JP2003525517A - Method and apparatus for treating waste - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) SUMMARY A method and apparatus for treating waste is provided. The waste is converted in a plasma-joule heated melting system (21) utilizing one or more arc plasma electrodes (27) and multiple joule heating electrodes (24). The arc plasma electrode (27) may be configured to operate using AC power or DC power, or in conjunction with switching between AC and DC power. The arc plasma electrode (27) can also be configured for independent arc voltage and arc current control. The Joule heating circuit is configured to operate concurrently with the arc electrode without causing deleterious interactions with the arc electrode. The system of the present invention provides a stable, non-leaching product and gaseous fuel. Gaseous fuels can be utilized in combustion or non-combustion processes to generate electricity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

(Cross-Reference of Related Applications) This application is a continuation-in-part application of US Serial No. 08 / 693,425 (filed August 7, 1996), and is currently pending. , US Serial Nos. 08 / 621,424 and 08 / 622,762 (both filed March 25, 1996), both of which are currently pending and Both applications are US Serial No. 08 / 492,42
No. 9 (filed on July 19, 1995) is a partial continuation application and is currently pending.
This application is a continuation-in-part of US Serial No. 08 / 382,730 (filed February 2, 1995) and is currently US Pat. No. 5,666,891. All of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for treating waste, and more specifically arc plasma, or joule heat melter systems.
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for treating wastes using d melter systems).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The treatment of public solid waste (MSW) and other waste has limited space for landfills and problems associated with the site for building new incinerators. Because of, it has been a serious problem over the last few decades. In addition, as a result of increased environmental awareness, ensuring proper disposal of solid waste has been of utmost concern to multiple metropolitan areas and the country as a whole. USA and EPA "T
“He Solid Waste Dilemma” An Agenda for
Action, EPA / 530-SW-89-019, Washington
, D. C. (1989).

MSW volume is reduced by incineration and cogeneration
Attempts have been made to restore the energy content of the. A standard waste energy inversion incinerator processes solid combustible debris in a waste stream and produces steam to drive a steam turbine, resulting in waste ash matter as a result of the incineration process.
Tial) is generated. Usually this ash is buried in public landfills. However, current trends and recent regulations may require hazardous waste to transport such materials to licensed landfills. This substantially raises the cost of processing ash batteries. In addition, there is growing public interest in the potential for gas emissions from landfills and the potential for groundwater pollution. Another disadvantage associated with incinerator systems is the production of large amounts of exhaust gas, which results in reduced emissions and attempts to meet the demands imposed by regulatory agencies, which may result in expensive air pollution control systems. Will be needed.

To overcome the shortcomings associated with incinerator systems, attempts have been made in the prior art to utilize arc plasma torches to destroy toxic waste. The use of arc plasma torches offers advantages over traditional incinerators or combustion processes under certain operating conditions. Because the volume of gas product formed by the plasma arc torch can be significantly less than the volume produced during normal incineration or combustion, and less toxic material is present in the gas product, and in certain circumstances. This is because the waste material can be vitrified below.

For example, Carter et al., US Pat. No. 5,280,757 discloses the use of a plasma arc torch in a reaction vessel for gasifying public solid waste. This produces a product with a medium gas and a slag with a low poison.

US Pat. No. 4,644,877 to Barton et al. Relates to the pyrolytic destruction of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using a plasma arc torch. In the reaction chamber, the waste material is atomized and ionized by a plasma arc torch, then cooled and recombined into gas and particulate matter. Bell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,431,612, describes a hollow graphite electrode transfer arc plasma furnace for treating hazardous wastes such as PCBs.

An improved process for lead-contaminated soil and spent battery material is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,284,503 to Bitler et al. Vitrified slag is formed from soil. Combustible gases and volatile lead are formed from the casing of waste batteries and are preferably converted and used as fuel for conventional blast furnaces.

The system presented by Barton et al., Bell et al., Carter et al. And Bitler et al. Has significant disadvantages. For example, such disadvantages include insufficient heating, mixing and residence times to ensure a good non-leaching glass product for a wide range of waste materials. Moreover, the furnace size and feeder design are severely limited. This is because the walls of the combustion chamber must be relatively close to the only heat source, the arc plasma. High thermal stresses often occur in the walls of the combustion chamber as a result of the limited size of the furnace.

Arc plasma furnaces with prior art metal electrodes can be limited by the short life of the electrodes when used at relatively high DC currents. Therefore, in order to obtain higher power, the arc potential must be raised by lengthening the arc. This results in radiative heat loss on the side walls of the furnace, making the metal electrode (torch) inefficient. Moreover, when cold, non-electrically conductive materials are being treated, problems associated with conventional transitional arc plasmas often occur during start-up and restart of such arc plasma systems.

Another disadvantage associated with conventional systems is the inefficient use of combustible gases produced during the conversion of waste materials. For example, burning gases often does not result in high burning rates and is therefore inefficient. Furthermore, the combustion of such gases releases pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO _x ) in amounts that provide a less environmentally attractive process.

Thus, while such prior art attempts are useful, there remains a need for robust, easy-to-operate waste conversion systems. This waste conversion system
Minimize the emission of harmful gases, maximize the conversion of a wide range of solid waste to useful energy, and consider the production of certain hazardous wastes in a safe and stable form for commercial use or for disposal To create a manufacturing stream that does not require

[0013] Thus, it is a robust, processing and conversion of a wide range of waste materials into useful energy and stable products, while minimizing the emission of harmful gases, thereby overcoming the drawbacks associated with the prior art. It may be desirable to provide methods and devices that are user friendly and have high flexibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method and apparatus for improving the conversion of solid waste materials, such as public and industrial waste, to useful energy with significantly reduced air pollution. The present invention further provides methods and apparatus for converting a wide range of waste materials into useful commodities, or safe and stable products suitable for processing. For example, the system of the present invention may treat public solid waste (MSW), industrial waste, or other forms of waste, suitable for commercial use, or treated without endangering the environment. It can be a stable, non-leaching product (eg, crystalline and amorphous products). The system further minimizes air emissions and maximizes the production of useful gas products to produce electricity. The present invention further provides a compact waste energy conversion treatment system that has the advantage of completing or substantially completing the conversion of waste materials into useful gas and product streams in a single location. ..

The method and apparatus of the present invention for converting waste materials employs a combination of independently controllable arc plasma (s) and Joule heating and melting equipment as an integrated system. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fully integrated Joule heat melter and arc plasma (s) are utilized to convert waste materials. The Joule heating melter and arc plasma (s) are configured to operate simultaneously with a normal weld pool without detrimental interaction of the power supply, the Joule heating melter section of the system and the system Independent power control is performed for each of the arc plasma parts.

As mentioned above, the products formed from the conversion process of the present invention are useful commercial products or stable products suitable for processing. Further, the present invention allows the use of rapid pyrolysis, thereby providing a high purity gas suitable for use in combustion and non-combustion processes. For example, the gas produced in accordance with the present invention may be used to produce electricity using a small, high efficiency gas turbine or internal combustion engine. In some embodiments, the waste conversion unit of the present invention may be self-powered or may provide a given level of electricity for external use. This may be accomplished by utilizing different amounts of supplemental fuel, such as natural gas, diesel or any other fuel in the gas turbine or internal combustion engine.

In a further embodiment of the invention, an environmentally attractive low exhaust internal combustion engine power generation system (or gas turbine system) is provided for a waste treatment unit to significantly improve efficiency and pollution reduction. This is accomplished by a spark ignition engine at an ultra lean ratio of fuel to air utilizing multiple fuel operation (eg, hydrogen rich gas, natural gas, diesel oil, etc.). Ultra-lean operation is enabled by the characteristics of the fast flame front of hydrogen in the hydrogen-rich gas produced by the waste treatment unit. Furthermore, very high compression ratios can be used in internal combustion engines. Variable fuel operation is enabled by the control system and the fuel processing system. These systems make it possible to ensure smooth combustion ignition by continuously changing the state of the fuel and the requirement of an ultra lean high compression ratio engine without knocking.

It is envisioned that a high efficiency, low exhaust internal combustion engine power generation system may improve the efficiency of converting gaseous fuel to electricity by up to about 40% (eg, 30-42%). It is also anticipated that by operating in ultra lean conditions, such a system may reduce NO _x emissions by a factor of more than 10 relative to a standard internal combustion engine power generation system. Utilizing such a system, a further object of the invention is to provide the option of reducing the emission of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by a factor of more than 10 by using a very robust and simple oxidation catalyst. Is. For example, the present invention may be used at ultra-lean ratios of fuel to air (in the range of about 0.4 to 0.7 in relation to the stoichiometric ratio), and, for example, r in the range of about 12 to 15, etc. very to utilize a spark ignition internal combustion engine with a high compression ratio, or driving a turbine with ultra-lean ratio of fuel to air, environmental appealing designed to significantly reduce the level of the NO _x generation in Provide the system.

In another embodiment of the invention, the exhaust gas from the waste conversion unit may be used in a non-combustion process. This can be achieved by integrating an exhaust gas conversion unit with the fuel cell system for the efficient and environmentally favorable production of electrical energy from the waste processed in the waste conversion unit. For example, a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) can be used with the waste conversion unit of the present invention, and waste gas in a non-combustion process provided the exhaust gas is clean enough for use with the fuel cell. Generate electricity from the exhaust gas of the conversion unit. This is, for example, the composition of the waste so that the exhaust gas of the furnace produced by the waste can be compatible with the fuel cell, so that the DC output of the fuel cell can be sold to a power company or a waste conversion unit. May be desired when converted to three-phase AC power for powering the.

The combination of an arc plasma furnace and a Joule heating melter as an integrated system with a gas turbine, internal combustion engine or fuel cell power plant provides waste treatment and power generation equipment. These can be arranged in modular units and can be easily scaled to handle large volumes of public solid waste.

The main processing unit preferably contains a DC or AC electrode arc plasma (s) for heating the waste material and also has a Joule heat capacity of the weld pool. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode arc (s) is a DC electrode arc (s) with electrodes made of graphite. The use of DC or AC arc electrode (s) in combination with a suitable electrical circuit allows independent control of the arc plasma (s) and Joule heating melter system simultaneously. The main mode of operating arc plasma and Joule heating and melting equipment is pyrolysis (ie, low oxygen operation). In a preferred embodiment, the system is operated such that rapid pyrolysis occurs, thereby producing a gas having a higher purity as compared to other methods of pyrolysis.

Suitably, the components of the arc plasma and Joule heating melter are:
The system is fully integrated with a conventional weld pool to allow independent and simultaneous control of these components, i.e. coordinated operation. The arc plasma (s) occurs between the graphite electrode (s) and the molten material. However, it is understood that other metal elements such as tungsten can be used as the electrode material rather than graphite.

The adjustable, fully integrated system of the present invention employs electrical and mechanical design features that maximize flexibility and efficiency. In this way, it can be expected that the high processing speed for vitrifying a wide variety of materials into good quality, stable, non-leachable glasses and the volume required for being an integrated system will be reduced. . The arc plasma (s) provide the heating of the radiant area required to process the raw materials with high efficiency and significantly faster than other techniques. The Joule heating and melting device is for deep volume heating.
The temperature of the entire molten pool can be maintained at a constant temperature due to the property of providing a heating and uniform mixing, thereby obtaining a high quality and uniform glass product.

Simultaneously and independently controllable arc plasma (s) and operation of the Joule heating melter is provided by a given arc melter configuration and electrical circuit. Without limitation, the arc plasma is preferably operated by a DC arc (s) and the Joule heating melter is operated by AC power. The configuration of the DC arc (s) and AC powered Joule heating and melting equipment ensures the ability to independently control and operate each component. However, in alternative embodiments, both the arc (s) and Joule heating melter sites may be operated with AC power,
Meanwhile, each component or part is controlled and operated independently.

The present invention provides DC and AC that allow independent control of arc voltage and current.
Provide an arc circuit. These circuits can be one arc electrode, or, alternatively,
It can be designed to operate with multiple arc electrodes. These circuits may also be designed to switch between AC and DC depending on the power desired.
The present invention also provides a Joule heating circuit in which the arc plasma (s) can be operated simultaneously and independently.

The use of the melter in combination with arc plasma (s) provides more uniform heating than the prior art. Furthermore, utilizing the deep volume heating provided by the Joule heated glass melting device facilitates operation. It also uses a conductive path through the waste material, or a constant temperature heat source that needs to be sufficiently conductive in the waste material to re-operate the arc plasma at high speed. Also provide. Furthermore, the fully integrated system allows the furnace wall to be remote from the arc plasma (s). This is because an additional heat source is provided. Increasing the wall distance from the arc plasma increases the feed selection and reduces thermal stress in the furnace lining. Thus, a heat-sensitive, durable and long-life fire resistant lining can be used. The invention further enables the use of electrodes with long life and a very wide range of arc plasma and Joule heating chamber power levels.

Independent control of the arc plasma and Joule heating melter power provides a continuously adjustable mix of surface heating and deep volume heating. This control can be optimized for different stages of operation. For example, additional heating may require additional surface heating while the waste feed is started, while
Additional surface heating may be desired or required to pour the glass or maintain the temperature of the glass pool. Moreover, different mixes of surface heating and volume heating are suitable for different waste streams. The ratio of surface to heating of deep volumes can be lower for public waste than for example for industrial waste containing large amounts of metals and hot materials. Arc plasma (s)
And control of the power supply to each of the parts of the Joule heating and fusing device can be adjusted (manually or automatically) during processing and operation corresponding to such different stages of operation.

The good quality vitrified products produced by the present invention can be used in a variety of applications. For example, the vitrified product may be ground and incorporated into asphalt for use in roadways and the like. Alternatively, the vitrified product may be utilized in place of the cinder used in the cinder block or building block, thereby minimizing the absorption of water into the block. further,
The vitrified product can be solidified into a final molding that exhibits a substantial reduction in volume over prior art vitrified products. The product formed according to the present invention may further be a crystalline structure or a combination of crystalline and amorphous structures. The solidified moldings are suitable for being processed without any health or environmental risk.

The above description has outlined some of the more relevant objects of the present invention. It is understood that these aims are merely illustrative of some of the more important features and applications of the present invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by modifying and applying the disclosed invention in different ways, as described below. Accordingly, other objects and a complete understanding of the present invention can be obtained by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, some arc plasma-joule heating melters suitable for use in the present invention.
e healed melter) is shown. As described herein,
These embodiments are DC or AC arcs (single) that are fully integrated in a single glass melt and operate simultaneously, but electrically isolated from each other by using a special power delivery circuit. Or multiple) as well as an AC Joule heating electrical system. The arc plasma-melting device combination is therefore thermally and electrically integrated.

The fully integrated plasma-melter system according to the present invention is continuously adjustable between plasma heating and heating by the glass melter so that adjustments can be made during processing. Provides the advantage of having a percentage of power. For example, a continuously adjustable single power supply may be part of a system (eg,
It is useful when it is desirable to utilize an arc plasma or melting device.
The property of a continuously adjustable single electrical supply provides robustness and facilitates ease of operation in changing conditions. The characteristics of a continuously adjustable single electricity supply are:
Moreover, by providing additional control over solid waste products (eg, glass and flue gas generation), efficiency is maximized and environmental appeal is maximized.

The continuously adjustable single operation of the arc plasma and melting device allows the user to select different types of heating. For example, arc plasma (
Or plasma) heats the emitting surface. A large amount of plasma power can be used with the start of the supply. A somewhat lower but still substantial amount of plasma power can be used during continuous feeding. High temperature heating of waste surface (high sur
face waste temperature heating) facilitates high throughput processing as well as rapid pyrolysis to produce high quality combustible gas.
High temperature heating of the surface is also required for treatments where the material is difficult to melt or the material is highly conductive, which limits the efficiency of Joule heating by the glass in the absence of an arc plasma.

Joule heating by the electrodes of a glass melting device is a deep, volumetric heating (vol
Umetric heating). This type of heating ensures the production of high quality glass by promoting mixing throughout the molten pool. This type of heating also provides a conductive material for more stable operation of moving the arc. The use of volumetric heating alone can also be utilized to keep the waste in a molten state with low power requirements when not supplied. Volumetric heating is also important for glass pouring.

A continuously adjustable single electrical supply of plasma heating and heating by the glass melter increases the adverse effects of plasma heating alone (eg, excessive volatilization of material and furnace wall thermal stress). Facilitates the use of extra volumetric heating to pour the glass, or to improve glass production, without being forced to do so. The heat lost from one container may be less than the heat lost from two containers.

In addition to the continuously adjustable single electrical supply during the treatment of a given type of waste stream, the adjustable function of the integrated plasma melter unit is used to The treatment of waste streams can be optimized. For example, public waste streams generally require higher melting temperature materials, as well as lower relative amounts of plasma power than streams with large amounts of metals such as hazardous and industrial waste, which is mostly inorganic. Can be

The use of volumetric melter heating also facilitates the selection of a larger range of plasma electrode configurations. Heating by the volumetric melting device is substantially melted, and
To keep the material in a conductive state, one or more plasma electrodes can easily be utilized. This is due, in part, to the molten material providing a conductive path between the electrodes. Therefore, it is easily possible to continuously adjust the operation for using one or more plasma electrodes. Increased flexibility can be used to optimize the production of flammable gases, minimize particle emissions, and reduce electrode wear.

The continuously adjustable single electrical supply of the heating system by means of the plasma and the melting device thus provides a temperature control on a much larger scale. Spatial and thermal control of temperatures not previously available can be used to improve the utility and environmental attractiveness of integrated arc plasma and melter vitrification systems. The heat lost from one container may be less than the heat lost from two containers (
For example, if arc plasma and Joule heating techniques were used separately).

As described herein, the complete integration of a Joule-heated melting device with an arc plasma, in accordance with the present invention, further provides for the use of an elongated melting chamber having two or more arc plasma electrodes. Facilitate. The melted material can provide a conductive or current path between two or more arc plasma electrodes. This configuration significantly increases waste supply and slag tapping flexibility, and increases arc plasma electrode life and robustness. The elongated chamber configuration of the two arc plasma electrodes is facilitated by a Joule heated melter. because,
A Joule-heated melting device can provide the heat necessary to maintain a conductive path between two arc plasma electrodes while the furnace is idle, providing uniform heating to the elongated melting chamber. Because it is.

The embodiments of the invention presented herein allow passage of Joule heated AC power by melting with partially submerged electrodes, and between top movable electrodes (
If desired, melting of these electrodes and / or between the submerged counter electrodes) will include circuitry to allow simultaneous operation of the DC arc plasma circuit (s). The type of waste and the characteristics of the molten slag determine the preferred mode of operation. In some other embodiments, the system of the present invention comprises an AC-
It may be configured to operate with an AC configuration. That is, the arc (s) are operated by AC power supply (s) and the Joule heating melter is operated by AC power supply.

An integrated arc plasma-melter system 20 shown in FIGS. 1A-1D.
Indicates the reactor 21. It should be understood that a Joule-heated melting device puts a minimum of energy into the process to facilitate the production of high quality pyrolysis gas. This situation exists because the energy input to the arc need not be greater than the energy input required to pyrolyze and melt the material in the arc zone. The molten bath below the unmelted feed is maintained at the desired temperature using Joule heating rather than using only an arc plasma furnace. The energy requirement to maintain the slag at the proper temperature is equal to the heat lost from the outer surface of the melter. This is assumed to be very low, ie a slag or glass surface area of about 20-30 KW / m ² for a properly designed melter chamber. Air / oxygen and / or a combination of air and steam can be added to remove charcoal from the melt surface and adjust the redox state of the glass. The Joule-heated melter provides energy (ie, hot gas) near the sides of the bath where the gas / steam mixture is introduced. The unit 21 may further include an auxiliary heater 31 connected as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D.

The reactor 21 includes a top surface 21a, a bottom surface 21b, and side surfaces 21c and 21d. The bottom surface 21b can have a generally V-shaped configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D. Reactor 21 further includes at least one port or opening 22a for introducing waste material 29 into reactor 21. In the preferred embodiment, the reactor 21 includes a plurality of ports or openings 22a and 22b, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1D. The ports 22a and 22b may include flow control valves or the like to control the flow of waste material 29 into the container 21 and prevent air from entering the container 21. It is also preferred that such ports 22a and 22b can be controlled separately or simultaneously from one another such that one or more can be selectively utilized. Ports 22a and 22b may also be used with a supply mechanism as shown in Figure 1K.

The reactor 21 further includes a gas port or opening 23, as well as a metal / slag casting port or opening 25. The opening or gas exhaust port 23 can be formed of any conventional material that allows for controlled exhaust of combustible gases. For example, without intending to be limiting, the gas discharge from the furnace 21 may be controlled, such as by a flow control valve at the opening 23. As shown in FIG. 1A, the gas exhaust port 23 may be located at or near the upper surface 21 a of the furnace 21. The gas exiting port 23 enters line 42 and is sent to a scrubber, turbine, etc. for further processing. As mentioned above, the gas produced in the waste conversion unit may also be utilized in a non-combustion process as shown in Figures 18-19. Furthermore, if port 23 becomes inoperable (see, for example, FIGS. 1E and 1G), an emergency gas port that turns off in an emergency.
f gas port) may be provided on the unit 21 (eg near the top of the unit or sufficiently high on the side of the unit). This may be desirable to prevent the pressure in the unit from becoming too high. An air relief device is provided within the unit to ensure that the pressure within the unit is within the proper range.

The initial mode of operation within unit 21 is pyrolysis. However, partial oxidation mode operation may be required to aid in the processing of large amounts of flammable or carbonaceous materials.

The heat from the arc (s) and the specific gravity of the metal present in the waste material are determined by the three phases or layers (metal layer, slag layer and gaseous layer) in the furnace 21.
Is a factor that is formed. The furnace 21 operates within a temperature range of about 1200-2000 ° C. Depending on the components of the waste feed, the furnace 21 may operate in the range of about 1550-1600 ° C. Arc plasmas generally operate in a temperature range above about 3500 ° C.

The metal layer (not shown) is deposited by weight separation at the bottom of the furnace side 21 until a sufficient amount is collected. The metal is then discharged through a discharge port 25 into a separate container. The exhaust port 25 is assembled by any method capable of controlling the discharge of the molten metallic material from the furnace 21. For example, a flow control valve or device may be used to control the flow through the exhaust port 25 to the metal collector or vessel 26. Alternatively, the metal exhaust port 25 is shown in FIG.
A heating coil 25a may be included, as shown in FIGS. The metal exhaust port 25 may also be assembled as shown in FIG. 1L and heated by the circuit as shown in FIG. 1M.

In particular, the port 25 has a flow control valve or the like so that metal and / or slag can be removed and introduced into the metal / slag collector or vessel 26 for a predetermined period of time during the process. Designed to be. When hazardous waste is treated, it is desirable to have a collector or container 26 sealably connected to port 25 in such a way that air and / or gas does not enter or leave the system. It may be.

Waste material inlet ports 22a and 22b are arranged such that waste material 29 is fed in a controlled manner from the waste feed system through ports 22a and 22b to furnace 21. Ports 22a and 22b, without being construed as limiting
May include a flow control valve or the like to monitor the feed rate of waste material 29.
The supply system will be unless the air can enter the furnace through the supply system.
It may be any conventional type supply system capable of supplying public solid waste or other waste (eg, hazardous waste, medical waste, ash from incinerators, etc.) to the furnace 21. .. The feeding mechanism shown in FIG. 1L may also be used to feed the unit 21 with waste.

As further shown in FIG. 1A, the furnace 21 may include additional ports such as air or gas inlet ports 21e. The air or gas inlet port 21e includes flow control such as a flow control valve. Preferably, the port 21e is arranged to enter through the furnace wall at a level close to the slag material 30, as shown in FIG. 1A. In this way, air 48b (which may contain a predetermined amount of steam 65) is injected into the furnace 21 at a controlled rate and duration during the conversion process to control the composition of the gas exiting the furnace. obtain. Moreover, air and / or steam, any carbon in the feedstock, CO, CO 2, _{H 2,} to ensure that it is converted to carbon-containing gas such as CH _4, through the opening 21e Can be introduced. This reduces the amount of charcoal in the process. This can be caused if the carbon is not completely converted to a carbon containing gas.

As further shown in FIG. 1A, system 20 further includes a turbine 52, a generator 55, and the equipment necessary to couple the arc furnace-melter unit. For example, the system 20 preferably includes a hot gas purification equipment 43, a waste heat recovery unit 61, and an air 47 and water 59 injection system.
Although not shown in FIG. 1A, a feed conditioning process for waste material in the feed system may also be utilized prior to feeding furnace 21. In addition to the unit shown in FIG. 1A, it may be desirable to incorporate an off-gas scrubbing process to remove any acid gases for the gases coming out of the purification unit 43 or gas-fueled turbines. Preferably, the only gas conditioning required for the gas exiting the arc furnace 21 is gas-solid separation in the hot gas purification unit 43 to minimize the amount of particles entering the turbine 52. .

The gas produced in the furnace 21 is a combustible gas formed as a result of fast pyrolysis. Rapid pyrolysis, as described herein, generally converts waste materials into useful gases by at least 65% for combustion. The arc furnace 21 utilized by the present invention thus contains about 2% carbon dioxide, about 44% carbon monoxide, about 43% hydrogen, about 2% methane, depending on the components of the waste feed, and the balance. Is expected to provide a gas that is a small hydrocarbon. The gas produced in the furnace 21 is transferred to the hot gas purification unit 43 through the line 42. Here, the ash 44 is removed and thus separated from the fuel gas 45.

Intake 47 enters compressor 46 and air 48 present in compressor 46 may be split into several delivery streams. For example, air flow 48 a may be supplied to combustor 49 and air flow 48 b may be supplied to furnace 21.

Fuel gas 45 enters combustor 49 and combines with air 48a. Combustor 4
The hot gas and steam 51 produced in 9 drives a turbine 52, which is connected via 54 to a generator 55, which produces electricity 57. The turbine 52 may be a high efficiency steam injection gas turbine. Such turbines are commercially available. A variable amount of natural gas or other type of fuel 50 may be provided to the combustor 49 (or internal combustion engine 53 shown in FIG. 1B), especially for self-powered operation at start-up. During operation, fuel gas 45 and auxiliary fuel 50 may combine within combustor 49.

Water 59 enters system 20 via pump 58 and heat recovery steam system 61.
That is, it reaches the heat exchanger where the heat from the hot turbine exhaust gas 56 exchanges with the flow 60. Exhaust gas 62 is separated from steam 63 in a heat recovery steam system 61. The steam 63 is steam 64 to the turbine 52, respectively shown in FIG. 1A.
And can be recycled as steam 65 to the air flow 48b.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, a process similar to that shown in FIG. 1A is shown, except that the compressor 46, combustor 49, and gas turbine 52 are replaced by an internal combustion engine 53. The internal combustion engine 53 may be easy to use, in particular a small tunable plasma-melter electronic conversion unit (tunable).
plasma-melter electroconversion unit
For s), it may be more cost effective than the compressor-gas turbine. The air and the auxiliary fuel 50 may be supplied to the internal combustion engine 53 in a predetermined manner based on the composition of the fuel gas 45. Preferably, the efficiency of the internal combustion engine 53 provides sufficient electricity for all or substantially all of the power required by the tunable plasma to melter electron conversion unit.

Spark-ignition internal combustion engines may be advantageous, since such internal combustion engines are
This is because it is cheaper than a turbine for very small units. In order to facilitate the production of the desired level of power, especially at start-up, concentrated hydrogen gas (hydr)
Auxiliary powers such as gen-rich gas), propane, natural gas, or diesel fuel may be used to power the internal combustion engine. The amount of supplemental fuel may vary depending on the composition of the waste stream, ie, the calorific value of the incoming waste material, the amount of combustible material within the waste material, and the power requirements for waste treatment.

The chamber 31 includes auxiliary heaters 32a and 32b. The chamber 31 may also include a plasma torch 34. Metal / slag layer 30 due to different specific gravity
The metal inside moves toward the bottom portion 21b of the vessel 21. Metal / slag layer 3
The slag in 0 exits the conduit 35 via an opening or port 35a. Conduit 35
It is understood that can be located similar to any of the configurations described above with respect to conduit 98 shown in FIGS. 2A-2E of co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 492,429. The flow of slag from the vessel 21 to the auxiliary heater system 31 is also
It can be controlled by controlling the pressure in the melter 21 and the auxiliary heater system 31. In particular, differential pressure may be used to control the flow of slag to the heater system 31.

The slag 38 is further heated by the auxiliary heaters 32a and 32b for a time sufficient to provide a homogeneous slag product. Heaters 32a and 32
Instead of or in addition to b, the temperature of the slug 38 may be maintained by the plasma torch 34 to facilitate flow into a receptacle for certain viscous type wastes. Plasma torch 34 may be arranged to provide additional heat to the material within conduit 35. The slag 38 is then slag poling conduit (sla).
g pouring conduit 33 and port 36, thereby exiting chamber 31 and entering slag collector or container 37. When hazardous waste is being treated, it may be desirable to sealably connect the collector or container 37 to the port 36 in such a way that air and / or gas does not pass through or out of the system. Port 36 is for slag 3 from heat system 31
A flow control valve or the like may be provided to control the release of 8. An auxiliary heater system 31 is utilized when it is desired to reduce the viscosity of the slag in order to maintain the slag level in the melter. The auxiliary heater system also compensates for heat loss as the slag approaches the condition of slag discharge before falling into the slag container.

As also shown in FIG. 1A, DC electrodes 27a and 27b are provided in the reaction vessel 21 shown in FIGS. The reaction vessel 21 also includes a plurality of AC Joule heating electrodes 24a and 24b. As further shown in FIG.
a and 24b may be arranged facing each other on sides 21c and 21d, respectively. Further, the electrodes 24a to 24b are arranged so as to be partially immersed in the slag 30 when the treatment is performed. One or more additional electrodes 28 are provided as shown in Figures 1A-1D.

FIG. 1B shows an alternative configuration of the arrangement of electrodes 24a and 24b according to the present invention. The arrangement of electrodes 24a and 24b shown in FIG. 1B facilitates electrode replacement. In particular, this type of configuration allows the electrodes to be replaced without the need to drain the hearth. Hearth drainage is often undesirable because it degrades the furnace lining. Therefore, the electrodes 24a and 24b are respectively connected to the angles 39a and 3a.
Placed at 9b, while at the same time preventing gas outflow or leakage, facilitates required electrode replacement. By way of non-limiting example, the angles 39a and 39b of the electrodes 24a and 24b relative to the respective inner portion of the furnace can be between about 30 ° and 45 ° C with respect to the vertical axis. It may be desirable to utilize metal or coated graphite electrodes for Joule heated melters. The electrodes 24 can be arranged at any angle (including vertical) as long as they are located on the inner surface of the cavity of the furnace. Arc plasma electrode or arc plasma electrodes are preferably formed of graphite. The portion of the overall electrode just above the melt line of the electrode can be coated to reduce the erosion rate that can result from oxidation and / or steam injection.

As further shown in FIG. 1B, an AC powered Joule heated electrode 2
4a and 24b may be inserted via the sides 21c and 21d of the furnace, respectively. The upper end of each electrode may be covered with an electrical connection, which preferably extends outside the metal furnace cover and is electrically isolated from the electrically grounded furnace shell. The lower end of each electrode is dipped under the melting bath to the desired depth. By choosing the proper location of the electrode's point of entry below the surface of the melt, the DC arc, or the portion of the electrode exposed to the radiation of the arc, can be minimized, thereby extending the life of the electrode.

If the electrodes 24a and / or 24b need to be replaced, the used electrodes are removed from the melting bath. If a new electrode is inserted into the bath without preheating the electrode, the cold electrode may increase the viscosity of the melt bath where it contacts the melt bath, thereby causing the new electrode to melt. Difficult to insert. Therefore, using a special electrically isolated current limiting power supply that safely provides additional heat at the junction of the bath and the electrode and allows the new electrode to be fully immersed in the bath, this It may also be desirable to electrically activate the electrodes. In a preferred embodiment, suitable electrical and thermal insulation may also be provided for each electrode so that each electrode is both thermally and electrically from the metal furnace cover during normal operation. Insulated.

In an alternative embodiment, the partially submerged Joule heating electrode is shown in FIGS.
It can be replaced by vertically stripping the electrodes as shown in G. For example, the Joule heating electrodes can be placed vertically and replaced without draining the hearth.

FIG. 1C shows another embodiment of the invention in which magnetic coils 40a and 40b may be used for inductive heating and / or mixing to further heat and / or mix the melt pool. In order to achieve an optimal rate of smelting that is commensurate with the particular waste stream being introduced into the combined arc plasma-melter, further stirring or mixing beyond that normally produced by the melter section of the furnace and the arc section of the furnace is performed. May be desired. This is accomplished by the addition of strategically placed magnetic coils, such as coils 40a and 40b, to produce a larger JxB force, which in turn causes further mixing and / or heating in the melt bath. Can be done. Coils 40a and 40b may be located within the furnace metal shell but behind the refractory lining of the melt pool. Alternatively, if the furnace shell is made of non-magnetic stainless steel, the coil may be located outside the shell.
Coils 40a and 40b are connected to an AC power source. This facilitation of bath mixing is an example of a "tuning" type that can increase furnace electrode life and waste throughput.

FIG. 1D shows that an alternative configuration of plasma melter processing is a secondary thermal boost system 41.
2 shows another embodiment of the present invention incorporating a. The system can be an arc plasma in the chamber to provide additional thermal energy and further crack the condensable portion exiting the primary plasma-melter process. As shown in FIG. 1D, for example, the secondary thermal boost system 41 can be located near or inside the port 23.

The conversion of waste to electrical energy for plasma melter processing depends on the maximum conversion of solid and liquid waste to gaseous product gas. In the pyrolysis process, some of the gas present may contain condensates that are light to medium amounts of oil. If cooling of the gas leaving the primary plasma-melter chamber is possible, some liquefaction of the evolved gas may occur due to condensate present at the furnace temperature. The second plasma-generated gas chamber converts these oils into non-condensable combustible gases that facilitate recovery of energy values from the incoming waste material.

When the secondary plasma chamber 41 is arranged as shown in FIG. 1D, the temperature of the gas exiting the primary furnace chamber does not decrease before entering the secondary plasma chamber 41, which is a two system This is because is directly connected. This minimizes the overall energy requirements for cracking and gasification processes.

Secondary waste production is minimized because the condensable species exiting the furnace are converted to combustible gases in the secondary plasma chamber. It is understood that the plasma generating gas chambers may not always be needed, but may be individually controlled during processing.

The electrode or electrodes 24a and 24b are preferably located sufficiently far from the walls 21a-21d so that the feed material 29 can protect or protect the walls from thermal radiation. This facilitates the use of a wide variety of materials as refractory furnace linings.

It is preferable to use graphite as the electrode material, rather than metal, because graphite electrodes simplify processing and have much higher current capabilities than those used in metal torches. Furthermore, graphite electrodes have low maintenance requirements, whereas metal torch systems often require tip replacement. Water-gas reaction, 600-1000 ° C., unacceptable for untreated graphite due to expected conditions in the furnace plenum with both partial oxidizing environment and conditions promoting C + H ₂ O → CO + H _2. Consumption can occur. Therefore, the graphite electrode 27 is preferably coated with a suitable material such as silicon carbide, boron nitride, or another protective coating that minimizes graphite consumption and extends useful life. For example, when municipal solid waste containing carbonaceous material is fed into the furnace 21, a high endothermic reaction occurs, providing additional energy to convert the carbonaceous material into fuel gas and the non-carbonaceous material into slag. May need.

The conditions within the waste conversion unit of the present invention are maintained during waste treatment so that the temperature profile, the current in the melting bath, the voltage and so on can be obtained (
It can be monitored manually or by an automated system). This ensures that the melt bath and the desired processing characteristics of the gas leaving the unit are met. For example, the composition of the gas exiting the waste conversion unit may be determined according to US Pat.
, 479,254 (issued December 26, 1995) and US Pat. No. 5,6.
71,045 (issued Sep. 23, 1997) can be monitored during processing with a device as disclosed. The entire contents of US Pat. No. 5,479,254 and US Pat. No. 5,671,045 are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, thermocouples, infrared temperature devices, Woskov et al.
Ive Radiometer for Self-Calibrated F
radiometer, or WO 97/13128 (issued April 10, 1997), disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,573,339 (issued November 12, 1996) entitled "Turnature Temperature Measurements". "Active Pyrometer for Self-Calibrat
A treble meter, disclosed in International Application No. PCT / US96 / 15997, entitled ed Furnace Temperature Measurements) may be inserted into the chamber. US Pat. No. 5,573,339, and W
The entire contents of O97 / 13128 are incorporated herein by reference. Also, “New Temperature and Met” by Woskov and others.
als Emissions Monitoring Technology
s for Furnaces ", Proceedings of the I
international Symposium Environmental
Technologies, Plasma Systems and App
licenses, Atlanta, Georgia (October 1995-
11 days), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 1E-1G, another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the unit 21 comprises two arc electrodes 27a and 27b and two or more Joule heating electrodes 24a and 24b. Preferably, the arc electrodes 27a and 27b operate on a DC power supply 70, while the partially submerged non-arc electrodes 24a and 24b operate on an AC power supply 77. Unit 21 also comprises an exhaust port or vessel 23 (which may be insulated to prevent heat loss), preferably an emergency offgas vessel vessel to ensure proper pressure maintenance in the chamber.
) 82. Waste feed is from unit 2 through feed mechanism and fill port 22.
Can be supplied to 1. The feed mechanism may be a gravity feed mechanism and may be configured as shown in FIG. 1K. The unit may also include a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced around the unit at predetermined locations and aligned with the fill ports of the chamber. A non-graphite refractory hearth 69 may be used to line the unit 21. The hearth 21 can be formed from various refractory materials.

The arc electrodes 27 a and 27 b are used to generate arcs 66 a and 66 b, respectively, and to decompose at least a part of the waste supplied to the unit 21. The waste forms a gaseous layer and a molten bath. Due to the different specific gravity, the melting bath is divided into a slag layer and a metal layer. The level of the melt line 30a is
It may be controlled by removing at least some of the slag and / or metal from the unit. For example, molten material, such as slag, may be removed by discharge conduit 35 to slag container 37, while metal is removed from the bath by discharge conduit opening 67 and then via discharge conduit 68 to metal container 26. Can be reached. The discharge conduit 68 may be heated utilizing a heating coil as described above (see also FIGS. 1L and 1M).

The rate at which the molten material (eg, slag) flows through discharge conduit 35 to auxiliary heating system 31 may be controlled by a flow valve or the like. In one embodiment, the flow of molten material from unit 21 to auxiliary heater system 31 may be controlled by controlling the pressure within unit 21 and auxiliary heater system 31. The differential pressure can then be used to control the flow of molten material to the heater system 31.

Multiple auxiliary heaters and / or plasma torches 32 may be used within auxiliary heater system 31, as described in accordance with the previous embodiments. The molten material is
Exit the auxiliary heating system 31 and reach the slag container 37 via the discharge port 36.

The arc electrode of this embodiment is connected to a DC power source such as 77. Power source 77 is co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 08 / 382,730 and 08 / 492,4.
Similar to that shown in FIG. 3 of No. 29, it comprises a primary winding 71 and a secondary winding 72. The thyristors 73a to 73f rectify the phases 74a to 74c, respectively. Alternatively, a three-phase diode bridge rectifier with supersaturated reactor control, shown in FIG. 3 of co-pending US patent application Ser. Nos. 08 / 382,730 and 08 / 492,429, is used in place of DC power supply 70. Can be done. In this embodiment, the function of the supersaturation reactor is to change the impedance of the AC current path between the transformer and the AC input to the diode rectifier, in which case the arc voltage can fluctuate fairly quickly. Even so, a means is provided to maintain the desired amount of DC current in the arc.

Inductors 75a and 75b are connected as shown in FIG. 1G. Inductors 75a and 75b provide stable arcs 27a and 27 during unit operation.
Supply the transient voltage that is often needed to maintain b. "Clamping"
Diode 76 is connected between the (-) and (+) outputs of the bridge rectifier. The function of the "clamping" diode 76 is to provide a path for current to flow from the inductors 75a and 75b when the voltage on the DC arcs 27a and 27b exceeds the open circuit voltage of the rectifier. Alternative arc power configurations may also be utilized in this embodiment (see, eg, Figures 8-10).

The partially submerged non-arc electrodes 24 a and 24 b are preferably powered by an AC power supply 77. As shown in FIG. 1G, the power supply 77 is (conventional AC
A primary winding 78 (connected to the power supply), and a secondary winding 79. AC power supply 77
Also comprises a supersaturation reactor 80 and a capacitor 81.

For example, as discussed herein in connection with FIG. 2, there is an unobstructed DC current flow through the transformer windings, with a partial connection directly to the terminals of the transformer. When passing a DC current through the waste material and slag / metal melt pool with Joule heated AC electrodes immersed in the transformer core of the transformer saturates. This allows
The current in the primary winding of the AC transformer increases and the transformer breaks very quickly. In order to simultaneously operate the arc plasma and the Joule heated melter in the vessel, it is therefore necessary to keep the AC current passing through the melt pool for Joule heating, while not interrupting the DC current flow at the same time. I won't. The capacitor 81 is used to block DC current and pass AC current. A capacitor 81 is preferably connected in series with each transformer secondary winding 79 to balance the current at each of the stages over a wide range of furnace operating conditions.

1H-1J show plan views of a further embodiment in which three arc electrodes and three partially immersed non-arc electrodes are used. The furnace 21 shown in FIG.
It comprises three arc electrodes 27a-27c and three partially submerged non-arc electrodes 24a-24c. In this embodiment, both arc and non-arc electrodes may operate on AC power. The power to the arc electrodes can be modified to operate with DC power, while the partially immersed electrodes are operated with AC power.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1H-1J, three fill chambers 22 a-22 c are installed in the furnace 2.
Placed around 1. Without intending to be limiting, the chambers are preferably arranged substantially equidistantly around the furnace.

Referring now to FIG. 1K, a feed mechanism 100 suitable for use for the introduction of waste material to be treated in the arc plasma-joule heated melter of the present invention is shown. The supply mechanism 100 is connected to the fill chamber port 22 in a suitable manner.

The supply mechanism 100 includes a conveyor 101 as shown in FIG. 1K. The conveyor 101 is used to move the waste container or receptacle 102 to the melting device. In the preferred embodiment, the waste container 102 is controlled based on the rate at which it is delivered to the melting chamber. For example, infrared detector 103 or other sensing device may be employed to control the movement of waste container 102 along conveyor 101.

Waste container 102 passes from conveyor 101 through door 104 and chamber inlet 105 to passageway 104a. The door 104 accommodates vertical movement so that the door can be raised and lowered. The inflatable seal 106, as described herein, may be used to control the amount of air and / or oxygen entering the furnace 21 via the door 104 of the feed mechanism.

The container 107 and plug 107 a configurations are provided within the housing device 108. The plug 107a is adapted for vertical movement within the container 107. For example, the plug 107a may be suspended within the container 107 such that the top of the plug 107a is lowered to the position a shown in FIG. 1K (while the top of the container 107 is
Maintained in position b shown in FIG. 1K). The top of the plug is above the container 107 (
In FIG. 1K, it can be raised until it abuts position b), after which the can and plug are raised as device to position c in housing 108.

As shown in FIG. 1K, the housing 108 is connected to the furnace 21 and the passage 104a. The housing 108 is preferably removably connected to the furnace 21 so that other supply mechanisms may be used with the furnace, depending, for example, on the amount and type of waste being processed. The passage 104a (along with the chamber inlet and door 104) may be formed as an integral part or device with the housing 108. In addition, the housing 108 includes an opening 108 a, and the container 107 and the plug 107.
When a is raised to position c in line with passageway 107a, waste container 102 passes therethrough and waste container 102 flows through opening 108a to furnace 21.

When the waste container 102 approaches the door 104 from the conveyor 101, the waste container 102 leans against the door 104 and the door is based on the feed control from the computer control system. 102 is a passage 104
It can be manually raised or automatically raised so that it enters or is fed into a. Depending on the size of the waste container associated with the supply mechanism and / or the waste type, more than one waste container may be sent at the same time. The door 104 is preferably designed so that it does not rise when the plug 107 is not in the lower position (position a in FIG. 1K). This prevents unwanted air from entering the furnace.

Infrared detectors or the like may be used to ensure that the container (s) are completely
4a is detected. Thereafter, the door 104 is closed and the seal 106 is inflated. In this way, the supply mechanism can be sealed to the atmosphere and purged with nitrogen to remove at least a majority of the oxygen in the supply mechanism. Preferably, the nitrogen purge is continued until the oxygen in the supply is below about 5%.

Then, the plug or hoist 10 in the lower position (position a in FIG. 1K)
7a is raised to a position b in contact with the container 107. Container 107 and plug 1
07a is raised to position c. Vessel (s) 102 may be fed to furnace 21 by gravity. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to lower the plug 107a and / or the vessel and plug to ensure that the vessel is not jammed during the process of feeding the furnace 21.

As mentioned above, the plurality of loading chambers and the feeding mechanism are in accordance with the present invention.
It can be used as a melting chamber. The loading chamber and the feeding mechanism may be configured such that the timing of feeding the furnace is predetermined. Preferably, the number of feeding mechanisms corresponds to the number of loading chambers. For example, the load chamber and feed mechanism should each be timed to open with respect to one another to avoid increasing pressure in the furnace due to overfeeding at a particular time. Can be placed.

The supply mechanism 100 shown in FIG. 1K is merely exemplary. Other devices suitable for introducing waste material into the melting chamber of the present invention may be employed so long as the amount of air and / or oxygen entering therethrough can be controlled.

FIG. 1L is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a portion of furnace 21. As described above with respect to various embodiments, the metal exhaust inlet 67 is generally formed at or near the bottom of the V-shaped configuration of a portion of the hearth. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1L is a freeze plug configuration formed of a material that can be easily heated by inductive heat. As shown in FIG. 1L, the portion 67 surrounding the inlet 67 is formed of graphite 110. Further, as shown in FIG. 1L, other portions of the furnace 21 near the V-shaped portion of the hearth (generally below the Joule heating electrode (s) 24) may be formed from hot brick 111 and insulating material 112. .

The heating coil 113 is provided for operation in the freeze plug configuration so that metal can exit the exhaust port 114a at the desired time and rate. For example, coil 113 may be cooled below a certain temperature (coil 113
Can be water cooled when it is not desired to remove the metal from the furnace), the graphite 116 or metal in the port 114 acts as a plug, preventing the metal from being removed from the furnace. If it is desired to remove metal from the furnace, the coil 113 is inductively heated to allow the graphite 116 to pass through the metal as it exits the furnace via port 114. Nitrogen is then blown onto the graphite block 116 when it is desired to freeze the plug.

Ejection of metal in the arc plasma joule heated melter of the present invention can be controlled by sampling the melt bath during processing. In addition, or
Alternatively, the evacuation of metal from the device can be controlled by monitoring the voltage and current within the device. For example, if there is no change in the voltage between the Joule heating electrode and the bath, it may not be necessary to drain metal out of the device. This can be estimated for each Joule heating electrode in a particular device. On the other hand, if a change in voltage is detected, it may be desirable or necessary to eject metal from the device. Accordingly, meters can be provided for monitoring and manually or automatically controlling sensing parameters such as heat, voltage and current characteristics in the bus. Feedback from such instruments can be used to determine when to exit the metal outlet. In addition, a loan scale located below the metal and / or slag container (close to the discharge from the auxiliary heating system) can be used to determine the spitting conditions and monitoring conditions in the furnace.

Metal removal from the apparatus is also based, in part, on visual observation of the level of the melt bath within the apparatus, such as through the viewport of the furnace. For example, if the level of the melt bath continues to rise and the slag is removed using the auxiliary heating system described above, the level of metal in the device will rise to a level close to the conduit to the auxiliary heating system from which the slag exits. In these environments, it may be desirable to remove metal from the device to prevent it from entering the auxiliary heating system.

As mentioned above, the arc plasma Joule heating melt chamber according to the present invention preferably comprises a refractory lining. Depending on the material to be treated and / or converted, the refractory may be formed of any suitable material that can be treated at temperatures above about 1400 ° C. The refractory can be formed from ceramic or graphite. Also, the refractory may be formed from a reliable and refractory material. It should be understood that as the refractory material used in the present invention, a variety of durable refractory materials are suitable, depending on the type of material being treated. Also, these materials may be sensitive to thermal shock.

The inductively heated freeze plug arrangement shown in FIG. 1L can be heated to remove metal and / or slag from the furnace by available circuitry. For example, Standard Handbook for Electrical E
nginesers, 9th edition, edited by Knowlton, McGraw-Hill B
look Company, Inc. ((C) 1957), page 762, FIG.
The circuit shown at 124 can be used to heat a freeze plug arrangement according to the present invention. This document is incorporated herein by reference.

Several configurations may be utilized for the power supplied to the arc plasma Joule heating and melting chamber according to the present invention. For example, FIG. 2 shows one of the configurations of an integrated system including the particular configuration in the use of capacitors 162 and the distribution of power. As shown in FIG. 2, for arc 66, a single phase Joule heated arc plasma melting chamber 21 having a single pair of electrodes 27 and 28 is shown.
In one embodiment, the Joule heated portion 21 of the melting chamber is connected to the AC power source 158.
The arc portion of the melting chamber utilizes a DC power supply 150.

The embodiments shown in FIG. 2 each include a DC power system 150 in which waste material 29 powers electrodes within a single vessel or melter tank 21 that are treated by a conversion process that includes vitrification. And AC power system 158. DC arc currents 27 and 28 are applied to the Joule heated AC electrodes 24a and 24.
Because it interacts with b, special circuitry is required unless special steps are taken to prevent such interactions. As described herein, such interaction results in failure (f) of the transformer that provides power to the Joule heating electrodes.
It can be a cause of airure). This circuit allows for completely independent control of the arc plasma and the Joule heated melt chamber portion of the system.

The DC power supply 150 includes an inductor 157, a primary winding 153, and a secondary winding 154a.
, 154b and 154c, and supersaturated reactors 155a, 155b and 155c. The primary winding 153 is preferably delta. The supersaturated reactors 154a, 154b and 154c are connected to the secondary windings 154a, 154b,
And 154c in series. The negative (−) output 151 and the positive (+) output 152 are generated by the DC power supply 150.

Partially submerged Joule heated AC electrode, where the DC current 150 is directly connected to the terminals of the transformer 159 and has no means to impede the flow of the DC current 150 through the windings of the transformer 159. When flowing through the waste material 29 with 24a and 24b and the slag / metal melt pool 30, the core of the transformer 159 saturates. Therefore, the current in the primary winding 160 of the transformer 159 increases and the transformer 159 fails for a very short period of time. To keep the AC current 158 flowing through the melt pool 30 for the Joule heating to simultaneously operate the arc plasma and the Joule heated melting chamber in the vessel 21, while at the same time interrupting the DC current flow 150. is necessary. Capacitor 162 blocks DC current 150 and AC current 158.
It is used to flush. The capacitor 162 is preferably connected in series with the secondary winding 161 of each transformer to balance the current in each of the phases over a wide range of operating conditions of the furnace. As further shown in FIG. 2, the capacitor 162 is connected to the secondary winding 161 connected to the supersaturation reactor 163.

3A and 3B show circuit configurations suitable for use in the present invention. In particular, the three-phase AC power supply 158 is shown in FIG. 3A and the DC power supply 150 is shown in FIG. 3B.
The circuit reflects the inductance of each AC current path in the vessel or melt chamber, the non-linear resistance of the current path through the melt pool or melt bath, the electrode interface, the power supply cable, the secondary of the transformer 159, which is reflected throughout the AC power system 158. Windings 161a, 161b, and 161c, and capacitors 162a, 162b, and 16 connected as elements in series in the Joule furnace circuit.
Includes 2c capacitance magnitude. In addition, the AC power source 158 uses the primary winding 16
0, and saturated reactors 163a, 163b connected to the electrodes 24a-f,
And 163c. The saturation reactors 163a to 163c are connected to the secondary windings 161a to 161c, respectively.

In a circuit having a non-linear resistor in series, eg, a Joule heating furnace circuit, the AC current is not sinusoidal in most cases and is therefore superimposed on the 60 Hz sine wave supplied by the utility company. It is possible to excite some harmonic frequencies other than Hertz. In this circuit, it is important to take into account the non-linear resistance and to identify the electrical components that achieve sufficient damping and thereby stable operation. Also, the values of the voltage, current, and capacitance of the capacitor are (L / C) ^1/2 of the lowest resistance value seen at the furnace electrode when looking into the furnace plus an effective 60 Hertz. The value is such that the series resonance frequency of the entire system inductance in the furnace electrode becomes 1.5 times or more, preferably twice.
Where L is the total inductance of the power system and C is the capacitor 16
2a, 162b, and 162c capacitance. The total effective resistance R is (
It should be twice L / C) ^1/2 , but if it is 1.5 times (L / C) ^1/2 , the rise of any resonance in the current is negligible.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the DC electrical system 150 may have a power transformer with secondary windings 154a-154c in a Y or delta connection. The primary winding 153 is preferably delta. Also, as shown in FIG. 3B, the current rectifier is preferably a three-phase full-wave rectifier. The rectifier is a current-controlled thyristor rectifier whose anode-cathode current is controlled by the signal applied to the third electrode 2.
That is, it may be a silicon controlled rectifier. Alternatively, the rectifier has the desired D
It may be a three-phase full wave diode rectifier with DC current control to maintain C current. If a thyristor rectifier is utilized, it is important that the fully rated current floating diode be placed across the thyristor rectifier and in front of reactors 157a and 157b. In this embodiment, the saturation reactors 155a-
155c is not used. When using a three-phase diode rectifier, it is not necessary to add a DC "floating" or "clamping" diode as the diodes in the rectifier are sufficient.

For DC arc furnaces, it is preferred to use a three-phase full-wave diode rectifier with saturated reactor control 155a-155c. Regardless of which type of power supply is used, it is important that the inductor be connected in series with an ungrounded DC power lead. This reactor is needed to supply energy quickly in conditions of the furnace where the DC arc voltage increases rapidly. Further embodiments of powering the arc electrodes may be utilized in accordance with the present invention (see Figures 6-10).

As shown in FIG. 3B, the arc electrode 27 a has a (−) output and has an inductor 157.
The arc electrode 27b has a (+) output and is connected to the inductor 157b. If the inner bottom of the furnace or melting chamber is formed of a suitable refractory material such as ceramic and has low electrical conductivity when hot, the counter electrode 28 extends the portion of the furnace floor between the Joule heating electrodes 24a-24f. It can be formed by raising and then slightly raising the molten metal discharge pipe so that a pool of metal is maintained in this recess in the floor of the furnace even after the metal has been discharged. This metal can function as a counter electrode 28 for the AC Joule heating circuit and at the same time be used as a DC arc circuit electrode.

The metal furnace bottom electrode 28 can be connected using various configurations as shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 3B. In any case, it is preferable to have one or more electrodes through the bottom of the furnace or through the melting chamber. The electrodes can be graphite or metal.
The circuit shown in FIGS. 3B and 5 shows a switch 164 in series with an electrical connection to electrode 28.
Note that it includes. The function of these switches is to connect or disconnect the counter electrode to the neutral of the transformer of the rectifier, allowing the DC arc current to be transferred or not to the counter. For example, if the switch is "open," there is an arc from the (+) electrode to the bus and an arc from the bus to the (-) electrode. When the switch is "closed," there is an arc from the (+) electrode to the bus, and current flows to the counter electrode. There is also current from the counter electrode flowing through the bus, and if the (+) and (-) electrode currents are not balanced, there is also current through the (-) electrode due to the arc.

The switch 164 is a three-state switch having a closed position, an open position, and a grounded position. The transformer neutral grounding switch 164 enables several modes of operation. When the furnace or melting chamber operates in a mode in which two DC arcs are electrically connected in series, switch 164 is in the "ground" position and single throw switch 1
65 is open. When the furnace or melting chamber operates in a mode where the two DC arc electrodes operate independently, switch 164 is in the "closed" position and single state switch 165 is in the "ground" position. The "open" of switch 164 may be used during system maintenance (or if Joule heating is used without arc plasma heating).

If the above physical configuration of the furnace or melting chamber is suitable for using two independently arranged controllable electrodes, the DC arc electrode and the AC Joule heating electrode are:
It can be operated simultaneously without harmful electrical interaction. Moreover, useful interactions can be achieved for vitrification of various types of waste.

Exemplary plan views of various electrode configurations (and relative directions of current flow) suitable for use in unit 21 are shown in FIGS. 4A-4D. These configurations are suitable for remote control of mounting. FIG. 4A shows the extended furnace configuration and FIG.
A circular furnace configuration is shown in FIGS.

These Joule heat electrodes (24a, 24e or 24c) or (24d,
Any or all of 24b or 24f) can be connected as a counter electrode 28 for the DC arc system.

The electrode configuration shown in FIG. 4B uses one three-phase AC Joule heat power source and one DC rectifier power source. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4C, six Joule heating electrodes 24a-24f are used with six arc electrodes 27a-27f. Figure 4
This configuration, shown in C, uses one three-phase AC Joule thermal power supply and three DC rectifier power supplies.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4D, four Joule heating electrodes 24a-24d are used with four arc electrodes 27a-27d. In this configuration, two two-phase Scott TAC power supplies and a rectifier source are used.

Referring now to FIG. 5, AC power system 158 includes primary winding 160 and secondary windings 161a-161c, each of which has saturable reactor 16
3a to 163c (or thyristor switch as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). These saturable reactors 163a to 163c are connected to the Joule heat electrodes 24e to 24f, respectively.

DC power supply 150 includes secondary windings 154a to 155c connected to primary winding 153, inductors 157a and 157b, and saturable reactors 155a to 155c, respectively.
54c. As shown in FIG. 5, diodes 156a to 156f are provided. The inductor 157a has the arc electrode 27a at the (-) output 151.
Connected to the arc electrode 27 at the (+) output 152.
connected to b.

DC power supply 150 system neutral 166 and AC Joule hot electrodes 24a,
24b and 24c (these are electrodes connected to AC capacitors 162a-162c, respectively), and secondary windings 161a-1 of the transformer (also shown in FIG. 5).
Used for blocking DC current flow through 61c).
It is desirable to carry out according to the type of waste material to be treated. In FIG. 5, the connection between the DC power supply 150 and the AC power supply 158 is shown as a line 167. The reason for using this connection is that three additional DC counter electrodes are brought close to the melt pool surface during warm-up of the combustion furnace to allow neutral DC tran transfer.
sfer) current 166 to stabilize the positive (+) DC arc and the negative (-) DC arc, and then the material directly above the counter electrode on the hearth becomes sufficiently hot to provide sufficient DC. It is to assist the process in which the current is conducted to stabilize the DC arc.

As described above, using two or more DC arc plasma electrodes, a common melting (m
It is preferred to provide one or more arcs to or within the pool. One electrode is in electrical contact with the (+) terminal of one DC inductor and another electrode is in electrical contact with the (-) terminal of another DC inductor. The mid or neutral terminal of the secondary winding of the rectifying transformer may or may not be electrically connected to the counter electrode, which may be provided at or near the bottom of the melt pool. .

If only one of these two DC electrodes arcs and the other DC electrode settles in the dissolution tank and does not arc, the settled electrode can be grounded. However, this is not necessary and it is desirable not to do so.

In some systems, two graphite electrodes (ie, one (+) and another (-)) are used, so a three-phase transformer wye con is used.
The neutral junction 166 of the three windings may or may not be grounded.

The graphite tapping spout 28 of this unit
And metal combustion furnace shells must be installed for safety reasons.
Since this graphite tap hole is in electrical contact with the molten pool at the bottom of the combustion furnace, if the neutral terminal 166 of the Y-connected secondary winding is not connected to the graphite tap port 28, The two arcs are electrically in series. If one of these arcs goes out, then both of these arcs go out, which is undesirable. By connecting the neutral point 166 to the graphite outlet 28, each arc is made substantially independent,
It is possible to continue burning (even if the rest of the arc is extinguished). When heat is released from a burning arc, the extinguished arc often refires.

Connect three insulated secondary windings as shown in FIG. 3A or FIG.
.About.24e and the phases 24a to 24d and the phases 24c to 24f are physically and reliably connected in a state where the polarities are reversed, whereby the current path passing through the dissolution path is stirred and mixed in the tank. Provides a current path that increases the amount of waste material that can be processed per hour in a given combustion furnace.

When powering four or six graphite arc electrodes with two or three independent DC power supplies of the type shown in FIG. 3B and / or FIG. 5, large or physically large waste materials are used. It should also be noted that new combustion furnace design configurations are obtained when they need to be processed. The round combustion furnace design shown in FIGS. 4B-4D is
Meet this requirement.

Another embodiment of providing DC power for an arc electrode according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A.
~ Shown in Figure 7B. In FIG. 6, a plurality of phase power controllers are used, and in FIGS. 7A to 7B, a phase-controlled thyristor rectifier and a diode rectifier are used in combination. Since saturable reactors are often larger and more expensive than thyristors, these circuits may be advantageous over the circuit shown in FIG. 6 and 7A
In the circuits shown in ~ 7B, a thyristor switch and an AC inductor (e.g., a load limiting reactor (LLR)) are used in combination to achieve the same desired characteristics (e.g., DC Characteristics that improve the arc stability in the arc combustion furnace).

The circuit 170 shown in FIG. 6 includes a primary winding 171 and secondary windings 173a to 173c.
Equipped with. As shown in FIG. 6, these secondary windings are Y-connected with the transformer neutral 174 connected to them. The three-phase electric powers 175a to 175c are respectively supplied to the circuit breakers 172a to 172c shown in FIG.
2a to 172c may be arranged alternately between the secondary windings and the phase power controllers 176a to 176c). The circuit breakers 172a-172e (which may be air circuit breakers) are designed to cause the circuit to open automatically under abnormal conditions.

As also shown in FIG. 6, current limiting reactors (CLRs) 177a-177c are connected in series from the incoming AC power to phase power controllers 176a-176c. Alternatively, the current limiting reactors 177a to 177c are replaced by thyristors 178a to 178f.
May be connected in series at a position after the rectifier and before the diode rectifier 182. Reactors 177a-177c (which may be current limited reactors)
The thyristors and diodes in the rectifier are protected so that if a misfire occurs, an abnormal current will not be applied to these thyristors and diodes.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, three-phase power controllers 176a, 176b and 176c.
To provide. The phase power controllers 176a to 176c respectively include a pair of thyristors 17
8a-178b, 178c-178d and 178e-178f. The phase power controllers 176a-176c are also metal oxide varistor (MOV) 179a.
179e, load limiting reactors (LLRs) 180a to 180c, and current transformer (
CT) 181a to 181c, respectively. Reactors 180a-180c are preferably air gap reactors.

Using AC inductors 180a-180c, thyristors 178a-178f
Can be bypassed respectively. AC inductors 180a to 180c
The function of is to stabilize the arc (s). This function can be accomplished by using an inductor that provides current when the thyristor switch is in non-conducting mode. As shown in FIG. 6, metal oxide varistor (MOV) 179a-179c are connected in parallel with the inductor and thyristor. Varistors 179a-179c are used to limit or clamp any transition voltage of either polarity to a level that does not damage the thyristor.

Current transformers (CT) 181a-181f are standard AC current transformers.
Using the current transformers 181a-181f, the thyristors 178a-17e can be used after passing an appropriate level of DC current between the (+) and (-) DC arc electrodes.
It can be ensured that "8f" is turned "on". Current transformer 181a-1
The use of 81f also ensures that when the thyristor is inadvertently turned "on", the resulting current will be promptly reduced to a preset level of current. As a result, when the DC power arc is extinguished, "all phases are turned on (
A "full phase on" thyristor causes D to be generated when an arc is generated through the (+) and (-) electrodes under such "all phase" conditions.
It is possible to prevent a situation in which an undesirably high level of abnormal transition surge may occur in the C current.

When the thyristors 178a to 178f are controlled by pulses or gates,
The AC inductors 180a-180c (eg, LLRs) can limit the AC current to relatively low levels of current. That is, the DC current provided by the three-phase full-wave diode rectifier is at a level sufficient to prevent extinction of the arc (s). (-) DC arc electrode 27a and (+) DC arc electrode 27
When b contacts the conductive surface, the arc (s) starts and sustains with a sufficiently large current to maintain the DC arc (s) until the thyristor gate fires. When the thyristor gate fires, the arc current flows through the electric arc (s) to a preset magnitude (
It is determined by the relative phase angle and / or duration of the pulse gates).

Furthermore, when the thyristor fires, a short circuit occurs in each AC inductor (LLR) of the thyristor during the firing, which increases the arc current. Before the short circuit of the current by the thyristors 178a to 178f occurs, the current passes through the inductors 180a to 180c.
Energy can be stored in c. The amount of energy stored in each inductor is E = 1 / 2L _i ² , where E is energy (unit: watt seconds), L is inductance (unit: Henry), and i is current. (Unit: ampere).

Storing energy in the inductor allows current to flow from inductors 180a-180c through thyristors 178a-178f when thyristors 178a-178f fire. This current flow direction is opposite to the direction in which normal current normally flows from the power transformer to the diode rectifier, which is indicated by the broker line 182 in FIG. Therefore, the thyristor 17
It is desirable to fire thyristors 178a-178f at a timing or phase angle such that the initial current through 8a-178f is much larger than the magnitude of the current leaving inductors 180a-180c. Before the thyristor gate is pulsed, if the initial current from the inductor is greater than the forward current through the thyristor before the thyristor gate is "on", the thyristor is momentarily turned "off". can do. On the other hand, if the gate pulse is long enough, the thyristor will immediately turn to the "on" state again, and the thyristor will have "zero current" (this is the state where the thyristor must be "off" and "off" is desirable). "On" until the state of) is obtained at the normal power frequency.
It remains in the state.

The AC current coming into the diode rectifier 182 is rectified to provide a DC current.
Specifically, phase 175a is rectified by diodes 182a and 182b.
Similarly, phase 175b is rectified by diodes 182c and 182d while phase 175c is rectified by diodes 182e and 182f.

As also shown in FIG. 6, capacitors 183 a-183 f and resistor 184.
a to 184f are connected in parallel with the diodes 182a to 182f, respectively. Therefore, the capacitors 183a-183f and the resistors 184a-184f form a plurality of snubber circuits around the diodes 182a-182f. Snubber circuits are often used to limit the effects of sudden changes in voltage. As shown in FIG. 6, these snubber circuits have been shown to have damaged diode 182a.
It is designed to prevent excess voltage from flowing in the opposite direction from ˜182f. Therefore, the capacitors 183a to 183f allow the diodes 182a to 182f to operate.
The transition voltage across is minimized.

The Y-connected transformer neutral 174 is connected to ground 185 and also to the counter electrode 28 in the hearth of the combustion furnace. As a result, arc stability is further improved under various conditions that can usually cause unstable arcs or arc extinction. For example, counter electrode 28 provides two independent electric arcs with electrodes 27a and 27b. If one of the arcs extinguishes (for example due to the demand for transition energy due to the waste processed in the combustion furnace),
Hold the other arc and re-fire the extinguished arc.

Inductors 186a and 186b are connected to arc electrodes 27a and 27, respectively.
b, connected to the output of the diode rectifier, provides the energy and necessary transition voltage often needed to keep the arc stable while the combustion furnace 21 is operating.

The current transformers (CT) 181a to 181f are standard AC current transformers, and the current transformers (CT) 187a to 187c are DC type current transformers.

The current transformers 181a-181f preferably provide feedback information to the automatic current control circuit to maintain a substantially constant preset amount of current under varying arc voltage conditions. The current transformer 187c has the (-) arc electrode 27a and (
+) Sensing any unequal currents to and from the arc electrode 27b and providing a correction signal (eg, adjusting the firing angle of the thyristor and / or adjusting the arc length of one electrode). Correct any unwanted unequal currents (by doing so).

A clamping diode 188 connected across the output of the diode rectifier 182 is used to deliver the energy stored in the inductors 186a and 186b during a short interval while DC power from the rectifier 182 is not being supplied. Provides a current path.

Referring now to FIG. 7A, another embodiment of a circuit used with an arc electrode is illustrated. The circuit 190 shown in FIG. 7A is designed to achieve the same purpose as the circuit shown in FIG. 6 and comprises two different power rectifier circuits 191,192.

The main rectifier circuit 192 comprises a main power thyristor rectifier 210 having thyristors 210a-210f. As shown in FIG. 7A, the current limiting reactor 212
a-212c are respectively connected to phases 196a-196c in front of thyristor rectifier 210.

The current transformer 213 is connected to the (+) output of the thyristor rectifier 210, while the current transformer 214 is connected to the (−) output of the thyristor rectifier 210. The inductors 215a and 215b are the negative (-) of the thyristor rectifier 210.
It is connected to the output and the (+) output, respectively. Inductors 215a and 2
15b may be a DC inductor (eg, iron core air gap inductor).

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the output of diode rectifier 205 functions as a clamping diode for thyristor rectifier 210. For example, as shown, the (+) output 206 of diode rectifier 205 is connected to the (+) output of rectifier 210 and the (-) output 207 of diode rectifier 205 is connected to the (-) output of rectifier 210.

The circuit 190 comprises a main power transformer 195. The transformer 205 has a primary winding 1
93 and a secondary winding 194. As shown in FIG. 7A, the secondary windings 194a-
194c is Y-connected and has a neutral return path 197. The neutral return path 197 functions similarly to the neutral return path 174 described in connection with FIG. The circuit breakers 198a-198c are respectively connected to the secondary windings 194a-194c for the respective phases 196a-196c.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, some of the power from the main secondary windings 194a-194c is used in the start-up circuit 191, and some in the main power circuit 192 (eg, the main power rectifier or thyristor rectifier 210). Used in).

The “start-up” rectifier circuit 191 comprises a transformer 201, which
01 includes a primary winding 199 and a secondary winding 200. As shown in FIG. 7A,
The secondary windings 200a-200c have a neutral return path 203 (which is ground 185).
And is connected to the counter electrode 24) and is also Y-connected. In addition, the circuit breakers 202a-202c provide the phases 196a-19 before the primary winding 199.
6c, respectively. A load limiting reactor (LLR) (eg, air gap iron core reactor) 204a-204c is connected in series with the secondary windings 200a-200c. The start-up circuit 191 also includes a three-phase diode rectifier 205. As mentioned above, the outputs 206 and 207 of the diode rectifier 205 are connected to the output of the thyristor rectifier 210. Diode rectifier 205 comprises diodes 205a-205f and has sufficient output current to initiate and maintain a stable arc (s).

The (−) DC electrode 27a and the (+) DC electrode 27b can be located in contact with a conductive surface (eg, the dissolution pool described above in this specification). Circuit breakers 198a-198c and 202a-202c are closed so that DC current flow from diode rectifier 205 initiates an arc in electrodes 27a and 27b. Circuit breakers 198a-198c and 202a-2
02c may be an air circuit breaker (eg, an air circuit breaker for low voltage). The magnitude of this DC current is limited by the inductors 204a-204c that deliver AC power to the AC input of the diode rectifier 205.

The thyristor rectifier 210 is controlled so that no firing pulse is delivered to each thyristor 210a-210f during the start-up process described above. That is, during start-up, the thyristor rectifier 210 has the (-) electrode and the (+) electrode.
) Do not supply any DC voltage or current to the electrodes, 27a and 27b, respectively.

When a firing pulse is delivered to the thyristors 210a-210f in the thyristor rectifier 210, the current of this power rectifier may increase to a preset level,
Even if the resistance between the (+) electrode and the (−) electrode changes over a relatively wide range,
This preset level remains constant.

During the interval, if none of these thyristors are “on” or “fired” by their respective gate pulses, the starting diode rectifier 205 maintains a low current arc, which results in a stable DC arc. Generate and maintain (s).

A situation in which a large transition current reaches the (+) electrode to the (−) electrode or the (+) electrode to the N (counter electrode 28) electrode or the (−) electrode to the N (counter electrode 28) electrode. But there is no leading arc or other current path between these electrodes,
Also, in order to ensure that the control circuit does not recognize this open circuit condition, DC current transformers 208, 209, 213 and 214 sense this condition and cause the following events.

The DC current transformers 208 and 209 have the predicted current levels of the DC electrodes 27a and (+).
) The thyristor firing pulse is turned "off" until it senses a (-) flow in a reasonably constant manner with the DC electrode 27b. Current transformer 208
And 209 indicate that DC current is flowing in the (−) DC electrode 27a and the (+) DC electrode 27b, the thyristor firing pulse on the rectifier 210 is turned “on” and the DC current is set to their respective preset values. Automatically increase to current level.

Voltage (+) for the N (counter electrode 28) electrode and N (counter electrode 28)
If the voltage (-) to the electrodes is abnormally unequal and the current flow from the electrodes shows a high voltage, the electrodes that do not show current until the current and voltage fall within their normal operating current range. It can be lowered automatically.

The DC inductors 215a and 215b are capable of storing energy and delivering that stored energy at high speed (ie, much faster than the phase angle control that can be achieved by the circuit to which the thyristor is connected). , This prevents the arc (s) from extinguishing. The current transformer 211 is in the transformer neutral circuit. If the currents supplied to the (+) and (-) electrodes are equal, the current in the current transformer 211 will be zero. If these currents are unequal,
The current transformer 211 regulates the electrode gap until these circuits are equal.

In another embodiment of FIG. 7A, transformer 201 may be unnecessary. The step of eliminating the transformer 201 can be achieved by using the circuit shown in FIG. 7B. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7B can be used to power two arc electrodes.

In this embodiment, the transformer used in supplying the low AC voltage to the diode rectifier is not needed or desired. The reason is that the diodes 205a-205f and the thyristors 210a-210f ensure that the maximum open circuit voltage from the diode rectifier does not exceed the maximum open circuit voltage from the thyristor rectifier 210 and that the DC arc voltage supplied by the diode rectifier 205 is , As long as it is below the open circuit DC voltage that can be delivered by the thyristor rectifier 210, it is possible to substantially isolate the current.

The transformer 195 in FIG. 7B may have a triangular primary (not shown) and a Y-connected secondary with neutral. Alternatively, the primary winding may be Y with neutral and the secondary may be Y with neutral. In another embodiment, the primary can be a Y connection (no neutral) and the secondary can be a neutral and triangular Y shape.

Although it is not necessary to provide four DC inductors 217a-217d in all cases, it may be desirable to do so. Even if the inductor is inductor 215
Even if connected directly in series to each of the arc electrodes shown as a-215b (otherwise unusually large inductors 215a and 215).
b may be needed).

The current transformers 213, 214, 218 and 219 transmit any amount of current greater than zero. Where DC current transformer 208 and / or DC current transformer 2
It makes no difference whether the DC current in 09 is greater than or equal to zero, and it does not matter in which direction the current flows in the DC current transformer 208 and / or the DC current transformer 209. The DC current transformers 208, 209, 218 and 219 include currents from the diode rectifier 205 and positive and negative arcs before the thyristor gate circuit can increase the firing angle of the thyristors 210a-210f to any amount greater than zero. It must be shown that it is flowing through both electrodes 27a, 27b. Once the thyristor rectifier 210 passes DC current through both arc electrodes, the function of the diode rectifier then provides a relatively low amount of DC current before each thyristor fires or "turns on". This allows a much more stable DC
An arc is created. This is especially important when the waste contains more water or other components that rapidly require more energy from the arc. This is because the arc can be extinguished if the arc energy is needed rapidly. If the AC current limiting diode rectifier was not connected in parallel with the DC output from the thyristor rectifier, then the risk of arc extinction is even greater.

When arc extinction occurs, the DC arc current immediately drops to zero. This normally advances the firing circuit from the preset firing angle to the "fully on" 180 ° position, which produces a very undesired amount of current in the event of an arc restart. For example, if the system's maximum load DC arc current rating is preset to 1500 amps and the arc is operating at 500 amps, and the arc suddenly extinguishes and the current drops to zero, then two effects occur immediately: The electrodes are automatically oriented to move down towards the melting bath, and the firing circuit normally advances to a "fully on" 180 conduction angle.

What happens next is the maximum short circuit current immediately instead of the arc reigniting and the DC thyristor current being limited to the previous preset value of 500 amps.

The thyristor firing circuit is immediately returned to its 0 firing angle, and kept at 0 ° until and until the current limiting diode rectifier regenerates the DC arc from the electrodes into the melting tank, at and only this time. Increases at a controlled rate until the previous 500 amp arc current limit is reached. This prevents the recurrence of another abnormal rise in current.

The load limiting reactors 204a-204c (iron core void reactors) limit the diode rectifier DC current to a low level. This low level provides the amount of arc power required to maintain a stable DC arc while at the same time melting any residual waste that has not been destroyed after the final waste canister was placed in the furnace, At the same time, it is at a level sufficient to limit the arc energy that can hit the furnace lining, which is not protected by the almost continuous waste stream. A limited amount of arc energy turns off the thyristor ignition circuit and uses only rectified low current diodes, and then adjusts the arc length to destroy any residual waste and at the same time eliminate lining wear. Obtained by

It should be noted that the clamping diode 221 has a thyristor 210a with a high voltage rise.
Prevent ~ 210f from being damaged. It is not necessary to include a clamping diode for the diode rectifier 205 as the diodes 205a-205f provide them with their own rising clamping action.

The current transformer 220 is included in FIG. 7B but not in FIG. 7A. Because the circuit shown in FIG. 7A has an isolation transformer 201, and the circuit shown in FIG. 7B does not include this transformer. Current transformers 209 and 211 are DC current transformers.

With the circuit for the arc electrodes described above, the Joule heated AC power supply can provide a nearly constant melting temperature throughout the glass tank. This minimizes size constraints on the arc, ie, arc power, electrode diameter, etc. DC
The arc is mainly present in the furnace-melt chamber to increase the feed rate. This makes this newly constructed melt chamber technology more flexible than other available vitrification systems. The arc supplies energy in the unmelted overcharge of the input feed, and the Joule heating of the melting chamber system maintains a hot glass pool to ensure longer melting and mixing of the glass mixture and longer waste for waste decomposition. Secure a residence time.

The circuits shown in FIGS. 8-11 illustrate another embodiment for supplying arc power and Joule heating power to an arc plasma-Joule melting chamber in accordance with the present invention.

A Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) or thyristor as used herein is a solid state device that can be turned “on” with very low energy gate pulses of short duration. Once the SCR is fired or turned "on", the SCR remains energized even after the gate firing pulse is turned off. This energization is 100
It continues until the power circuit is interrupted on the order of microseconds or more or the current becomes zero.
The thyristor remains in the open or "off" position until the firing pulse is reapplied. The SCR or thyristor does not conduct when the direction of current flow is reversed, even if a firing pulse is applied.

As also used herein, “SCR switch” is a plurality (eg, 2).
) Including a thyristor connected in anti-parallel. Snubber circuits including resistors and capacitors connected in series may also be connected in parallel to the SCR or static switches of the present invention. Snubber circuits are solid state devices (eg SCR)
Control the transient system voltage across the In another embodiment, the SCR on either circuit can be replaced with a saturable reactor. If a saturable reactor is used, the load limiting reactor can be used in parallel with the saturable reactor.

A load limiting reactor (LLR) as used herein provides a constant inductive reactance such that the resulting inductance is irrespective of the amount of short circuit current available in a particular system. , Such that a given relatively low current will flow through the inductance and the circuit when the circuit is completed in series without additional impedance. The magnitude of the AC current flowing here is equal to the continuous current rating of the inductor. In the arc circuit, static or SCR switch (
Alternatively, an LLR connected in parallel to the thyristor switch provides a sufficient amount of current so that the arc is present even when no thyristor is firing.
This occurs every ½ cycle if the firing angle is delayed or its phase is reversed. This improves arc stability.

Current limiting reactors (CLRs) as used herein are similar in design to load limiting reactors. However, the impedance of the current limiting reactor is significantly lower than the impedance of the load limiting reactor. Current limiting reactors also have significantly greater current carrying capacity or ratings than load limiting reactors. This causes the current limiting reactor to deliver all current when the thyristor is in the "fully on" position. As a result, the solid state devices of static switches and rectifiers (the ones used here) are protected despite the most severe operating conditions. In this way, CLRs maintain solid state components (eg, SCR switches or rectifiers) by maintaining current at appropriate levels (ie, SCR switch or rectifier ratings).
Prevent damage to switches and diodes). Without CLR, the system could sustain an order of 20 times rated transformer current. For example (and not by way of limitation), if the arc electrodes are short-circuited and the impedance between the arc electrodes and the arc electrodes or between the arc electrodes and the counter electrode is substantially zero, then a solid state device such as a static switch is overloaded. It is not loaded or damaged.

As further used herein, a DC inductor is used to provide the frequently needed transient voltage to maintain a stable arc during furnace operation. Void iron core DC
The construction and design of the inductor is similar to the AC inductor except for size constraints.

8A-8E, another DC arc circuit configuration is illustrated. Figure 8A
The DC arc circuit shown in ~ 8E allows for independent arc voltage and current control. This is because the arc voltage is largely controlled by the arc length, and the arc current is independently controlled by the SCR phase angle firing.

FIG. 8A describes a DC single arc electrode system 230. The DC single arc electrode system 230 is powered by an AC power circuit using either three single phase transformers or one three phase transformer. The primary winding 231 of the transformer 235 is connected to four wire input power circuits (three phases and one neutral wire) and a triangle (as shown in FIG. 8A) or Y shape.

Power from the utility source (not shown) is transferred to the primary winding 231a, 2
It is supplied to three phases 233a, 233b and 233c connected to 31b and 231c, respectively. Circuit breakers 232a, 232b and 232c for each of phases 233a, 233b and 233c may also be included. The circuit breaker can be an air circuit breaker.

Secondary windings 234a, 234b and 234c of transformer 235 are configured to be in a "U" connection as shown. The circuit shown in FIG. 8A provides power to a single phase load while simultaneously sourcing an equal amount of current in each of the phases of both primary 231 and secondary 234 transformer windings. It is desirable to balance the load current on all three primary windings of the transformer. For example, a utility company may consider utility power for unbalanced phase currents when the load currents are substantially unbalanced on all three primary windings, or because the single phase load is a very small capacitance. If the impact on the system is small, the power may be turned off. Whenever a "U" transformer is used, a triangle primary is used to balance the load on all three phases to provide a balanced load current. This causes the same current to flow on each of the three phases on the primary winding. The same relative current flows in each secondary winding of the transformer.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switch 237 is
Connected to one of the secondary windings. The switch 237 is the thyristor 23.
9a and 239b. SCR devices are used to prevent the flow of AC or DC current in either direction. Short duration, until a unidirectional pulse is applied between the gate and the cathode and also the anode is connected to the positive terminal of the power source and the cathode is connected to the negative source of power, these connections being the current Flow is SC
It is done by an intervening load of impedance such that the current rating of the R device is not exceeded.

Another feature of SCRs or thyristors is that once the current flows from anode to cathode S
Once it begins to flow through the CR, this current will continue to flow even after the gate pulse current has stopped and no voltage has been applied to the gate.

The flow of current through the SCR can be stopped by interrupting the flow of current by means external to the SCR. If AC current is flowing through the SCR, it is necessary to wait for the natural current zero to occur twice per cycle, or use some other means to stop this current flow for about 0.000050 seconds. Nothing.

The load limiting reactor (LLR) 238 (connected in parallel with thyristors 239a and 239b in FIG. 8A) has a SCR switch that is activated each half cycle before the SCR is turned on or “fired”. Designed to provide low current when deactivated or in the "dead interval". Maintaining the arc present during the dead interval melts the arc stability and any residual waste particles that may remain on the surface of the melt at the end of the waste destruction operation if the SCR is not "turned on". Greatly improve what is done.

As mentioned above, a snubber circuit including a resistor 246 and a capacitor 245 connected in series may also be connected in parallel with the SCR switch 237.

The current limiting reactor 236 is connected to another secondary winding terminal as shown in FIG. 8A (eg terminal C2). The current limiting reactor (CLR) 236 is designed so that the DC short circuit current is limited below the rated maximum load current of the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switch 237 or the diode bridge rectifier 240. This increases the life of these devices.

Input 241a from SCR switch 237 and input 24 from CLR 236
1b is introduced into a diode rectifier 240 that rectifies alternating current into direct current. The output 242a from the rectifier bridge 240 provides a direct current to the arc electrode 27 for the arc 66.
While the output 242b from the diode rectifier 240 is provided to the counter electrode 28 in the furnace 21 (connected to ground 244). The DC inductor 243 is connected between the output 242a of the diode bridge rectifier 240 and the DC arc electrode 27.

As mentioned above, saturable reactors may be used in the present invention in place of LLR reactors and SCR switches in virtually all DC or AC arc applications. In addition, as the number of DC arc or AC arc electrodes increases,
Also, the larger the number of AC Joule heating electrodes, the larger the physical furnace size and the greater the amount of waste destroyed per hour.

FIG. 8B shows another DC arc circuit that provides independent arc voltage and current control. The circuit 247 shown in FIG. 8B operates with two arc electrodes. Circuit 2
47 is a Scott-T transformer circuit 250 that converts three-phase power into two-phase power.
To use.

Transformer 250 includes primary windings 248a, 248b and 248c connected to phases 233a, 233b and 233c, respectively. Circuit breakers 232a, 232b and 232c, such as air circuit breakers, are also included as shown in FIG. 8B.

Secondary winding 249a and secondary winding 249b power two circuits configured similarly to the single phase circuit described above in FIG. 8A. If there are more than one arc electrode and the circuit shown in FIGS. 8B-10F is used, then preferably the polarity of the arc electrodes can be made the same (eg, negative). If polyphase AC power and AC arc electrodes are used (see, eg, FIGS. 9A-9E), the electrodes may then have opposite polarities. If DC power is used, the electrodes are all (+
) Or (-). Alternatively, some of the DC electrodes are (+) and some are (-).

For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the polarities of the electrodes 27a and 27b are preferably both (−) polarities. This allows both arcs to be attracted towards each other to increase the life of the furnace lining.

Preferably, the arc electrode is (-) and the counter electrode is (+). If the counter electrode is (-) and the arc electrode is (+), more electrodes may be consumed. However, in either case, the DC arcs still attract each other.

Also preferably, the electrodes are equidistantly arranged in the furnace. For example, in FIG. 8C, three arc electrodes are utilized, where the electrodes preferably form an equilateral triangle and all arcs are centered. This minimizes erosion of the furnace lining,
The consumption of electrodes is reduced, and the control of radiation to the furnace wall is facilitated.

As shown in FIG. 8B, silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switches 237a and 237b are connected to one end of each secondary winding 249a and 249b. The switches 237a and 237b are connected to the thyristors 239a and 239a, respectively.
9b, 239c and 239d.

Load limiting reactors (LLRs) 238a and 238b (connected in parallel with thyristors 239a and 239b of switch 237a and thyristors 239c and 239d of switch 237b, respectively, in FIG. 8B) are SCRs.
Is designed to provide low current when the SCR switch is deactivated or in a "dead interval" in each half-cycle before it is turned on or "fired". By maintaining the arc present during the dead interval, as described above, the arc stability and SCR are "on".
Greatly improves the melting of any residual waste particles that may otherwise remain on the surface of the melt at the end of the waste destruction operation.

As mentioned above, snubber circuits including resistors 246a and 246b and capacitors 245a and 245b connected in series may also be connected in parallel with SCR switches 237a and 237b. As shown in FIG. 8B, current limiting reactors 236a and 236b are connected to the other ends of secondary windings 249a and 249b, respectively.

The current limiting reactors (CLRs) 236a and 236b are designed to limit the DC short circuit current of the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switches 237a, 237b or the diode bridge rectifiers 240a, 240b, respectively, below the rated maximum load current. This increases the lifetime of these devices.

Input 241a from SCR switch 237a and input 241b from CLR 236a are introduced to a diode rectifier 240a that rectifies alternating current to direct current. Similarly, input 241c from SCR switch 237b and input 241d from CLR 236b are introduced into diode rectifier 240b that rectifies alternating current to direct current. The output 242a from the rectifier bridge 240a provides DC to the arc electrode 27a for the arc 66a, while the output 242b from the diode rectifier 240a.
Is connected to the counter electrode 28 (which is connected to ground 244) in the furnace 21.

The DC inductor 243a is connected to the output 242 of the diode bridge rectifier 240a.
a and the DC arc electrode 27a.

The output 242c from the rectifier bridge 240b provides direct current to the arc electrode 27b for the arc 66b, while the output 242d from the diode rectifier 240b.
Is connected to the counter electrode 28 (ground 244) in the furnace 21. DC inductor 24
3b is the output 242c of the diode bridge rectifier 240b and the DC arc electrode 2
7b is connected.

8C-8E respectively show different types of secondary transformer connections for powering a DC arc circuit. 8C-8E each show a DC arc circuit that provides independent arc voltage and current control for the three arc electrodes.

The circuit 251 shown in FIG. 8C includes three single-phase transformers whose primary wiring is connected in a delta shape. Primary wires 252a, 252b and 252c are provided for phases 233a, 233b and 233c, respectively. Each single-phase transformer
It has a single secondary wire 253a, 253b and 253c, which are connected to an electrical circuit as described above in connection with FIGS. 8A and 8B.

As shown in FIG. 8C, silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switches 237a, 23
7b and 237c are secondary wirings 253a, 253b and 253, respectively.
It is connected to one end of c. Switches 237a, 237b and 237c each include thyristors 239a-239f.

Load Limited Reactors (LLRs) 238a, 238b and 238c (respectively,
8C, which is connected in parallel to thyristors 239a and 239b of switch 237a, thyristors 239c and 239d of switch 237b, and thyristors 239e and 239f of switch 239c) when the SCR switch is deactivated, or It is designed to deliver low current when in the "dead interval" state during each half cycle before the SCR is turned on or "activated". As mentioned above, keeping the arc active during the "dead interval" significantly improves the arc stability and melts the waste particles that may remain on the surface of the melt at the end of the waste destruction campaign. To do.

The current limiting reactors 236a, 236b and 236c are connected to the other ends of the secondary wirings 253a, 253b and 253c, respectively, as shown in FIG. 8C. The current limiting reactors (CLRs) 236a, 236b and 236c have DC short circuit currents and silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switches 237a, 237b and 23.
7c, or diode bridge rectifiers 240a, 240b and 240c, are designed to be limited to the maximum rated load current or less, thereby extending the life of these devices.

Input 241a from SCR switch 237a and input 241b from CLR 236a are introduced to diode rectifier 240a. Diode rectifier 240
a rectifies an alternating current into a direct current. Similarly, input 241c from SCR switch 237b and input 241d from CLR 236b are introduced to diode rectifier 240b. The diode rectifier 240b rectifies the alternating current into a direct current. Input 241e from SCR switch 237c and CLR 236
Input 241f from c is introduced into diode rectifier 240c. The diode rectifier 240c rectifies the alternating current into a direct current.

The output 242a from the rectifier bridge 240a supplies a direct current to the arc electrode 27a for the arc 66a. On the other hand, the output 24 from the diode rectifier 242a
2b is connected to the counter electrode 28 (which is connected to the ground 244) inside the furnace 21. The DC inductor 243a is connected between the output 242a of the diode bridge rectifier 240a and the DC arc electrode 27a.

The output 242c from the rectifier bridge 240b supplies a direct current to the arc electrode 27b for the arc 66b. On the other hand, the output 24 from the diode rectifier 240b
2d is connected to the counter electrode 28 (connected to the ground 244) in the furnace 21. The DC inductor 243b is connected between the output 242c of the diode bridge rectifier 240b and the DC arc electrode 27b. Similarly, the output 242e from the rectifier bridge 240c supplies a direct current to the arc electrode 27c for the arc 66c. On the other hand, the output 242f from the diode rectifier 240c is
1 is connected to the counter electrode 28 (connected to the ground 244). DC
The inductor 243c is connected to the output 242e of the diode bridge rectifier 240c and D
It is connected to the C arc electrode 27c. As shown in FIG. 8C, the output 242
Both b, 242d and 242f may be connected to bus 242, which is connected to counter electrode 28.

The circuit shown in FIG. 8C may be used when it is desirable to have completely independent control of each DC arc. However, these single-phase transformers are typically more expensive, single three-phase transformers with comparable ratings.

Referring to FIG. 8D, circuit 254 includes primary wires 255a, 255b and 25.
It uses one 3-phase transformer with 5c. The primary wirings 255a, 255b and 255c are connected in a delta fashion, thereby causing phases 233a, 233b, respectively.
And 233c. As shown in FIG. 8D, circuit breakers 232a, 232b and 232c, such as air circuit breakers, may be further provided.

The secondary wirings 257 a, 257 b, and 257 c are Y-shaped together with the neutral 258.
It is connected in a letter shape. Neutral 258 extends out to the surge capacitor 25
9 and resistor 260 to ground 244. The surge capacitor 259 minimizes or reduces the scattering of electrical noise and to prevent damage to the solid state SCR switch and / or diode rectifier due to the magnitude of the electrical surge from the incoming high voltage system. It is provided in.

Load limited reactors (LLRs) 238a, 238b and 238c (respectively,
8D connected in parallel to thyristors 239a and 239b of switch 237a, thyristors 239c and 239d of switch 237b, and thyristors 239e and 239f of switch 237c) when the SCR switch is deactivated or SCR. Is designed to deliver a low current when in the "dead interval" state during each half cycle before it is turned on or "activated". As mentioned above, maintaining the arc active during the "dead interval" significantly improves the arc stability and reduces the SCR
Melt any waste particles that may remain on the surface of the melt at the end of the "off" waste destruction campaign.

The current limiting reactors 236a, 236b and 236c are connected to one ends of the secondary wirings 257a, 257b and 257c, respectively, as shown in FIG. 8D. Further, as shown in FIG. 8D, current limiting reactors 236a, 236b and 23
6c is connected in series to SCR switches 237a, 237b and 237c, respectively. (The current limiting reactor is connected in series with a portion of the AC circuit, and the load limiting reactor is connected in parallel with the SCR switch.) The current limiting reactors (CLR) 236a, 236b and 236c have a DC short circuit current, Silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) switches 237a, 237b and 23
7c, or diode bridge rectifiers 240a, 240b and 240c, are designed to be limited to the maximum rated load current or less, thereby extending the life of these devices.

The input 261a from the SCR switch 237a is introduced to the diode rectifier 240a. The diode rectifier 240a rectifies an alternating current into a direct current. Similarly, the input 261b from the SCR switch 237b is connected to the diode rectifier 2
40b is introduced. Input 261c from SCR switch 237c is introduced to diode rectifier 240c.

The output 242a from the rectifier bridge 240a supplies a direct current to the arc electrode 27a for the arc 66a. On the other hand, the output 24 from the diode rectifier 240a
2b is connected to the counter electrode 28 (which is connected to the ground 244) inside the furnace 21. The DC inductor 243a is connected between the output 242a of the diode bridge rectifier 240a and the DC arc electrode 27a. Rectifier bridge 24
The output 242c from 0b supplies a direct current to the arc electrode 27b for the arc 66b. On the other hand, the output 242d from the diode rectifier 240b is connected to the counter electrode 28 (connected to the ground 244) in the furnace 21. The DC inductor 243b is connected between the output 242c of the diode bridge rectifier 240b and the DC arc electrode 27b. Output 242 from the rectifier bridge 240c
e supplies a direct current to the arc electrode 27c for the arc 66c. On the other hand, the output 242f from the diode rectifier 240c is applied to the counter electrode 28 (ground 2
Connected to 44). The DC inductor 243c is connected between the output 242e of the diode bridge rectifier 240c and the DC arc electrode 27c. Outputs 242b, 242d, and 242f may all be connected to bus 242, which is connected to counter electrode 28, as shown in FIG. 8D.

The circuit on the load side of the SCR switch shown in FIG. 8D is between the electrodes 27a and 28,
A DC voltage open circuit voltage that is approximately 73% greater than between 27b and 28 and between 27c and 28, between arc electrodes 27a and 27b, between 27b and 27c, and between 27c and 27a. Can be supplied to. This may improve stability over Figures 8A and 8B.

The circuit 262 shown in FIG. 8E is similar to the circuit 254 shown in FIG. 8D. But,
Circuit 262 shown in FIG. 8E shows transformer 25 connected in a delta rather than a Y-shape.
6 secondary wirings 257a, 257b and 257c are included. Further, as shown in FIG. 8E, three surge capacitors 259a, 259b and 259c are connected in a Y-shape, which provides comparable surge protection for static switches and / or diodes. ing. Similar to FIG. 8D, a resistor 260 is further provided to suppress electrical noise.

If a larger furnace is needed than three electrodes can handle, the circuit of FIG. 8B can be combined as needed, thereby providing DC arc power for multiple arc electrodes, eg, four arc electrodes. To supply. In some cases, it may be desirable to design a larger furnace that utilizes six arc electrodes. The power for the six electrodes is
Combining two systems as shown in the system of Figure 8C, combining two systems as shown in Figure 8D, or in some cases, a system as shown in Figure 8C and a system as shown in Figure 8D. It can be supplied by combining one by one.

In the situation where four or six electrodes are used, independent arc current control can be provided interspersed between the electrodes from two separate systems. It still provides a balanced load to each utility phase, thereby
It allows the power of one system to be reduced relative to the related system. The interspersed configuration of the electrodes generally dissipates the heat from all the electrodes in the furnace in a more uniform manner.

9A-9E show another embodiment of supplying AC power to the arc electrode according to the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A-9E includes a direct current (DC) as described above.
), Instead of alternating current (AC). AC power can be utilized for both arc electrodes and Joule heating electrodes and does not cause deleterious interactions with each other. This is because the arc electrode and the Joule heating electrode can effectively reduce their interdependence and do not damage any transformer.

FIG. 9A shows an AC arc circuit 263 that provides independent arc voltage and current control. Circuit 263 includes one arc electrode 27 for arc 66.

The power source for the AC arc is as described above with respect to the DC arc circuit of FIG. 8A.
The power from the "U-shaped" secondary wiring 234a, 234b, and 234c of the transformer 235 is used. Primary wires 231a, 231b and 231c of transformer 235 are provided for phases 233a, 233b and 233c, respectively. Circuit breakers 232a, 232b and 232c, such as air circuit breakers, may further be provided.

The SCR switch 237 is connected to one of the secondary wirings, and is connected to the thyristor 23.
9a and 239b. The load limiting reactor (LLR) 238 is the switch 2
37 thyristors 239a and 239b are connected in parallel. Snubber circuits may also be provided, as shown and described above. The electrode 27 is the switch 23
7, the power output 264 from the switch 237 supplies an alternating current to the electrode 27.

The current limiting reactor (CLR) 236 is connected to another terminal of the secondary wiring (eg, FIG. 9A).
C ₂ ) in series, thereby connecting the current limiting reactor 236 and the current 265 from the CLR 236 to the counter electrode 28 in the furnace 21 (which is connected to ground 244). Switch 237, reactor 238 and reactor 236 are designed similar to that shown in FIG.
, Reactor 238 and reactor 236 may have different ratings. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9A utilizes neither a diode rectifier nor a direct current inductor (DCI). This is because the arc is powered by alternating current. CLR236
Is connected between terminal B ₁ and SCR switch 237, the circuit operates in the same manner. In this case, the terminal C ₂ is connected to the counter electrode and the ground.

FIG. 9B shows an AC arc circuit 266 that provides independent arc voltage and current control. Circuit 266 includes two arc electrodes 27a and 27b.

The power source for the AC arc is the “U-shaped” secondary wiring 234 a, 23 of the transformer 235.
Power from 4b and 234c is used. Primary wiring 231a, 2 of the transformer 235
31b and 231c are provided for phases 233a, 233b and 233c, respectively. Circuit breakers 232a, 232 such as air circuit breakers
b and 232c may further be provided.

As shown in FIG. 9B, in the secondary wiring 234 a, the neutral 268 is the counter electrode 2
It is center tapped so that it can be connected to 8. This may improve AC stability in both arcs, while at the same time allowing independent current control of each arc.

Current limiting reactors (CLRs) 236a and 236b are connected to two of the secondary wires as shown. SCR switches 237a and 237b are connected in series with current limiting reactors 236a and 236b, and electrodes 27a and 27b, respectively. Switches 237a and 237b include thyristors 239a and 239b, and thyristors 239c and 239b, respectively.
39d is included. As mentioned above, snubber circuits may also be included. The load limiting reactors (LLRs) 238a and 238b are connected in parallel to the thyristors 239a and 239b of the switch 237a, respectively, and to the thyristors 239c and 239d of the switch 237b, respectively. Electrodes 27a and 27b
Are respectively connected in series to the switches 237a and 237b. The power output 267a from the switch 237a supplies an alternating current to the electrode 27a for the arc 66a, and the power output 267b from the switch 237b supplies an alternating current to the electrode 27b for the arc 66b.

Switches 237a and 237b, reactors 238a and 238b, and reactors 236a and 236b are designed similar to that shown in FIG. 8A, but each may have a different rating. The embodiment shown in FIG. 9B utilizes neither a diode rectifier nor a direct current inductor (DCI). Because the electrodes are alternating current (AC
) Is supplied by the power.

If the currents in the two arc electrodes are the same, the counter electrode 28 and the line 26
No current flows through 8. The counter electrode 28 and the line 268 conduct only the current difference between the two electrodes. This allows independent current control. Because
This is because the thyristors 239a and 239b only supply AC power to the electrode 27a and no current flows through the electrode 27b. In this case, the entire current from electrode 27a must pass through the counter electrode. If the currents flowing through the electrodes 27a and 27b are equal, the current flows through the bus between the electrodes 27a and 27b and does not flow into the counter electrode 28.

The circuit shown in FIG. 9C is also designed to provide AC arc power to the two arc electrodes. Circuit 269 allows independent arc voltage control and arc current control. In this case, the power source is derived from a Scott-T transformer 250 (similar to the transformer shown in Figure 8B). The transformer 250 has phases 233a and 233, respectively.
b and 233c including primary wires 248a, 248b and 248c. Circuit breakers 232a, 232b and 232c, such as air circuit breakers, may further be provided. Transformer 250 also includes secondary wirings 249a and 249b.
including.

As shown, the SCR switch 237a is connected to one end of the secondary wiring 249a, and the current limiting reactor 236a is connected to the other end of the secondary wiring 249a. The SCR switch 237b is connected to the secondary wiring 249b, and the current limiting reactor 236b is connected to the other end of the secondary wiring 249b. SCR switch 237
a includes thyristors 239a and 239b. The load limiting reactor 238a is connected in parallel to the thyristors 239a and 239b. Similarly, SCR
Switch 237b includes thyristors 239c and 239d. The load limiting reactor 238b is connected in parallel with the thyristors 239c and 239d.
The SCR switch 237a is further connected to the arc electrode 27a, whereby
AC power 274a is supplied to the arc electrode 27a. The SCR switch 237b is connected to the arc electrode 27b so that the AC power 274b can be applied to the arc electrode 2b.
7b. Snubber circuits may also be included, as shown and described above.

As further shown in FIG. 9C, the common connection to the furnace counter electrode N28 begins at point 270, where the two current limiting reactors (CLR) 236a and 236b are connected. The common connection is that the switch 271 is closed and the SCR switch-neutral 2
When 72 is active, it may only be connected to the counter electrode N28 in furnace 21 (which is connected to ground 244). SCR switch-neutral 272 includes thyristors 273a and 273b. Resistor 246c and capacitor 245
A snubber circuit including c may be further included.

While switch 271 is normally closed, it is desirable to open switch 271 when the waste stream being destroyed provides a relatively small amount of AC arc instability or transition perturbation. When the furnace 21 operates with the switch 271 closed, the SCR switch-neutral 272 may be used to control the amount of current flowing from each arc electrode 27a and 27b to the counter electrode N28. This is especially important when tapping the furnace. Without switch system 272 and switch 271 closed, the current difference between electrodes 27a and 27b will flow to the counter electrode, thereby heating the bath near the counter electrode. This can change the viscosity of the melt during tapping.

Another embodiment of the invention includes an AC arc circuit that provides independent arc voltage and current for use with three arc electrodes. Such a circuit is shown in FIG.
It is shown in D.

The circuit 275 shown in FIG. 9D is designed to supply AC arc power to the three arc electrodes 27a-27c. The power source includes a transformer 276 having a primary wire 277 and a secondary wire 278. Primary wiring 277a, 277b and 277
c receives AC power from the utility source and is connected to phases 233a, 233b and 233c, respectively. Circuit breakers such as air circuit breakers 23
2a, 232b and 232c may further be included.

The Y-shaped connected secondary 278 includes secondary wires 275a, 275b, and 275c in addition to the neutral N279. Three AC arc electrodes 27a
Switch 271 and SCR switch-neutral 272 (including thyristors 273a and 273b) are further used to control the amount of AC current flowing from ~ 27c to the counter electrode N28 in furnace 21 (which is connected to ground 244). Can be done. A snubber circuit including a resistor 246d and a capacitor 245d may further be included. When the currents for the three phases are balanced, no current flows through the counter electrode. If the currents are unbalanced and the SCR switch 272 is "fully on", unbalanced currents (in addition to what may be harmonic currents) will flow to the counter electrode. If the switch 272 is phase controlled, this counter electrode current can be reduced as described above with respect to FIG. 12C.

As further shown in FIG. 9D, the current limiting reactor 236a includes a secondary wire 278a.
Are connected in series. SCR switch 237a is further connected in series with current limiting reactor 236a. The SCR switch 237a is used in the thyristor 23.
9a and 239b. Further, the load limiting reactor 238a is connected in parallel to the thyristors 239a and 239b. The current limiting reactor 236b is connected in series to the secondary wiring 278b. The SCR switch 237b is further connected in series with the current limiting reactor 236b. SCR switch 237b
Includes thyristors 239c and 239d. Further, the load limiting reactor 23
8b is connected in parallel to thyristors 239c and 239d. Similarly,
The current limiting reactor 236c is connected to the secondary wiring 278c in series. SC
The R switch 239c is further connected in series with the current limiting reactor 236c. SCR switch 239c includes thyristors 239e and 239f. Further, the load limiting reactor 238c is connected in parallel with the thyristors 239e and 239h. Snubber circuitry may also be included. The SCR switch 237a is also connected to the arc electrode 27a. This gives A
With the SCR switch 237b connected to the arc electrode 27b so as to supply the C power 274b to the arc 66b, the AC power 274a is supplied to the arc 66a. Similarly, the SCR switch 237c is connected to the arc electrode 27c to supply AC power 274c to the arc 66c.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention for supplying AC power to the arc electrodes is shown in FIG. 9E. The circuit 280 shown in FIG. 9E is designed to provide AC arc power to the four arc electrodes with independent control of arc voltage and arc current.

The power supply includes a Scott T transformer 250 that converts 3-phase power to 2-phase power via secondary windings 249a and 249b. Transformer 250 includes primary windings 248a, 248b and 248c connected to phases 233a, 233b and 233c, respectively.
including. Also, circuit breakers 232a, 232b and 232c such as air circuit breakers.
May be provided.

The two SCR switches 237a and 237b are connected in parallel to the terminals of the secondary winding 249a. Switches 237a and 237b include thyristors 239a, 239b and 239c, 239d, respectively. The load limiting reactors 238a and 238b are connected in parallel to the thyristors 239a to 239d, respectively. Power from switches 237a and 237b is used to supply AC power to arc electrodes 27a and 27b, respectively. In addition, two SCRs
The switches 237c and 237d are connected in parallel to the terminals of the secondary winding 249b. The switches 237c and 237d respectively include thyristors 239e and 239e.
239f and 239g, 239h. The load limiting reactors 238c and 238d are connected in parallel to the thyristors 239e to 239h, respectively. Power from switches 237c and 237d is used to provide AC power to arc electrodes 27c and 27d, respectively.

The circuit shown in FIG. 9E is similar to two of the circuits shown in FIG. 9B,
There may or may not have a return current path from the midpoint of the secondary windings 249a and 249b to the counter electrode neutral N28 via the switches 271 and 282 and the SCR switch neutral 272. Especially the secondary winding 2
The middle point 281a of the switch 49a and the middle point 281b of the secondary winding 249b.
1, 282 and SCR switch neutral 272 (including thyristors 273a and 273b) may be used to connect to counter electrode neutral N28 in furnace 21. Counter electrode 28 is also connected to ground 244. When switch 282 is open and switch 271 is open, the current in electrodes 27a and 27b is
It is equal to the current of 7c and 27d. When switch 282 is closed (but switch 271 is open), the current in electrodes 27a and 27b is
It is independently controlled, as is the current in 7c and 27d. Under such circumstances, there may be some interaction between each of the four electrodes. Switch 2
When 82 and 271 are closed and SCR switch 272 is "fully open", each of the four electrodes can be independently controlled with respect to the counter electrode 282 and between the four electrodes. When the current is balanced between all four electrodes, the current through the counter electrode is zero.

A 6AC arc electrode system can be created for use in the present invention by using two identical three-electrode circuits shown in FIG. 9D. by this,
Using two 3-electrode AC arc systems and inserting the electrodes of the two 3-electrode system allows independent control of each electrode.

The system of the present invention may also be configured such that the arc electrode power supply may be changed or replaced when used with an AC or DC power supply. 10A-10F show a circuit including an arrangement of switches. Such an arrangement transforms each of the circuits so that the arc furnace can be operated with either AC or DC power by opening and closing various switches, as described herein. can do.

Next, referring to FIG. 10A, the circuit 283 supplies AC power or DC power to one arc electrode. This circuit also controls the arc voltage and arc current independently. The circuit shown in FIG. 10A is similar to the DC arc circuit shown in FIG. 8A, except that it further includes five switches for switching between AC and DC power.

As provided in Table 1, by placing the switch in either the closed or open position, the furnace arc circuit is powered by either AC or DC power, or such It can be configured so that it can be operated with the desired switching between power supplies.

[0243]

[Table 1]

For example, to operate the arc portion of the furnace with DC power, switch 28
4 and 288 must be open and switches 285, 286 and 287 must be closed. To operate the furnace with AC power, it is necessary to open switches 285, 286 and 287 and close switches 284 and 288. Therefore, by opening and / or closing the switch as described above, AC power or D
Either of the C power can be supplied to the arc electrode.

FIG. 10B is similar to the DC arc circuit of FIG. 8B, except that a switch is further provided to supply AC or DC power to the two arc electrodes. In this embodiment, ten switches are used to operate the furnace with two AC arcs or two DC arcs. The circuit 289 shown in FIG.
In the case of C or DC arc, the arc voltage and arc current are controlled independently.

As provided in Table 2, by placing the switch in either the closed or open position, the furnace arc circuit was operated with either AC or DC power, or such It can be configured so that it can be operated with the desired switching between power supplies.

[0247]

[Table 2]

For example, in order to operate the arc portion of the furnace with DC power, the switch 29
0, 292, 293 and 295 open and switches 291, 294, 296, 2
97, 298 and 299 need to be closed. To operate the furnace with AC power, it is necessary to open switches 291, 294, 296, 297, 298 and 299 and close switches 290, 292, 293 and 295. Thus, either AC or DC power can be supplied to the arc electrode by opening and / or closing the switch as described above.

The circuit 300 shown in FIG. 10C is similar to the two-arc electrode AC arc circuit 266 shown in FIG. 9B, but FIG. 10C shows two diode bridge rectifiers 24.
0a and 240b and two DC inductors 243a and 243b. Circuit 300 also includes ten switches so that the arc portion of the furnace can be operated with two DC arcs or two AC arcs. The circuit 300 shown in FIG. 10C also controls the arc voltage and arc current independently.

As shown in FIG. 10C, the secondary winding 234a is tapped at the center (311). When switch 301 is closed (switches 303 and 304 are open), center tap 311a is connected to counter electrode neutral 28. Further, when switches 303 and 304 are closed and switch 301 is open, center tap 311b has diode rectifiers 240a and 240b as its inputs.
Connected to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10C, when switch 302 is closed and switch 308 is open, the power from switch 237a is input 31 (in DC operation).
2a to the diode rectifier 240a. When switch 305 is closed and switch 309 is open, power from switch 237b (during DC operation) is provided from input 312b to diode rectifier 240b.

In the DC operation, when the switch 306 is closed, the output 313a is D
It is connected to the C inductor 243a and the arc electrode 27a. When switch 307 is closed, output 313c is connected to DC inductor 243b and arc electrode 27b. When switch 310 is closed, the outputs 313b and 313d from diode rectifiers 240a and 240b, respectively, are
It is connected to the counter electrode 28 (which is connected to the ground 244).

As provided in Table 3, by placing the switch in either the closed or open position, the furnace arc circuit was operated with either AC or DC power, or such It can be configured so that it can be operated with the desired switching between power supplies.

[0254]

[Table 3]

For example, to operate the arc portion of the furnace with DC power, switch 30
1, 308 and 309 open and switches 302, 303, 304, 305, 3
06, 307 and 310 need to be closed. In order to operate the furnace with AC power, it is necessary to open switches 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 and 310 and close switches 301, 308 and 309. Thus, either AC or DC power can be supplied to the arc electrode by opening and / or closing the switch as described above.

The circuit 314 shown in FIG. 10D is similar to the three-electrode DC arc circuit shown in FIG. 8C, but FIG. 10D uses three DC arcs or three AC arcs to allow the arc portion of the furnace to It includes 12 switches so that it can be operated. Circuit 314 shown in FIG. 10D also controls arc voltage and arc current independently.

As shown in FIG. 10D, when the furnace is operated by DC, switch 32
4, 325 and 326 open to open the SCR switches 237a, 237b and 2
Outputs from 37c are provided from respective inputs 241a, 241c and 241e to diode rectifiers 240a, 240b and 240c. The outputs 242a, 242c and 242e of the diode rectifiers 240a, 240b and 240c are connected to the DC inductors 243a, 243b and 243c. These DC
The inductors 243a, 243b and 243c are respectively connected to the arc electrode 27a.
, 27b and 27c (during such operation, switches 316, 31
8 and 320 are closed). Furthermore, the diode rectifiers 240a and 240b
Outputs 242b, 242d and 242f of 240c and 240c are connected to the counter electrode 28 by a bus 242.

When the furnace is operated by AC, switches 324, 325 and 326 are closed and each output from SCR switches 237a, 237b and 237c is connected to bus 3
It is connected to the counter electrode 28 by 28.

When the furnace is operated by DC power, the current limiting reactors 236a, 236.
Switches 321 322 and 323 are closed and switches 315, 317 and 319 are closed so that the outputs from b and 236c are fed from respective inputs 241b, 241d and 241f to diode rectifiers 240a, 240b and 240c.
Opens. If the furnace is operated by AC power, the current limiting reactor 236a,
The outputs from 236b and 236c are 327a, 327b and 3 respectively.
So that it is connected to the arc electrodes 27a, 27b and 27c via 27c,
Switches 321, 322 and 323 open and switches 315, 317 and 3
19 is closed.

As provided in Table 4, by placing the switch in either the closed or open position, the furnace arc circuit was operated with either AC or DC power, or such It can be configured so that it can be operated with the desired switching between power supplies.

[0261]

[Table 4]

For example, in order to operate the arc portion of the furnace with DC power, the switch 31
5, 317, 319, 324, 325 and 326 open and switches 316, 3
18, 320, 321, 322 and 323 need to be closed. To operate the furnace with AC power, switches 316, 318, 320, 321, 32 are used.
2 and 323 must be opened and switches 315, 317, 319, 324, 325 and 326 must be closed. Thus, either AC or DC power can be supplied to the arc electrode by opening and / or closing the switch as described above.

FIG. 10E shows another three-electrode circuit 329 that can be switched from AC to DC or DC to AC. This circuit is similar to the DC arc circuit shown in FIG. 8D, but the circuit shown in FIG. 10E includes 13 switches for AC-DC arc conversion. The circuit 329 shown in FIG. 10E also controls the arc voltage and arc current independently.

As provided in Table 5, by placing the switch in either the closed or open position, the furnace arc circuit was operated with either AC or DC power, or such It can be configured so that it can be operated with the desired switching between power supplies.

[0265]

[Table 5]

For example, to operate the arc portion of the furnace with a DC power source, switches 330, 3
32, 334 and 342 need to be opened and switches 331, 333, 3
35, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341 and 342 need to be closed. Switches 331, 333, 3 are used to operate the furnace with AC power.
35, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340 and 341 need to be open and switches 330, 332, 334 and 342 need to be closed. Thus, as shown, the switch can be opened and / or closed to provide either AC or DC power to the arc electrode.

FIG. 10F shows another alternative embodiment of providing power to three arc electrodes.
When the circuit shown in FIG. 10F is operated with a DC power supply, a three-phase rectifier for each electrode is used, and when the circuit is operated with an AC power supply, the rectifier is converted into a single-phase static switch. The circuit 343 shown in FIG. 10F may be more costly to fabricate than the circuits previously described.

Circuit 343 includes a 3-phase SCR rectifier on each electrode. If it is desired to use an AC power source, each 3-phase rectifier is converted to a single-phase static switch.

The circuit 343 includes secondary windings 344a, 344b, 344c (respectively connected to the phases 232a, 232b, 232c) connected in a Y shape and the middle of the secondary windings in the furnace 21. Neutral 345 connected to counter electrode 28 (connected to ground 244).

During operation at DC, the output of the secondary winding is connected to a current limiting reactor (CLR) 346a-346i, as shown in FIG. 10F. Current limiting reactors 346a-34
6c is connected to the thyristor phase controlled rectifier 347a. The thyristor phase controlled rectifier 347a includes thyristors 348a to 348f. Current limiting reactor 346d
˜346 f are connected to the thyristor phase controlled rectifier 347 b. The thyristor phase controlled rectifier 347b includes thyristors 348g to 348l. Current limiting reactor 3
46g to 346i are connected to the thyristor phase controlled rectifier 347c. The thyristor phase controlled rectifier 347c includes thyristors 348m to 348r. When the furnace is operated on AC power, components 347a-347c are phase controlled AC static switches.

As also shown in FIG. 10F, one side of each output of components 347a-347c is operating at DC (in this case switches 368, 369 and 36).
2 is closed and switch 363 is open) connected to counter electrode 28 via 345. The other side of each output of components 347a-347c is connected to DC inductors 371a, 371b and 371c, as shown.
The DC inductors 371a, 371b and 371c are the arc electrodes 27a, 27b.
And 27c. Switches 364, 365 and 36 operating in AC
6 is closed so that the DC inductors 371a-371c are short circuited.

By providing the switch in either the open or closed position, as provided in Table 6, the furnace arc circuit operates on either an AC or DC power source and between the desired power sources. It can be constructed to switch.

[0273]

[Table 6]

For example, to operate the arc portion of the furnace with a DC power source, switches 349, 3
51, 354, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 364, 365, 3
66, 367 and 370 need to be opened and switches 350, 352, 3
53, 356, 358, 360, 362, 368 and 369 need to be closed. Switches 350, 352, 353, 3 for operating the furnace with AC power
56, 358, 360, 362, 368 and 369 need to be opened and switches 349, 351, 354, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 3
64, 365, 366, 367 and 370 need to be closed. Thus, as shown, opening and / or closing the switch causes the arc electrode to
Either C or DC power can be provided.

Some alternative embodiments for the operation of Joule hot electrodes are shown in FIGS.
Shown in. The Joule hot electrodes are powered by AC power rather than DC power. The Joule hot electrode is not powered at DC because DC causes unwanted polarization. The load limiting reactor is not essential in Figures 11A-11H.
This is because there is no arc extinguished at the Joule heating electrode regardless of the waveform.

Referring now to FIG. 11A, an AC circuit 372 that provides Joule heat to two electrodes is shown. As shown in FIG. 11A, electrodes 24a and 24b are partially submerged below slag level 30a of furnace 21. Counter electrode 28 is connected to ground 384 and may be used with the arc electrode circuit described above.

Circuit 372 includes 1 connected to phases 375a, 375b and 375c, respectively.
Includes secondary windings 373a, 373b and 373c. Circuit breakers 374a, 37
4b and 374c (eg, air circuit breakers) may be further provided as shown. As shown in FIG. 11A, the primary windings 373 are connected in a triangular shape.

Circuit 372 also includes a “U” having secondary windings 376a, 376b and 376c.
″ Secondary circuit 376. This configuration may be desirable for operation in small furnaces.
Because a small furnace only uses two Joule heating electrodes. One terminal 377 is directly connected to the electrode 24b. The terminal (C2) 377 is the electrode 24b
Being directly connected to, this electrode can properly ground the "U" shaped secondary winding 376.

As also shown in FIG. 11A, one terminal of the secondary winding 376b is connected to the current limiting reactor 378. The current limiting reactor (CLR) is connected in series with the capacitor 379 and the SCR switch 380 (which includes thyristors 381a and 381b). Switch 380 is connected to electrode 24a and electrode 24b is connected to terminal (C2) 377 as shown. As described above, the thyristor 38
A snubber circuit connected in parallel with 1a and 381b (including a resistor 382 connected in series with a capacitor 383) may also be included.

One difference between the circuit shown in FIG. 11A and the circuit shown in FIG. 9A is that the DC blocking capacitor (C) 379 is connected in series with the electrode 24a. Capacitor 379 isolates DC from interference with the Joule thermal circuit (from the arc electrode circuit if such circuit is operated at AC or DC). A small amount of DC current is required to cause saturation of the transformer core supplying the Joule heat circuit, and therefore
Note that small amounts of DC current entering the Joule thermal power system can cause significant damage. AC interacting with AC (ie, AC arc electrode and A
With a C Joule hot electrode, a greater interaction with the AC current from the arc electrode (when compared to the DC-AC configuration) is required, after which the interaction becomes more pronounced and more AC. It is necessary for the current to heat the transformer significantly (to the point of damage). The relative magnitude of the current that heats or damages the transformer depends on the design parameters of many transformers.

FIG. 11B shows another circuit that provides Joule heat to two Joule heating electrodes.
The circuit 385 shown in FIG. 11B shows that both electrodes 24a and 24b have electrodes 24a.
And SCR static switches 380a and 380b for independently controlling the current in electrode 24b. In addition, SCR switch-
Neutral 387, which includes thyristors 388a and 388b, can be used to control the amount of AC current that can flow between electrode 24a and counter electrode N28, as well as between counter electrode N28 and electrode 24b. In addition, the secondary transformer winding 37
Since 6a is tapped centrally with respect to neutral 386, to prevent interaction of the AC or DC arc current from interference with the Joule thermal circuit,
Capacitors 379a and 3a in series with electrodes 24a and 24b, respectively.
It is necessary to have 79b. The snubber circuit may also be included in parallel with the SCR switch.

FIG. 11C shows three capacitors (one in series with each Joule hot electrode circuit).
And is similar to the AC arc circuit shown in FIG. 9D. In addition, the capacitor 394 (C _N ) and the resistor 395 are used to minimize electrical noise.
Connected (instead of switch 272 in FIG. 9D) between neutral point N392 of Y-shaped secondary transformer windings 393a-393c and counter electrode 28.

As shown in FIG. 11C, circuit 391 includes primary windings 373a, 373b and 373c, and secondary windings 393a, 393b and 393c. Secondary windings 393a, 393b and 393c are connected in a Y shape at a neutral point 392 which is connected to capacitor 394, resistor 395 and counter electrode neutral 28. This is done to ground the neutral, but since the counter electrode is also connected to neutral, both neutral and counter electrode are grounded.

The circuit 396 shown in FIG. 11D shows that the surge ground capacitor 394 of FIG.
It is similar to the circuit 391 shown in FIG. 11C, except that it is replaced with (including b). The SCR switch-neutral 387 allows control of the AC current by phase control of the SCR from the three electrodes 24a, 24b and 24c to the counter electrode N28. The SCR switch controls the amount of current that can flow into neutral if the currents in the three electrodes are not balanced.

Referring now to FIG. 11E, another circuit 397 for providing Joule heat to a four electrode configuration is shown. In this embodiment, Scott T transformer 398 has primary windings 399a, 39 (connected to phases 375a, 375b and 375c, respectively).
9b and 399c and two separate transformer secondary windings 400a and 400b, which are connected to secondary winding 400a and secondary winding 400b similar to the circuit shown in FIG. 11A. Make each circuit. This allows Joule heat to be provided to the four Joule heat electrodes 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d. Circuit breakers 374a, 374b and 374c (eg, air circuit breakers) may also be provided.

FIG. 11F shows another four electrode Scott T transformer circuit providing Joule heat in accordance with the present invention. The circuit 401 shown in FIG. 11F includes 402a and 4a, respectively.
02b shows the secondary winding 400a and the secondary winding 400b tapped at the center.
Center taps 402a and 402b are SCR switch-neutral 387 (
It includes thyristors 388a and 388b, as shown, and may also include a snubber circuit connected in parallel) and is electrically connected to counter electrode N28. With four Joule hot electrodes 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d separated from DC by capacitors 379a-379d, this circuit also
5 SCRs if the 4 currents from switches 380a-380d are not equal
Due to the phase control provided by switches 380a, 380b, 380c, 380d and 387, it provides excellent control of counter electrode current. Current can only flow between the secondary neutral and the counter electrode where the current through some or all of the electrodes is unequal. A static switch in neutral can be used to control the amount of unbalanced AC current that can flow through the static switch. Another embodiment of providing Joule heat to 6 Joule heating electrodes is shown in FIG. 11G. Circuit 403 is a six electrode AC Joule thermal circuit similar to the four electrode circuit of FIG. 11E, but with a different transformer configuration.

The transformer comprises a primary winding 404a (for phases 375a, 375b and 375c),
404b and 404c. Circuit breakers 374a-374c (eg, air circuit breakers) may also be included. Secondary windings 405a, 405b and 405c
Are connected to current limiting reactors 378a, 378b and 378c, respectively, and these current limiting reactors are connected to Joule heating electrodes 24b, 24d and 24f, respectively. Secondary windings 405a, 405b and 405c are also connected to capacitors 379a, 379b and 379c, respectively, which are connected in series to SCR switches 380a, 380b and 380c, respectively.

The switches 380a, 380b, 380c are respectively connected to the Joule heating electrode 24a.
, 24c, 24e. The secondary winding in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11G is not center tapped as in FIG. 11E. Since only one CLR is needed per circuit and there is no winding center tap or neutral in the circuit shown in FIG. 11G, either use only one AC static switch per phase, or Required for each winding.

As shown in FIG. 11G, the current limiting reactors 378a-378c are connected to the electrodes 24b.
, 24d, 24f. Alternatively, the current limiting reactor is (electrode 24a,
24b, 24e) may be connected in series with SCR switches 380a, 380b, 380c. Capacitors 379a-379c can be connected to either electrode regardless of the position of the SCR switch and / or the current limiting reactor.
These alternatives apply to the other Joule hot electrode circuits described above.

If the circuit has a neutral or center tap (or if two or three secondary windings are connected to each other or if the two electrodes are fed from the same winding) It should be noted that it is preferable to provide a means to control the current to each electrode. This is done in FIGS. 11F and 11H by a current limiting reactor, an SCR switch (or a supersaturating reactor if the supersaturating reactor performs the same function as a static switch and is therefore used instead of the SCR switch) and a capacitor.

FIG. 11H illustrates another embodiment for providing Joule heat to six electrodes. The six electrode circuit 406 shown in FIG. 11H is similar to the four electrode circuit shown in FIG. 11F, but does not include the Scott-T transformer in the circuit of FIG. 11H. In FIG. 11H, all six electrodes can independently control their current. In FIG. 11H, the electrodes 24a and 24b have the same current, the electrodes 24c and 24d have the same current, and the electrodes 24e and 24f have the same current (however, the currents at the electrodes 24a and 24b are Electrode 24c
And can differ from the current at electrode 24d and can differ from the current at electrodes 24e and 24f).

Secondary windings 405a, 405b and 405c are respectively 407a and 407b.
And 407c are center tapped and connected to counter electrode neutral 28 by SCR switch neutral 387 (including thyristors 388a and 388b).

FIG. 11I illustrates another embodiment for providing Joule heat in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11I, the Joule thermal circuit 500 includes a primary winding 5
01 and secondary windings 504a-504c. The circuit 500 also includes a current limiting reactor 503a-503f, a capacitor 505a-505c, and a static switch 5.
06a-506c, static switches 507a-507c, and counter electrode 508. Each of the phases in the secondary winding may be connected in series (as shown) or in parallel. For example, the B phase secondary windings may each be 120 volts, connected in series as shown for a total of 240 volts, or in parallel for 120 volts. (Reactor 503c is always connected in series with B-1 (504c) and reactor 503d is always connected in series with B-2 (504d). Phase A and phase C can be connected in the same way.

The circuit 500 provides an independently controlled delta circuit current (ie, three Joule thermal electrodes when static switches 506a-506c conduct current) without providing external electrical circuit connections to the counter electrodes. 502a-502c) to each of the electrodes. This was controlled when there was no other path available to shunt a portion of the electrode current to a conductive path that had a lower resistance than the rest of the molten slag in which the Joule heat electrode was immersed. It means that a delta current flows between each of the Joule hot electrodes.

This delta current is controlled by static switches 506a, 506b, 506c. This delta static switch has the same secondary state (static switches 507a, 507b and 507c) when the static switches 507a, 507b, 507c are in the conductive state when they are open circuit or non-conductive. It makes it possible to assume that the windings are in a Y configuration. Moreover, if both the delta static switch and the Y static switch both deliver current to the bus in the same full time frame, not only is the overall capacity of slag heat controlled more efficiently. , J × B electromagnetic field provides a stirring action that can be controlled by either manual or automatic control circuitry. As a result, improved and profitable bath mixing can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiments, the arc electrode and the Joule heating electrode can operate simultaneously without any harmful interaction with each other. The capacitor in the Joule heat circuit is D
When C operation is in use, it blocks direct current flow from the arc electrode circuit. Furthermore, when the furnace operates with AC arc electrodes and AC Joule hot electrodes, there are no deleterious interactions. As mentioned above, very little DC current is required to cause saturation of the transformer core feeding the Joule heat circuit, and thus a small amount of DC entering the Joule heat power system causes significant damage. Can occur. A
Interaction between C and AC (ie AC arc electrode and AC Joule hot electrode)
Requires more interaction with the AC current from the arc electrode (compared to the DC-AC configuration) before the interaction is noticeable, requiring more AC current to significantly heat the transformer. It is said that

When using the arc technique alone, the electrode hearth diameter ratio should be large to ensure that the contents of the hearth melt well not only at the center of the hearth, but also at the hearth wall. Therefore, the size of the hearth is limited due to the practical limits of electrode diameter. However, when Joule heating a hearth or glass tank, this limit no longer exists and the tank ensures that the residence time is sufficient for thorough mixing and melting of all glass components. Can be made any size.

When using the melt chamber technique without an arc, this feed rate is much lower due to the limited heat transfer from the melt pool to the unmelted feed above the molten glass. To accommodate the large throughput requirements, the standard approach is to increase the melt surface area. Therefore, the Joule thermal melter needs to be significantly larger for a given process rate than the combined arc-melter system of the present invention. The present invention uses the advantages of both arc and AC Joule thermal melter technology and is used in a single optimized system.

Joule heat alone can be used to hold a molten bath for long idle periods, thereby reducing power requirements. Moreover, since the molten bath is electrically conducting, the arc plasma can be easily restarted in transfer arc mode.

The combination of an arc plasma furnace according to the present invention and a Joule heat melting chamber provides a method of rapidly heating feed waste material at a faster processing rate for a given size furnace system. A controlled heating rate can also produce a higher quality pyrolysis gas. More energy is recovered and pollution of gas emissions is reduced. In addition, the Joule heat melting chamber of the present invention provides a larger reservoir with demonstrated mixing to produce a very stable and uniform glass product. This is an advantage because the vitrified glass product is stable to the geochronological frame. For example, Buelt et al. , In Situ Vi
trification of Transurnic Wastes: Sy
stems Evaluation and Applications As
session, PNL-4800 Supplement 1, Paci
fic Northwest Laboratory, Richland, W
See A (1987). Further, the present invention provides additional volume reduction through vitrification of the ash as compared to ash produced from ashing alone. Chapman
, C. , Evaluation of Vitrifying Munic
ipal Incinerator Ash, Ceramic Nuclea
r Waste Management IV, Ceramic Trans
actions, G.M. G. Wicks, Ed. , Vol. 23, pp
223-231, American Ceramic Society (19
See 91).

The product produced by the present invention may be a glassy, glassy material.
Alternatively, the structure of the material can be devitrified and crystalline in nature. Further, the product may be a ceramic material having properties ranging from pure crystalline material to amorphous vitreous product or any combination thereof. The crystalline or non-crystalline nature of the product is that the components of the feedstock (including but not limited to the addition of additives during processing in the unit) and / or the slag are poured from the waste conversion unit, or After being removed, it can be altered by alteration of the slag. Treatment of the slag after it has been removed from the waste conversion unit has the desired properties of the final product, as crystallinity can positively or negatively affect the stability and / or non-leaching of the final product formed. Therefore, it can be modified.

As mentioned above, the present invention provides methods and devices that facilitate rapid pyrolysis. Rapid pyrolysis produces a pyrolysis gas that has a higher purity than other means of pyrolysis. This high purity gas facilitates its use in high efficiency small gas turbine technology, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the required turbine unit size as compared to conventional steam turbines. The DC or AC arc (s) provide a high temperature heat source to obtain fast pyrolysis with high efficiency. Greaf, et al
． , Product Distribution in the Rapid
Pyrolysis of Biomass / Lignin for Pro
reduction of Acetylene, Biomsass as a
Nonfossil Fuel Source, American Chem
ical Society (1981) shows that municipal solid waste is pyrolyzed into gaseous products as shown in Table 7 under conditions such as those found in plasma furnaces.

[0303]

[Table 7]

When comparing conventional and fast pyrolysis, it is important to note that a greater proportion of the incoming waste is converted to gas. Heat or normal pyrolysis,
Only 45-50% conversion promotes liquefaction to produce pyrolysis gas, while fast pyrolysis has a gas yield higher than 65%. Rapid pyrolysis of municipal waste has been demonstrated using cooled water, metal plasma torches. Carter, et
al., Municipal Solid Waste Feasibili
ty of Gasification with Plasma Arc,
Industrial and Environmental App
ations of Plasma, Proceedings of the
First International EPRI Plasma Sym
See Podium (May 1990). In the partial oxidation mode of operation, the residues from both techniques are oxidized to offset the pyrolysis energy requirement.

The pyrolysis gas produced according to the present invention is expected to be well suited for combustion in the state of the art, ie high efficiency gas turbine generators. With the efficiency of the new gas turbine mixed cycle system reaching up to 50%, the inventive method of waste-energy conversion provides an effective alternative to standard waste ashing. Under favorable conditions, the incineration steam generator system achieves an efficiency of 15-20% in the conversion of the potential energy contained in the waste into usable electrical energy.

The high quality glass products produced by the present invention can be used in a variety of applications. For example, the glass product can be crushed and mixed with asphalt used in roads and the like. Alternatively, the glass product may be utilized in place of ash in lightweight concrete or building blocks to minimize water absorption into the block. Moreover, glass products that exhibit a significant volume reduction over conventional glass products can be solidified into final products. The coagulum is suitable for disposal without any health or environmental risk.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a tunable arc plasma-melter system using a molten oxide pond is used. The composition of the molten oxide pond is such that electrical, thermal and physical treatments of metals, glass-free and low ash-produced wastes are possible in such a way that low intermediate BTU gases can be produced. It can be tailored to have properties. The conductivity of the weld pool is controlled by the addition of a melt conditioning material, and the Joule heating portion of the system can effectively maintain the temperature of the melt even under conditions of 100 percent Joule heating operation. It is desirable that the electric resistance of the molten pool be kept within a specific range. For example, in some configurations of tunable arc plasma melters, it is desirable that the molten pool composition be a composition that maintains an electrical resistance of 1 ohm-cm or more for effective Joule heating of the molten oxide pool. Depending on the waste treatment and bath temperature, the electrical resistance is preferably in the range 1-200 ohm-cm, more preferably in the range 5-15 ohm-cm.

This embodiment of the present invention provides a tunable arc plasma melter system that exhibits a high degree of control and efficiency for a wide variety of waste streams that have been particularly difficult to treat until now. . Exemplary glassless waste includes tires and metals such as iron. Specific examples of low ash producing organic substances include plastics, oils, solvents and the like. All waste streams such as harmful organic liquids, mixtures of low ash producing organics and metals, or organics containing a limited amount of ash and significant amounts of metals are all controlled by the tunable arc plasma melter system. It can be treated with various compositions of molten oxide ponds. Waste such as sludge containing primary reduced metal is less suitable for processing Joule heated glass tanks due to the high electrical conductivity of the resulting melt. However, by using the mode of operation of the oxide pool of controlled composition, the tunable arc plasma process is capable of treating even the melt obtained by being gravimetrically separated from the slag in the molten metal bath. Can be done.

A system of the invention suitable for treating metals, glass-free waste and low ash-producing minerals is shown in FIG. The system 408 includes a furnace 409, a cleaning unit 410,
It includes a gas turbine or internal combustion engine 411 and a generator 412. System 408 may also include heat exchanger 417 and compressor 420.

A waste stream, such as sludge, containing metals, glass-free waste and low ash-producing minerals, is introduced into the furnace 409, as previously described in greater detail herein. The waste stream is combined with a molten oxide pond 413 having a composition that has the desired electrical, thermal and physical properties. Depending on the condition of the furnace, the weld pool or waste supply contacts DC or AC arc (s) 415,
The molten pool 413 is generated. The DC or AC arc (s) 415 are
It may be implemented with DC or AC arc electrode (s) 414 in combination with the Joule heating electrodes 416a and 416b described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various furnace configurations may be suitable for use with the system shown in FIG. For example, as mentioned above, the number of Joule heating electrodes may include more than two electrodes and additional DC or AC arc electrodes may be used.

Surface 413a of molten oxide pond 413 during treatment of some waste streams
Preferably contacts a predetermined amount of steam 418. For example, steam 418 may be used to facilitate the use of the following water gas reaction.

C + H ₂ O → CO + H ₂ (1) Stream 418 is introduced just above surface 413a of molten pool 413 of furnace 409 or at surface 413a. In this aspect, the carbon waste material is hydrogen rich gas 4
Processed and transformed to form 21. The hydrogen rich gas 421 produced by the system exits through the port 412a and is cleaned in the cleaning unit 410. For example, in the cleaning unit 410, hydrogen sulfide (H ₂ S), sulfur oxide (
SO _X ) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) may be removed from the hydrogen rich gas 421.
The cleaning unit 410 may include washing machine (s) and the like. The hydrogen rich gas is then combusted in the internal combustion engine 411. The internal combustion engine 411 is connected to the generator 412 and generates electricity 422. In another embodiment, the internal combustion engine 4
11 can be replaced with a high efficiency gas turbine or (if the gas is clean enough to not damage the fuel cell) a fuel cell.

Electricity 429 may eventually come from an external source, such as a power company, to power the arc and Joule heating functions of furnace 409. Such electricity is monitored 43
Receive 0 mag. Further, a portion 422a of electricity 422 may be used to assist in powering the Joule heating electrode (where transformer 426 may be provided),
And can be used to assist in powering the arc electrode (s) 414. A portion of electricity 422c may also be utilized in the second plasma reaction chamber (shown in Figures 14A and 14B). The additional electricity 422 may be sold or utilized in commercial form. Such electricity may exit generator 412 and be controlled by circuit breaker (s) 423, transformer 425 and circuit breaker 424.

Exhaust heat in the exhaust gas 427 from the gas turbine or internal combustion engine 411 is
By using the heat exchanger 417 shown in 2, it can be used to produce water gas and steam 418 for the water shift reaction. The heat exchanger 417 is connected to a water source 428 or other heat exchange medium.

A controlled amount of air 419 (in certain conditions) is delivered to the compressor 420.
Can be introduced into the system 408 using. Such a condition may occur when energy recovery is not desired or impractical (for example, when determining whether waste product redox conditions require high assurance of stable waste production). . Under such conditions, the furnace system is capable of operating under oxidizing conditions.
Furnace 409 is configured to control the amount of air and gas entering the system. For example, 431a, 43 described herein with respect to FIGS.
Ports such as 2a and 433a are designed to allow control of the introduction and / or removal of various streams into the furnace 409. The composition of the basin is selected to be optimal for a given waste stream without allowing undesired ingress or egress of air therethrough.

The present invention utilizes the molten oxide pond of a material separate from the first waste material being treated to provide the desired use of the tunable arc plasma melted portion of the system. A medium can be provided. With reference to FIG. 13A, a furnace suitable for treating metals, glassless product waste and low ash product inorganics is described.

As described above with respect to FIG. 12, the furnace 409 includes a DC or AC arc (
One or more DC or AC arc electrodes 41 capable of producing 415
Including 4. Furnace 409 also includes a Joule heating feature that includes Joule heating electrodes 416a and 416b.

The first waste stream 431 to be processed is passed through the port 431a to the furnace 409.
Be introduced to. Melt modifier (s) 432 is introduced into furnace 409 through port 432a. Alternatively, or in addition to the melting modifier 432, a second waste stream 433 having desired glass forming properties is introduced into the furnace 409 through port 433a.

The basin composition is selected to be optimal for a given waste stream. Although not limited to this, the melting regulator 432 may be, for example, dolomite (CaCo ₃ .Mg).
CO _3), limestone (e.g., calcium carbonate (CaCO _3)), sand (e.g. sand made of glass (Glass maker's sand)), glass frit, anhydrous sodium carbonate (soda ash), other glass product Composition and /
Or it contains sand mixed with metal. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other glass melting modifiers may be used in the present invention. The molten oxide pond may also be formed with a melt modifier that mixes the second waste with the material (s) other than the first waste to be treated. For example, a second waste of a particular glass-forming composition is simultaneously fed into the furnace with the first waste and / or other melting modifier (s) to keep the molten oxide pond within a particular composition range. obtain. The composition of the basin is selected based on the given waste stream. This mode of operation provides a high degree of flexibility in the operation of the tunable arc plasma joule heating melter system, thereby expanding the variety of wastes that the system can handle.

It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the molten oxide pond provides flexibility over the flexibility of the Joule heating melter or standard plasma arc processing for the addition of melting modifiers. In the case of highly conductive oxide mixtures, the Joule heating system may be inefficient or impossible to maintain the melt bath temperature without the additional energy provided by the arc. Conversely, for high resistance oxide mixtures, the potential across the Joule heating electrode can be unacceptably high and a matching current cannot be kept to provide Joule heat. The additional energy can be provided by the arc. However, the arc energy may be controlled to provide only sufficient energy to treat the incoming waste and additional Joule heat energy to maintain the melt bath temperature in any of the above conditions. The molten oxide ponds of embodiments of the present invention provide a much higher degree of melt conditioning with melt modifiers than the flexibility of Joule heated melter systems or standard arc plasma processing.

Melt modifier 432 and / or second waste stream 433 are selected to provide a melt pool having the desired electrical, thermal and physical properties. The type and amount of melt control agent will be determined by the particular vitrification unit configuration and waste stream. For example, the melt pool when treating tires in waste stream 431 provides sufficient conductivity to use the Joule heated melter subsystem in a more optimal mode of operation. As mentioned above, the desired amount of stream is added directly above or to the basin to facilitate the use of the water gas reaction or remove excess carbon material.

FIG. 13B shows an optimal furnace for regenerating some metals utilizing a molten oxide pond according to the present invention. When metal is processed, the controlled configuration of the weld pool is altered so that the molten metal oxide layer is located above the dense layer at the bottom of the furnace. Suitably, the location and number of joule heating electrodes may be varied depending on the type and volume of waste to be treated. If the waste material has, for example, a high density of metal contents, the Joule thermal electrodes will tune or "tune" the efficient resistance path between the electrodes.
une) ”and may be heated or cooled. Where the metal layer can efficiently increase the electrical path between the Joule heat electrodes to the point of "shorting" by contacting, or nearly contacting, the highly conductive melter layer. , This may be needed. Further, the number of Joule hot electrodes in the furnace can be designed depending on the type and amount of waste material processed.

As further shown in FIG. 13B, the molten metal oxide layer 434 is disposed above the dense metal layer 435 of the furnace 409. Joule heated
) The weld pool 434/435 is controlled by adding melted conditioner material 432 and / or second waste stream material 433 so that the Joule heated portion of the system is 100% Joule heated. The temperature of the melt can be efficiently maintained even under conditions such as operation.

It is desirable to maintain a range of electrical resistance of the weld pool. For example, for some configurations of tunable arc plasma melting chambers, it is desirable that the weld pool configuration be maintained by an electrical resistance of more than 1 ohm to the efficient Joule heating of the molten oxidation bath. In some embodiments, the electrical resistance is preferably within 1-200 ohm-cm, more preferably 5-15 ohm-c.
m. However, waste stream, melt, furnace size and configuration have significant effects in these ranges.

14A and 14B show exemplary first and second furnace configurations in accordance with the present invention. For auto and truck tires or other non-glass forming waste streams, the tunable molten oxidation pond plasma arc melt chamber process effectively converts the entire tire to a low concentration of media BTU gas. In this manner, the tire can be removed from the technician without dismantling and is amenable to tunable arc plasma melter system processing. Steel belt and rim materials are regenerated from the molten metal stage.

To achieve the conversion of tire rubber to predominantly synthetic rubber (including, for example, hydrogen and carbon monoxide), steam and possibly a controlled amount of air melts in a controlled manner. It can be added to the chamber to facilitate a series of reactions as shown below. The steam and air mixture is a tuyer or similarly arranged member such that the steam / air mixture is introduced into the furnace at the melting surface.
positioned) and can be added via a port. This allows
It is confirmed that the carbonaceous material is converted to gas products and is not trapped in the glass / slag matrix.

Chemical equations (1)-(5) produce reactions that occur based on the introduction of oxygen and / or steam into the melting chamber of furnace 409.

C + H ₂ O → CO + H ₂ (1) C + CO ₂ → 2CO (2) CO + H ₂ O → CO ₂ + H ₂ (3) C + O ₂ → CO ₂ (4) C + 2H ₂ → CH ₄ (5) Reaction (1) And (2) are highly endothermic reactions, each of which is 131.4 kJ /
Mole and 172.6 kJ / mole are required. When steam is mainly introduced in the vicinity of atmospheric pressure, the reaction (1), that is, the water-gas reaction becomes dominant, and (ie, 131.4 kJ / mole) is required to generate a hydrogen-rich gas. . As mentioned above, this gas is extinguished using particulate removal techniques and scribing solutions, which allows it to be burned either prior to combustion in either the gas turbine or the electrical generator system of an internal combustion engine, or as discussed herein. For use in fuel cells as described above, most particulates and sulfur and H ₂ S,
Other inclusions such as chlorine in the form of SO _x and HCl are removed. Unnecessary heat,
It can be utilized to generate and supply steam for the furnace chamber. Hot air may be extracted from the intermediate stages of the gas turbine if additional heat energy is needed.

The processing of materials containing a high ratio of carbon to hydrogen is a major thermal exhaust.
Exhaust will produce excess carbon (ie unreacted char). For example, tires typically contain a high ratio of carbon to hydrogen.
This excess carbon or unreacted charcoal can be converted to useful gaseous fuel 436, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, or converted to heat in a second plasma reaction chamber 437. obtain. This chamber provides thermal energy from the displaced plasma arc and / or plasma torch 438 to drive the desired reaction, ie initiate reaction (1) above. Electricity
422c and / or 429 in FIGS. 14A and 14B.
Is supplied to the second reaction chamber 437 as shown in FIG. As in the first furnace chamber, steam and possibly air or oxygen (not shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B) are added above or directly to slag 439 to remove carbon and carbon containing compounds. Complete or substantially complete conversion to carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas.

Charcoal produced from waste containing high carbon (eg tires) also accumulates on the surface of molten oxygen. In order to ensure further complete carbon conversion, both the steam and the controlled air content are at the melt line, as described above.
Or it can be introduced above the melting line. Reaction (4) as described above is predominant in the presence of air, which results in about 393.8 kJ / m of reacted carbon.
results in a net heat energy production of ole. This thermal energy reacts in this surface zone by the simultaneous introduction of steam and air (
1) is driven. The air-steam mixture can be precisely controlled to provide the desired gas product from the furnace system. For example, a water gas reaction can be used to convert furnace coke deposits or deposits in the hearth to a gas rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen. In some situations, it is desirable to leave some of the coke in the hearth to reduce electrode erosion.

The hydrogen-rich gas produced by the system may be extinguished and then combusted in a gas turbine or internal combustion engine and then used to produce electricity in a generator (or in a fuel cell). Used). In a preferred embodiment, exhaust heat from a gas turbine or internal combustion engine is melted by a melter.
unit) can be used to generate steam for water gas reactions. In environments where internal combustion engines or gas turbines are not used, steam may also be obtained by partially cooling the furnace off-gas 421 and using this steam in an exhaust shift reaction.

When a carbon material such as a tire is processed in a pyrolysis mode with steam and a controlled amount of air, the processed material is highly efficient (eg 35-50%) gas turbine or internal combustion engine. A low concentration of media BTU gas suitable for internal combustion (or for fuel cells) may be produced. The tunable plasma arc melting chamber may also generate excess electrical power when processing carbon material in the pyrolysis mode described above. Electrical power from a gas turbine or internal combustion engine generator may be provided to assist the furnace power supply. The system may also provide additional AC power to the Joule heating of the melting chamber and / or the utility company, which may provide the opportunity for reduced operating costs and / or additional revenue.

As mentioned above, the present invention also provides an environmentally attractive method and apparatus for reducing nitric oxide (NO _x ) emissions when the gases produced in a waste converter are combusted. To do. This can be accomplished by burning the hydrogen-rich gas and operating the internal combustion engine or turbine in a very lean mode so that electricity can be produced from the hydrogen-rich gas. Here, the very lean mode means that the air has a high ratio to the fuel containing the hydrogen-carbon monoxide gas from the waste converter as the fuel.

As used herein, “ultra lean” is an equivalence ratio of 0.4 to 0.7 for stoichiometric operations.
, Φ are shown. Φ is the fuel to air ratio with respect to the fuel to air ratio in stoichiometric conditions where the amount of air is exactly equal to the required amount to burn the fuel gas. A typical spark ignition engine operates under stoichiometric conditions with Φ = 1. Reference should be made to MacDonald, Evaluation of
Hydrogen-Supplemental Fuel Concept
With An Expert MultiCylinder E
ngine, Soc. of Automatic Engineers, Pa
per 930737, p. 574 (1976) is hereby incorporated by reference. The use of hydrogen-rich gas in spark ignition engines allows operation with fuel at an ultra lean ratio to air. It is possible to operate when the ratio of fuel to air is less than or equal to 0.4. These values of Φ are substantially lower than possible for other fuels. If Φ is lower, hydrogen will burn faster. The use of hydrogen-rich gas and operation when ultra-lean also allows the use of very high compressibility. The combination of operation in the ultra lean case and the use of high compression ratios can greatly reduce pollution and internal combustion engine efficiency. Due to the very lean mode, ie low equivalence ratio operation in the range of about 0.4 to 0.7, the product of NOx is greatly reduced, ie by a factor greater than 10 for stoichiometric operation. Can be done. Hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions are also very low.

A system for reducing NO _x emissions while producing electricity from combustion gases produced by a waste converter is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. System 440
Includes a waste converter 441, a gas cleanup device 443, a spark ignition engine 449 or gas turbine (not shown in FIG. 15 or 16) and a generator 459 (or fuel cell discussed herein). Plasma fuel converter 4
57 (see FIG. 16) and / or engine guidance system / turbocharger 4
45 (see FIG. 15) may also be utilized in system 440. Auxiliary fuel 448 from the fuel source (fuel source 458 shown in FIG. 16) and oxidation catalyst 451 may also be used in accordance with the present invention.

As mentioned above, fuel gas may be produced from the waste converter 441. The waste converter used in the present invention includes those shown and described thus far. A further waste conversion device used in accordance with the present invention is co-pending US application Ser. Nos. 08 / 621,424 and 08 / 622,762, both filed March 25, 1996 and incorporated herein Including those indicated by. These waste treatment devices can produce hydrogen-rich gas and carbon monoxide, including mainly hydrogen, which are:
It can be burned to produce electricity. Electricity may be utilized to meet some or all of the exhaust treatment system's required amount of electricity. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other exhaust conversion devices that may produce fuel gas may be used in connection with system 440. For example, US Pat. No. 5,280,757 to Carter et al .; Ch.
apman, Evaluation of Vitrifying Munic
ipal Incinerator Ash, Ceramic Nuclear
Waste Management IV, Ceramic Transac
Tions, American Chemical Society. Vol.
23, pp. 223-231 (1991); US Pat. Nos. 5,177,304 and 5,298,233, both to Nagel.
These are incorporated herein by reference.

The gas 442 exits the waste converter 441 and exits the gas cleanup device 44.
3 for gas-liquid separation (eg, removal and separation of ash or other particles 444b from hydrogen-rich fuel gas 444a that may enter gas 442).
In some situations, off gas scrubbing may occur in the gas emission cleanup device 443 or the internal combustion engine 449 (or gas ignition turbine).
It is desirable to incorporate a scrubbing treatment to remove any acid gases therefrom.

Next, the hydrogen-rich gas 404a is supplied to the engine intake system / turbocharger 44.
5 and mixed with a predetermined amount of air 446a to form an ultra-lean air-fuel mixture. The turbocharger 445 may be used to increase the amount of fuel in the cylinder to compensate for the reduced power density in ultra lean operation. The turbocharger 445 may be driven by exhaust gas from a vitrification unit or steam. The vitrification unit or steam is produced by heat exchangers at various points in the system. Hydrogen rich gas 40 by engine intake system / turbocharger 445
4a can be cooled before being introduced into the internal combustion engine 449. Cooling can increase the amount of fuel 447 that can be used per explosion. It should be noted that operation of the engine intake system / turbocharger 445 may not always be necessary or desired. Under these circumstances, the hydrogen rich gas 444a and air 446b in the ultra lean mixture may be introduced directly into the spark ignition engine 449 as shown in FIG.

The hydrogen-rich gas 447 is consumed by the engine 449, whereby the exhaust gas 450 is exhausted.
And a machine output 453 is generated. The mechanical output 453 is used to drive the generator 454 to produce electricity 456 and / or electricity 455. Figure 1
As further shown in 5, electricity 456 may be used to supply some or all of the electrical requirements to waste conversion unit 441. Electricity 456
It can be used for other electrical requirements in this system (eg, supplying electricity 456b to plasma fuel converter 457 as shown in FIG. 16). Electricity 4
55 is used for sale.

The operation of the spark ignition engine 449 is preferably at a lean fuel to air ratio Φ and a high mixture ratio. For example, an exemplary value for Φ is 0.4-0.7, preferably about 0.5. An exemplary value of the mixing ratio r is 12-15. In contrast, a typical spark-ignited engine operating on gasoline has Φ = 1 and r = 10. Further, the gas turbine can be operated at a ratio of Φ of 0.4 or less.

The efficiency of a spark ignition engine is approximately 2 by using ultra lean operation.
It is expected that it can be increased by a relative amount of 0% (ie, efficiency can be increased, for example, from approximately 30% to 36%), but should not be configured to be so limited. Furthermore, utilizing a mixing ratio of about 15 is expected to result in a further relative increase with an efficiency of about 15%. Therefore, by increasing the mixing ratio from the standard spark ignition value of 10 to a value of about 15, the temperature efficiency is further increased by 36%.
To 42% can be increased. Ganesan, Internal Combu
state Engineers, McGraw-Hill, Inc. (1995)
, Which is incorporated herein by reference. 42% temperature efficiency is 1
Substantially higher than the efficiency of current gas turbine technologies with sub-MW power output (eg,
A 100 kW level gas turbine has an efficiency of about 30%). Moreover, this spark ignition engine is generally less expensive and is generally easier to stop and start. However, it should be noted that gas turbines using lean operation may be applied in the present invention (eg, turbine 52 of FIG. 1A).
See).

Ultra-dilute operation can dramatically reduce NO _x emissions. NO _X levels is expected to obtain less 10 times or more of the NO _X generated using standard stoichiometric operation. NO _x emission decreases with decreasing equivalence ratio so that the equivalence ratio is reduced below the upper end (Φ = 0.7) in ultra-lean mode operation. In addition, hydrocarbon emissions can be very small, as hydrogen-rich gases can typically contain only a small proportion of hydrocarbons and are expected to result in just a complete combustion of hydrocarbons at small levels. Furthermore, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are expected to be low due to the high CO burnup. Further CO reduction can be obtained by the use of simple oxidation catalysts. For example, referring again to FIG. 15, the exhaust 450 includes the oxidation catalyst 451.
Can be combined with to produce a low pollution exhaust 452. Suitable oxidation catalysts for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, platinum and iridium. Engine 44
Use of waste heat from 9 may provide steam for heating and / or other applications in waste heat power generation.

It is expected that the levels of NO _x , CO hydrocarbons, hydrocarbons and particulates produced by the present invention will be significantly lower than the emission levels from small diesel generator output stations. It is expected that the emission levels according to the invention will also not be greater than the electricity of a natural gas fired turbine producing a plant with a relatively high output capacity. This natural gas fired turbine has extensive pollution control equipment.

If the production of hydrogen rich gas 442 from waste treatment unit 441 is not sufficient to power internal combustion engine 449, then to engine 449 to continue ultra lean spark ignition engine operation as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. It is desirable to add the correct amount of supplemental fuel 448 (eg, natural gas) directly. 16
3 illustrates the integration of a spark ignition engine and additional fuel system suitable for use with the present invention.

The system 440 shown in FIG. 16 is similar to the system 440 shown in FIG. 15, but with a plasma fuel converter 457 (the use of which can be automatically controlled as shown in the example of FIG. 17). including. Although not shown in FIG. 16, it is clear that the system 440 could be used with an engine intake system / turbocharger 445 (as shown in FIG. 15) and a plasma fuel converter 457.

As further shown in FIG. 16, plasma fuel converter 457 may be provided with additional hydrogen rich gas 460 to spark ignition engine 449. This is desirable or necessary if the amount of hydrogen rich gas 444 (and / or make-up fuel 448) is insufficient as the power of engine 449 in the desired lean operating mode and use of high mix ratios.

Plasma fuel converter 457 receives make-up fuel 459 from make-up fuel source 458 and reorganizes this fuel 459 into hydrogen-rich gas 460. A plasma fuel converter suitable for use in the present invention is described by Rabinovich et al., US Pat.
No. 5,425,332 and 5,437, including but not limited to the plasma fuel converters disclosed in 25,332 and 5,437,250.
, 250 are both incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, hydrogen rich gases 444 and 446 may be used to ensure lean mode engine 449 operation.

Accordingly, various combinations for fueling engine 449 in accordance with the present invention include:
It makes it possible to guarantee the operation of lean mode and / or use of high mixing ratios, which provides a cost-effective and environmentally attractive system with high efficiency. For example, the hydrogen rich gas 444 from the waste conversion unit 441 can be used alone to supply fuel to the engine 449. Alternatively, the hydrogen rich gas 444 may be proportionately combined with the make-up fuel 448 (eg, natural gas) of the engine 449 and the lean operation of the engine 449 retained. The plasma fuel converter 457 also
Make-up hydrogen-rich gas 460 may be utilized to supply engine 449 with hydrogen-rich gas 444, or with hydrogen-rich gas 444 and make-up fuel 448.

An exemplary automatic control system for determining when supplemental fuel and / or operation of a plasma fuel converter is desired or needed is shown in FIG. If it is determined in step 461 that make-up fuel is needed, then make-up fuel is supplied directly to the engine 4.
49 or hydrogen refueling gas 760
Is added to the plasma fuel converter 457 for production of.

When supplemental fuel is added directly to engine 449 (step 463), the supplemental fuel is
It is added until the lean limit condition of the mixed fuel operation is met. Additional hydrogen rich gas 444 and / or hydrogen rich gas 460 may then be added as appropriate.

Addition of hydrogen rich gas into engine 449 may be controlled by step 493. For example, the refueling fuel is automatically controlled and engine 4
49 and / or directly into the plasma fuel converter 457.

As mentioned above, the electricity generated by the generator 454 may be used to supply some or all of the electrical demands 456a of the waste conversion unit 441. Electricity may also be used for other electrical demands in this system (see, for example, supplying electricity 456b to plasma fuel converter 457 as shown in FIG. 16). Electricity 458 is used for sale.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the evolved gas from the waste conversion unit may be used in a non-combustion process. This is due to the non-combustion system (see FIGS. 18 and 1).
9) integrated controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell (CPG-F).
Accomplished by C). A controlled plasma vitrification (CPG) system can be integrated with a fuel cell system that is an efficient and environmentally beneficial generation of electrical energy from waste processed in the controlled plasma vitrification system.

As used herein, a "controlled plasma vitrification unit" includes the waste conversion unit of the present invention. In addition, "controlled plasma vitrification"
And / or "Plasma Amplified Melting Equipment" (PEM) incorporates the process of treating waste of the waste conversion unit of the present invention.

For example, a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) can be used with the waste conversion unit of the present invention to produce electricity from the offgas of the waste combustion unit in a non-combustion process. Controlled plasma vitrification produces an initially composed product gas or off-gas of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide and traces of other gases when treating carbonaceous material. The gas produced from the controlled plasma vitrification system may ideally be suitable for the fuel of the molten carbonate fuel cell (along with impurities from the waste vapor that is removed).

A controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell (CPG-FC) system provides an incomplete combustion process for waste conversion into useful electrical energy. Combustion system (eg incinerator combined with steam turbine generator system)
Or, contrary to other combustion technologies (eg gas turbines or internal combustion generator sets), a controlled plasma vitrification system-fuel cell system according to the present invention transfers the chemical energy of the fuel gas to electricity via an electrochemical reaction. Convert to energy.

Molten carbonate fuel cells include the use of a mixture of alkali carbonates supported by a substrate that acts as the electrolyte of the electrochemical cell. Lithium aluminate (lithiated al) as it should not be configured to be limiting.
uminate) substrates can be utilized in the present invention. At the cell cathode, oxygen reacts with oxygen dioxide and electrons on the lithium nickel oxide electrode surface to form carbonate ions, as shown below.

1 / 2O ₂ + CO ₂ + 2e ⁻ → CO ₃ ²⁻ (6) At the anode of a battery, when hydrogen reacts with carbonate to form steam and carbon dioxide, first, oxidation of hydrogen is performed. Occurs.

H ₂ + CO ₃ ²⁻ → H ₂ O + CO ₂ + 2e ⁻ (7) The CO ₂ produced in the compartment of the battery anode is a single gas (
It is actually recycled to the cathode using a simple gas separation technique (eg pressure swing adsorption (PSA)). As can be seen from reactions (6) and (7), the electrons are obtained from the circuit at the cathode of the cell and the electrons reach the circuit at the anode. Using these initial reactions, a non-combustible conversion of hydrogen fuel to electrical energy is accomplished.

Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown a flow diagram for utilizing a controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell system according to the present invention. System 464 includes an off-gas cleaning unit 465 of gas 468 for removal from the waste conversion unit. Fuel cell 46
6 (eg MCFC) is connected to the cleaning unit 465,
Gas 469 from can be used in fuel cell 466. Gas 469 is expected to contain primarily hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane. However, additional gases may also be included.

Molten carbonate fuel cells include the use of a mixture of alkali carbonates supported by a substrate (eg, a lithium aluminate substrate) that acts as an electrolyte 477 of an electrochemical cell 466. Oxygen from the air 476 can react with the above reaction (6
), The cathode 471 of the fuel cell 466 reacts with carbon dioxide and electrons on the lithium nickel oxide electrode surface. Therefore, carbonate ions are formed and electrons are consumed at the cathode 407. Initial hydrogen oxidation occurs at the anode 470 of the fuel cell 466 as the oxygen reacts with the carbonate formed at the cathode 471. Thus, water vapor and carbon dioxide are formed and the electrons are brought into the circuit by the reaction (7) described above. The CO ₂ produced in the compartment of the anode 470 of the fuel cell 466 is actually recycled to the cathode 471. It This can be accomplished using a single gas fractionation technique such as pressure swing adsorption (PSA). Thus, carbon dioxide and other gases 472 can be fractionated at unit 467 by pressure swing adsorption. The carbon dioxide 475 can then be recycled to the cathode 471. Carbon dioxide 475 may also be mixed with a predetermined amount of air 476 prior to and / or during introduction to cathode 471.

The gas 474 removed from the cathode 471 of the fuel cell 466 may contain primarily O ₂ and CO ₂ . The gas from unit 467, which contains O ₂ and CO ₂ ,
It may be combined with gas 474 as process exhaust. These gases can be treated appropriately.

Outgassing to the surroundings from the controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell system according to the invention is expected to be extremely low. Controlled plasma vitrification is expected to have very low emissions of heavy metals, noxious organic species such as dioxins, furans, and particulates. For example, there are no harmful emissions from fuel cells such as molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) that operate on hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Exhaust gases from a controlled plasma vitrification process have extremely low harmful emissions, and when this gas passes through a fuel cell, this gas is actually further cleaned, thereby creating an extremely low emission system. Expected to occur.

Molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) have been shown to have the ability to further process organic compounds in the anode region by a steam reforming reaction. Therefore, it is expected that any lightweight hydrocarbon emissions from controlled plasma vitrification will be utilized as fuel in molten carbonate fuel cells. It will be appreciated that in some circumstances carbon monoxide emissions from controlled plasma vitrification may be in the range of about 10-50%.

Uncontrolled release of carbon monoxide is undesirable. However, the present invention uses a molten carbonate fuel cell and, as shown in reaction (8) or (9) below,
Utilizes most of CO as fuel directly or indirectly.

CO + CO ₃ ²⁻ → 2CO ₂ + 2e ⁻ (8) or CO + H ₂ O → H ₂ + CO ₂ (9) The reaction (8) involves direct electrochemical oxidation of CO, but the reaction (9) Includes a water-gas shift reaction that produces H ₂ . Therefore, the reaction (9) is the above reaction (7).
As described above, it is efficiently used as a fuel in a molten carbonate fuel cell.

The controlled plasma vitrification system of the present invention (ie, the waste conversion unit of the present invention) is expected to have a very low emission of volatile metals due to the controlled operation of the arc plasma. . The arc plasma of the controlled plasma vitrification process uses the incoming feed material as a useful gas (ie, H ₂ , CO, CH ₄ ).
It is operated only at the power level required to preheat the inorganic material for conversion and dissolution in the glass melt. Other plasma systems and partial oxidation pyrolysis processes provide high particulate emissions of volatile metals. Volatile heavy metals are strongly involved in the operation of molten carbonate fuel cells. Metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and selenium are all known as causes that significantly deteriorate the performance of the molten carbonate fuel cell. Other heavy metals also cause performance degradation, but to a lesser extent than these metals. Therefore, the coupling of a pyrolysis process such as controlled plasma vitrification according to the present invention (ie, the waste conversion unit of the present invention) with a molten carbonate fuel cell is a combination with other waste treatment technologies. It has a great advantage.

Molten carbonate fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells are optimal fuel cells that can tolerate low levels of contaminants in the fuel and oxidant gas streams. Therefore, controlled plasma vitrification is expected to have very low levels of emission, even though alkaline fuel cells (AFC), phosphate fuel cells (PAFC),
Or there may still be levels of existing pollutants that can render fuel cells such as Proton Transfer Membrane (PEM) fuel cells inoperable (but such pollutants are not suitable for use in such fuel cells). , Can be removed before being introduced into the fuel cell)
. A water-gas shift reaction (ie, CO + H ₂ O → H ₂ + CO ₂ ) and absorption of pressure fluctuations is used to convert a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide into a stream of purified hydrogen and to purify the purified hydrogen stream. It is possible to This allows other types of fuel cells such as AFC, PAFC, and PEM systems to be integrated with controlled plasma vitrification technology.

The hot gas cleaning system is used with a controlled plasma vitrification process to provide a relatively clean fuel gas to a fuel cell. For example, industrially available dry Ca (OH) ₂ cleaning techniques can be used in accordance with the present invention. A major advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that it may not require preheating as is the case with most wet cleaning equipment systems. The controlled plasma vitrification process was expected to have low volatile metal emissions, allowing for a hot dry cleaning technique. Other plasma systems require additional gas scrubbing to ensure that other non-volatile metals do not reach the fuel cell and do not contaminate the fuel cell.

The efficiency of molten carbonate fuel cells has been demonstrated in the range of 50-60% (ie chemical energy vs. AC power). This advantageously compares the efficiency of the bottoming cycle with the efficiency of current technology gas turbine generators approaching 45% efficiency.
In the illustrative prophetic example, a controlled plasma vitrification system can produce at least twice the net electrical energy as compared to using a 40% efficient gas turbine generator system. Table 8 provides a summary of the predicted efficiency improvements and can be seen using a controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell system according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0371]

[Table 8]

A controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell (CPG-FC) system works synergistically with respect to electrolyte management. Molten carbonate fuel cells are less susceptible to pollutant emissions than other types of fuel cells, but may exhibit degraded performance when contaminated with sulfur and chlorine. An alternative approach to standard operation of molten carbonate fuel cells allows for continuous replenishment of electrolyte and the uptake of spent electrolyte into a controlled plasma vitrification chamber.

Another unique aspect of a controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell (CPG-FC) system involves the possible utilization of waste heat from a controlled plasma vitrification chamber,
Including the molten carbonate fuel cell in a dormant state to eliminate or minimize thermal cycling of the fuel cell. Thermal cycling is known to introduce defects in molten carbonate fuel cells in the form of leaks and cracks in ceramic components. In most cases, the controlled plasma vitrification is quiescent, the waste heat from the controlled plasma vitrification chamber is in the form of a controlled plasma vitrification cooling gas (air) stream, and the anode gas distributor and It may facilitate routing to the fuel cell through the cathode gas distributor. The hot gas transfers enough energy to the fuel cell to avoid thermal cycling.

The integration of controlled plasma vitrification with molten carbonate fuel cells is shown in FIG. Illustration of how a controlled plasma vitrification system can be integrated into a molten carbonate fuel cell in a synergistic manner with the major advantage of having the whole system operate independently of each other. It can be understood from 19.

System 478 includes a waste conversion unit 480, an exhaust gas cleaning unit 465, a fuel cell 466, and a separation unit 467 (eg, pressure swing absorption unit) according to the present invention.

Cooling air 481 may be used with or without water to cool the furnace or waste conversion unit 480 (also referred to herein as a controlled plasma vitrification unit). Also, in some examples, unit 480 may be cooled with water only. As mentioned above, the vitrified or vitrifiable product 483 formed in the unit 480 may be removed from the unit. The gas 482 may be directly introduced into the fuel cell 466 from the unit 480. Gas 482, which predominantly contains air, is preheated in the cooling jacket to remove thermal shock to the cathode and maintain the dormant temperature of the fuel cell. Preferably, gas 482 is introduced at cathode 471 of fuel cell 466. Also, gas 482 may be mixed with carbon dioxide recycle 475 prior to or during introduction to the fuel cell cathode.

Gas 468, containing primarily hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane, exits unit 480 and is scrubbed in unit 465. The solids and / or particulates from the washer or unit 465 can be further processed. For example, the solids 486 (which may include spent electrolyte 489 from the fuel cell 466) may be recycled by the unit 480 for treatment within the unit, but the cleaning solids 485 may be recycled and recycled within the cleaning unit 465. Can be processed.

Gas 469 is introduced into fuel cell 466 at the anode. Idle heated air 479 may be heated by heating from unit 480, as described herein. Air 487 may be introduced directly into fuel cell 466 from heat exchanger 479.

As described above, the gas is processed in the fuel cell 466. Fresh electrolyte 488 is provided to the fuel cell 466 when needed or desired. Gas 474
Are either transferred to the stack or recycled by unit 467.
The gas 472 is transmitted to a unit 467 (eg, a pressure swing absorption unit).
Carbon dioxide 475 is recycled to cathode 471 and gases 473 are transferred to the stack or these gases are recycled by unit 480.

Depending on the supply rate to the unit 480, part of the gas 474 is the purge gas 484.
Can be recycled in unit 480 as.

The usual approach to supplying fuel to molten carbonate fuel cells is by the use of partial oxidation reforming with methane as fuel or steam reforming, both in the reforming supply and in the flame supplying thermal energy to the reformer. It is a thing. Controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell systems are expected to provide improved non-combustible waste for energy conversion. The ultra-low emission from controlled plasma vitrification fuel cell systems enables the installation of these systems for in-situ fuel processes such as incineration or pyrolysis systems, which are fuel combustion electrical energy generation systems. There is expected. High efficiency of molten carbonate fuel cells for converting useful chemical energy of waste materials into electrical energy improves controlled plasma glassification fuel cell system in maximizing resource recovery from waste To the specified process. This benefits society from many perspectives. The most useful recyclable recovery of most waste is energy. Maximizing energy recovery can be a major benefit. In addition to maximizing energy recovery, controlled plasma vitrification can convert a portion of the waste into stable, non-leachable glass, minimizing harmful effluent emissions. The combination of a molten carbonate fuel cell and the waste conversion unit of the present invention supercharges the effluent by providing an optimized process for clean conversion of waste to energy and a recyclable product. Acts to further minimize to low levels.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the particular embodiments disclosed above are readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures to carry out the same purpose of the invention. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of an arc plasma furnace and Joule heating melter according to the present invention, wherein the furnace and melter are formed as a fully integrated system with a common melt bath. To be done.

FIG. 1B shows a fully integrated arc plasma furnace and melter, where the electrodes of the melter portion make a constant angle with respect to the vertical portion of the arc plasma-melter unit. Are arranged.

FIG. 1C shows a magnetic coil for inductive heating and mixing according to the present invention,
1B illustrates the fully integrated system of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1D illustrates the fully integrated system of FIG. 1C with secondary thermal boost according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1E shows another configuration for a fully integrated arc plasma-joule heating melter.

FIG. 1F shows another configuration for a fully integrated arc plasma-joule heating melter.

FIG. 1G shows another configuration for a fully integrated arc plasma-joule heating melter.

FIG. 1H shows a top view of yet another configuration for a fully integrated arc plasma-joule heating melter.

FIG. 1I shows a top view of yet another configuration for a fully integrated arc plasma-joule heating melter.

FIG. 1J shows a top view of yet another configuration for a fully integrated arc plasma-joule heating melter.

[Figure 1K]   FIG. 1K illustrates an exemplary delivery system used in the present invention.

FIG. 1L shows an exemplary outlet conduit suitable for use in the unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a fully integrated arc plasma furnace with independently controllable power delivery system and Joule heating melter system.

FIG. 3A illustrates an AC power system and a DC power system used in the fully integrated system of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates an AC power system and a DC power system used in the fully integrated system of the present invention.

FIG. 4A shows a top view of the configuration and geometry of the electrodes used by the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows a plan view of the configuration and geometry of the electrodes used by the present invention.

FIG. 4C shows a plan view of the configuration and geometry of the electrodes used in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4D shows a plan view of the configuration and geometry of the electrodes used in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a secondary of a common transformer for supplying AC power to the Joule heating electrodes and DC power to the arc electrodes without causing unwanted electrical interactions in the common melting bath. Figure 3 shows a schematic with the ability to use windings.

[Figure 6]   FIG. 6 shows another DC arc circuit diagram suitable for use in the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows yet another DC arc circuit diagram suitable for use in the present invention.

FIG. 7B shows yet another DC arc circuit diagram suitable for use in the present invention.

FIG. 8A shows a DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in the system of the present invention with one arc electrode.

FIG. 8B shows a DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the present invention having two arc electrodes.

FIG. 8C shows a DC arc circuit with independent arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the present invention having three arc electrodes.

FIG. 8D shows a DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the present invention having three arc electrodes.

FIG. 8E shows a DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the invention having three arc electrodes.

FIG. 9A shows an AC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in the system of the present invention with one arc electrode.

FIG. 9B shows an AC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the invention having two arc electrodes.

FIG. 9C shows an AC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the invention having two arc electrodes.

FIG. 9D shows an AC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the present invention having three arc electrodes.

FIG. 9E shows an AC arc circuit with single arc voltage and current control used in a system of the present invention having four arc electrodes.

FIG. 10A shows an AC or DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in the system of the present invention with one arc electrode.

FIG. 10B shows an AC or DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the present invention having two arc electrodes.

FIG. 10C shows an AC or DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the present invention having two arc electrodes.

FIG. 10D shows an AC or DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the invention having three arc electrodes.

FIG. 10E shows an AC or DC arc circuit with a single arc voltage and arc current control used in a system of the present invention having three arc electrodes.

FIG. 10F shows an AC or DC arc circuit used in the system of the present invention having three arc electrodes.

FIG. 11A shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having two Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11B shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having two Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11C shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having three Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11D shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having three Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11E shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having four Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11F shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having four Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11G shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having 6 Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11H shows an AC Joule heating electrical system used in the system of the present invention having six Joule heating electrodes.

FIG. 11I   FIG. 11I illustrates another embodiment of providing Joule heating according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention suitable for treating metals, non-glass forming waste, and low ash producing organisms.

FIG. 13A shows a furnace and molten oxide pool for treating metals, non-glass forming waste, and low ash producing organisms in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13B shows a furnace and molten oxide pool for treating metals according to the present invention.

FIG. 14A shows a furnace and molten oxide pool for treating non-glass forming waste and low ash producing organisms in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14B shows a furnace and molten oxide pool for treating non-glass forming waste and low ash producing organisms in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15   FIG. 15 shows that NO is generated during the generation of electricity from the waste conversion unit according to the present invention. _x 2 shows an energy conversion system that reduces the emission of hydrogen.

FIG. 16 illustrates an energy conversion system that reduces NO _X emissions during the production of electricity from a waste conversion unit, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 shows a low N during electricity generation from a waste conversion unit according to the present invention.
6 shows the automatic control logic used in conjunction with the generation of _OX emissions.

FIG. 18 shows a system using a fuel cell with the waste conversion unit of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows a system using a fuel cell with the waste conversion unit of the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) C10J 3/00 C10J 3/00 L F23G 5/00 115 F23G 5/00 115Z H01M 8/06 H01M 8/06 R H05B 3/00 340 H05B 3/00 340 (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL , PT, SE), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AL, M, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR , HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Invention Person Therma, Jeffrey E. Brian Lane 806 F-term (Kenwick, Kenwick, USA 99337) 3K058 AA87 BA19 CA04 FA02 3K061 AA23 AB03 AC03 BA05 CA12 CA14 DA14 DA17 DB01 DB11 DB16 3K084 AA02 AA08 4D004 AA36 AA46 AA48 BA03 A27 CA34 CA27 CA31 CA43 CA27 CA31 CA43 CA44 CA31 CA43 CA44 CA29 CA43 CA44 CA29 CA43 CA44 AA05 AA06 BA00 BA16

Claims (117)

[Claims] 1. A waste conversion unit comprising first, second, and third arc plasma electrodes, and a first power supply connected to the first, second, and third arc plasma electrodes. A first power supply, characterized in that the arc plasma generated between each of the arc plasma electrodes and the molten pool in the unit is generated at the tip of the molten pool or in the molten pool. A first, second, and third Joule heating electrodes, and a second power supply connected to the first, second, and third Joule heating electrodes, wherein capacitive Joule heating is performed in the molten pool. A second power supply configured to provide, wherein the first and second power supplies are responsive to sensed process parameters such that no deleterious electrical interactions with each other occur. Each is configured to be controlled separately and independently. A waste conversion unit. 2. The waste conversion unit of claim 1, wherein the first power source supplies a direct current to the first, second, and third arc plasma electrodes. 3. The waste conversion unit of claim 2, wherein the second power source supplies an alternating current to the first, second, and third Joule heating electrodes. 4. The waste conversion unit of claim 1, wherein the first power source supplies an alternating current to the first, second, and third arc plasma electrodes. 5. The waste conversion unit of claim 4, wherein the second power source supplies an alternating current to the first, second, and third Joule heating electrodes. 6. The waste conversion unit according to claim 1, further comprising a port for discharging gas generated in the unit. 7. The waste conversion unit of claim 6, wherein the port is located proximate the top of the unit. 8. The waste conversion unit of claim 7, further comprising a second port for venting gas produced in the unit. 9. The waste conversion unit of claim 8, wherein the second port is located on a side surface of the unit and proximate to a top of the unit. 10. The waste conversion unit of claim 8, wherein the second port is located proximate the top of the unit. 11. The first power supply supplies a direct current to the first, second, and third arc plasma electrodes, and the first power supply controls the first, second, and third power supplies. A transformer having a primary winding and first, second, and third secondary windings, the first, second, and third primary windings providing AC current and voltage. A transformer connected to an AC power source; first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings; First, second and third switches respectively connected in series with the second, third and third current limiting reactors, and first for converting the AC power to DC power having DC current and DC voltage, Second
And a third rectifier, each of the rectifiers having first and second outputs, and first, second, and third DC inductors. Where each inductor has first and second ends, and the first ends of the first, second and third inductors are respectively the first, second, and Connected to the first output of a third rectifier, the second ends of the first, second, and third inductors are respectively connected to the first, second, and third arc plasmas. The waste conversion unit of claim 1, comprising: first, second, and third DC inductors connected to the electrodes. 12. The waste conversion unit of claim 11, wherein the second outputs of the first, second, and third rectifiers are connected to counter electrodes in the unit. 13. The waste conversion unit of claim 11, wherein the first, second, and third rectifiers are diode bridge rectifiers. 14. The waste conversion unit of claim 11, wherein the first, second and third switches are silicon controlled rectifier switches. 15. The waste conversion unit of claim 14, wherein each of the silicon controlled rectifier switches includes first and second thyristors. 16. The waste conversion unit of claim 15, wherein each of the silicon controlled rectifier switches further comprises a load limiting reactor connected in parallel with the first and second thyristors of each switch. 17. The waste conversion unit of claim 16, further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel to the first and second thyristors of each switch. 18. The waste conversion unit of claim 17, wherein the snubber circuit comprises a capacitor connected in series with a resistor. 19. The waste conversion unit according to claim 11, wherein the first, second, and third secondary windings are connected in a Y shape. 20. The waste conversion unit according to claim 19, wherein the first, second and third primary windings are connected in a triangular shape. 21. The waste conversion unit according to claim 19, wherein the Y-shaped neutral connected to a secondary winding is connected to a counter electrode in the unit. 22. Further comprising at least one capacitor having first and second terminals, said first terminal being connected to said neutral and said second terminal being connected to said counter electrode and ground. The waste conversion unit according to claim 21. 23. A capacitor having first and second terminals and a resistor having first and second terminals, the first terminal of the capacitor being connected to the neutral and the capacitor being 22. The waste conversion unit of claim 21, wherein the second terminal of the resistor is connected to the first terminal of the resistor and the second terminal of the resistor is connected to the counter electrode and ground. . 24. The second power supply supplies an alternating current to the first, second, and third arc plasma electrodes, the second power supply providing first, second, and third primary. A transformer having a winding and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings providing AC current and voltage. A transformer, and first, second, and third current-limiting reactors each having first and second ends, the first, second, and third currents A first end of the limiting reactor connected to the first, second, and third secondary windings, respectively;
Second and third current limiting reactors, and first, second and third capacitors respectively connected to the second ends of the first, second and third current limiting reactors A reactor, each connected in series with the first, second, and third capacitors, and
The waste conversion unit of claim 1, each comprising a first, second, and third switch connected to the first, second, and third Joule heating electrodes. 25. The waste conversion unit of claim 24, wherein the first, second, and third switches are silicon controlled rectifier switches. 26. The waste conversion unit of claim 25, wherein each of the silicon controlled rectifier switches includes first and second thyristors. 27. The waste conversion unit of claim 26, further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel to the first and second thyristors of each switch. 28. The waste conversion unit of claim 27, wherein the snubber circuit comprises a capacitor connected in series with a resistor. 29. The waste conversion unit according to claim 24, wherein the first, second, and third secondary windings are connected in a Y shape. 30. The waste conversion unit of claim 29, wherein the first, second and third primary windings are connected in a triangular shape. 31. The waste conversion unit according to claim 29, wherein the Y-shaped neutral connected to a secondary winding is connected to a counter electrode in the unit. 32. The waste conversion unit of claim 31, further comprising at least one capacitor connected to the neutral. 33. The waste conversion unit of claim 32, further comprising at least one resistor connected to the neutral and the capacitor. 34. The waste conversion unit of claim 31, further comprising at least one switch connected to the neutral. 35. The switch is a silicon controlled rectifier switch.
The waste conversion unit according to claim 34. 36. The waste conversion unit of claim 35, wherein the silicon controlled rectifier switch includes first and second thyristors. 37. The waste conversion unit of claim 36, further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel with the first and second thyristors. 38. The waste conversion unit of claim 37, wherein the snubber circuit further comprises a capacitor connected in series with a resistor. 39. A power supply for supplying a direct current to the first, second and third arc plasma electrodes in the waste conversion unit, the power supply comprising first, second and third primary. A transformer having a winding and first, second and third secondary windings, the first, second and third primary windings providing AC current and AC voltage. A transformer connected to a power source; first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings; First, second, and third switches respectively connected in series with second and third current limiting reactors; first, first for converting the AC power to DC power having DC current and DC voltage; Two
And a third rectifier, each of the rectifiers having first and second outputs, and first, second, and third DC inductors. Where each inductor has first and second ends, and the first ends of the first, second and third inductors are respectively the first, second, and Connected to the first output of a third rectifier, the second ends of the first, second, and third inductors are respectively connected to the first, second, and third arc plasmas. A first, second, and third DC inductors connected to the electrodes; 40. The power supply of claim 39, wherein the second outputs of the first, second, and third rectifiers are connected to counter electrodes within the unit. 41. The power supply of claim 39, wherein the first, second and third rectifiers are diode bridge rectifiers. 42. The power supply of claim 39, wherein the first, second, and third switches are silicon controlled rectifier switches. 43. The power supply of claim 42, wherein each of the silicon controlled rectifier switches includes first and second thyristors. 44. The power supply of claim 43, wherein each of the silicon controlled rectifier switches further comprises a load limiting reactor connected in parallel with the first and second thyristors of each switch. 45. The power supply of claim 44, further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel to the first and second thyristors of each switch. 46. The power supply of claim 45, wherein the snubber circuit further comprises a capacitor connected in series with a resistor. 47. The power supply according to claim 39, wherein the first, second, and third secondary windings are connected in a Y shape. 48. The power supply of claim 47, wherein the first, second, and third primary windings are connected in a triangular shape. 49. The power supply according to claim 47, wherein the Y-shaped neutral connected to a secondary winding is connected to a counter electrode in the unit. 50. The power supply of claim 49, further comprising at least one capacitor connected to the neutral. 51. The power supply of claim 50, further comprising at least one resistor connected to the neutral and the capacitor. 52. A power supply for supplying an alternating current to the first, second and third arc plasma electrodes, the power supply comprising first, second and third primary windings and first, A transformer having second and third secondary windings, wherein the first, second and third primary windings are connected to an AC power source providing AC current and voltage. A first, a second and a third current limiting reactor each having a first and a second end, the first, second and third current limiting reactors of the first, second and third current limiting reactors, respectively. Ends of the first, second, and third secondary windings respectively connected to the first,
Second and third current limiting reactors, and first, second and third capacitors respectively connected to the second ends of the first, second and third current limiting reactors A reactor, each connected in series with the first, second, and third capacitors, and
A first, second, and third switch, each connected to the first, second, and third Joule heating electrodes. 53. The power supply of claim 52, wherein the first, second, and third switches are silicon controlled rectifier switches. 54. The power supply of claim 53, wherein each of the silicon controlled rectifier switches includes first and second thyristors. 55. The power supply of claim 54, further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel with the first and second thyristors of each switch. 56. The power supply of claim 55, wherein the snubber circuit comprises a capacitor connected in series with a resistor. 57. The power supply according to claim 52, wherein the first, second, and third secondary windings are connected in a Y shape. 58. The power supply of claim 57, wherein the first, second, and third primary windings are connected in a triangular shape. 59. The power supply according to claim 57, wherein the Y-shaped neutral connected to a secondary winding is connected to a counter electrode in the unit. 60. The power supply of claim 59, further comprising at least one capacitor connected to the neutral. 61. The power supply of claim 60, further comprising at least one resistor connected to the neutral and the capacitor. 62. The power supply of claim 59, further comprising at least one switch connected to the neutral. 63. The switch is a silicon controlled rectifier switch,
The power supply according to claim 62. 64. The power supply of claim 63, wherein the silicon controlled rectifier switch includes first and second thyristors. 65. The power supply of claim 64, further comprising a snubber circuit connected in parallel with the first and second thyristors. 66. The power supply of claim 65, wherein the snubber circuit further comprises a capacitor connected in series with a resistor. 67. A power supply for supplying a direct current to the first and second arc plasma electrodes in the waste conversion unit, the power supply comprising first, second and third primary windings and a first winding. A transformer having first, second, and third secondary windings, wherein the first, second, and third primary windings are connected to an AC power source that provides an AC current and an AC voltage. A transformer; first, second, and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second, and third secondary windings; and the first, second, and A first, second, and third switch, each connected in series with a third current-limiting reactor, and a diode bridge rectifier that converts the AC current and AC voltage to DC power having DC current and DC voltage. The rectifier has the first and second rectifiers, respectively.
, And having first, second, and third inputs connected to a third switch,
A diode bridge rectifier and first and second inductors, each inductor having a first and a second end, the first end of the first and second inductors being respectively Connected to the first and second outputs of the rectifier and the second of the first and second inductors
A power source comprising: first and second inductors connected to the first and second arc plasma electrodes, respectively. 68. The power supply according to claim 67, wherein the first, second, and third secondary windings are connected in a Y shape. 69. The power supply according to claim 68, wherein the Y-shaped neutral connected to a secondary winding is connected to a counter electrode in the unit. 70. The power supply of claim 67, wherein each of the first, second, and third switches includes first and second thyristors. 71. The method further comprising first, second, and third metal oxide varistors connected in parallel to the first and second thyristors of each switch.
The power supply described in 0. 72. A first, a first, and a second, respectively connected in parallel to the first and second thyristors of each switch and in parallel for the first, second, and third metal oxide varistor, respectively. 2, and further including a third load limiting reactor,
72. The power supply according to claim 71. 73. The load limiting reactor is an air gap reactor,
The power supply according to claim 72. 74. A first, a second, and a second connected to the load limiting reactor, respectively.
73. The power supply of claim 72, further comprising: and a third current transformer. 75. The power supply of claim 67, further comprising a clamping diode connected between the first and second outputs of the diode bridge rectifier and the first and second DC inductors. 76. The power supply according to claim 75, wherein the first, second, and third secondary windings are connected in a Y shape. 77. The power supply according to claim 76, wherein the Y-shaped neutral connected to a secondary winding is connected to a counter electrode. 78. The power supply of claim 75, wherein each of the first, second, and third switches includes first and second thyristors. 79. The method further comprising first, second, and third metal oxide varistors connected in parallel to the first and second thyristors of each switch.
The power supply according to item 8. 80. A first, a first, and a second, respectively connected to the first and second thyristors of each switch in parallel and respectively connected to the first, second, and third metal oxide varistor. 2, and further including a third load limiting reactor,
The power supply according to claim 79. 81. The load limiting reactor is an air gap reactor,
The power supply according to claim 80. 82. A first, a second, and a second connected to the load limiting reactor, respectively.
81. The power supply of claim 80, further comprising: and a third current transformer. 83. A power supply for supplying a direct current to the first and second arc plasma electrodes in the waste conversion unit, the power supply comprising first, second and third primary windings and a first winding. A first transformer having first, second, and third secondary windings, wherein the first, second, and third primary windings are
A first transformer connected to an AC power supply providing a C current and an AC voltage, and first, second, and third connected to the first, second, and third secondary windings, respectively. A thyristor rectifier having a third current limiting reactor and first, second, and third inputs and first and second outputs, the inputs of the first, second, and third thyristor rectifiers. But,
A thyristor rectifier connected to the first, second, and third current limiting reactors, respectively, and first and second DC inductors, each inductor having first and second ends. , The first ends of the first and second inductors are respectively connected to the first and second outputs of the thyristor rectifier, and the second ends of the first and second inductors, Parts are respectively connected to the first and second arc plasma electrodes, first and second DC inductors, first, second and third primary windings and first, second, and And a second transformer having a third secondary winding, the first, second, and third primary windings being the first, second, and third transformers of the first transformer. A second transformer respectively connected to the third secondary winding, and the second transformer of the second transformer. First, second and third linear inductors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings, and first, second and third inputs and first and second outputs A diode bridge rectifier having: the first, second, and third inputs connected to the first, second, and third linear inductors, respectively, the first output being the first output; A diode bridge rectifier connected to the DC inductor of the second output and the second output connected to the second DC inductor. 84. The power supply of claim 83, further comprising a neutral connected to the first, second, and third secondary windings of the first transformer and connected to a counter electrode. 85. The power supply of claim 83, further comprising a neutral connected to the first, second, and third secondary windings of the second transformer and connected to a counter electrode. 86. The first and second transformers of the first transformer connected to a counter electrode.
, And a neutral connected to a third secondary winding, the neutral being connected to the first, second and third secondary windings of the second transformer and to the counter electrode. 84. The power supply of claim 83, further comprising a connected neutral. 87. The power supply of claim 83, further comprising a plurality of current transformers. 88. A power supply for supplying a direct current to the first and second arc plasma electrodes in the waste conversion unit, the power supply comprising first, second and third primary windings and a first winding. A transformer having first, second, and third secondary windings, wherein the first, second, and third primary windings are connected to an AC power source that provides an AC current and an AC voltage. And a transformer, first, second and third current limiting reactors respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings, first, second and third A thyristor rectifier having three inputs and first and second outputs, wherein the inputs of the first, second and third thyristor rectifiers are:
A thyristor rectifier connected to the first, second, and third current limiting reactors, respectively, and first, second, third, and fourth DC inductors, each inductor being a first and a first Two ends, wherein the first ends of the first and second inductors are
Respectively connected to the first and second outputs of the thyristor rectifier, the second ends of the first and second inductors are respectively connected to the first and second ends of the third and fourth inductors, respectively. First, second, connected to a second end, the first and second ends of the third and fourth inductors being respectively connected to the first and second arc plasma electrodes, Third and fourth DC inductors and first and second respectively connected to the first, second and third secondary windings of the transformer,
A diode bridge rectifier having second and third linear inductors, first, second, and third inputs and first and second outputs, the first, second, and third diode inductors. Inputs are connected to the first, second, and third linear inductors, respectively, the first output is connected to the first DC inductor, and the second output is connected to the second DC inductor. A power supply, including a connected diode bridge rectifier. 89. The power supply of claim 88, further comprising a neutral connected to the first, second, and third secondary windings of the transformer and connected to a counter electrode. 90. The power supply of claim 88, wherein the first, second, and third secondary windings are connected in a triangular shape. 91. The power supply of claim 90, further comprising a neutral connected to the first, second, and third secondary windings of the transformer and connected to a counter electrode. 92. The power supply of claim 88, further comprising a plurality of current transformers. 93. A system for treating waste, the system comprising a waste conversion unit for producing gas and a fuel cell connected to the waste conversion unit, the system comprising: A fuel cell for enclosing the gas in the fuel cell to generate electrical energy. 94. The system of claim 93, wherein the fuel cell is a molten carbon dioxide fuel cell. 95. The system of claim 94, wherein the fuel cell comprises an electrolyte. 96. The system of claim 95, wherein the electrolyte comprises a mixture of alkali carbonates supported in a lithium salt / aluminate matrix. 97. The system of claim 94, further comprising a gas separation unit connected to the fuel cell. 98. The gas separation unit is a pressure swing adsorption unit,
The system of claim 97. 99. The gas conversion device further includes a gas cleanup unit connected to the waste conversion unit and the fuel cell, wherein gas discharged from the waste conversion unit is collected before the gas conversion unit. 100. The system of claim 94, wherein the system is cleaned within the unit. 100. The fuel cell of claim 93, wherein the fuel cell is an alkaline fuel cell.
The system described in. 101. The system of claim 93, wherein the fuel cell is a phosphoric acid fuel cell. 102. The system of claim 93, wherein the fuel cell is a proton transfer membrane fuel cell. 103. The system of claim 93, wherein the fuel cell comprises an electrolyte. 104. The system of claim 103, wherein the electrolyte comprises a mixture of alkaline carbonates supported in a lithium salt / aluminate matrix. 105. The system of claim 93, further comprising a gas separation unit connected to the fuel cell. 106. The system of claim 105, wherein the gas separation unit is a pressure swing adsorption unit. 107. The gas conversion device further includes a gas cleanup unit connected to the waste conversion unit and the fuel cell, and gas discharged from the waste conversion unit is collected before the gas conversion unit. 94. The system of claim 93, wherein the system is cleaned within the unit. 108. A system for treating waste, wherein the system purifies gas from a waste conversion unit that produces gas and a gas from the waste conversion unit that is connected to the waste conversion unit. And a fuel cell connected to the gas up-up unit, wherein the fuel cell incorporates gas from the gas up-up unit into the fuel cell to generate electric energy. ,system. 109. The fuel cell is a molten carbon dioxide fuel cell.
The system according to item 8. 110. The system of claim 109, wherein the fuel cell comprises an electrolyte. 111. The system of claim 110, wherein the electrolyte comprises a mixture of supported alkali carbonates in a lithium salt / aluminate matrix. 112. The system of claim 109, further comprising a gas separation unit connected to the fuel cell. 113. The system of claim 112, wherein the gas separation unit is a pressure swing adsorption unit. 114. The system of claim 108, wherein the fuel cell comprises an electrolyte. 115. The system of claim 114, wherein the electrolyte comprises a mixture of alkali carbonates supported in a lithium salt / aluminate matrix. 116. The system of claim 108, further comprising a gas separation unit connected to the fuel cell. 117. The system of claim 116, wherein the gas separation unit is a pressure swing adsorption unit.