GB2273887A - Reactor for the cleaning of contaminated products - Google Patents

Abstract

A reactor (1) for the cleaning of contaminated materials (14) comprises a container (3) and a hood (28) sealable thereon. The container has a perforated false bottom (11) on which is laid a filter layer (15) and the material (14) to be cleaned. A pipe system (16) extends through the material, through which compressed gas can be supplied to aerate the bed. A spray head (42) in the hood (28) enables the bed to be wetted. Through a pipe (23) the space (12) below the false bottom (11) can be subjected to pulses of pressurised gas or a reduced pressure can be created there. The hood (28) includes an outlet (37) for gases. Contaminated liquid is withdrawn through an outlet pipe (13). The reactor can be manoeuvred easily by the provision of rollers (25), lifting hoops (26, 38, 39) and chain cleats (27). <IMAGE>

Description

REACTOR FOR THE CLEANING OF CONTAMINATED PRODUCTS This invention relates to a reactor for the cleaning of contaminated products. The invention is particularly concerned with the cleaning of material such as soil, slurries and metal shavings contaminated with for example hydrocarbons.

The cleaning of such materials has until now been carried out in beds or pits. These have a comparatively large ground area with a shallow tipping depth. Therefore, it is necessary to water a large surface area. The water penetrates only a small layer thickness, with the result that the material to be cleaned is in exchange with the nutrient salts contained in the water for only a comparatively short time. Also, the aeration of the material has to be effected over a comparatively large surface area and consequently gives rise to correspondingly high costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a reactor which is easily transportable and to increase its efficiency while protecting the environment.

This is achieved in accordance with the invention by a reactor for the cleaning of materials contaminated with contaminants, the reactor comprising spray means for the material, aeration means for the material, a housing comprising an upwardly open, trough-like container with a bottom and side walls, perforated support means spaced above the bottom of the container and arranged to carry the material, an intermediate space between the bottom of the container and the perforated support means having an outlet for liquid which passes through the material and the support means, cover means for the container which is sealingly closable thereon, and an outlet for gases in the housing positioned above the material.

The cleaning of materials can be effected in particular either biologically or with chemical solutions. The reactor represents a mobile, closed system which effectively prevents any adverse effect on the environment by harmful materials contained initially in the material. This applies to harmful solid, gaseous and liquid materials. The reactor is a sealed transportable unit within the meaning of the road traffic legislation for the transportation of hazardous materials. The container can be manufactured for example of welded steel sheets and can hold contaminated material in standard units of I to 10 cubic metres. By virtue of the large-surface bottom of the container, the reactor can be set down on unstrengthened sites. Because of the sealed processing within the reactor housing, there are no additional requirements for working space when using the reactor.

The support means is preferably formed as a sieve plate which can be made cheaply and effectively. The liquid which collects in the intermediate space is as a rule a mixture of water and contaminants. This can be removed from the reactor housing without pumping thanks to the low position of the outlet. This means that one has a structurally simple product and one which is energy saving. The outlet for gases means that one can generate a reduced pressure and consequently draw off fluid constituents of the harmful materials.

Preferably, the container is provided with at least one roller adjacent to the bottom of one of the side walls and is provided with at least one hoop for the attachment of a lifting device at a distance from said at least one roller. By this means the reactor can be manoeuvred easily into the desired working position at the working site.

The container may also be provided with chain cleats for chains of a lifting device. This makes it easy to change the standing position of the reactor with simple means.

Preferably, in the intermediate space there is provided a pipe having a connection for the selective creation of reduced pressure in this space or for the introduction of pressure pulses into the intermediate space. It is of particular advantage if the connecting pipe has a comparatively large diameter.

With the creation of reduced pressure the reaction liquid which is sprayed or directed onto the material is sucked through the material in a controlled manner.

If on the other hand the connecting pipe is subjected to pulses of compressed gas then this serves to fluidise and aerate the bed of material. One can use compressed air for example as the pressurised gas.

A filter layer of an organic filter medium which can rot away is preferably laid on the support means. The filter layer prevents fine particles being flushed away from the material.

In a preferred embodiment the aeration means comprises a pipe system in the container to be within the material to be treated, the pipe system being arranged to be connected by means of a connector to an external source of compressed air or compressed oxygen.

The aeration means can, as required, be operated continuously or at intervals. With interrupted operation the material bed is both aerated and also loosened.

The pipe system preferably comprises at least one elastic sleeve which is provided with slots. This gives the particular advantage that the slots only open when subjected to pressurised gas and the pressurised gas escapes into the bed of material. As soon as the supply of pressurised gas is interrupted, the slots close automatically because of the elasticity of the sleeves and thus prevent constituents of the material or reaction liquid penetrating into the interior of the sleeves.

Preferably, the cover means is provided with lifting hoops for engagement by a lifting device. This enables one to achieve a particularly easy and rapid handling of the cover means, e.g. hood.

The cover means may have an opening which can be tightly closed by a lid. The lid is preferably coupled to the rest of the cover means by a hinge.

Through the relevant opening one can carry out manipulations from outside, such as for example the mixing of the bed of material within the container.

This can be particularly desirable when the container is filled up to its upper limit with material.

Preferably, the spray means comprises at least one spray head mounted on the cover means. In this way one has defined spray conditions and a minimum structural and operational cost for the spray means.

Nevertheless, one can achieve a very uniform spraying over the whole surface of the bed of material.

In a preferred embodiment, at -least one sampling inlet is provided in the cover means, with the inlet possibly being closable by a cap. Thus, in a simple way, it is possible to take samples from the bed of material at any time.

The outlet for the gases is preferably provided in the cover means. In this way the outlet for gases can be positioned at the optimum place in the reactor housing.

Preferably, the reactor is transportable on a motorised or railed vehicle in the manner of a refuse skip. In this way the emptying of the reactor can be so chosen that it is taken by suitable transportation means and can be transported by customary vehicles along the streets or by rail.

In a preferred embodiment, the container and/or the cover means can be stacked one within the other in the empty state after the inversion of one or other of the container or cover means. By this means one achieves a space-saving fitting together of the parts of the reactor.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention, which is given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section lengthwise, of a reactor in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is the view taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1, which is partly in section transversely; Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the reactor shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is another plan view, again partly in section, of the reactor shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a reactor 1 for the cleaning of materials contaminated with contaminants.

The reactor comprises a housing 2 which includes a container 3 having a base 4 and side walls 5 to 8 which is open at the top and which is trough-like in shape.

The side walls 5 and 7 are vertical (Fig. 2), while the side walls 6 and 8 slope downwards and inwards.

A false bottom 11 having perforations 10 is arranged within the container 3 at a vertical distance 9 from the base 4. Preferably, this false bottom 11 is formed as a sieve.

An intermediate space 12 between the base 4 and the false bottom 11 is provided with an outlet 13 for liquid which is pressed through the material 14 and through the false bottom 11. The material 14 can be loaded up to different filling depths within the container 3 depending upon the particular conditions and circumstances.

On the false bottom 11 is positioned a filter layer 15 of an organic filter medium which will rot away. The material 14 lies on the filter layer 15.

Above the filter layer 15, within the material 14, is provided a pipe system 16 of an aeration device 17.

The pipe system 16 comprises a distribution pipe 18 which can be charged from the outside by means of a connector 19 with compressed air or compressed oxygen.

Elastic sleeves 20 of the pipe system 16 are connected to the individual outlets of the distribution pipe 18.

Each sleeve 20 is provided with slots 21 (Figs. 3 and 4) extending in the lengthwise direction. The slots 21 open when pressurised gas is supplied to the connector 19, and close when the pressurised gas supply at the connector 19 is interrupted or stops. In this way one can introduce pressurised gas continuously or in pulses into the material being treated, and uniformly throughout the area of the container 3.

Within the intermediate space 12 there is arranged a pipe 23 of comparatively large diameter, through which, by way of a connector 22 (Figs. 2 to 4) a reduced pressure can be selectively applied to the intermediate space 12 or pulses of pressurised gas can be introduced into this intermediate space 12.

Bearers 24 for rollers 25 located laterally spaced from each other are fixed to the side wall 6 of the container 3 at the bottom. On the opposite side wall 8 is welded a hoop 26 for a lifting device. When the lifting device is actuated, the reactor 1 is supported on the rollers 25 and can in this state be manoeuvred about in a simple way.

The side walls 5 and 7 are each provided near the top and on the outside with chain cleats 27 at central positions which are opposed to each other on the respective walls. These chain cleats 27 permit either the container 3 or the whole reactor 1 to be raised by means of a lifting device.

The container 3 can be tightly closed by means of a hood 28. The hood 28 consists of side walls 29 to 32 which taper inwards and upwards and to which a downwardly open, circumferential U-shaped profile 33 is welded at the bottom. The U-shaped profile 33 has its legs engaging with an upper edge of the container 3, as is particularly well shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1.

The side wall 30 carries a hinge 34 at the top, to which a lid 35 of the hood 28 is hinged for lifting and lowering movement. By means of the lid 35 a top opening 36 in the hood 28 defined by the side walls 29 to 32 can be tightly closed.

The side wall 29 is provided with an outlet 37 for gas which collects above the material 14 in the housing 2. Hoops 38 and 39 are welded to the outside of the side walls 30 and 32, to which a lifting device can be coupled for manoeuvring the hood 28 relative to the container 3.

A sampling inlet 40 is fixed in the lid 35 and is kept tightly closed by a cap 41 when not in use.

Samples of the material 14 can be withdrawn from the container 3 through the sampling inlet 40 and be analysed. The lid 35 also carries a spray head 42 of a sprinkler device 43. The spray head 42 is supplied with liquid by means of a connection 44. The spray head distributes the liquid in a wide zone in the sense of the arrows shown in Figs. 1 and 2 over the maximum cross-sectional surface area of the housing 2. One can use all known liquids which are suitable for the cleaning of the materials as the spray liquid.

Fig. 2 shows further details of the reactor 1. The distribution pipe 18 extends almost over the full depth of the container 3.

Further details of the reactor 1 and of the relative positions of its parts are shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. A reactor for the cleaning of materials, contaminated with contaminants, the reactor comprising spray means for the material, aeration means for the material, a housing comprising an upwardly open, trough-like container with a bottom and side walls, perforated support means spaced above the bottom of the container and arranged to carry the material, an intermediate space between the bottom of the container and the perforated support means having an outlet for liquid which passes through the material and the support means, cover means for the container which is sealingly closable thereon, and an outlet for gases in the housing positioned above the material.

2. A reactor according to claim 1, in which the container is provided with at least one roller adjacent to the bottom of one of the side walls and, spaced from said at least one roller, is provided with at least one hoop for lifting means.

3. A reactor according to claim 1 or 2, in which the container is provided with chain cleats for chains of a lifting device.

4. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which in the intermediate space there is provided a pipe having a connection for the selective creation of reduced pressure in the intermediate space or for the introduction of pressure pulses into the intermediate space.

5. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which a filter layer of an organic filter medium which is arranged to rot away is laid on the perforated support means.

6. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the aeration means in the container comprises a pipe system in the container to be within the material to be treated, the pipe system being arranged to be connected to an external source of compressed air or compressed oxygen by way of connector means.

7. A reactor according to claim 6, in which the pipe system comprises at least one elastic sleeve with slots therein.

8. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the cover means is provided with hoops for a lifting device.

9. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the cover means comprises an opening sealable tightly by a lid.

10. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the spray means comprises at least one spray head mounted on the cover means.

11. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which at least one sampling inlet which is closable by a cap is mounted on the cover means.

12. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the outlet for gases is provided in the cover means.

13. A reactor according to any preceding claim, which is transportable on a motorised or railed vehicle.

14. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the container and/or the cover means can be stacked one within the other in the empty state after inversion of one or other of the container or cover means.

15. A reactor for the cleaning of materials substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A reactor for the cleaning of materials substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A reactor for the cleaning of materials, contaminated with contaminants, the reactor comprising spray means for the material, aeration means for the material, a housing comprising an upwardly open, trough-like container with a bottom and side walls, perforated support means spaced above the bottom of the container and arranged to carry the material, an intermediate space between the bottom of the container and the perforated support means having an outlet for liquid which passes through the material and the support means, cover means for the container which is sealingly closable thereon, and an outlet for gases in the housing positioned above the material, wherein the cover means comprises a hood which can be set sealingly on an upper edge of the container and which has side walls extending upwards above the container.

2. A reactor according to claim l, in which the hood is provided with hoops for a lifting device.

3. A reactor according to claim 1 or 2, in which the hood has an opening sealable tightly by a lid.

4. A reactor according to claim 3, in which the spray means comprises at least one spray head mounted on the lid.

5. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which at least one sampling inlet which is closable by a cap is mounted on the hood.

6. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the outlet for gases is provided in the hood.

7. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the container is provided with at least one roller adjacent to the bottom of one of the side walls and, spaced from said at least one roller, is provided with at least one hoop for lifting means.

8. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the container is provided with chain cleats for chains of a lifting device.

9. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which in the intermediate space there is provided a pipe having a connection for the selective creation of reduced pressure in the intermediate space or for the introduction of pressure pulses into the intermediate space.

10. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which a filter layer of an organic filter medium which is arranged to rot away is laid on the perforated support means.

11. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the aeration means in the container comprises a pipe system in the container to be within the material to be treated, the pipe system being arranged to be connected to an external source of compressed air or compressed oxygen by way of connector means.

12. A reactor according to claim 11, in which the pipe system comprises at least one elastic sleeve with slots therein.

13. A reactor according to any preceding claim, which is transportable on a motorised or railed vehicle.

14. A reactor according to any preceding claim, in which the container and/or the hood can be stacked one within the other in the empty state after inversion of one or other of the container or hood.