Abstract:
A method and apparatus for oxidizing a combustible material. The method includes introducing a volume of the combustible material into a plasma zone of a gliding electric arc oxidation system. The method also includes introducing a volume of oxidizer into the plasma zone of the gliding electric arc oxidation system. The volume of oxidizer includes a stoichiometrically excessive amount of oxygen. The method also includes generating an electrical discharge between electrodes within the plasma zone of the gliding electric arc oxidation system to oxidize the combustible material.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/807,363, filed on Jul. 14, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The use of a safe, complete, and environmentally benign process is useful in the disposal of chemical weapons (CW) stockpile. The conventional method of disposal uses incineration technology. However, conventional incineration technology faces legal, social, and political obstacles. 
         [0003]    The conventional incineration process produces a large volume of off gas, which is further treated with pollution abatement equipment such as a quench tower, a scrubber, a demister, and a baghouse for particulate removal. Hence, incineration plants are not suitable for mobile units. Additionally, incineration plants are typically housed in a building such as a facility relatively close to the stockpile, creating inherent risks for personnel who work at the facility. Alternatively, dangerous stockpile chemicals are transported from the stockpile to the incineration facility, creating risks related to potential transportation accidents. 
         [0004]    As a result of the incineration process, harmful dioxins are produced due to poor mixing and short residence time at the operating temperature, as well as prolonged exposure at temperatures that favor the formation of dioxins. The production of dioxins presents a major environmental challenge. 
         [0005]    Neutralization is an alternative technology for the destruction of toxic chemicals. However, the neutralization process has been abandoned by the U.S. Army due to its complexity, more problematic waste produced by the process, cost, and analytical problems in certifying the treated waste as agent-free. 
         [0006]    Conventional plasma arc technology has also been evaluated for the destruction of such waste. Using conventional plasma arc technology, waste is atomized in a high temperature (e.g., 5,000° C. to 15,000° C.) pyrolysis chamber. The resulting gases are scrubbed and combusted with air. While this process is amenable to a transportable unit, the primary limitation is that high temperature requires high power input and forms undesirable products, as explained above. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments of a method are described. In one embodiment, the method is a method for oxidizing a combustible material. An embodiment of the method includes introducing a volume of the combustible material into a plasma zone of a gliding electric arc oxidation system and introducing a volume of oxidizer into the plasma zone of the gliding electric arc oxidation system. The volume of oxidizer includes a stoichiometrically excessive amount of oxygen. The method also includes generating an electrical discharge between electrodes within the plasma zone of the gliding electric arc oxidation system to oxidize the combustible material. Other embodiments of the method are also described. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of a system are also described. In one embodiment, the system is a system to oxidize a combustible material. An embodiment of the system includes at least one channel to direct the combustible material and an oxidizer into a plasma zone of a plasma generator and an oxygen controller to control an amount of oxygen of the oxidizer into the plasma zone of the plasma generator. The oxygen controller is configured to provide a stoichiometrically excessive amount of oxygen. The system also includes a plurality of electrodes within the plasma zone of the plasma generator. The plurality of electrodes are configured to generate a plasma to oxidize the combustible material. Other embodiments of the system are also described. 
         [0009]    Embodiments of an apparatus are also described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is an oxidation apparatus. An embodiment of the oxidation apparatus includes means for introducing a combustible material into a plasma zone of a plasma generator, means for introducing a stoichiometrically excessive amount of oxygen into the plasma zone of the plasma generator, and means for oxidizing substantially all of the combustible material to render a harmful chemical into a safe material for disposal. Other embodiments of the apparatus are also described. 
         [0010]    Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are illustrated by way of example of the various principles and embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an oxidation system for oxidizing a combustible material. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an oxidation system for oxidizing a combustible material. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system of the oxidation system of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3A-C  illustrate schematic diagrams of a plasma generator of the gliding electric arc oxidation system of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6A-C  illustrate schematic diagrams of various perspective views of the gliding electric arc oxidation system of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate schematic diagrams of additional perspective views of the gliding electric arc oxidation system of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8A  illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system of  FIG. 4  within a furnace. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8B  illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system of  FIG. 5  within a furnace. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    In the following description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an oxidation system  100  for oxidizing a combustible material. The illustrated oxidation system includes an explosion chamber  102 , a gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 , an oxygen source  106 , and an oxygen controller  108 . Although certain functionality is described herein with respect to each of the illustrated components of the oxidation system  100 , other embodiments of the oxidation system  100  may implement similar functionality using fewer or more components. Additionally, some embodiments of the oxidation system  100  may implement more or less functionality than is described herein. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, a material enters the explosion chamber  102  for incineration, or partial combustion. Incineration of particular materials produces off gases that can be toxic or otherwise harmful to people or the environment. For off gases and other incineration products that are combustible, the oxidation system  100  routes the combustible material from the explosion chamber  102  to the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . In other embodiments, other types of combustible materials such as synthesis gas (also referred to as syngas) are routed to the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . 
         [0025]    For convenience, references to combustible materials encompass a variety of materials or chemical compositions that may be oxidized by the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . The combustible material routed to the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  may be in gas, liquid, or solid form. In one embodiment, the combustible material is a hydrocarbon. In another embodiment, the combustible material is a solid comprising primarily carbon. Additionally, some embodiments of the oxidation system  100  facilitate combining the combustible material with a carrier material. For example, the combustible material may be entrained with a liquid or gaseous carrier material. 
         [0026]    It should be noted that some embodiments of the oxidation system  100  exclude the explosion chamber  102 . In other words, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  may receive the combustible material from another source other than the explosion chamber  102 . For example, in some embodiments, the combustible material may be processed directly by the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 , without any prior incineration, combustion, or other processing. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  is a high energy plasma arc system. Additionally, some embodiments of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  are referred to as non-thermal plasma systems because the process employed by the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  does not provide a substantial heat input for the oxidation reaction. 
         [0028]    In order to facilitate the oxidation process implemented by the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 , the oxidizer source  106  supplies an oxidizer, or oxidant, to the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . In one embodiment, the oxidizer controller  108  controls the amount of oxidizer such as oxygen that is supplied to gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . For example, the oxidizer controller  108  may control the flow rate of the oxidizer from the oxidizer source  106  to the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . The oxidizer may be air, oxygen, steam (H 2 O), or another type of oxidizer. Embodiments of the oxidizer controller  108  include a manually controlled valve, an electronically controlled valve, a pressure regulator, an orifice of specified dimensions, or another type of flow controller. Another embodiment of the controller incorporates an oxidant composition sensor feedback system. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the oxidizer mixes with the combustible material within the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . Alternatively, the combustible material and the oxidizer may be premixed before the mixture is injected into the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . Additionally, the oxidizer, the combustible material, or a mixture of the oxidizer and the combustible material may be preheated prior to injection into the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . 
         [0030]    In general, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  oxidizes the combustible material and outputs an oxidation product that is free of harmful materials or substantially free of harmful materials. More specific details of the oxidation process are described below with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the oxidation process depends, at least in part, on the amount of oxidizer that is combined with the combustible material and the temperature resulting from the heat released in the reaction. Partial oxidation, or reformation, of the combustible material produces a reformate product such as syngas. Reformation occurs when the amount of oxygen is less than a stoichiometric amount of oxygen. In some embodiments, 30-40% of stoichiometric oxygen levels are used to implement the reformation process. An exemplary reformation equation is: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 CH 
                 n 
               
               + 
               
                 
                   1 
                   2 
                 
                  
                 
                   O 
                   2 
                 
               
             
             -&gt; 
             
               CO 
               + 
               
                 
                   n 
                   2 
                 
                  
                 
                   H 
                   2 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0031]    Another exemplary reformation equation is: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 CH 
                 n 
               
               + 
               
                 
                   H 
                   2 
                 
                  
                 O 
               
             
             -&gt; 
             
               CO 
               + 
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     1 
                     + 
                     
                       n 
                       2 
                     
                   
                   ) 
                 
                  
                 
                   H 
                   2 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0032]    In contrast, full oxidation (referred to simply as oxidation) of the combustible material produces an oxidation product. Full oxidation occurs when the amount of oxygen is more than a stoichiometric amount of oxygen. In some embodiments, 5-100% excess of stoichiometric oxygen levels are used to implement the oxidation process. An exemplary oxidation equation is: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 CH 
                 n 
               
               + 
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     1 
                     + 
                     
                       n 
                       4 
                     
                   
                   ) 
                 
                  
                 
                   O 
                   2 
                 
               
             
             -&gt; 
             
               
                 CO 
                 2 
               
               + 
               
                 
                   n 
                   2 
                 
                  
                 
                   H 
                   2 
                 
                  
                 O 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0033]    Other equations may be used to describe other types of reformation and oxidation processes. 
         [0034]    While reformation processes may be endothermic or exothermic, the oxidation process is exothermic. Hence, the reactants used in the oxidation process may not need to be preheated. Nevertheless, it may be useful to maintain part or all of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  at an operating temperature within an operating temperature range for efficient operation of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . In one embodiment, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  is mounted within a furnace (refer to  FIGS. 9A and 9B ) during operation to maintain the operating temperature of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  100  within an operating temperature range of approximately 700° C. to 1000° C. Other embodiments may use other operating temperature ranges. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an oxidation system  110  for oxidizing a combustible material. Although certain functionality is described herein with respect to each of the illustrated components of the oxidation system  110 , other embodiments of the oxidation system  110  may implement similar functionality using fewer or more components. Additionally, some embodiments of the oxidation system  110  may implement more or less functionality than is described herein. 
         [0036]    The illustrated oxidation system  110  shown in  FIG. 1B  is substantially similar to the oxidation system  100  shown in  FIG. 1A , except that the oxidation system  110  shown in  FIG. 1B  also includes a mixing chamber  112 . The mixing chamber  112  is coupled between the explosion chamber  102  and the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . The mixing chamber  112  is also coupled to the oxidizer source  106 , for example, via the oxidizer controller  108 . In one embodiment, the mixing chamber  112  facilitates premixing the combustible material and the oxidizer prior to introduction into the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . In some embodiments, the mixing chamber  112  may be a separate chamber coupled to conduits connected to the explosion chamber  104 , the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 , and the oxidizer controller  108 . In other embodiments, the mixing chamber  112  may be a shared channel, or conduit, to jointly transfer the combustible gas and the oxidizer to the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  of the oxidation system  100  of  FIG. 1A . The illustrated gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  includes a plasma zone  114 , a post-plasma reaction zone  116 , and a heat transfer zone  118 . Although three separate functional zones are described, some embodiments may implement the functionality of the various zones at approximately the same time and/or in approximately the same physical proximity. For example, heat transfer corresponding to the illustrated heat transfer zone  118  may occur during plasma generation corresponding to the plasma zone  114 . Similarly, heat transfer corresponding to the heat transfer zone  118  may occur in approximately the same location as post-plasma reactions corresponding to the post-plasma reaction zone  116 . 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the combustible material (represented by CH n ) and the oxidizer (represented by (1+n/4)O 2 ) are introduced into the plasma zone  114 , which includes a plasma generator (refer to  FIGS. 3A-C ) such as a gliding electric arc. The plasma generator acts as a catalyst to initiate the oxidation process. More specifically, the plasma generator ionizes, or breaks apart, one or more of the reactants to create reactive elements. 
         [0039]    After ionization, the reactants pass to the post-plasma reaction zone  116 , which facilitates homogenization of the oxidized composition. Within the post-plasma reaction zone  116 , some of the reactants and the products of the reactants are oxygen rich while others are oxygen lean. A homogenization material such as a solid state oxygen storage compound within the post-plasma reaction zone  116  acts as a chemical buffering compound to physically mix, or homogenize, the oxidation reactants and products. Hence, the oxygen storage compound absorbs oxygen from oxygen-rich packets and releases oxygen to oxygen-lean packets. This provides both spatial and temporal mixing of the reactants to help the reaction continue to completion. In some embodiments, the post-plasma reaction zone  116  also facilitates equilibration of gas species and transfer of heat. 
         [0040]    The heat transfer zone  118  also facilitates heat transfer from the oxidation product to the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the heat transfer zone  118  is implemented with passive heat transfer components which transfer heat, for example, from the oxidation product to the homogenization material and to the physical components (e.g., housing) of the gliding electrical arc oxidation system  104 . Other embodiments use active heat transfer components to implement the heat transfer zone  118 . For example, forced air over the exterior surface of a housing of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  may facilitate heat transfer from the housing to the nearby air currents. As another example, an active stream of a cooling medium may be used to quench an oxidation product. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3A-C  illustrate schematic diagrams of a plasma generator  120  of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  104  of  FIG. 2 . The depicted plasma generator  120  includes a pair of electrodes  122 . However, other embodiments may include more than two electrodes  122 . For example, some embodiments of the plasma generator  120  may include three electrodes  122 . Other embodiments of the plasma generator  120  may include six electrodes  122  or another number of electrodes  122 . Each electrode  122  is coupled to an electrical conductor (not shown) to provide an electrical signal to the corresponding electrode  122 . Where multiple electrodes  122  are implemented, some electrodes  122  may be coupled to the same electrical conductor so that they are on the same phase of a single-phase or a multi-phase electrical distribution system. 
         [0042]    The electrical signals on the electrodes  122  produce a high electrical field gradient between each pair of electrodes  122 . For example, if there is a separation of 2 millimeters between a pair of electrodes  122 , the electrical potential between the electrodes  122  is about 6-9 kV. 
         [0043]    The mixture of the combustible material and the oxidizer enters and flows axially through the plasma generator  120  (in the direction indicated by the arrow). The high voltage between the electrodes  122  ionizes the mixture of reactants, which allows current to flow between the electrodes  122  in the form of an arc  124 , as shown in  FIG. 3A . Because the ions of the reactants are in an electric field having a high potential gradient, the ions begin to accelerate toward one of the electrodes  122 . This movement of the ions causes collisions which create free radicals. The free radicals initiate a chain reaction for combustion of the combustible material. 
         [0044]    Due to the flow of the mixture into the plasma generator  120 , the ionized particles are forced downstream, as shown in  FIG. 3B . Since the ionized particles form the least resistive path for the current to flow, the arc  124  also moves downstream (as indicated by the arrow) and spreads out to follow the contour of the diverging edges of the electrodes  122 . Although the edges of the electrodes  122  are shown as elliptical contours, other variations of diverging contours may be implemented. As the arc  124  moves downstream, the effect of the reaction is magnified relative to the size of the arc  124 . 
         [0045]    Eventually, the gap between the electrodes  122  becomes wide enough that the current ceases to flow between the electrodes  122 . However, the ionized particles continue to move downstream under the influence of the mixture. Once the current stops flowing between the electrodes  122 , the electrical potential increases on the electrodes  122  until the current arcs again, as shown in  FIG. 3C , and the plasma generation process continues. Although much of the oxidation process may occur at the plasma generator  120  between the electrodes  122 , the oxidation process may continue downstream from the plasma generator  120 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130 . The illustrated gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  includes a plasma generator  120 . Each of the electrodes  122  of the plasma generator  120  is connected to an electrical conductor  132 . The plasma generator  120  is located within a housing  134 . In one embodiment, the housing  134  defines a channel  136  downstream of the plasma generator  120  so that the reactants may continue to react and form the oxidation product downstream of the plasma generator  120 . The housing  134  may be fabricated of a conductive or non-conductive material. In either case, an electrically insulated region may be provided around the plasma generator  120 . In one embodiment, the housing  134  is fabricated from a non-conductive material such as an alumina ceramic to prevent electricity from discharging from the plasma generator  120  to surrounding conductive components. 
         [0047]    In order to introduce the combustible material and the oxidizer into the plasma generator  120 , the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  includes multiple channels, or conduits. In the illustrated embodiment, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  includes a first channel  138  for the combustible material and a second channel  140  for the oxidizer. The first and second channels  138  and  140  join at a mixing manifold  142 , which facilitates premixing of the combustible material and the oxidizer. In other embodiments, the combustible material and the oxidizer may be introduced separately into the plasma generator  120 . Additionally, the locations of the first and second channels  138  and  140  may be arranged in a different configuration. 
         [0048]    In order to contain the reactants during the oxidation process, and to contain the oxidation product resulting from the oxidation process, the plasma generator  120  and the housing  134  may be placed within an outer shell  144 . In one embodiment, the outer shell  144  facilitates heat transfer to and/or from the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130 . Additionally, the outer shell  144  is fabricated from steel or another material having sufficient strength and stability at the operating temperatures of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130 . 
         [0049]    In order to remove the oxidation product (e.g., including any carbon dioxide, steam, etc.) from the annular region  146  of the outer shell  144 , the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  includes an exhaust channel  148 . In one embodiment, the exhaust channel is coupled to a collector ring manifold  150  that circumscribes the housing  134  and has one or more openings to allow the oxidation product to flow to the exhaust channel  148 . In the illustrated embodiment, the oxidation product is exhausted out the exhaust channel  148  at approximately the same end as the intake channels  138  and  140  for the combustible material and the oxidizer. This configuration may facilitate easy maintenance of the gliding electric arc oxidizer system  130  since all of the inlet, outlet, and electrical connections are in about the same place. Other embodiments of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  may have alternative configurations to exhaust the oxidation products from the outer shell  144 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160 . Although many aspects of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  of  FIG. 5  are substantially similar to the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  of  FIG. 4 , the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  is different in that it allows pass-through exhaustion of the oxidation product through an exhaust outlet  162  at approximately the opposite end of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  from the intake channels  138  and  140  for the combustible material and the oxidizer. In one embodiment, the oxidation product passes directly through the channel  136  of the housing  134  and out through the exhaust outlet  162 , instead of passing into the annular region  146  of the outer shell  144 . 
         [0051]    The illustrated gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  of  FIG. 5  also includes some additional distinctions from the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  of  FIG. 4 . In particular, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  includes a diversion plug  164  located within the housing  134  to divert the reactants and oxidation product outward toward the interior surface of a wall of the housing  134 . Since the oxidation process is exothermic, the diversion plug  164  forces the flow toward the wall of the housing  134  to facilitate heat transfer from the oxidation product to the wall of the housing  134 . In one embodiment, the diversion plug  164  is fabricated from a ceramic material or another material that is stable at high temperatures. 
         [0052]    In addition to the heat transfer from the oxidation product to the wall of the housing  134 , the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  also may facilitate heat transfer away from the housing  134  by flowing a coolant through the annular region  146  of the outer shell  144 . The coolant may be a gas or a liquid. For example, the coolant may be air. Although not shown in detail, the coolant may be circulated within or exhausted from the outer shell  144 . 
         [0053]    The illustrated gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  also includes a homogenization material  166  located in the channel  136  of the housing  134 . The homogenization material  166  serves one or more of a variety of functions. In some embodiments, the homogenization material  166  facilitates homogenization of the oxidation product by transferring oxygen from the oxidizer to the combustible material. In some embodiments, the homogenization material  166  also provides both spatial and temporal mixing of the reactants to help the reaction continue to completion. In some embodiments, the homogenization material  166  also facilitates equilibration of gas species. In some embodiments, the homogenization material  166  also facilitates heat transfer, for example, from the oxidation product to the homogenization material  166  and from the homogenization material  166  to the housing  134 . In some embodiments, the homogenization material  166  may provide additional functionality. 
         [0054]    The illustrated gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  also includes a ceramic insulator  168  to electrically insulate the electrodes  122  from the housing  134 . Alternatively, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  may include an air gap between the electrodes  122  and the housing  134 . While the dimensions of the air gap may vary in different implementations depending on the operating electrical properties and the fabrication materials used, the air gap should be sufficient to provide electrical isolation between the electrodes  122  and the housing  134  so that electrical current does not arc from the electrodes  122  to the housing  134 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 6A-C  illustrate schematic diagrams of various perspective views of the gliding electric arc oxidation system of  FIG. 4 . In particular,  FIG. 6A  illustrates the outer shell  144  having a flange  172  mountable to a furnace or other surface. A second flange  174  may be attached to many of at least some of the internal components described above, allowing the internal components to be removed from the outer shell  144  without removing or detaching the outer shell  144  from a mounted position. The channels  138  and  140  for the combustible material and the oxidizer and the exhaust channel  148  are also indicated.  FIG. 6B  shows a cutaway view of the outer shell  144 , the housing  134 , the channel  138  (the channels  140  and  148  are not shown), the collector ring manifold  150 , and the flanges  172  and  174 .  FIG. 6C  also shows the housing  134 , the channels  138  and  148  (the channel  140  is not shown), the collector ring manifold  150 , and the flanges  172  and  174 . 
         [0056]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate schematic diagrams of additional perspective views of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  of  FIG. 4 . In particular,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate embodiments of the channels  138  and  140 , the exhaust channel  148 , the mixing manifold  142 , the collector ring manifold  150 , and the flanges  172  and  174 . Additionally, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  includes several support bars  182  connected to a bottom mounting plate  184  to support the mixing manifold  142 . In one embodiment, the bottom mounting plate  184  includes apertures  186  to accommodate the electrical conductors  132 . In some embodiments, the electrical conductors  132  also provide structural support for the electrodes  122  to which they are connected. For example, the electrical conductors  132  may pass through cutout regions  188  defined by the mixing manifold  142 , without touching the mixing manifold  142 , to support the electrodes  122  at a distance from the mixing manifold  142 . In one embodiment, the conductors  312  are surrounded by electrical insulators at the apertures  186  to prevent electricity from discharging to the bottom mounting plate  184 . 
         [0057]    In some embodiments, the bottom mounting plate  184  may be removed from the flanges  172  and  174  to remove the mixing manifold  142  and the electrodes  122  from the housing  134  and the outer shell  144 . Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more notches  190  are formed in the bottom mounting plate  184  to facilitate proper alignment of the mixing manifold  142  with the channels  138  and  140 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 8A  illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  of  FIG. 4  within a furnace  192 . Similarly,  FIG. 8B  illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  160  of  FIG. 5  within a furnace  192 . As explained above, it may be useful to mount embodiments of the gliding electric arc oxidation systems  130  and  160  inside a furnace  192  to maintain the gliding electric arc oxidation systems  130  and  160  at a temperature within a particular operating temperature. 
         [0059]    As an example of operation of an embodiment of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130 , a gas composition containing 35% hydrogen, 30% carbon monoxide, 20% nitrogen, 5% methane, and 8% carbon dioxide may be used as a combustible material. This gas composition is representative of at least some incineration products resulting from chemical munitions explosions. 
         [0060]    In one embodiment, the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  is initially heated by introducing a mixture of a gaseous hydrocarbon and air. Exemplary gaseous hydrocarbons include natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), propane, methane, and butane. Once the temperature of the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  reaches an operating temperature of about 800° C., the flow of the gaseous hydrocarbon is turned off and raw gas is introduced. The flow rates of air and raw gas are adjusted to maintain proper stoichiometric ratio, while the total flow is adjusted to maintain the plasma generator  120  at a particular operating temperature or within an operating temperature range. 
         [0061]    As an alternative, oxygen may be used instead of air in order to lower the overall volume of oxidized gas. Additionally, air may be used to cool the gliding electric arc oxidation system  130  while oxygen is introduced with the combustible material to fully oxidize the combustible material. 
         [0062]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that the described feature, operation, structure, or characteristic may be implemented in at least one embodiment. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar phrases throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0063]    Furthermore, the described features, operations, structures, or characteristics of the described embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. Hence, the numerous details provided here, such as examples of electrode configurations, housing configurations, substrate configurations, channel configurations, catalyst configurations, and so forth, provide an understanding of several embodiments of the invention. However, some embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other features operations, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in at least some of the figures for the sake of brevity and clarity. 
         [0064]    Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.