KR20120055778A - Plasma melting system using steam plasma torch and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A melting system using a steam plasma torch and an operation method thereof are provided to reduce facility costs by omitting a bombe, a compressor, or exhaust gas treatment equipment because steam is used as a medium. CONSTITUTION: A melting system using a steam plasma comprises a plasma melting furnace(110), a specimen injector(111), a plasma torch(120), a waste heat boiler(130), a steam supplying pipe(105), a wet cleaner(150), and a blower(160). The specimen injector inserts a specimen into the plasma melting furnace. The plasma torch melts the specimen, thereby generating melted material and exhaust gas. The waste heat boiler collects the waste heat and generates steam. One end part of the steam supplying pipe is connected to the waste heat boiler, and the other end part is connected to the plasma melting furnace so that the steam supplying pipe supplies the steam generated in the waste heat boiler to the plasma furnace as a medium. The wet cleaner cleans the exhaust gas passed through the waste heat boiler. The blower discharges the cleaned air.

Description

Melting system using steam plasma torch and its operation method {PLASMA MELTING SYSTEM USING STEAM PLASMA TORCH AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF}

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a furnace system and a method of operation thereof comprising a plasma torch using steam as a medium.

Typical plasma melting systems use arc plasma torches for the melting of samples to be melted, including metals, nonmetallic materials, asbestos, incineration ash, radioactive waste, and the like. Arc plasma torches mainly use high pressure argon, nitrogen, oxygen, or air as a medium, which requires a significant cost for melt treatment because gas cylinders or compressors are mainly used to supply the medium.

In addition, the flue-gases generated from the melting process usually contain harmful components including nitrogen oxides, so a facility for treating flue-gases must be attached to the plasma melting system.

Conventional plasma melting systems have to include gas cylinders, compressors, flue-gas treatment facilities, etc., so the facility and operating costs are substantial. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a plasma melting system that can reduce facility and operating costs.

An object according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems is, by using steam as the medium of the plasma torch, it is not necessary to have a bomb, compressor or flue gas treatment facility to reduce the harmful components contained in the flue gas It is to provide a plasma melting system and a method of operating the same.

Plasma melting system according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is included in the plasma melting furnace, a sample input device for injecting the sample to be melted into the plasma melting furnace, the plasma melting furnace, inside the plasma melting furnace A plasma torch for melting the injected melting target sample to generate a melt and exhaust gas, a waste heat boiler for recovering waste heat from the exhaust gas generated inside the plasma melting furnace, and generating steam, one end is connected to the waste heat boiler, the other end A steam supply pipe connected to the plasma melting furnace to supply steam generated in the waste heat boiler to the plasma melting furnace as a medium of the plasma torch, a wet scrubber for cleaning the exhaust gas passing through the waste heat boiler, and the cleaned exhaust gas. Blasting blower The.

According to one side, it may further include a heater provided in one region of the steam supply pipe to increase the temperature of the steam.

According to one side, the steam supplied into the plasma melting furnace through the steam supply pipe may be 4 to 6 atm or 140 ℃ to 160 ℃.

According to one side, it may further include a bag filter for removing the scattering dust and volatile components contained in the exhaust gas passing through the waste heat boiler.

On the other hand, the operation method of the plasma melting system for melting the sample to be melted using the plasma torch contained in the plasma melting furnace according to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of injecting the sample to be melted into the plasma melting furnace, the plasma torch Melting the sample to be melted introduced into the plasma melting furnace to generate a melt and exhaust gas; recovering waste heat from the exhaust gas generated inside the plasma melting furnace, and generating steam; one end of the waste heat boiler And supplying the steam to the plasma melting furnace through a steam supply pipe connected to the plasma melting furnace, the other end of the plasma torch, washing the exhaust gas passing through the waste heat boiler, and cleaning the exhaust gas. Releasing to the atmosphere do.

According to one side, the operation method of the plasma melting system may further comprise the step of raising the temperature of the steam using a heater provided in one region of the steam supply pipe.

According to one side, the steam supplied into the plasma melting furnace through the steam supply pipe may be 4 to 6 atm or 140 ℃ to 160 ℃.

According to the invention, the use of steam as the medium used in the plasma melting process eliminates the need for a bomb, compressor or flue gas treatment facility in the plasma melting system. Therefore, it is possible to reduce facility costs and operating costs.

In addition, by using the steam generated in the waste heat boiler as a medium, it is possible to reduce the cost required to supply the medium. In addition, by using a steam having a larger positive pressure specific heat than the conventional media as a medium, it is possible to increase the thermal efficiency of the plasma torch and to increase the operating voltage of the plasma torch to manufacture a large-capacity plasma torch.

In addition, the amount of exhaust gas generated in the plasma melting process can be reduced, and the harmful components contained in the exhaust gas can be reduced, thereby reducing the cost required for the exhaust gas treatment. In particular, it is possible to prevent a large amount of nitrogen oxides generated when using nitrogen or air as the medium of the plasma torch.

1 is a view showing a plasma melting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a plasma melting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. Terminology used herein is a term used to properly express a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which may vary according to a user, an operator's intention, or a custom in the field to which the present invention belongs. Therefore, the definitions of the terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

1 is a view showing a plasma melting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Plasma melting system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a plasma melting furnace 110, plasma torch 120, waste heat boiler 130, bag filter (140), wet scrubber 150, blower 160 and Steam supply pipe 105 is included. According to an embodiment, it may be effective to use a wet damping device instead of the bag filter 140.

The plasma melting furnace 110 includes a sample input device 111 and a plasma torch 120.

When the sample to be melted is introduced through the sample input device 111, the plasma melting furnace 110 melts the sample to be melted injected into the interior using the plasma torch 120. When the sample to be melted is injected into the sample injecting device 111, a load lock device may be installed to prevent air from being introduced into the plasma melting furnace 110 together with the sample to be melted. The sample to be melted may include materials such as metals, nonmetallic materials, asbestos, incineration ash, radioactive waste, and the like, and may include general materials requiring melt treatment in addition to the waste.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plasma torch 120 applies a high pressure arc to generate a hot plasma jet. In order to generate a hot plasma jet, a medium is required. In an embodiment of the present invention, steam is used as a medium. This will be described in detail below.

The plasma torch 120 is classified into a transfer torch and a non-transport torch according to a structure, and may include a configuration of an electrode (negative electrode / positive electrode), a nozzle, a gas inflow system, and a cooling system.

The plasma torch 120 shown in FIG. 1 is a non-removable torch, and a negative electrode (Cathod) and a positive electrode (Anode) are installed inside the cylindrical body. The negative electrode may be installed at one end inside the main body, and the positive electrode may be installed at the other end (eg, plasma discharge end) inside the main body and function as a nozzle. In addition, an intermediate electrode for generating an initial discharge is provided between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and an insulator is formed between the negative electrode and the intermediate electrode. Plasma gas is injected between the negative electrode and the intermediate electrode.

On the other hand, when the transfer torch is applied to the plasma torch 120, it is preferable to provide a graphite electrode on the lower surface of the plasma melting furnace 110.

The plasma torch 120 generates a high temperature plasma jet using a plasma gas, a high pressure arc, and steam. Steam is generated in the waste heat boiler 130 is supplied through the steam supply pipe 105.

Instead of generating steam through a separate steam generating device, steam generated in the process of cooling the exhaust gas in the waste heat boiler 130 is supplied to the plasma melting furnace 110. Therefore, there is no need to provide a bomb for supplying nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, argon conventionally used as a medium of the plasma torch, and there is no need for a compressor for compressing air. Therefore, it is possible to reduce facility costs and operating costs.

In addition, the steam has a higher static specific heat than the medium such as air, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc., and by using steam as a medium, the thermal efficiency of the plasma torch 120 can be increased, and the operating voltage of the plasma torch 120 can be increased. Can increase.

In addition, by using steam as a medium of the plasma torch 120, it is possible to reduce harmful components such as NOx contained in the exhaust gas, thereby reducing the cost required for the exhaust gas treatment.

Meanwhile, the plasma melting furnace 110 further includes a melt outlet 112 and an exhaust gas outlet 113. When a high temperature plasma jet is generated in the plasma torch 120, the inside of the plasma melting furnace 110 rises from about 1400 ° C. to 1600 ° C. Accordingly, the sample to be melted is melted to generate a melt and exhaust gas in the plasma melting furnace 110. The melt is discharged through the melt outlet 112 and the exhaust gas is discharged through the exhaust gas outlet 113. In this case, the exhaust gas may be in a steam state, and may include scattering dust, a small amount of harmful gas, a small amount of air introduced through the gap of the plasma melting furnace 110, a combustible component and a volatile component included in the sample to be melted.

The exhaust gas outlet 113 is connected to the waste heat boiler 130 through the first pipe 101 to transfer the exhaust gas to the waste heat boiler 130.

The waste heat boiler 130 cools the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas discharged through the exhaust gas outlet 113 is at a high temperature of about 1400 ° C. or more, and the exhaust gas is cooled using the waste heat boiler 130 to protect facilities connected to the rear end from thermal damage and reduce thermal pollution.

The waste heat boiler 130 includes a pressure vessel (not shown) containing water and a steam generator (not shown). When the exhaust gas passes through the pressure vessel, water is generated as steam and the exhaust gas is cooled to have a temperature of about 200 ° C. or less.

Steam generated from the waste heat boiler 130 is supplied to the plasma melting furnace 110 through the steam supply pipe 105.

One end of the steam supply pipe 105 is connected to the waste heat boiler 130, and the other end is connected to the plasma melting furnace 110. The steam supplied through the steam supply pipe 105 is advantageous as a medium at a higher temperature. However, when the temperature of the steam is high, since the insulator provided inside the plasma torch 120 may be damaged, it is preferable to keep the temperature of the steam constant within a range for preventing damage to the insulator.

In addition, heat loss may occur while steam is transferred through the steam supply pipe 105. In order to prevent the condensation of the steam, a heater 170 may be installed in one region of the steam supply pipe 105 to increase the temperature of the steam. In this case, the steam may have a pressure of 4 to 6 atm, and may have a temperature of 140 ℃ to 160 ℃.

Although not shown, the waste heat boiler 130 or the steam supply pipe 105 may include a configuration such as a flow meter, a flow control valve and a pressure gauge to control the amount of steam supplied.

In addition, the plasma melting system is an initial steam supply device (not shown) for supplying steam until the plasma torch 120 is initially operated so that the exhaust gas is transferred to the waste heat boiler 130 and steam is supplied through the steam supply pipe 105. ) May be further included.

In addition, an intermediate electrode for generating an initial discharge is provided between the negative electrode and the positive electrode,

The waste heat boiler 130 is connected to the bag filter 140 through the second pipe 102 to transfer the cooled exhaust gas to the bag filter 140.

The bag filter 140 filters the exhaust gas to remove scattering dust and volatile components condensed in the waste heat boiler 130 included in the exhaust gas. When the bag filter 140 is made of a ceramic material or a metal material, the filtered exhaust gas may be discharged at a high temperature of about 300 ° C. or more.

If the vent heat scrubber (Venturi Scrubber), a jet scrubber (Jet Scrubber) or similar scrubbers that function similarly to the waste heat boiler 130 is installed in the wet method, the configuration of the bag filter 140 may be omitted. have.

The bag filter 140 is connected to the wet scrubber 150 through the third pipe 103 to transfer the filtered exhaust gas to the wet scrubber 150. Most of the exhaust gas in the steam state is condensed while passing through the wet scrubber 150 is a state containing a small amount of steam and a small amount of the mixed gas corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure.

In addition, the exhaust gas may be cooled while passing through the wet scrubber 150 and maintained at a temperature of about 40 ° C.

The wet scrubber 150 is connected to the blower 150 through the fourth pipe 104 to transfer the cooled exhaust gas to the blower 150. The blower 150 blows exhaust gas and discharges it to the atmosphere. In this case, the amount of exhaust gas blown by the blower 150 may be reduced by 90% or more than the amount of exhaust gas in the steam state discharged from the waste heat boiler 130. Therefore, as the amount of exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere through the blower 150 is reduced in a large amount, power consumption of the plasma melting system may be greatly reduced.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a plasma melting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, when the sample to be melted is injected into the plasma melting furnace 110 (S210), the plasma melting system melts the sample to be melted using the plasma torch 120 to generate a melt and exhaust gas (S220). ).

Next, the plasma melting system cools the exhaust gas through the waste heat boiler 130 and generates steam (step 230). Then, steam is supplied to the plasma melting furnace 110 as a medium of the plasma torch 120 (step 240). Accordingly, the plasma torch 120 may operate by receiving steam to continuously gasify the melting target sample.

Meanwhile, the plasma melting system cleans the exhaust gas cooled through the waste heat boiler 130 (operation 250). Before the exhaust gas is cleaned using the wet scrubber 150, the method may further include filtering the exhaust gas cooled from the waste heat boiler 130 using the bag filter 140. When the exhaust gas passes through the bag filter 140, scattering dust and volatile components included in the exhaust gas may be removed.

The plasma melting system discharges the cleaned off gas into the atmosphere (step 260).

The operation method of the plasma melting system described above does not require a bomb, a compressor, or an exhaust gas treatment facility by using steam as a medium of the plasma torch 120. In addition, by using the medium produced in the waste heat boiler, it is possible to reduce the cost required to supply the medium.

In addition, the amount of flue gas generated in the plasma melting process can be reduced, and harmful components (eg, nitrogen oxides (NO _X )) contained in the flue gas can be reduced, thereby reducing the cost for flue gas treatment.

In addition, since the amount of exhaust gas is reduced, the capacity of the blower 160 receiving the cleaned exhaust gas can be drastically reduced, thereby reducing facility cost and power cost.

As described above, the present invention has been described by way of limited embodiments and drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains various modifications and variations from such descriptions. This is possible.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined by the equivalents of the claims, as well as the claims.

101: first pipe 102: second pipe
103: third pipe 104: fourth pipe
105: steam supply piping
110: plasma melting furnace 111: sample input device
112: melt discharge port 113: exhaust gas discharge port
120: plasma torch 130: waste heat boiler
140: bag filter 150: wet cleaner
160: blower 170: heater

Claims (7)

Plasma melting furnace;
A sample input device for injecting a sample to be melted into the plasma melting furnace;
A plasma torch included in the plasma melting furnace and configured to melt a sample to be melted injected into the plasma melting furnace to generate a melt and exhaust gas;
A waste heat boiler for recovering waste heat from the exhaust gas generated in the plasma melting furnace and generating steam;
A steam supply pipe having one end connected to the waste heat boiler and the other end connected to the plasma melting furnace to supply steam generated in the waste heat boiler to the plasma melting furnace as a medium of the plasma torch;
A wet scrubber for cleaning the exhaust gas passing through the waste heat boiler; And
Blower for discharging the cleaned exhaust gas to the atmosphere
Plasma melting system comprising a.
The method of claim 1,
Heater provided in one region of the steam supply pipe to increase the temperature of the steam
Plasma melting system further comprising.
The method of claim 1,
Steam supplied into the plasma melting furnace through the steam supply pipe,
Plasma melting system of 4 to 6 atm or 140 to 160 ℃.
The method of claim 1,
Bag filter to remove scattering dust and volatile components contained in the exhaust gas passing through the waste heat boiler
Plasma melting system further comprising.
In the operating method of the plasma melting system for melting the sample to be melted using a plasma torch contained in the plasma melting furnace,
Injecting a sample to be melted into the plasma melting furnace;
Melting the sample to be melted introduced into the plasma melting furnace using the plasma torch to generate melt and exhaust gas;
Recovering waste heat from the exhaust gas generated in the plasma melting furnace and generating steam;
Supplying the steam to the plasma melting furnace as a medium of the plasma torch through a steam supply pipe having one end connected to the waste heat boiler and the other end connected to the plasma melting furnace;
Cleaning the exhaust gas passing through the waste heat boiler; And
Releasing the cleaned flue gas into the atmosphere
Method of operating a plasma melting system comprising a.
The method of claim 5,
Raising the temperature of the steam by using a heater provided in one region of the steam supply pipe;
Driving method of the plasma melting system further comprising.
The method of claim 5,
Steam supplied into the plasma melting furnace through the steam supply pipe,
The operating method of the plasma melting system which is 4 to 6 atmospheres or 140 to 160 degreeC.

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