WO1999037590A1 - Ameliorations relatives a la manipulation, au traitement et au stockage de dechets - Google Patents

Ameliorations relatives a la manipulation, au traitement et au stockage de dechets Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999037590A1
WO1999037590A1 PCT/GB1999/000059 GB9900059W WO9937590A1 WO 1999037590 A1 WO1999037590 A1 WO 1999037590A1 GB 9900059 W GB9900059 W GB 9900059W WO 9937590 A1 WO9937590 A1 WO 9937590A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
stage
feed
feeding
melt
melting
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1999/000059
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John Anthony Schofield
Original Assignee
British Nuclear Fuels Plc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9801531.6A external-priority patent/GB9801531D0/en
Application filed by British Nuclear Fuels Plc filed Critical British Nuclear Fuels Plc
Priority to AU21721/99A priority Critical patent/AU2172199A/en
Publication of WO1999037590A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999037590A1/fr

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09B—DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B09B3/00—Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
    • B09B3/0066—Disposal of asbestos
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B3/00—Charging the melting furnaces
    • C03B3/02—Charging the melting furnaces combined with preheating, premelting or pretreating the glass-making ingredients, pellets or cullet
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B5/00—Melting in furnaces; Furnaces so far as specially adapted for glass manufacture
    • C03B5/005—Melting in furnaces; Furnaces so far as specially adapted for glass manufacture of glass-forming waste materials
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03B—MANUFACTURE, SHAPING, OR SUPPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
    • C03B5/00—Melting in furnaces; Furnaces so far as specially adapted for glass manufacture
    • C03B5/02—Melting in furnaces; Furnaces so far as specially adapted for glass manufacture in electric furnaces, e.g. by dielectric heating
    • C03B5/021—Melting in furnaces; Furnaces so far as specially adapted for glass manufacture in electric furnaces, e.g. by dielectric heating by induction heating

Definitions

  • This invention concerns improvements in and relating to the handling, treatment and storage of waste, particularly but not exclusively to the handling, treatment and storage of filters, such as HEPA filters.
  • HEPA filters are generally formed of a mesh of micron diameter fibres, of materials such as borosilicate glass, asbestos or ceramics, mounted in a cardboard, wood or metal support frame. Such filters come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes depending upon their use.
  • the present invention aims to provide treatment methods, apparatus and techniques which provide an efficient and cost effective method of dealing with waste such as HEPA filters . -2 -
  • a method of treating filters including feeding the filters to a melting stage and wherein the filters act as filters for particulate and/or volatile material escaping from the melting stage.
  • the material may be fed to the melting stage from above .
  • the filters may provide a filtering action as they pass through a feeding stage.
  • a method of treatment materials comprising the steps of :- feeding the material to be treated through a feeding stage to a melting stage, the melting stage forming a volume of molten material; the feeding stage extending from a location distant from the melt to a location proximal to the melt, the feeding stage containing feed material and wherein the percentage solids per unit volume of the feed material is -3- higher at the location proximal to the melt than at the location distal therefrom.
  • the feed materials comprise glass, ceramics, asbestos or vitreous materials.
  • Borosilicate glass in particular is a preferred component of the feed material.
  • the feed material may include other components such as wood, paper or metal, for instance aluminium. It is, however, preferred that the feed consists completely or substantially completely of non-combustible materials which are easily fragmented, such as glass.
  • the feed is preferably of, or comprises, compressible materials .
  • the feed materials may comprised filters or filter assemblies.
  • the supporting framework and / or spacers for filters are preferably removed prior to feeding.
  • the feed material comprises HEPA filters, most preferably of any HEPA filters from which the supporting framework and spacers have been removed.
  • the treatment may comprise a feeding and / or compression and / or melting and / or re-solidification stage for the feed materials.
  • the method includes a fragmentation stage, and/or a crushing stage, as stages in the feeding stage.
  • the method may include a resolidification stage.
  • the resolidification stage may be provided at the same location as the melting stage. For instance the melting location may subsequently serve as the resolidification stage.
  • a gas tight system is thus provided for the melting and resolidification stages.
  • the change from melting location to resolidification location may occur after a -4- reduction in, or removal of, the heating.
  • One or more of each of such stages may be provided.
  • the feeding stage may include a fragmentation stage and/or one or more crushing stages.
  • the feeding stage may comprise a crushing stage followed by a fragmentation stage followed by a compression stage.
  • the crushing stage may comprise two or more opposing rollers, preferably counter rotating, to crush the feed material. Crushing may reduce the volume and/or porosity of the feed material by compaction.
  • the fragmentation stage may provide a volume and/or porosity reduction in the feed material.
  • the fragmentation stage may consist of or comprise a shredding stage. Two or more opposing shredders may be used to shred the feed materials.
  • the shredders may comprise a series of interlinking blades which are rotated at high speed.
  • the material is force fed through one or more of the stages in the feeding stage, for instance the compression stage.
  • the force feeding compresses the feed material.
  • the compression may arise from deformation of the feed material and/or shredding and/or crushing and/or breakage of the feed material.
  • the feeding stage or stages forming the feeding stage, preferably advance feed material therethrough on a substantially linear path.
  • the feed material may be advanced by: the direction of movement of the crushing stage and/or fragmentation stage; and/or by gravity; and/or by rotating feed means; an/or by reciprocating feed means.
  • the feed material may be advanced by rotating feed means, such as a screw feeder, provided in the feeding stage, preferably in the compression stage.
  • the compression stage may pass feed material from a first location with a first cross sectional area through a second location with a reduced cross sectional area.
  • the transition from first to second cross sectional area may -5- occur in only a portion of the compression stage or occur throughout.
  • the transition may be linear or non-linear.
  • the feeding stage may provide a body of feed material above the melter stage.
  • the body of feed material may extend upward for at least 50cm, more preferably at least 100cm and ideally more than 150cm.
  • the body of feed material occupies the path taken by offgases from the melt.
  • the body of feed material may define an average through path which is at least twice the linear extent of the body of feed material. A path length of three times, more preferably five times and ideally 10 times the linear length may be provided.
  • the body of feed material may be provided adjacent and/or contacting the melt stage or spaced therefrom.
  • the method may include the application of cooling to the feeding stage or one or more of the stages therein.
  • gas is drawn from a location in the feeding stage out of the feeding stage and re-cycled to the apparatus in a. preceding part of the feeding stage.
  • gas is drawn through at least the initial portion of feed material being conveyed towards the melter stage.
  • the gas withdrawn from the feed stage is returned to behind the crushing and/or shredding stages relative to the feed stage.
  • a flow of air through the system past the crusher and shredder is provided so giving particulate material suppression.
  • the air flow through the one or more stages is between 0.25m 3 and 5m 3 per minute, and more preferably between 0.5m 3 and 2m 3 per minute.
  • the air flow may be generated by a centrifugal fan.
  • the feeding stage potentially including its component stages, and the melter stage are provided in a continuous, sealed series of stages.
  • Feed- aterials may be introduced to the stages via a sealable loading area.
  • a gas lock is provided in the loading area, material being introduced through the outer open seal, the - 6- outer seal being closed before the inner seal is open to allow passage into the apparatus.
  • the feed material may pass through one or more pre- treatment stages prior to reaching the feeding stage.
  • the feed material may be pre-treated to remove non-glass, vitreous, ceramic or asbestos components.
  • filters support frames and/or spacers may be removed.
  • the melting stage converts the feed material into molten material.
  • Energy input to the melting stage may be achieved by one or more of microwave, radio frequency induction or plasma heating. Other forms of energy input may be used.
  • a preferred form of heating is provided using a microwave generator, linked to the melting stage via a waveguide.
  • the molten material is retained within a crucible of re-solidified material, most preferably a glass or vitreous material.
  • the layer of resolidified material is separated from the melter stage perimeter by a layer of unmelted material, for instance glass frit.
  • the melting stage may be physically distinction from a subsequent stage or stages.
  • the melting stage may be physically distinct from a subsequent resolidification stage. Material may be withdrawn from the melting stage to the subsequent stage or stages.
  • the melting stage may be continuously or periodically tapped to remove molten material.
  • Tapping may be performed by providing an induction coil and / or plasma heating device in proximity to a lower portion of the molten material. Resolidification of molten material may be permitted in this location to seal the chamber and retain molten material.
  • An alternative form of heating may be provided by an induction coil, most preferably provided around the periphery of the melter stage. Cooling may be provided for the heating stage, for instance by water cooling. - 7 -
  • Flow may be promoted by gravity and/or flow promoting means.
  • the flow promoting means may comprise a helical screw feeder.
  • the molten material is preferably received in containers and allowed to re-solidify.
  • Steel drums are particularly preferred for this purpose.
  • the drums may be cooled to promote re-solidification.
  • the melting stage may be physically correspond, at least in part, to a subsequent stage or subsequent stages.
  • the melting stage may physically correspond to a resolidification stage, for the waste material.
  • the waste material may be melted in the melting stage and allowed to cool and resolidifiy.
  • the material may be withdrawn by detaching the melting location from the process line. Detachment may occur before resolidification, with resolidification occurring at a location removed from the process line. More preferably resolidification, at least in part, occurs before the melting location is detached. In this way off-gasing is minimised.
  • the melting stage may comprise a container in which the waste is allowed to resolidify, preferably the container intended for long term storage.
  • Steel drums most preferably stainless steel drums may be employed for the combined melting/resolidification stage.
  • the drums may be actively cooled during the resolidification.
  • the heat source in a combined melting stage and resolidification stage location is microwave heating.
  • the container for the stages is microwave tuned and/or tuneable.
  • a vitrified form arises on resolidification.
  • the waste, from a physically separate melting stage and resolidification stage process and/or from a physically combined melting stage and resolidification stage process, may be received in a lined container.
  • the container may be lined with clean material, for instance at its bottom and side wall(s) .
  • the lining may be of glass, fibreglass or the like .
  • the container may be provided with a top portion of clean material.
  • the top portion of material may be provided by introducing a lining, for instance of glass or fibreglass, or by passing a volume of clean material into the melting stage, distinct from the waste material.
  • the clean material may be kept distinct by providing it from a separate batch of molten material or by adding the clean material to the feed to the melting stage after the waste material feed.
  • a container with the waste physically isolated from its walls by a volume of lining material is a preferred form for the resolidified product.
  • the volume occupied by the product of the treatment, compared with the feed to the treatment is reduced by a factor of at least 20, more preferably a factor of at least 50 and ideally a factor of at least 100.
  • the method may include the introduction of an inert gas to the system to prevent a fire within the system.
  • the percentage solids per unit volume of material on entering the feeding stage inlet is between 0.1 and 5%, more preferably between 0.5 and 1.5%.
  • the percentage solids per unit volume of material on leaving the compression stage and/or on entering the fragmentation stage is between 0.5 and 15%.
  • the percentage solids per unit volume of material on leaving the fragmentation stage and/or on entering the further compression or material advancement stage is between 0.1 and 5%.
  • the percentage solids per unit volume of material adjacent the melter stage is between 20% and 50% and - 9- the percentage liquid per unit volume in the melter stage is between 95 and 100%, more preferably between 99 and 100%.
  • the percentage solids per unit volume is increased from at most 2% at the feed stage inlet to at least 95% at the melter stage.
  • a increase from at most 1% to at least 98% is preferred.
  • the voidage in the melter stage is at most 2%, more preferably 1% and ideally most 0.5% of that in the inlet material to the feed stage.
  • the compression stage is between 0.25m and 5m in length, more preferably between 0.35m and 1.5m.
  • the compression stage is between 0.05m and 0.75m in width and/or diameter and more preferably between 0.075m and 0.25m.
  • the feed material speed through the feed stage is, on average, no more than 5cm per second, more preferably no more than 2cm per second and ideally less than lcm per second.
  • the temperature at the melter stage is at least 800°C, more preferably 1000°C and ideally at least 1200°C.
  • the temperature at the inlet to the feed stage is no more than 200°C, preferably no more than 100°C and ideally no more than 50°C.
  • a melter provided with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to a feeding stage, the feeding stage being configured to compact feed material passing therethrough in use, prior to entry to the melting apparatus.
  • Force feeding means may be provided to encourage flow of the feed material through at least a part of the feeding stage.
  • Reciprocating or rotating force feeding means may be provided.
  • the material may be force fed by a ram, but is more preferably force fed by a screw feeder, for instance a helical screw feeder.
  • a screw feeder of between 5 and 15 turns may be provided.
  • the screw feeder may have a diameter - 10- of between 0.05 and 0.5m, and more preferably 0.075 and 0.2m.
  • the screw feeder may have a length of between 0.25m and 1.5m and more preferably of between 0.4 and 0.75m.
  • the force feeding means are provided in the feeding stage an elongate passage.
  • the inlet to the passage is configured as a funnel. In this way collation of the feed material in proximity to the feeding means is assured.
  • the feeding means extend from the inlet to the elongate portion into proximity with the melter stage.
  • the elongate passage is provided with a taper.
  • the taper reduces the cross sectional area of the elongate passage as it approaches the melter stage.
  • the reduction in cross sectional area may be provided by tapering of one or more walls of the elongate passage.
  • a funnel type taper is provided for a cylindrical passage.
  • the elongate passage may be provided with a restricted neck portion of lower cross section than a portion of the elongate passage further from the melter stage .
  • the feeding means may extend into the reduced cross sectional area portion.
  • the feeding means may be tapered or otherwise adjusted in configuration to maintain a spacing between the feeding means and the walls of the elongate passage .
  • the feeding means is a screw feeder
  • a portion of the screw feeder may be provided with a reduced pitch compared with another portion of the screw feeder.
  • the reduced pitch portion is provided nearer the melter stage than the other pitch portion.
  • the portion with reducing pitch may also be tapered in a radial direction.
  • the feeding stage may be provided with cooling means, more preferably extending around its periphery.
  • Water cooling means for instance, water conveying passages, may be provided. - 11 -
  • the feed stage may be provided with a gas outlet at least part way along the elongate passage towards the melter stage.
  • gas is drawn through the outlet.
  • gas is drawn to the outlet through the feed material in the feeding stage in a direction towards the melter stage.
  • the gas is recycled to the system in a close manner, above the feed material.
  • crushing means are provided before the feeding means.
  • the crushing means comprise opposing rollers.
  • a shredding stage is provided before the feeding means, most preferably after a crushing stage.
  • the shredding means may comprise two or more sets of blades.
  • the blades are interlinking.
  • the blades are rotated.
  • the blades are rotated in opposition to one another.
  • the gas inlet in the feeding stage is connected to a gas outlet above the shredding and / or crushing means.
  • the crushing and / or shredding means are provided in a closed circuit vessel.
  • the melter may be provided with microwave, radio frequency, induction and / or plasma heating means. Other forms of heating means may be provided for the melter.
  • the melter may be provided with tuning means where microwave heating means are used.
  • the melter may be provided with induction and / or plasma heating means to tap the melt.
  • the melter may be an elongate vessel, for instance a cylinder and particularly a right cylinder.
  • One or more induction coils may be provided around the melter.
  • the melter is provided with through flow promoting means .
  • the flow promoting means may be a screw feeder, for instance a helical screw feeder.
  • the screw feeder extends throughout, at least, a substantial portion of the melter.
  • the through flow promoting - 12- eans provide churning or other forms of agitation to the molten material in the melter.
  • the melter may be provided with cooling means, for instance passages carrying a cooling flui.d provided around the periphery of the melter.
  • the feeding stage extends away from the melting stage in an at least partially vertical manner.
  • a substantially vertically provided feeding stage is preferred. In this way gravity assistance for the feeding process and compaction can be achieved.
  • the apparatus is constructed such that material flowing through a pre- treatment stage falls to the material feeding stage. Collection of the material at the material feeding stage may be facilitated by inclined side walls, tapering towards the feeding stage inlet.
  • the crushing stage is provided substantially vertically above the shredding stage with the shredding stage being provided substantially vertically above the feeding stage.
  • a fourth aspect of the invention we provide a method of treating material in which material is fed from a feeding stage to a melting stage, at least a portion of the feeding stage being provided with a gas flow therethrough, the gas flowing towards the melting stage.
  • This aspect of the invention may include features, options and possibilities set out elsewhere, in this document.
  • the apparatus comprising melting means provided with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet - 13- connecting the melting means to feed means for introducing feed material to the melting means, wherein the feeding means is provided with a further outlet below the level of feed material in the feed means in use, the outlet being connected to gas withdrawal means so as to draw gas through at least a portion of the feed in use.
  • This aspect of the invention may include features, options and possibilities set out elsewhere in this document.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 3 schematically illustrates a detail of apparatus from a distinct and separate embodiment of the invention to the first or second embodiments according to the invention
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 5 illustrates the percentage solids per unit volume of material being fed to the melter, according to the invention with distance
  • Figure 6 illustrates the temperature with distance for the present invention.
  • the treatment of glass containing filters is particularly suited to such techniques as the entire material forming the fibre mat can be readily vitrified and indeed itself provides the vitrifying material to a great extent.
  • the processing method starts by removing the borosilicate filter from its cartridge.
  • the cartridge which may be wood, metal or cardboard, is discarded and can be cleaned for recycling or burnt or otherwise disposed of.
  • the separated filters (2) are loaded into a shute and introduced through a first door (3) into chamber (4) . Once loaded the door (3) is shut and door (5) below is opened allowing the filter (2) to be pushed down by a rod (6) .
  • the mats forming the filters (2) then pass to a slow crushing unit (8) which compresses the very opened structured filters (9B) into a more compact structure (9B) .
  • a pair of opposing rotation rollers are used in this stage.
  • the compressed material passes to a shredding stage (10) provided by a pair of - 15- counter rotating and interlinking shredders (12a & b) .
  • the shredders break the fibre mat up into smaller components which then fall and are collected by inclined sides (14) of the vessel into a feed heap (16) .
  • the feed heap (16) of still relatively open mat structure is drawn downwards by helical screw feeder (18) towards the melting location (20) .
  • the rotary action of the helical feeder and movement downwards cause the feed material to be advanced, gives increasing compaction of the material.
  • air is drawn down through the feed material (16) by fan (24) connected to an intermediate location (26) .
  • the air is re- circled to the vessel above the crushing stage and passes downwards around the slow crusher (8) and fast shredder (10) and back into the feed heap (16) once more.
  • Circulation of the air flow in this way suppresses dust formation in the crushing and shredding vessel and so minimises dust scapes when it is necessary to open the loading stage to feed in more filters (2) .
  • the melting stage may take a variety, of forms.
  • heating is provided by microwave heating.
  • the microwave heater stage (20) consists of a waveguide (40) connecting a microwave source (42) via a - 16-
  • Quartz window to the vessel (44) .
  • the cavity formed by the vessel (44) is provided with a tuning cavity, not shown, to enable the cavity (44) to be tuned to the microwave source
  • Heating provided in this way is centred on the centre of the vessel (44) thereby giving rise to a pool of molten glass
  • the molten glass (46) can periodically or continuously be tapped by using an induction coil (52) to melt the bottom of the glass and so allow drainage to occur through outlet
  • the helical feeder stage (18) and / or the heating chamber (44) may be provided with water cooling (60, 62) respectively as required.
  • the material (58) can be allowed to cool.
  • the treated material can be further processed as desired, for instance by allowing it to cool fully into a vitrified mass which includes any contamination or material present on the filters fed to this process.
  • this part of the feeding stage also compresses the material as well as advancing it.
  • the material entering feed material heap (16) is drawn down by rotating helical screw feeder (118).
  • the screw feeder (118) has a decreasing pitch to its helices as it approaches the melter stage the material held with the feeder (118) is forced to occupy a smaller volume. As a consequence of this the percentage of solids per unit volume increases.
  • the source of heat being provided by an induction coil (100) .
  • the coil (100) encloses a vessel including a subsidiary helical mixer screw (102) which promotes feed of material through the heater.
  • the provision of the screw feeder (102) through the induction heating stage is preferred as this allows for the promotion of flow through this stage, the level of heating being less than with microwave heating, for instance. It also facilitates the churning up and mixing of the glass to give even heating and fully incorporate particulate melter present.
  • Another benefit stemming from the screw feeder (108) is that it increases the pressure applied to the melting materials and therefore encourages the retention of volatile material in the glass rather than its off gasing.
  • the heating stage (100) comprises a vessel wall (102) which contains a volume of molten material (104) .
  • the top (106) of the molten material is in contact with greatly softened feed material.
  • the progress of the feed material towards the melt (104) is promoted due to gravity and due to the helical feed system (108) which is rotated within the feed chamber (110).
  • the walls of the feed chamber (110) are provided with cooling passages (112) for the passage of water therethrough.
  • the initial stages (loading, crushing, fragmentation, compression) are provided as before in the Figure 1 embodiment.
  • the significant variation in this form of the invention is the combination of the melting and resolidification stages.
  • the melting stage 200 consists of a stainless steel drum 202 with an inlet 204 connected to the compression stage so as to receive feed material 206.
  • the drum 202 is provided adjacent a microwave source 208 provided with a waveguide 210 for channelling microwaves into the drum 202.
  • the drum 202 is rendered tunable through the use of adjacent tuning stub 212. This ensures that as the impedance changes the microwaves remain tuned and give optimised heating of the central portion 214 of the drum 202.
  • empty drums 218 are provided with a bottom 220 and side 222 lining of fibreglass, to give prepared drums 224.
  • a prepared drum 224 is attached to the compression stage and material 206 is introduced as heating is applied.
  • the preferential nature of the heating gives melting of the - 19- central portion 214 which contains the feed material 206, but does not cause melting of the lining 220, 222.
  • the cooler exterior also ensures that this part is more viscous, both factors giving a lower vapour pressure at the outside of the central portion and so promoting retention of off gases during the melting stage.
  • the finished drum 202 is detached and joins other finished drums 230 destined for storage.
  • a new prepared drum 224 is connected to the compression stage and the process repeated.
  • the present invention employs the material heap (16) and subsequent stack of material in the helical feeder stage (18) as a condensing location for off gases.
  • the temperature within this zone is kept as low as -20- possible to facilitate condensation of off gases.
  • the feeding means is used to promote their consequential recycling into the melt.
  • Feed material in the upper portion of the feed material cavity is relatively open in its structure.
  • a still further increase in the percentage of solids per unit volume occurs as the material advances further from as compaction is assisted by the softening of the material due to the increased temperatures.
  • the present invention provides a gradual feed of the material from the feed heap where it is still of a high porosity through to the melt itself. By providing this gradual transition, the compaction and condensation effects occur. Rapid pushing of the filters down into a melt, for instance, does not achieve this effect as the material undergoes a rapid transition from very porous structure to molten without achieving any condensation or collection effect.
  • the variation in percentage solids of the feed as it progresses down the screw feeder, or equivalent feed stage, is illustrated schematically in Figure 4.
  • the porosity curve (200) is illustrated from above the level of the screw feeder stage, equivalent to feed heap (16), zone K into zone L where the screw thread feeder advances the feed and compresses if slightly due to physical deformation and minor levels of breakage in the feed material. This stage slightly thereby increasing the level of solids to a limited degree.
  • stage M Upon further progress and compression, stage M, the percent of solids begins to increase quite markedly. Greater levels of physical deformation and breakage occur here.
  • the temperature plot profile (300) is at the temperature of the melt itself at the X axis. Within the zone N the temperature decreases very rapidly with distance due to the tortuous path the gases have to flow along and the amount of material taking up heat in this zone.
  • Vitrification of the waste according to the invention allows the volume of the waste to be reduced by a factor of up to 100, whilst fully and permanently immobilising organic and particulate materials trapped on the filter elements during their useful life.
  • the HEPA filters fed to this process may for instance be HEPA filters which have been used in the decontamination of buildings, apparatus and the like. Laser ablation of such surfaces is a preferred technique for removing any contamination present on their surfaces, however, it does generate a significant level of airborne particulate waste as a result. HEPA filters offer an excellent way of retaining such particulate matter due to their micron sized fibre structure.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un procédé de traitement de matières (2), et en particulier de filtres, selon lequel lesdites matières passent d'un étage d'alimentation à un étage de fusion où se forme un volume de matière fondue (58); l'étage d'alimentation s'étendant d'un endroit distant de l'étage de fusion à un endroit proche de l'étage de fusion (58), et le pourcentage de solides par unité de volume de la matière d'apport étant plus élevé à l'endroit proche de l'étage de fusion, qu'à l'endroit en étant distant. Il est nettement préférable d'utiliser des moyens mécaniques (102) pour accroître le pourcentage des solides de la matière alors qu'on approche de l'étage de fusion (58). De cette manière les gaz dégagés sont filtrés par le matériau du filtre lui-même et renvoyés vers l'étage de fusion.
PCT/GB1999/000059 1998-01-26 1999-01-22 Ameliorations relatives a la manipulation, au traitement et au stockage de dechets WO1999037590A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU21721/99A AU2172199A (en) 1998-01-26 1999-01-22 Improvements in and relating to the handling, treatment and storage of waste

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9801531.6A GB9801531D0 (en) 1998-01-26 1998-01-26 Improvements in and relating to the handling, treatment and stroage of waste
GB9801531.6 1998-01-26
GBGB9817889.0A GB9817889D0 (en) 1998-01-26 1998-08-18 Improvements in and relating to the handling treatment and storage of waste
GB9817889.0 1998-08-18

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WO1999037590A1 true WO1999037590A1 (fr) 1999-07-29

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6235250B1 (en) 1997-11-14 2001-05-22 Archimedes Technology Group, Inc. Nuclear waste separator
EP2206566A2 (fr) 2009-01-09 2010-07-14 Reimann Umweltschutz GmbH Dispositif et procédé de transformation structurelle de laine minérale

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US2736141A (en) * 1956-02-28 Method of producing glass
FR2331759A1 (fr) * 1975-11-14 1977-06-10 Inst Po Metalloznanie I Tekno Four de fusion
US4195982A (en) * 1978-12-26 1980-04-01 Western Electric Company, Incorporated Method for extruding articles
EP0109131A1 (fr) * 1982-11-16 1984-05-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Procédé et appareil pour la fabrication en continu des objets longs à partir d'un matériau solide
EP0202548A1 (fr) * 1985-05-21 1986-11-26 Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft Procédé de fabrication d'un corps long en verre, en particulier une préforme pour guide d'ondes optiques
FR2589228A1 (fr) * 1985-10-25 1987-04-30 Commissariat Energie Atomique Dispositif d'elaboration en continu de materiaux obtenus a partir de substances a l'etat fondu
EP0265051A1 (fr) * 1986-08-26 1988-04-27 Czerwinski, Jan Procédé et appareil pour rendre l'amiante inoffensif pour l'environnement
JPH10158020A (ja) * 1996-11-25 1998-06-16 Fuji Photo Optical Co Ltd ガラス射出成形用ノズル

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US2736141A (en) * 1956-02-28 Method of producing glass
FR2331759A1 (fr) * 1975-11-14 1977-06-10 Inst Po Metalloznanie I Tekno Four de fusion
US4195982A (en) * 1978-12-26 1980-04-01 Western Electric Company, Incorporated Method for extruding articles
EP0109131A1 (fr) * 1982-11-16 1984-05-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Procédé et appareil pour la fabrication en continu des objets longs à partir d'un matériau solide
EP0202548A1 (fr) * 1985-05-21 1986-11-26 Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft Procédé de fabrication d'un corps long en verre, en particulier une préforme pour guide d'ondes optiques
FR2589228A1 (fr) * 1985-10-25 1987-04-30 Commissariat Energie Atomique Dispositif d'elaboration en continu de materiaux obtenus a partir de substances a l'etat fondu
EP0265051A1 (fr) * 1986-08-26 1988-04-27 Czerwinski, Jan Procédé et appareil pour rendre l'amiante inoffensif pour l'environnement
JPH10158020A (ja) * 1996-11-25 1998-06-16 Fuji Photo Optical Co Ltd ガラス射出成形用ノズル
US5885316A (en) * 1996-11-25 1999-03-23 Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. Nozzle tip for glass injection cartridge

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6235250B1 (en) 1997-11-14 2001-05-22 Archimedes Technology Group, Inc. Nuclear waste separator
EP2206566A2 (fr) 2009-01-09 2010-07-14 Reimann Umweltschutz GmbH Dispositif et procédé de transformation structurelle de laine minérale
EP2206566A3 (fr) * 2009-01-09 2012-04-04 Reimann Umweltschutz GmbH Dispositif et procédé de transformation structurelle de laine minérale

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