking soda. Although a steady glow discharge could be obtained the voltage and amps were too erratic to record. Likewise, the power supply constantly surged and pulsed due to erratic current flow. As soon as the cathode 202 was lowered too deep, the glow discharge ceased and the cell went into an electrolysis mode. In addition, since boiling would occur quite rapidly and the electrolyte would foam up and go over the sides of the carbon crucible 206, foundry sand was added reduce the foam in the crucible 206.
The 8″ diameter anode crucible 206 was filled with sand and the electrolyte was added to the crucible. Power was turned on and the cathode 202 was lowered into the sand and electrolyte. Unexpectedly, a glow discharge was formed immediately, but this time it appeared to spread out laterally from the cathode 202. A large amount of steam was produced such that it could not be seen how far the glow discharge had extended through the sand.
Next, the sand was replaced with commonly available clear floral marbles. When the cathode 202 was lowered into the marbles and baking soda/water solution, the electrolyte began to slowly boil. As soon as the electrolyte began to boil a glow discharge spider web could be seen throughout the marbles as shown the Solid Oxide Cell 200. Although this was completely unexpected at a much lower voltage than what has been disclosed and published, what was completely unexpected is that the DC power supply did not surge, pulse or operate erratically in any way. A graph showing an operating curve for a glow discharge cell in accordance with the present invention is shown in
Now referring to
The vessel 402 can be made of stainless steel and the hollow electrode can be made of carbon. The non-conductive granular material 424 can be marbles, ceramic beads, molecular sieve media, sand, limestone, activated carbon, zeolite, zirconium, alumina, rock salt, nut shell or wood chips. The electrical power supply can operate in a range from 50 to 500 volts DC, or a range of 200 to 400 volts DC. The cathode 412 can reach a temperature of at least 500° C., at least 1000° C., or at least 2000° C. during the electric glow discharge. The electrically conductive fluid comprises water, produced water, wastewater, tailings pond water, or other suitable fluid. The electrically conductive fluid can be created by adding an electrolyte, such as baking soda, Nahcolite, lime, sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfate or carbonic acid, to a fluid.
Referring now to
The following examples will demonstrate the capabilities, usefulness and completely unobvious and unexpected results.
Now referring to
A sample of black liquor with 16% solids obtained from a pulp and paper mill was charged to the glow discharge cell 500 in a sufficient volume to cover the floral marbles 424.
In contrast to other glow discharge or electro plasma systems the solid oxide glow discharge cell does not require preheating of the electrolyte. The ESAB ESP 150 power supply was turned on and the volts and amps were recorded by hand. Referring briefly to
The glow discharge cell 500 was operated until the amps fell almost to zero. Even at very low amps of less than 10 the voltage appeared to be locked on at 370 VDC. The cell 500 was allowed to cool and then opened to examine the marbles 424. It was surprising that there was no visible liquid left in the cell 500 but all of the marbles 424 were coated or coked with a black residue. The marbles 424 with the black residue were shipped off for analysis. The residue was in the bottom of the container and had come off of the marbles 424 during shipping. The analysis is listed in the table below, which demonstrates a novel method for concentrating black liquor and coking organics. With a starting solids concentration of 16%, the solids were concentrated to 94.26% with only one evaporation step. Note that the sulfur (“S”) stayed in the residue and did not exit the cell 500.
This method can be used for concentrating black liquor from pulp, paper and fiber mills for subsequent recaustizing.
As can be seen in
Referring now to
Next, the system was shut down and a second cyclone separator 610 was attached to the plasma arc torch 100 as shown in
The cyclone separator 610 was removed to conduct another test. To determine the capabilities of the Solid Oxide Plasma Arc Torch System as shown in
Next, the 3-way valve 604 was slowly closed to shut the flow of air to the plasma arc torch 100. What happened was completely unexpected. The intensity of the light from the sightglass 33 increased dramatically and a brilliant plasma was discharged from the plasma arc torch 100. When viewed with a welding shield the arc was blown out of the plasma arc torch 100 and wrapped back around to the anode 35. Thus, the Solid Oxide Plasma Arc Torch System will produce a gas and a plasma suitable for welding, melting, cutting, spraying and chemical reactions such as pyrolysis, gasification and water gas shift reaction.
The phosphate industry has truly left a legacy in Florida, Louisiana and Texas that will take years to cleanup—gypsum stacks and pond water. On top of every stack is a pond. Pond water is recirculated from the pond back down to the plant and slurried with gypsum to go up the stack and allow the gypsum to settle out in the pond. This cycle continues and the gypsum stack increases in height. The gypsum is produced as a byproduct from the ore extraction process.
There are two major environmental issues with every gypsum stack. First, the pond water has a very low pH. It cannot be discharged without neutralization. Second, the phosphogypsum contains a slight amount of radon. Thus, it cannot be used or recycled to other industries. The excess water in combination with ammonia contamination produced during the production of P2O5 fertilizers such as diammonium phosphate (“DAP”) and monammonium phosphate (“MAP”) must be treated prior to discharge. The excess pond water contains about 2% phosphate a valuable commodity.
A sample of pond water was obtained from a Houston phosphate fertilizer company. The pond water was charged to the solid oxide cell 500. The Solid Oxide Plasma Arc Torch System was configured as shown in
The results are disclosed in FIG. 10—Tailings Pond Water Results. The goal of the test was to demonstrate that the Solid Oxide Glow Discharge Cell could concentrate up the tailings pond water. Turning now to cycles of concentration, the percent P2O5 was concentrated up by a factor of 4 for a final concentration of 8.72% in the bottom of the HiTemper™ cell 500. The beginning sample as shown in the picture is a colorless, slightly cloudy liquid. The bottoms or concentrate recovered from the HiTemper cell 500 was a dark green liquid with sediment. The sediment was filtered and are reported as SOLIDS (Retained on Whatmann #40 filter paper). The % SO4 recovered as a solid increased from 3.35% to 13.6% for a cycles of concentration of 4. However, the % Na recovered as a solid increased from 0.44% to 13.67% for a cycles of concentration of 31.
The solid oxide or solid electrolyte 424 used in the cell 500 were floral marbles (Sodium Oxide). Floral marbles are made of sodium glass. Not being bound by theory it is believed that the marbles were partially dissolved by the phosphoric acid in combination with the high temperature glow discharge. Chromate and Molydemun cycled up and remained in solution due to forming a sacrificial anode from the stainless steel vessel 402. Note: Due to the short height of the cell carryover occurred due to pulling a vacuum on the cell 500 with eductor 602. In the first run (row 1 HiTemper) of
A method has been disclosed for concentrating P2O5 from tailings pond for subsequent recovery as a valuable commodity acid and fertilizer.
Now, returning back to the black liquor sample, not being bound by theory it is believed that the black liquor can be recaustisized by simply using CaO or limestone as the solid oxide electrolyte 424 within the cell 500. Those who are skilled in the art of producing pulp and paper will truly understand the benefits and cost savings of not having to run a lime kiln. However, if the concentrated black liquor must be gasified or thermally oxidized to remove all carbon species, the marbles 424 can be treated with the plasma arc torch 100. Referring back to
Turning to
Several different stainless steel tubulars were tested within the cell 500 as the cathode 12. In comparison to the sheath glow discharge the tubulars did not melt. In fact, when the tubulars were pulled out, a marking was noticed at every point a marble was in contact with the tube.
This gives rise to a completely new method for using glow discharge to treat metals.
There are many different companies applying glow discharge to treat metal. However, many have companies have failed miserably due to arcing over and melting the material to be coated, treated or descaled. The problem with not being able to control voltage leads to spikes. By simply adding sand or any solid oxide to the cell and feeding the tube cathode 12 through the cell 500 as configured in
There truly exists a need for a very simple plasma torch that can be operated with dirty or highly polluted water such as sewage flushed directly from a toilet which may contain toilet paper, feminine napkins, fecal matter, pathogens, urine and pharmaceuticals. A plasma torch system that could operate on the aforementioned waters could potentially dramatically affect the wastewater infrastructure and future costs of maintaining collection systems, lift stations and wastewater treatment facilities.
By converting the contaminated wastewater to a gas and using the gas as a plasma gas could also alleviate several other growing concerns—municipal solid waste going to landfills, grass clippings and tree trimmings, medical waste, chemical waste, refinery tank bottoms, oilfield wastes such as drill cuttings and typical everyday household garbage. A simple torch system which could handle both solid waste and liquids or that could heat a process fluid while gasifying biomass or coal or that could use a wastewater to produce a plasma cutting gas would change many industries overnight.
One industry in particular is the metals industry. The metals industry requires a tremendous amount of energy and exotic gases for heating, melting, welding, cutting and machining
Turning now to
Continuous Operation of the Solid Oxide Transferred Arc Plasma Torch 800 as shown in
Centering the Arc—If the arc must be centered for cutting purposes, then PS2's −negative lead would be attached to the lead of switch 60 that goes to the electrode 32. Although a series of switches are not shown for this operation, it will be understood that in lieu of manually switching the negative lead from PS2 an electrical switch similar to 60 could be used for automation purposes. The +positive lead would simply go to the workpiece as shown. A smaller electrode 32 would be used such that it could slide into and through the hollow cathode 504 in order to touch the workpiece and strike an arc. The electrically conductive nozzle 802 would be replaced with a non-conducting shield nozzle. This setup allows for precision cutting using just wastewater and no other gases.
Turning to
The entire torch is regeneratively cooled with its own gases thus enhancing efficiency. Likewise, a waste fluid is used as the plasma gas which reduces disposal and treatment costs. Finally, the plasma may be used for gasifying coal, biomass or producing copious amounts of syngas by steam reforming natural gas with the hydrogen and steam plasma.
Both
The foregoing description of the apparatus and methods of the invention in preferred and alternative embodiments and variations, and the foregoing examples of processes for which the invention may be beneficially used, are intended to be illustrative and not for purpose of limitation. The invention is susceptible to still further variations and alternative embodiments within the full scope of the invention, recited in the following claims.
This patent application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/565,593 filed on Aug. 2, 2012 and entitled “Solid Oxide High Temperature Electrolysis Glow Discharge Cell and Plasma System”, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/371,575 filed on Feb. 13, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,278,810, and entitled “System, Method and Apparatus for Coupling a Solid Oxide High Temperature Electrolysis Glow Discharge Cell to a Plasma Arc Torch”, which is (a) a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/288,170 filed on Oct. 16, 2008 and entitled “System, Method And Apparatus for Creating an Electric Glow Discharge”, which is a non-provisional application of U.S. provisional patent application 60/980,443 filed on Oct. 16, 2007 and entitled “System, Method and Apparatus for Carbonizing Oil Shale with Electrolysis Plasma Well Screen”; (b) a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/370,591 filed on Feb. 12, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,439, and entitled “System, Method and Apparatus for Lean Combustion with Plasma from an Electrical Arc”, which is non-provisional patent application of U.S. provisional patent application 61/027,879 filed on Feb. 12, 2008 and entitled, “System, Method and Apparatus for Lean Combustion with Plasma from an Electrical Arc”; and (c) a non-provisional patent application of U.S. provisional patent application 61/028,386 filed on Feb. 13, 2008 and entitled “High Temperature Plasma Electrolysis Reactor Configured as an Evaporator, Filter, Heater or Torch.” All of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The patent application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/586,449 filed on Aug. 15, 2012 and entitled “Solid Oxide High Temperature Electrolysis Glow Discharge Cell” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/633,128 filed on Oct. 1, 2012 and entitled “Plasma Torch Having Multiple Operating Modes”.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60980443 | Oct 2007 | US | |
| 61027879 | Feb 2008 | US | |
| 61028386 | Feb 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13565593 | Aug 2012 | US |
| Child | 14036044 | US | |
| Parent | 12371575 | Feb 2009 | US |
| Child | 13565593 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12288170 | Oct 2008 | US |
| Child | 12371575 | US | |
| Parent | 12370591 | Feb 2009 | US |
| Child | 12371575 | US |
