Patent ID: 6686556
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: B09B,C10B,C10J,C10K,F23G,Y02A

Abstract:
A solid-waste conversion plant, comprising:a first ionic-impact chamber having a pair of electrodes for establishing an electric arc therebetween, carbon-based solid waste introduced into said chamber being molecularly broken down by homolytic bond cleavage by said electric arc and forming an ionic plasma of atomic constituents of said solid waste, said constituents exothermically recombining into simple gaseous molecules including CO and H2 upon leaving said ionic plasma in said electric arc with release of heat, other constituents forming a solidifiable material extractable from the bottom of said chamber; a second ionic-impact chamber having a pair of electrodes for establishing an electric arc therebetween, said second chamber filled with high carbon waste which is broken down by said electric arc to an incandescent coke, gaseous molecules from said first chamber, including CO2, H2O and H2, being energized by said coke and converted in said chamber to CO, more H2 and CH4, thereby forming a fuel gas; at least one gas turbine generator combusting said fuel gas to generate electricity sufficient at least to run said electric arcs in said chambers; and a third ionic-impact chamber forming a flue gas regenerator, the ionic-impact chamber connected to a flue outlet of the gas turbine generator to receive combustion products therefrom for regeneration in said chamber, the third ionic-impact chamber having a pair of electrodes for establishing an electric arc therebetween, and being filled with high carbon waste which is broken down by said electric arc to an incandescent coke through which the combustion products pass and are converted into a fuel gas containing CO and H2; wherein said conversion plant forms a closed system with recycled flue gases and zero gas emissions into the atmosphere, excess fuel gas produced by the solid waste breakdown and conversion in said chambers being extractable from said plant.