WO2010061995A1 - Apparatus and method for tapping melts in plasma torch melter - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for tapping melts in plasma torch melter Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010061995A1
WO2010061995A1 PCT/KR2008/007101 KR2008007101W WO2010061995A1 WO 2010061995 A1 WO2010061995 A1 WO 2010061995A1 KR 2008007101 W KR2008007101 W KR 2008007101W WO 2010061995 A1 WO2010061995 A1 WO 2010061995A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tapping
electrode
plasma torch
melts
melter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/KR2008/007101
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Young Pyo Moon
Jong Kil Park
Tae Won Hwang
Chan Kook Moon
Soon Mo Hwang
Young Suk Kim
Chul Jin Do
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ADVANCED PLASMA TECHNOLOGY Inc
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co Ltd
Original Assignee
ADVANCED PLASMA TECHNOLOGY Inc
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co Ltd
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
Application filed by ADVANCED PLASMA TECHNOLOGY Inc, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co Ltd filed Critical ADVANCED PLASMA TECHNOLOGY Inc
Publication of WO2010061995A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010061995A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D15/00—Handling or treating discharged material; Supports or receiving chambers therefor
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21C—PROCESSING OF PIG-IRON, e.g. REFINING, MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT-IRON OR STEEL; TREATMENT IN MOLTEN STATE OF FERROUS ALLOYS
    • C21C5/00—Manufacture of carbon-steel, e.g. plain mild steel, medium carbon steel or cast steel or stainless steel
    • C21C5/52—Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces
    • C21C5/5205—Manufacture of steel in electric furnaces in a plasma heated furnace
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27B—FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS IN GENERAL; OPEN SINTERING OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • F27B17/00—Furnaces of a kind not covered by any of groups F27B1/00 - F27B15/00
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D3/00—Charging; Discharging; Manipulation of charge
    • F27D3/15—Tapping equipment; Equipment for removing or retaining slag
    • F27D3/1509—Tapping equipment
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F27—FURNACES; KILNS; OVENS; RETORTS
    • F27D—DETAILS OR ACCESSORIES OF FURNACES, KILNS, OVENS OR RETORTS, IN SO FAR AS THEY ARE OF KINDS OCCURRING IN MORE THAN ONE KIND OF FURNACE
    • F27D99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F27D99/0001—Heating elements or systems
    • F27D99/0006—Electric heating elements or system
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
    • Y02P10/20—Recycling

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter, and particularly an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter to safely and easily melt the melts which remain in a blocked tapping tunnel by using a tapping-inducing electrode.
  • a tapping tunnel of a plasma torch melter may be blocked due to the low temperature of the outer wall of the tapping tunnel or the solidified melts. Additionally, the slag which grows up during the tapping process may block the tapping tunnel. If the tapping tunnel is blocked by the melts, it is very difficult to clean out the tapping tunnel since the melts which block the tapping tunnel cannot be easily removed by conventional mechanical methods (e.g., drills, hammers, mud guns and oxygen torches). Sometimes the refractory layer which covers the melter must be disassembled to remove the melts in the tapping tunnel. Furthermore, the conventional mechanical methods for removing the melts in the tapping tunnel are not ideal for swift use in melting systems which repeat the intermittent tapping processes. They are particularly inappropriate for handling radioactive wastes.
  • the present invention is invented to resolve the above conventional problems.
  • the first purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter that can easily melt the melts which block a tapping tunnel and clean out the tapping tunnel by placing a tapping-inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel.
  • the second purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter which can safely remove the remaining melts from the tapping tunnel at a remote place by installing the tapping-inducing electrode on a transporting device having a remote control device even if the melts which block the tapping tunnel are dangerous substances (e.g., radioactive wastes).
  • the third purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter that can easily heat the melts, which are disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel in the melter, by Joule-heat that is generated by placing an auxiliary electrode as well as the tapping-inducing electrode adjacent to the tapping tunnel in the melter, and electrically coupling an anode of a plasma torch with an auxiliary electrode.
  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for tapping melts, the apparatus being used for a plasma torch melter including a tapping tunnel disposed to be sloped on an area of an inner wall of a melter, a plasma torch disposed on an upper part of the melter and a main electrode disposed on a lower part of the melter to be electrically coupled with an anode of the plasma torch, the apparatus comprising: a tapping-inducing electrode which is electrically coupled with the main electrode in parallel and is moved adjacent to the melts in the tapping tunnel, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch, heating and melting the melts which remain in the tapping tunnel; a controller which electrically decouples the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode and electrically couples the anode of the plasma torch with the tapping-inducing electrode; and a transporting device which moves the tapping-inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel, thereby controlling the distance between the tapping-inducing electrode and the melts.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention further comprises an auxiliary electrode which is electrically coupled with the main electrode and the tapping-inducing electrode in parallel and is disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel on the lower part of the melter, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch and heating the melts which remain adjacent to the tapping tunnel of the melter, wherein the controller electrically couples the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode, the auxiliary electrode or tapping-inducing electrode.
  • the apparatus according the present invention further comprises a protection gas guider which has a pipe shape, a first end of the protection gas guider being opened, a second end of the protection gas guider being closed, the protection gas guider surrounding the tapping-inducing electrode to prevent the tapping-inducing electrode from being oxidized by flowing a protection gas into the protection gas guider; and an electrode holder which is disposed on the second end of the protection gas guider to be coupled with the tapping-inducing electrode, which is disposed in the protection gas guider, to be moved up and down, wherein the transporting device comprises a linear-driving guider coupled with the protection gas guider to guide the tapping-inducing electrode to place the tapping-inducing electrode in the center of the tapping tunnel; and a servo motor which is installed on the linear-driving guider to drive the linear-driving guider in a linear-driving method.
  • the present invention relates to a method for tapping melts remaining adjacent to a tapping tunnel of a plasma torch melter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electrically coupling an anode of a plasma torch, which is disposed on the upper part of the melter, with a main electrode which is disposed on the lower part of the melter; (b) electrically decoupling the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode after step (a), and electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with a tapping-inducing electrode moved adjacent to the melts which remain around the tapping tunnel; (c) melting the melts in the tapping tunnel by electrically coupling the plasma torch with the tapping-inducing electrode; and (d) tapping the melts which are melted in the tapping tunnel to the outside of the melter.
  • the method according to the present invention further comprises the step of (e) electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with an auxiliary electrode after the anode of the plasma torch is electrically decoupled from the main electrode, wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically coupled with the main electrode and the tapping-inducing electrode in parallel and is disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel on the lower part of the melter.
  • the effects of the present invention are as follows.
  • the first effect is to easily melt the melts which block the tapping tunnel by placing the tapping-inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel, thereby easily cleaning out the tapping tunnel.
  • the second effect is to safely remove the remaining melts from the tapping tunnel at a remote place by installing the tapping-inducing electrode on the transporting device having the remote control device even if the melts which block the tapping tunnel are dangerous substances (e.g., radioactive wastes).
  • dangerous substances e.g., radioactive wastes
  • the third effect is to easily heat the melts, which are adjacent to the tapping tunnel in the melter, by Joule-heat which is generated by electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with the auxiliary electrode, thereby preventing the temperature of the melts from decreasing during the tapping process and facilitating the tapping process.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the apparatus for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is an electric circuit for illustrating electrically coupling and decoupling an electrode of a plasma torch with a main electrode, an auxiliary electrode or a tapping-inducing electrode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the tapping-inducing electrode and the transporting device thereof according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the apparatus for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is an electric circuit for illustrating electrically coupling and decoupling an electrode of a plasma torch with a main electrode, an auxiliary electrode or a tapping-inducing electrode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the tapping-inducing electrode and the transporting device thereof.
  • the present invention comprises a melter 10, a plasma torch 20, a main electrode 31 , an auxiliary electrode 32, a controller 90, a tapping-inducing electrode 110 and a transporting device 120.
  • a tapping tunnel 12 which is a sloped tunnel, is disposed on an area of the inner wall of the melter 10.
  • the melts 1 which are contained in the melter 10 are tapped through the tapping tunnel 12.
  • the inner wall and bottom surface of the melter 10 are made of the refractory substance which can endure high temperature.
  • Non-combustible wastes such as iron, concrete, sand and asbestos, combustible wastes such as wood, vinyl and paper, or the combinations thereof are melted ("melts," below) in the melter 10.
  • the melts 1 While the melts 1 are melted in the melter 10, the nonmetals having a low specific gravity come to be placed in the upper space of the melter 10, and the metals having a high specific gravity come to be placed in the lower space of the melter 10.
  • the melts 1 When the melts 1 are tapped through the tapping tunnel 12 after completion of the melting process in the melter 10, due to the difference of the specific gravity of the melts 1 and the shape of the tapping tunnel 12, the melts 1 remain in the tapping tunnel 10, thereby blocking the tapping tunnel 12 due to the low temperature of the outer wall of the tapping tunnel.
  • the plasma torch 20 is installed on the upper part of the melter 10.
  • an anode 22 and cathode 23 are installed in the plasma torch 20.
  • the electric current flows between the anode 22 and the cathode 23, whereby the temperature of the plasma gas passing between the anode 22 and cathode 23 becomes high, and then the high-temperature plasma gas flows into the melter 10.
  • the wastes which are contained in the melter 10 are melted by the high- temperature plasma gas and become conductive, whereby the electric current can flow between the anode 22 and the main electrode 31.
  • the main electrode 31 is installed on the center surface of the lower part of the melter 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the main electrode 31 is electrically coupled with the auxiliary electrode 32 and the tapping-inducing electrode 110 in parallel, and then is grounded. Also, the main electrode 31 is electrically coupled with the controller 90 by the first switch 91 which is electrically coupled with the main electrode 31. If the first switch turns on the main electrode 31, the electric current flows between the main electrode 31 and the anode 31 through the melts.
  • the auxiliary electrode 32 is installed adjacent to the tapping tunnel 12 in the lower part of the melter 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary electrode 32 is electrically coupled with the main electrode 31 and the tapping-inducing electrode 110 in parallel, and then is grounded. Also, the auxiliary electrode 32 is electrically coupled with a power device 70 by the second switch 92 which is electrically coupled with the auxiliary electrode 32. If the second switch turns on the auxiliary electrode 32, the electric current flows between the auxiliary electrode 32 and the anode 22 through the melts.
  • the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is electrically coupled with the main electrode 31 and the auxiliary electrode 32 in parallel, is grounded, and then disposed in the tapping tunnel 12 as shown in Fig. 3.
  • the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is electrically coupled with a power device 70 by the third switch 93 which is electrically coupled with the tapping-inducing electrode 110. If the third switch turns on the tapping- inducing electrode 110, the electric current flows between the tapping- inducing electrode 110 and the anode 22 through the melts.
  • the power device 70 comprises a switching module 71.
  • the controller 90 comprises the first switch 91 which is electrically connected with the main electrode 31, the second switch 92 which is electrically connected with the auxiliary electrode 32 and the third switch 93 which is electrically connected with the tapping-inducing electrode 110, and selectively turns on one of them.
  • the present invention further comprises a servo motor 121, a power-connecting terminal 123, a linear-driving guider 125, an electrode holder 126 and a protection gas guider 127.
  • the transporting device 120 comprises the servo motor 121 and the linear-driving guider 125, and moves the tapping-inducing electrode 110 through the tapping tunnel 12, thereby being able to control the distance between the tapping-inducing electrode 110 and the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12.
  • the transporting device 120 is supported by a supporter 130 which is installed on the structure of the melter 10.
  • the protection gas guider 127 surrounds the tapping-inducing electrode 110 and has a pipe shape.
  • the first end 127a of the protection gas guider is opened and the second end 127b of the protection gas guider is closed.
  • a protection gas hole 127c is formed on the protection gas guider 127, through which the protection gas flows into the protection gas guider 127.
  • Argon gas may be typically used as the protection gas which prevents the tapping-inducing electrode 110 from being oxidized and extends the life of the tapping-inducing electrode 110.
  • the electrode holder 126 can be moved in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig. 3.
  • the power-connecting terminal 123 applies electric current to the tapping-inducing electrode 110 when the power is on.
  • the linear-driving guider 125 is coupled with the protection gas guider 127 and guides the tapping-inducing electrode 110, which moves in the protection gas guider 127, to be placed in the center of the tapping tunnel 12.
  • the servo motor 121 is coupled with the linear-driving guider 125.
  • the servo motor 121 linearly drives the linear-driving guider 125 up and down to control the distance between the tapping-inducing electrode 110 and the melts in the tapping tunnel 12.
  • the method for tapping melts from the plasma torch melter taps the melts 1 using the operation characteristic of the plasma torch 20.
  • the operation types of the plasma torch 20 are divided into a non-transferred operation, a transferred operation and a mixed operation in which the non-transferred operation and the transferred operation are performed simultaneously.
  • the non-transferred operation is the operation that generates an electric arc between the anode and cathode which are installed in the plasma torch, passes the plasma gas between the anode and cathode, changes the plasma gas passing between the anode and cathode to the high-temperature plasma gas, heats the surface of the melts with the high-temperature plasma gas and melts the melts.
  • the transferred operation is the operation that passes high-temperature plasma gas between the anode which is installed in the plasma torch and the cathode (e.g., the main electrode 31, the auxiliary electrode 32 or the tapping- inducing electrode 110) which is installed outside of the plasma torch, heats the inside of the melts and melts the melts.
  • the cathode e.g., the main electrode 31, the auxiliary electrode 32 or the tapping- inducing electrode 110
  • the mixed operation is the operation that performs the non-transferred operation and the transferred operation simultaneously.
  • the mixed operation can control the output ratio of the non-transferred operation and transferred operation automatically or manually according to the change of electrical conductivity of the melts.
  • the controller 90 electrically decouples the anode 22 of the plasma torch 20 from the main electrode 31 , and electrically couples the anode 22 with the auxiliary electrode 32.
  • the controller 90 can electrically couple the anode 22 of the plasma torch 20 with the main electrode 31, the auxiliary electrode 32 which is installed adjacent to the tapping tunnel 12 in the lower part of the melter 10 or the tapping-inducing electrode 110 which is disposed in the tapping tunnel 12.
  • the controller 90 electrically couples the anode 22 with the auxiliary electrode 32, the melts 1 are heated and melted.
  • the tapping-inducing electrode 110 In order to melt the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12, the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is moved adjacent to the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12, and then the controller 90 electrically couples the anode 22 with the tapping-inducing electrode 110. The transferred electric current flows to the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12 through the tapping-inducing electrode 110, thereby heating and melting the melts 1. Then, if the tapping tunnel 12 is cleaned out, the controller 90 electrically decouples the anode 22 from the tapping- inducing electrode 110. After the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is electrically decoupled from the anode 22, the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is moved back from the tapping tunnel 12 along the linear-driving guider 125.
  • melts 1 which exist in the melter 10 and the tapping tunnel 12 are completely melted, they are tapped to the outside of the melter 10 through the tapping tunnel 12.
  • the protection gas which is filled in the protection gas guider 127 of the transporting device 120 is discharged through a waste gas outlet 13.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
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  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Gasification And Melting Of Waste (AREA)
  • Vertical, Hearth, Or Arc Furnaces (AREA)
  • Plasma Technology (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for tapping melts, the apparatus being used for a plasma torch melter including a tapping tunnel disposed to be sloped on an area of the inner wall of a melter, a plasma torch disposed on the upper part of the melter and a main electrode disposed on the lower part of the melter to be electrically coupled with an anode of the plasma torch, the apparatus comprising: a tapping-inducing electrode electrically coupled with the main electrode in parallel, the tapping-inducing electrode being moved adjacent to the melts in the tapping tunnel, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch, heating and melting the melts which remain in the tapping tunnel; a controller electrically decoupling the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode, the controller electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with the tapping-inducing electrode; and a transporting device moving the tapping- inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel, thereby controlling the distance between the tapping-inducing electrode and the melts.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TAPPING MELTS IN PLASMA TORCH MELTER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter, and particularly an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter to safely and easily melt the melts which remain in a blocked tapping tunnel by using a tapping-inducing electrode.
Description of the Related Art
A tapping tunnel of a plasma torch melter may be blocked due to the low temperature of the outer wall of the tapping tunnel or the solidified melts. Additionally, the slag which grows up during the tapping process may block the tapping tunnel. If the tapping tunnel is blocked by the melts, it is very difficult to clean out the tapping tunnel since the melts which block the tapping tunnel cannot be easily removed by conventional mechanical methods (e.g., drills, hammers, mud guns and oxygen torches). Sometimes the refractory layer which covers the melter must be disassembled to remove the melts in the tapping tunnel. Furthermore, the conventional mechanical methods for removing the melts in the tapping tunnel are not ideal for swift use in melting systems which repeat the intermittent tapping processes. They are particularly inappropriate for handling radioactive wastes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is invented to resolve the above conventional problems. The first purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter that can easily melt the melts which block a tapping tunnel and clean out the tapping tunnel by placing a tapping-inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel.
The second purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter which can safely remove the remaining melts from the tapping tunnel at a remote place by installing the tapping-inducing electrode on a transporting device having a remote control device even if the melts which block the tapping tunnel are dangerous substances (e.g., radioactive wastes). The third purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter that can easily heat the melts, which are disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel in the melter, by Joule-heat that is generated by placing an auxiliary electrode as well as the tapping-inducing electrode adjacent to the tapping tunnel in the melter, and electrically coupling an anode of a plasma torch with an auxiliary electrode. The present invention relates to an apparatus for tapping melts, the apparatus being used for a plasma torch melter including a tapping tunnel disposed to be sloped on an area of an inner wall of a melter, a plasma torch disposed on an upper part of the melter and a main electrode disposed on a lower part of the melter to be electrically coupled with an anode of the plasma torch, the apparatus comprising: a tapping-inducing electrode which is electrically coupled with the main electrode in parallel and is moved adjacent to the melts in the tapping tunnel, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch, heating and melting the melts which remain in the tapping tunnel; a controller which electrically decouples the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode and electrically couples the anode of the plasma torch with the tapping-inducing electrode; and a transporting device which moves the tapping-inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel, thereby controlling the distance between the tapping-inducing electrode and the melts.
The apparatus according to the present invention further comprises an auxiliary electrode which is electrically coupled with the main electrode and the tapping-inducing electrode in parallel and is disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel on the lower part of the melter, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch and heating the melts which remain adjacent to the tapping tunnel of the melter, wherein the controller electrically couples the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode, the auxiliary electrode or tapping-inducing electrode. The apparatus according the present invention further comprises a protection gas guider which has a pipe shape, a first end of the protection gas guider being opened, a second end of the protection gas guider being closed, the protection gas guider surrounding the tapping-inducing electrode to prevent the tapping-inducing electrode from being oxidized by flowing a protection gas into the protection gas guider; and an electrode holder which is disposed on the second end of the protection gas guider to be coupled with the tapping-inducing electrode, which is disposed in the protection gas guider, to be moved up and down, wherein the transporting device comprises a linear-driving guider coupled with the protection gas guider to guide the tapping-inducing electrode to place the tapping-inducing electrode in the center of the tapping tunnel; and a servo motor which is installed on the linear-driving guider to drive the linear-driving guider in a linear-driving method. The present invention relates to a method for tapping melts remaining adjacent to a tapping tunnel of a plasma torch melter, the method comprising the steps of: (a) electrically coupling an anode of a plasma torch, which is disposed on the upper part of the melter, with a main electrode which is disposed on the lower part of the melter; (b) electrically decoupling the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode after step (a), and electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with a tapping-inducing electrode moved adjacent to the melts which remain around the tapping tunnel; (c) melting the melts in the tapping tunnel by electrically coupling the plasma torch with the tapping-inducing electrode; and (d) tapping the melts which are melted in the tapping tunnel to the outside of the melter. The method according to the present invention further comprises the step of (e) electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with an auxiliary electrode after the anode of the plasma torch is electrically decoupled from the main electrode, wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically coupled with the main electrode and the tapping-inducing electrode in parallel and is disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel on the lower part of the melter.
The effects of the present invention are as follows. The first effect is to easily melt the melts which block the tapping tunnel by placing the tapping-inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel, thereby easily cleaning out the tapping tunnel.
The second effect is to safely remove the remaining melts from the tapping tunnel at a remote place by installing the tapping-inducing electrode on the transporting device having the remote control device even if the melts which block the tapping tunnel are dangerous substances (e.g., radioactive wastes).
The third effect is to easily heat the melts, which are adjacent to the tapping tunnel in the melter, by Joule-heat which is generated by electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with the auxiliary electrode, thereby preventing the temperature of the melts from decreasing during the tapping process and facilitating the tapping process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the apparatus for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an electric circuit for illustrating electrically coupling and decoupling an electrode of a plasma torch with a main electrode, an auxiliary electrode or a tapping-inducing electrode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the tapping-inducing electrode and the transporting device thereof according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the apparatus for tapping melts from a plasma torch melter according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an electric circuit for illustrating electrically coupling and decoupling an electrode of a plasma torch with a main electrode, an auxiliary electrode or a tapping-inducing electrode according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the tapping-inducing electrode and the transporting device thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the present invention comprises a melter 10, a plasma torch 20, a main electrode 31 , an auxiliary electrode 32, a controller 90, a tapping-inducing electrode 110 and a transporting device 120.
The upper part and lower part of the melter 10 are closed. A tapping tunnel 12, which is a sloped tunnel, is disposed on an area of the inner wall of the melter 10. The melts 1 which are contained in the melter 10 are tapped through the tapping tunnel 12. Preferably, the inner wall and bottom surface of the melter 10 are made of the refractory substance which can endure high temperature. Non-combustible wastes such as iron, concrete, sand and asbestos, combustible wastes such as wood, vinyl and paper, or the combinations thereof are melted ("melts," below) in the melter 10. While the melts 1 are melted in the melter 10, the nonmetals having a low specific gravity come to be placed in the upper space of the melter 10, and the metals having a high specific gravity come to be placed in the lower space of the melter 10. When the melts 1 are tapped through the tapping tunnel 12 after completion of the melting process in the melter 10, due to the difference of the specific gravity of the melts 1 and the shape of the tapping tunnel 12, the melts 1 remain in the tapping tunnel 10, thereby blocking the tapping tunnel 12 due to the low temperature of the outer wall of the tapping tunnel. The plasma torch 20 is installed on the upper part of the melter 10.
As shown in Fig. 2, an anode 22 and cathode 23 are installed in the plasma torch 20. When power is applied to the plasma torch 20, the electric current flows between the anode 22 and the cathode 23, whereby the temperature of the plasma gas passing between the anode 22 and cathode 23 becomes high, and then the high-temperature plasma gas flows into the melter 10. The wastes which are contained in the melter 10 are melted by the high- temperature plasma gas and become conductive, whereby the electric current can flow between the anode 22 and the main electrode 31.
The main electrode 31 is installed on the center surface of the lower part of the melter 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the main electrode 31 is electrically coupled with the auxiliary electrode 32 and the tapping-inducing electrode 110 in parallel, and then is grounded. Also, the main electrode 31 is electrically coupled with the controller 90 by the first switch 91 which is electrically coupled with the main electrode 31. If the first switch turns on the main electrode 31, the electric current flows between the main electrode 31 and the anode 31 through the melts.
The auxiliary electrode 32 is installed adjacent to the tapping tunnel 12 in the lower part of the melter 10. As shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary electrode 32 is electrically coupled with the main electrode 31 and the tapping-inducing electrode 110 in parallel, and then is grounded. Also, the auxiliary electrode 32 is electrically coupled with a power device 70 by the second switch 92 which is electrically coupled with the auxiliary electrode 32. If the second switch turns on the auxiliary electrode 32, the electric current flows between the auxiliary electrode 32 and the anode 22 through the melts.
As shown in Fig. 2, the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is electrically coupled with the main electrode 31 and the auxiliary electrode 32 in parallel, is grounded, and then disposed in the tapping tunnel 12 as shown in Fig. 3. The tapping-inducing electrode 110 is electrically coupled with a power device 70 by the third switch 93 which is electrically coupled with the tapping-inducing electrode 110. If the third switch turns on the tapping- inducing electrode 110, the electric current flows between the tapping- inducing electrode 110 and the anode 22 through the melts.
As shown in Fig. 2, the power device 70 comprises a switching module 71. The controller 90 comprises the first switch 91 which is electrically connected with the main electrode 31, the second switch 92 which is electrically connected with the auxiliary electrode 32 and the third switch 93 which is electrically connected with the tapping-inducing electrode 110, and selectively turns on one of them. As shown in Fig. 3, the present invention further comprises a servo motor 121, a power-connecting terminal 123, a linear-driving guider 125, an electrode holder 126 and a protection gas guider 127. The transporting device 120 comprises the servo motor 121 and the linear-driving guider 125, and moves the tapping-inducing electrode 110 through the tapping tunnel 12, thereby being able to control the distance between the tapping-inducing electrode 110 and the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12. The transporting device 120 is supported by a supporter 130 which is installed on the structure of the melter 10.
As shown in Fig. 3, the protection gas guider 127 surrounds the tapping-inducing electrode 110 and has a pipe shape. The first end 127a of the protection gas guider is opened and the second end 127b of the protection gas guider is closed. A protection gas hole 127c is formed on the protection gas guider 127, through which the protection gas flows into the protection gas guider 127. Argon gas may be typically used as the protection gas which prevents the tapping-inducing electrode 110 from being oxidized and extends the life of the tapping-inducing electrode 110.
The electrode holder 126 can be moved in the direction of the arrow illustrated in Fig. 3. The power-connecting terminal 123 applies electric current to the tapping-inducing electrode 110 when the power is on.
The linear-driving guider 125 is coupled with the protection gas guider 127 and guides the tapping-inducing electrode 110, which moves in the protection gas guider 127, to be placed in the center of the tapping tunnel 12.
The servo motor 121 is coupled with the linear-driving guider 125. The servo motor 121 linearly drives the linear-driving guider 125 up and down to control the distance between the tapping-inducing electrode 110 and the melts in the tapping tunnel 12.
Hereinafter, the method for tapping melts from the plasma torch melter, using the apparatus for tapping melts according to the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
The method for tapping melts from the plasma torch melter according to the present invention taps the melts 1 using the operation characteristic of the plasma torch 20. The operation types of the plasma torch 20 are divided into a non-transferred operation, a transferred operation and a mixed operation in which the non-transferred operation and the transferred operation are performed simultaneously.
The non-transferred operation is the operation that generates an electric arc between the anode and cathode which are installed in the plasma torch, passes the plasma gas between the anode and cathode, changes the plasma gas passing between the anode and cathode to the high-temperature plasma gas, heats the surface of the melts with the high-temperature plasma gas and melts the melts.
The transferred operation is the operation that passes high-temperature plasma gas between the anode which is installed in the plasma torch and the cathode (e.g., the main electrode 31, the auxiliary electrode 32 or the tapping- inducing electrode 110) which is installed outside of the plasma torch, heats the inside of the melts and melts the melts.
The mixed operation is the operation that performs the non-transferred operation and the transferred operation simultaneously. The mixed operation can control the output ratio of the non-transferred operation and transferred operation automatically or manually according to the change of electrical conductivity of the melts.
In order to melt the melts 1 which remain in the melter 10 adjacent to the tapping tunnel 12, the controller 90 electrically decouples the anode 22 of the plasma torch 20 from the main electrode 31 , and electrically couples the anode 22 with the auxiliary electrode 32. The controller 90 can electrically couple the anode 22 of the plasma torch 20 with the main electrode 31, the auxiliary electrode 32 which is installed adjacent to the tapping tunnel 12 in the lower part of the melter 10 or the tapping-inducing electrode 110 which is disposed in the tapping tunnel 12.
If the controller 90 electrically couples the anode 22 with the auxiliary electrode 32, the melts 1 are heated and melted.
In order to melt the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12, the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is moved adjacent to the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12, and then the controller 90 electrically couples the anode 22 with the tapping-inducing electrode 110. The transferred electric current flows to the melts 1 which remain in the tapping tunnel 12 through the tapping-inducing electrode 110, thereby heating and melting the melts 1. Then, if the tapping tunnel 12 is cleaned out, the controller 90 electrically decouples the anode 22 from the tapping- inducing electrode 110. After the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is electrically decoupled from the anode 22, the tapping-inducing electrode 110 is moved back from the tapping tunnel 12 along the linear-driving guider 125.
After the above process, if the melts 1 which exist in the melter 10 and the tapping tunnel 12 are completely melted, they are tapped to the outside of the melter 10 through the tapping tunnel 12. The protection gas which is filled in the protection gas guider 127 of the transporting device 120 is discharged through a waste gas outlet 13.
From the above embodiment for the present invention, it is noted that modifications and variations could be made by a person skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it should be understood that changes may be made for a particular embodiment of the present invention within its scope and spirit outlined by the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An apparatus for tapping melts, the apparatus being used for a plasma torch melter including a tapping tunnel disposed to be sloped on an area of an inner wall of a melter, a plasma torch disposed on an upper part of the melter and a main electrode disposed on a lower part of the melter to be electrically coupled with an anode of the plasma torch, the apparatus comprising: a tapping-inducing electrode electrically coupled with the main electrode in parallel, the tapping-inducing electrode being moved adjacent to the melts in the tapping tunnel, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch, heating and melting the melts remaining in the tapping tunnel; a controller electrically decoupling the anode of the plasma torch from the main electrode, the controller electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with the tapping-inducing electrode; and a transporting device moving the tapping-inducing electrode in the tapping tunnel, thereby controlling a distance between the tapping-inducing electrode and the melts.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an auxiliary electrode electrically coupled with the main electrode and the tapping-inducing electrode in parallel, the auxiliary electrode being disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel on the lower part of the melter, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch and heating the melts remaining adjacent to the tapping tunnel of the melter, wherein the controller electrically couples the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode, the auxiliary electrode or tapping- inducing electrode.
3. An apparatus for tapping melts in a plasma torch melter, the apparatus comprising: a melter having a tapping tunnel for tapping the melts, the tapping tunnel being disposed to be sloped on an area of an inner wall of the melter; a plasma torch disposed on an upper part of the melter; a main electrode disposed on a lower part of the melter to be electrically coupled with an anode of the plasma torch, thereby melting the melts; an auxiliary electrode electrically coupled with the main electrode and a tapping-inducing electrode in parallel, the auxiliary electrode being disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel on the lower part of the melter, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch and heating the melts remaining adjacent to the tapping tunnel of the melter; the tapping-inducing electrode electrically coupled with the main electrode and the auxiliary electrode in parallel, the tapping-inducing electrode being moved adjacent to the melts through the tapping tunnel, thereby being electrically coupled with the anode of the plasma torch, heating and melting the melts remaining in the tapping tunnel; a controller electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with the main electrode, the auxiliary electrode or the tapping-inducing electrode; and a transporting device moving the tapping-inducing electrode through the tapping tunnel, thereby controlling a distance between the tapping- inducing electrode and the melts.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 3, further comprising: a protection gas guider having a pipe shape, a first end of the protection gas guider being opened, a second end of the protection gas guider being closed, the protection gas guider surrounding the tapping-inducing electrode to prevent the tapping-inducing electrode from being oxidized by flowing a protection gas into the protection gas guider; and an electrode holder disposed on the second end of the protection gas guider to be coupled with the tapping-inducing electrode disposed in the protection gas guider to be moved up and down, wherein the transporting device comprises: a linear-driving guider coupled with the protection gas guider to guide the tapping-inducing electrode to place the tapping-inducing electrode in a center of the tapping tunnel; and a servo motor installed on the linear-driving guider to drive the linear-driving guider in a linear-driving method.
5. A method for tapping melts remaining adjacent to a tapping tunnel of a plasma torch melter, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) electrically coupling an anode of a plasma torch disposed on an upper part of the melter with a main electrode disposed on a lower part of the melter; (b) electrically decoupling the anode of the plasma torch from the main electrode after the step (a), and electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with a tapping-inducing electrode moved adjacent to the melts remaining around the tapping tunnel; (c) melting the melts in the tapping tunnel by electrically coupling the plasma torch with the tapping-inducing electrode; and
(d) tapping the melts melted in the tapping tunnel to an outside of the melter.
6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of:
(e) electrically coupling the anode of the plasma torch with an auxiliary electrode after the anode of the plasma torch is electrically decoupled from the main electrode, wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically coupled with the main electrode and the tapping-inducing electrode in parallel, and is disposed adjacent to the tapping tunnel on the lower part of the melter.
PCT/KR2008/007101 2008-11-26 2008-12-02 Apparatus and method for tapping melts in plasma torch melter Ceased WO2010061995A1 (en)

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KR1020080118129A KR101032055B1 (en) 2008-11-26 2008-11-26 Melt tapping apparatus and method for plasma torch melting furnace

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KR101629683B1 (en) 2015-03-27 2016-06-14 한국수력원자력 주식회사 Reversed and Straight Polarized Plasma Torch
KR101617167B1 (en) 2015-08-12 2016-05-03 한국수력원자력 주식회사 Plasma melter having side discharge gates
KR101664866B1 (en) 2015-08-12 2016-10-13 한국수력원자력 주식회사 Plasma melter
KR102068026B1 (en) 2018-07-31 2020-01-20 한국수력원자력 주식회사 Melting Furnace Using Plasma Torch

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