Patent ID: 7299756
Filing Date: 2007-11-27
Classification: C03B,F23G,G21F,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A waste processing apparatus having a substantially longitudinal waste processing chamber adapted for accommodating a column of waste, wherein said processing chamber comprises a chamber upper part joined to a chamber lower part via a transition therebetween, said upper part comprising waste inlet means and at least one gas outlet means, said lower part comprising at least one plasma torch means having an output end thereof extending into said lower part for providing sufficient heat at least for enabling melting inorganic components of said waste and for converting organic components of said waste into fuel gases, wherein said transition comprises a change in the slope of the inside profile of the processing chamber between said upper part and said lower part taken along a longitudinal direction, such that at least a part of the inside wall of said lower part is displaced, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said processing chamber, outwardly from said transition along the periphery thereof with respect to the inside wall of said upper part thus forming additional peripheral space in said lower part with respect to said upper part of the chamber, said peripheral space serving as at least one oxidizing fluid distribution and mixing chamber, said fluid distribution and mixing chamber comprising at least one oxidizing fluid inlet for providing oxidizing fluid thereto from a suitable source; characterized in that: said distribution and mixing chamber is configured to circumscribe the periphery of said waste column enabling said oxidizing fluids to penetrate into said waste column from all directions thereby enabling oxidation of char formed during the process of converting the organic components of said waste into fuel gases from all sides of said column of waste simultaneously; and said at least one oxidizing fluid distribution and mixing chamber is located above the output end of said at least one plasma torch means, said location is chosen such that: said oxidizing fluid is in contact with said column of waste in the gasification zone of said processing chamber wherein said organic component of said waste are converted into fuel gases and the majority of said char is formed, thereby allaowing said oxidizing fluid to efficiently convert said char into useful product gases; and said oxidizing fluid enters said processing chamber above the melted inorganic components of said waste, thereby preventing cooling of said melted inorganic components.