Patent ID: 6155182
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: F23G

Abstract:
A waste disposal system for gasification and melting of waste materials, said waste disposal system nominally in contact with the ambient atmosphere and comprising:a single oxygen-starved closed reactor vessel contained within said waste disposal system, said reactor vessel substantially closed to the ambient atmosphere, said reactor vessel including a bottom portion capable of serving as a slag pool;an active feed mechanism operatively connected to said reactor vessel, said feed mechanism including barrier means for substantially eliminating the inflow of air from the ambient atmosphere into said reactor vessel and for blocking the expulsion of reactor vessel byproduct gases into the ambient atmosphere, said active feed mechanism including at least one feed component selected from the group consisting of feed components adapted to actively feed solid waste into said reactor vessel, feed components adapted to actively feed waste in a solid container into said reactor vessel, feed components adapted to actively feed granular waste into said reactor vessel, and feed components adapted to actively feed liquid waste into said reactor vessel;a plasma arc torch operatively connected to said reactor vessel, said plasma arc torch located for plasma arc activity within said reactor vessel to produce a high temperature processing zone to gasify or melt any waste which is actively fed into said zone; andat least one waste-receiving reservoir located within said reactor vessel, each said waste-receiving reservoir being positioned to initially receive and retain any waste which is actively fed to said reservoir for thermal decomposition and melting of such waste by said plasma arc torch, said waste receiving reservoir comprising a substantially flat receiving platform and a dam at least partially surrounding said substantially flat-platform.