Patent Description:
An apparatus for disposing waste using a water plasma technology is known in the art as discussed in Patent Document <NUM>. In the apparatus of Patent Document <NUM>, incinerated ashes are supplied to a water plasma jet stream generated from arc discharge by using water as a plasma stabilizing medium and are dissolved. The water plasma jet stream is injected from a water plasma burner, which includes negative and positive electrodes for generating arc discharge and a chamber arranged in an end side of the negative electrode to generate a vortex water flow.

The chamber of the water plasma burner has a circular cylindrical shape and includes a cylindrical portion configured to receive introduced high-pressure water and partitions provided in both end portions and an inner circumference of the cylindrical portion to generate a vortex water flow by causing the introduced high-pressure water flow to follow an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion. Each partition has an opening formed in a center axis line position of the cylindrical portion. The high-pressure water that forms the vortex water flow is partially converted into water plasma, and the remaining parts are discharged to the outside of the cylindrical portion through each opening.

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT> <CIT> discloses an apparatus for radially stabilising a plasma stream.

The water plasma burner injects water plasma by generating arc discharge through a cavity in the center of the vortex water flow. Therefore, if the cavity is not provided, arc discharge is not generated even by introducing the high-pressure water to the chamber, and further, it is difficult to inject water plasma. In this regard, the inventors made diligent studies by repeating trial and errors and found that the shapes of the openings of each partition are very important in order to stably provide a cavity in a vortex water flow. That is, the inventors invented an opening structure capable of more stably injecting water plasma, compared to the technique of Patent Document <NUM> in which each opening has the same shape. It is an obj ect of the present invention to provide an improved and useful vortex water flow generator in which the above-mentioned problems arc eliminated. In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, there is provided a vortex water flow generator according to claim <NUM>. In addition, there is provided a water plasma generator according to claim <NUM>. Furthermore, there is provided a decomposition processor according to claim <NUM>. Moreover, there is provided a decomposition processor mounted vehicle according to claim <NUM>. In addition, there is provided a decomposition method according to claim <NUM>.

Advantageously, a plurality of openings formed side by side along the center axis line of the cylindrical portion have different opening shapes in size. Therefore, it is possible to improve freedom of adjustment for the amount of water flowing across the partitions. As a result, it is possible to employ various opening shapes to appropriately provide a cavity in the vortex water flow. In addition, it is possible to stably inject water plasma. Furthermore, by providing the arc-shaped beveled portions, it is possible to suppress resistance to the vortex water flow and more appropriately provide a cavity in the vortex water flow.

In the vortex water flow generator, shapes of the openings of the middle partition and the-other-end-side partition may gradually increase in size as far from the negative electrode. In this configuration, the shapes of the openings gradually increase as close to the injection side of the water plasma to form a conical shaped space inside the cylindrical portion. As a result, it is possible to stably provide a cavity in the vortex water flow. It is conceived that this is because the water easily flows toward the injection side of the water plasma.

In the vortex water flow generator, a plurality of middle partitions may be provided. In this configuration, it is possible to form the vortex water flow by dividing the inside of the cylindrical portion into a plurality of rooms.

The tapered surface may be curved to be recessed along a bowl-shaped surface.

In the vortex water flow generator, an arc-shaped beveled portion may be formed between the tapered surface and the inner circumferential surface of the opening. By curving the tapered surface in this manner, it is possible to suppress resistance to the vortex water flow and more appropriately provide a cavity in the vortex water flow.

In the vortex water flow generator, the cylindrical portion may have a channel for passing water from the outside to the inside thereof, each of the channel and the cylindrical portion may have a cylindrical inner circumferential surface, and the inner circumferential surface of the channel may linearly overlap with a tangential position of the cylindrical portion. In this configuration, it is possible to allow the water flowing from the channel to smoothly follow the cylindrical inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion. This contributes to stable formation of the vortex water flow.

In the vortex water flow generator, the channel may be formed between the neighboring partitions. In this configuration, it is possible to turn the water flow in the small space interposed between the partitions.

In the vortex water flow generator, a plurality of the channels may be formed along a circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion to be in an identical position in an extension direction of the center axis line. In this configuration, it is possible to stably form the vortex water flow by flowing water from a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion corresponding to the positions of the channels.

In the vortex water flow generator, each of the partitions may be detachably installed in the cylindrical portion. In this configuration, it is possible to easily replace the partitions and facilitate maintenance, an adjustment work, and the like.

Advantageously, there is provided a water plasma generator including: the vortex water flow generator; a chamber configured to house the vortex water flow generator; and a positive electrode and a negative electrode configured to generate arc discharge. The vortex water flow generator is placed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode to form a vortex water flow through which arc discharge generated between the negative and positive electrodes passes.

According to further another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a decomposition processor includes: the water plasma generator; and a supply device configured to supply a decomposition target object to the water plasma injected from the water plasma generator. The decomposition target object is decomposed by the water plasma.

In the decomposition processor, the supply device may have a nozzle for providing the decomposition target object from a tip, and the tip of the nozzle may be placed inside of the water plasma jet stream. In this configuration, it is possible to provide a decomposition target object into the water plasma jet stream and decompose the decomposition target object at a significantly high temperature. As a result, it is possible to improve reliability of decomposition of the decomposition target object and efficiently perform the decomposition.

In the decomposition processor, the tip of the nozzle may be placed in a space formed by extending the opening of the injection port along the center axis line.

In the decomposition processor, the tip of the nozzle may be placed in a space formed by extending the negative electrode along the center axis line.

In the decomposition processor, the tip of the nozzle may be placed to match or overlap with a center axis line position of the injection port. By arranging the nozzle tip in this manner, it is possible to set a providing position of the decomposition target object to a higher temperature portion in the water plasma jet stream and more efficiently perform decomposition.

In the decomposition processor, the nozzle may have a cooling structure that flows a coolant to the inside of the tip, and the cooling structure may include: a first channel through which the decomposition target object passes; a second channel provided in an outer side of the first channel to pass the coolant from a basal end side of the nozzle to the tip side; and a third channel provided in an outer side of the second channel to communicate with the second channel in the tip side and pass the coolant from the tip side to the basal end side. In this configuration, it is possible to prevent damage of the nozzle by cooling the nozzle heated by the water plasma and stably provide the decomposition target object. In addition, it is possible to reliably cool the tip of the nozzle placed inside the water plasma and improve a cooling effect by cooling the entire nozzle.

The decomposition processor may further include: an exhaust gas disposer having a treatment space for disposing a gas generated by decomposing the decomposition target object; a wall body that partitions the inside and the outside of the treatment space; and a cylindrical container configured to house the positive electrode and the injection port to discharge the gas to the treatment space. The nozzle may be supported by the container, and the container may have a thickness within which a space for flowing the coolant is formed. In this configuration, it is possible to dispose wastes gasified through the cylindrical body. In addition, it is possible to cool the container heated by the water plasma without exposing the coolant. Furthermore, it is possible to use the container as a jig of the nozzle and simplify the structure.

Advantageously, there is provided a decomposition processor mounted vehicle including the decomposition processor. The decomposition processor is mounted on a cargo box of a truck.

Advantageously, there is provided a decomposition method including: supplying the decomposition target object to the water plasma injected from the water plasma generator described above; and decomposing the decomposition target object.

According to the present invention, it is possible to stably provide a cavity in a vortex water flow by forming different sizes of opening shapes in a plurality of openings. In addition, it is possible to stabilize injection of the water plasma.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in details with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that each configuration of the embodiments is not limited to those described below, but may be appropriately changed or modified. In the following description, some parts of the configuration may be omitted for convenient description purposes.

<FIG> is a side view illustrating a decomposition processor mounted vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. In the following description, unless specified otherwise, "left", "right", "front", and "rear" refer to directions with respect to a vehicle, and directions indicated by arrows in each drawing are used as reference directions. Note that directions of each component in the following embodiments are merely for exemplary purposes and may be changed without a limitation.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a decomposition processor mounted vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a "vehicle") <NUM> has a truck-based structure. A cabin <NUM> is provided in a front side of the vehicle, and a cargo box <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction is provided in rear of the cabin <NUM>. An engine <NUM> for driving front and rear wheels <NUM> and <NUM> is provided under the cabin <NUM>. The cargo box <NUM> is partitioned into three areas along the front-rear direction. That is, an electric generation area 12A, a plasma treatment area 12B, and a work area 12C are provided sequentially from the front to the rear.

Subsequently, each part of the electric generation area 12A will be described. <FIG> is an inside plan-view illustrating the inside of a cargo box of the vehicle. As illustrated in <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> has a DC generator <NUM> and an AC generator <NUM> arranged side by side in the left and right sides of the electric generation area 12A. In the electric generation area 12A, the DC generator <NUM> and the AC generator <NUM> are enclosed by surrounding walls <NUM> in the front-rear and left-right directions. In addition, in the electric generation area 12A, an exhaust portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) described below is provided over the DC generator <NUM> and the AC generator <NUM>, so that the exhaust portion <NUM> and the surrounding walls <NUM> form a space for enclosing the electric generation area 12A during a vehicle travel or the like. The surrounding walls <NUM> provided in the left and right sides are opened or closed as a wing body type to allow the inside of the electric generation area 12A to be opened to the outside and expose the generators <NUM> and <NUM> to the outside. The AC generator <NUM> is mounted with an engine separate from the engine <NUM> of <FIG> to generate AC power using the power of the engine.

<FIG> is a left side inside-view illustrating the inside of the cargo box of the vehicle in the center position of the left-right direction. The DC generator <NUM> generates electricity using the power of the engine <NUM>. Specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, a propeller shaft <NUM> is rotated by driving the engine <NUM>, and this rotation allows an input shaft of the DC generator <NUM> to rotate through a gear box <NUM> to generate DC power. By generating AC power and DC power in this manner, each component such as the water plasma generator described below can be operated even in a place where no power equipment is provided.

Next, each part of the plasma treatment area 12B will be described. <FIG> is a left side inside-view illustrating the inside of the cargo box of the vehicle, seen from the left side of the vehicle. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> has a treatment room <NUM> which is an enclosed space in the plasma treatment area 12B. In addition, the vehicle <NUM> further has a water plasma generator <NUM> and an exhaust gas disposer <NUM> arranged side by side in the front and rear sides of the treatment room <NUM>. The water plasma generator <NUM> is supplied with DC power from the DC generator <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) to generate DC arcs (arc discharge). By virtue of the DC arcs, the water supplied to the water plasma generator <NUM> is dissociated or ionized to inject a water plasma jet stream having high energy. The water plasma generator <NUM> will be described below in more details.

Hazardous wastes (decomposition target object) are provided to the water plasma jet stream injected from the water plasma generator <NUM> through a supply device described below. The water plasma jet stream is converted into a high-speed fluid having a significantly high temperature, so that hazardous substances of the hazardous wastes provided to this fluid are instantly decomposed to plasma and are then gasified.

The exhaust gas disposer <NUM> is provided in a downstream side of the water plasma injection from the water plasma generator <NUM>, that is, in front of the water plasma generator <NUM>. The exhaust gas disposer <NUM> performs treatment for molecules gasified by the water plasma, so that the oxidized gas is neutralized using strong alkaline water, and unharmful gases are discharged to the overlying exhaust portion <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>). The exhaust portion <NUM> has a plurality of fans to discharge gases from the front side of the electric generation area 12A by using the upper part of the electric generation area 12A as an exhaust channel. The exhaust gas disposer <NUM> will be described below in more details.

<FIG> is an inside plan-view illustrating the inside of a treatment room of the vehicle in the center position of the up-down direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a supply pump <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) and a vacuum pump <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) are provided vertically in parallel in positions close to the front side of the treatment room <NUM>. The supply pump <NUM> of the upper stage supplies a coolant and plasma water to the water plasma generator <NUM>, and the plasma water is further fed by the high-pressure pump <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) as high-pressure water. The vacuum pump <NUM> sucks the coolant and the plasma water from the water plasma generator <NUM> to discharge the coolant and the plasma water. Since the vacuum pump <NUM> sucks a mixture of water and air, the mixture of water and air is fed to a gas-liquid separator <NUM> and is separated. Each of the pumps <NUM> to <NUM> and the gas-liquid separator <NUM> are driven by AC power supplied from the AC generator <NUM>.

A passage of a pipe (not shown) for coupling each of the pumps <NUM> to <NUM> and the water plasma generator <NUM> is provided with a surge tank <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. A change of the water pressure (fluctuation) caused by each of the pumps <NUM> to <NUM> is suppressed by such a surge tank <NUM>, so that the coolant and the plasma water can be supplied to and discharged from the water plasma generator <NUM> at a stable water pressure.

The coolant and the plasma water of the water plasma generator <NUM> are stored in the reservoir <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and are circulated and used by each of the pumps <NUM> to <NUM>. Note that the same water is used as the coolant and the plasma water except that the water pressure is different when it is supplied to the water plasma generator <NUM>. The water (including the coolant and the plasma water) sucked by the vacuum pump <NUM> and separated by the gas-liquid separator <NUM> flows into the reservoir <NUM>. A double flooring structure is provided on a floor of a rear half of the treatment room <NUM>, and the reservoir <NUM> is installed in the space formed by such a double flooring structure. The reservoir <NUM> has a total of eight cells including two cells in the front-rear direction by four cells in the left-right direction, and the water flows through each cell of the reservoir <NUM> in a meandering manner as indicated by the arrow of <FIG>. Each cell of the reservoir <NUM> is coupled using a pipe or the like. In addition, the water flowing through all of cells of the reservoir <NUM> flows to a tank <NUM> through a radiator <NUM> placed below the cargo box <NUM> and in front of the rear wheels <NUM>. In such a flow of the water, the water heated by the water plasma generator <NUM> is cooled, and is supplied to the water plasma generator <NUM> again through the supply pump <NUM>.

Note that, since the water plasma generator <NUM> is placed over the reservoir <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, sound generated from the water plasma generator <NUM> is attenuated by the water of the reservoir <NUM>, so that a soundproof effect can be obtained.

As illustrated in <FIG>, each of left and right entrance gates <NUM> is provided in a rear wall body of the treatment room <NUM>, and doors <NUM> are provided to open or close the entrance gates <NUM>. Therefore, an operator can access the treatment room <NUM> and the space of the cargo box <NUM> in the rear side of the treatment room <NUM> through the entrance gates <NUM>.

Next, each part of the work area 12C will be described. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> further has a supply device <NUM> provided on the cargo box <NUM> in an opened space of the work area 12C. The supply device <NUM> includes a compressor <NUM>, an air tank <NUM> that stores the air compressed by the compressor <NUM>, a powder feeder <NUM> that feeds hazardous wastes powdered by the compressed air of the air tank <NUM>, and a liquid feeder <NUM> that feeds liquid hazardous wastes using the compressed air of the air tank <NUM>. The supply device <NUM> further has nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) described below in the treatment room <NUM>. The nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are used to provide hazardous wastes fed from the powder feeder <NUM> and the liquid feeder <NUM> into the water plasma injected from the water plasma generator <NUM> through a pipe (not shown).

In the work area 12C, left and right side gate boards <NUM> are provided on the left and right sides, respectively, of the cargo box <NUM>. The side gate board <NUM> is hinged to the cargo box <NUM> in the lower end portion to rotate between an upright position and a horizontal position. In the horizontal position, the side gate board <NUM> is coplanar with the cargo box <NUM> and forms a work space as a floor surface along with the cargo box <NUM> in the work area 12C. In the upright position, a ladder portion <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) is provided on the inner surface of each side gate board <NUM>, and a front end of each ladder portion <NUM> is rotatably connected to a front end of the side gate board <NUM>. Therefore, by rotating the side gate board <NUM> to the ground from the horizontal position such that the rear end of the ladder portion <NUM> is placed in the front side, an operator is allowed to easily move between the cargo box <NUM> and the ground by stepping on the ladder portion <NUM>.

Here, as illustrated in <FIG>, the water plasma generator <NUM>, the exhaust gas disposer <NUM>, and the supply device <NUM> described above constitute a decomposition processor <NUM> capable of decomposing hazardous wastes. Each part of the decomposition processor <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described. <FIG> is a partially cut-away view illustrating the decomposition processor according to an embodiment of the invention.

The water plasma generator <NUM> is supported by a stand <NUM> at a predetermined height position. The water plasma generator <NUM> includes a negative electrode <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction, a chamber <NUM> into which a front end side of the negative electrode <NUM> is inserted, a disk-shaped positive electrode <NUM> formed of iron and placed obliquely downward in front of the chamber <NUM>, and a positive electrode support <NUM> that supports the positive electrode <NUM>.

The negative electrode <NUM> is a round bar formed of carbon and is displaced by a feed screw shaft mechanism <NUM> in the front-rear direction to adjust an insertion length to the chamber <NUM>. The chamber <NUM> is supported by a support plate <NUM> overlying the positive electrode support <NUM>. An extension cylinder <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction is coupled to the rear end of the positive electrode support <NUM>, and a motor <NUM> is provided in the rear end of the extension cylinder <NUM>. A driving force of the motor <NUM> is transmitted to the positive electrode <NUM> through the extension cylinder <NUM> and the positive electrode support <NUM> to rotate the positive electrode <NUM>.

The chamber <NUM> is supplied with the coolant through the supply pump <NUM> and is supplied with the plasma water through the high-pressure pump <NUM>. A part of the plasma water is injected from the front end side of the chamber <NUM> as water plasma. The coolant supplied to the chamber <NUM> and the plasma water not injected are sucked by the vacuum pump <NUM>. Similarly, the positive electrode support <NUM> is supplied with the coolant flowing through the inside of the positive electrode <NUM> by the supply pump <NUM>, and the coolant absorbing the heat of the positive electrode <NUM> is sucked by the vacuum pump <NUM>.

In the cargo box <NUM>, the exhaust gas disposer <NUM> includes a box-shaped casing <NUM> and a reservoir <NUM> provided under the casing <NUM> to store strong alkaline water by opening its upper part. The exhaust gas disposer <NUM> has a treatment space <NUM> for disposing gasified wastes over the reservoir <NUM> inside the casing <NUM>. In addition, the exhaust gas disposer <NUM> further includes a shower device <NUM> and a panel body <NUM> provided inside the treatment space <NUM>.

The reservoir <NUM> internally has a water intake <NUM>, and the strong alkaline water of the reservoir <NUM> is supplied from the water intake <NUM> to the shower device <NUM> by operating the pump <NUM> (not shown) (refer to <FIG>). The shower device <NUM> neutralizes the gasified acidic gas by injecting the supplied strong alkaline water to the treatment space <NUM>. The neutralized molecules are discharged to the outside through the exhaust portion <NUM>. In addition, the strong alkaline water of the reservoir <NUM> is also pumped up from the water intake <NUM> to the supply port <NUM> over the panel body <NUM>, and the pumped strong alkaline water flows down to the reservoir <NUM> along the entire rear surface of the panel body <NUM>. Such a flow of the strong alkaline water neutralizes the acidic gas as described above and absorbs the heat generated from the water plasma. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a cooling effect on the entire exhaust gas disposer <NUM>.

The exhaust gas disposer <NUM> and the water plasma generator <NUM> are placed far from the wall body <NUM>. The wall body <NUM> blocks the treatment space <NUM> of the exhaust gas disposer <NUM> from the rear side and partitions the inside of the treatment space <NUM> from the other space where the water plasma generator <NUM> is provided, so that air-tightness is maintained between both spaces.

Here, a cylindrical container <NUM> is penetratingly installed in the wall body <NUM>, and the container <NUM> houses a front end side serving as an injection port side of the chamber <NUM> described below and the positive electrode <NUM>. As a result, the water plasma jet stream injected from the water plasma generator <NUM> is covered by the container <NUM>. A portion of the container <NUM> penetrating through the wall body <NUM> is entirely welded, and the container <NUM> is held by the wall body <NUM>, so that the air-tightness is maintained between the container <NUM> and the wall body <NUM>. The container <NUM> includes a cylinder body <NUM> formed in a cylindrical shape, a rear opening formation portion <NUM> provided in one end side (water plasma generator <NUM> side) of the cylinder body <NUM>, and a front opening formation portion <NUM> provided in the other end side (exhaust gas disposer <NUM> side) of the cylinder body <NUM>. An axial direction of the cylinder body <NUM> is slanted such that the exhaust gas disposer <NUM> side becomes lower than the water plasma generator <NUM> side.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view illustrating the container. As illustrated in <FIG>, the cylinder body <NUM>, the rear opening formation portion <NUM>, and the front opening formation portion <NUM> of the container <NUM> have a doubled structure to form a single space <NUM> having a thickness within which the coolant flows. This space <NUM> communicates with a coolant supply passage <NUM> and a coolant discharge passage <NUM>. The supply passage <NUM> is provided in a front lower end side of the cylinder body <NUM>, and the discharge passage <NUM> is formed in an upper end side of the rear opening formation portion <NUM>. The container <NUM> is supplied with the coolant from the supply passage <NUM> through a pump (not shown), and the coolant is introduced to the space <NUM>. In addition, the coolant flowing through the space <NUM> from the supply passage <NUM> to the discharge passage <NUM> absorbs the heat generated from the water plasma. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a cooling effect of the container <NUM>.

<FIG> is a rear view illustrating the container, and <FIG> is a front view illustrating the container. As illustrated in <FIG>, an opening 97a of the rear opening formation portion <NUM> is formed in an opening shape matching the positive electrode <NUM> and the front end side of the chamber <NUM> to house the positive electrode <NUM> and the front end side of the chamber <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, an opening 98a of the front opening formation portion <NUM> is formed in an upper half of the front opening formation portion <NUM> and has a lower end portion extending in a horizontal direction. Therefore, as illustrated in <FIG>, a storage space <NUM> is formed in a lower corner between the front opening formation portion <NUM> and cylinder body <NUM> inside the container <NUM>. The storage space <NUM> stores hazardous wastes not decomposed by the water plasma, and the hazardous wastes are discharged through a channel <NUM> penetrating through a lower part of the front opening formation portion <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, the first nozzle <NUM> of the supply device <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) is penetratingly supported by the container <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the invention, the first nozzle <NUM> is installed in the upper part of the container <NUM>, and has a tip directed downward. The first nozzle <NUM> is coupled to the liquid feeder <NUM>, and liquid-phase hazardous wastes are fed from the liquid feeder <NUM> to the first nozzle <NUM> through a pipe or the like (not shown), so that the hazardous wastes can be provided from the tip of the first nozzle <NUM>.

Here, the container <NUM> may penetratingly support the second nozzle <NUM>. That is, the supply device <NUM> may have the second nozzle <NUM> in addition to the first nozzle <NUM> to allow the first and second nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> to be selectively used. According to an embodiment of the invention, the second nozzle <NUM> is installed in the lower part of the container <NUM> and has a tip directed upward. The second nozzle <NUM> is coupled to the powder feeder <NUM>, and powdered hazardous wastes are fed from the powder feeder <NUM> to the second nozzle <NUM> through a pipe or the like (not shown), so that the hazardous wastes can be provided from the tip of the second nozzle <NUM>. Note that the hazardous wastes discharged from the channel <NUM> through a circulation means (not shown) are also provided from the first and second nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> again.

A portion of the container <NUM> where each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> penetrates is provided with a female thread <NUM>, and an outer circumference of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> is provided with a male thread <NUM> fastenable to the female thread <NUM>. Therefore, by fastening the male thread <NUM> to the female thread <NUM>, each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> is held by the container <NUM>, and a position in the extension direction of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> can be adjusted by changing the fastening amount.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a pair of first nozzles <NUM> may be provided in two places of the left and right sides of the upper part of the container <NUM>, and a pair of second nozzles <NUM> may be provided in two places of the left and right sides of the lower part of the container <NUM>. In this case, female threads <NUM> are provided in two places of the upper and lower parts of the container <NUM>, so that each tip position of the left and right nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> is aligned and adjusted by fastening the male threads <NUM> to the female threads <NUM>.

Next, tip positions of the first and second nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> will be described below with reference to <FIG> is an explanatory diagram illustrating tip positions of the first and second nozzles. Here, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the water plasma generator <NUM>, a water plasma jet stream J is injected from an injection port <NUM> corresponding to a cylindrical inner circumferential surface as described below. According to an embodiment of the invention, the water plasma jet stream J is injected from the injection port <NUM> in a conical shape widened to the front side, and the center axis line position C1 of the water plasma jet stream J is aligned with the center axis line position C1 of the injection port <NUM> to extend in the front-rear direction.

When hazardous wastes are provided, tip of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> is placed inside the water plasma jet stream J. Here, the water plasma jet stream J becomes an area that emits light by the injection. Advantageously, the opening of the injection port <NUM> are arranged such that the tip of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> is positioned in a space A1 extending along the center axis line position C1 of the injection port <NUM>. In <FIG>, the tip of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> is separated from the center axis line position C1. Alternatively, the tips of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> may be arranged to match or overlap with the center axis line position C1. Alternatively, the tip of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> may be arranged in a space A2 extending along the center axis line position C1 of the negative electrode <NUM>. By setting the tip positions of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> in this manner, hazardous wastes can be provided to a portion of the water plasma jet stream J having a higher temperature. As a result, it is possible to efficiently decompose the provided hazardous wastes into gasified wastes and discharge the wastes to the treatment space <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) of the exhaust gas disposer <NUM> through the container <NUM>.

Subsequently, internal structures of the first and second nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating internal structures of the first and second nozzles. As illustrated in <FIG>, the first nozzle <NUM> has a cooling structure <NUM> having a triple tube structure having first, second, and third channels <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed sequentially from the inside to the outside. A basal end portion of the first nozzle <NUM> (upper end in <FIG>) serves as a coupling portion 110a coupled to a pipe (not shown) communicating with the liquid feeder <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). The coupling portion 110a communicates with the first channel <NUM>. Therefore, the hazardous wastes fed from the liquid feeder <NUM> can be provided from the tip of the first nozzle <NUM> through the first channel <NUM>.

The second channel <NUM> and the third channel <NUM> communicate with each other in the tip side of the first nozzle <NUM> to form a single space for flowing the coolant. This space communicates with the coolant supply passage <NUM> and the discharge passage <NUM>. In the basal end side of the first nozzle <NUM>, the supply passage <NUM> communicates with the second channel <NUM>, and the discharge passage <NUM> communicates with the third channel <NUM>. Specifically, the first nozzle <NUM> is supplied with the coolant from the supply passage <NUM> through a pump (not shown), and the coolant is introduced to the second channel <NUM>. In addition, in the second channel <NUM>, the coolant flowing from the basal end side of the first nozzle <NUM> to the tip side turns back at the tip and is introduced to the third channel <NUM>. In the third channel <NUM>, the coolant flows from the tip side of the first nozzle <NUM> to the basal end side and is discharged from the discharge passage <NUM>. Using such a flow of the coolant, the heat generated from the water plasma is absorbed, and a cooling effect can be obtained across the entire length direction of the first nozzle <NUM>.

Note that the first and second nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are substantially vertically opposite to each other, but have the same structure. The first and second nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to different parts, that is, the liquid feeder <NUM> and the powder feeder <NUM>, respectively. Therefore, the structure of the second nozzle <NUM> will not be described.

Next, an internal structure of the chamber <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view illustrating the chamber. <FIG> is a plan cross-sectional view illustrating the chamber. <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the chamber.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the chamber <NUM> of the water plasma generator <NUM> has a chamber body <NUM> that forms a cylindrical inner circumferential surface extending in the front-rear direction and a front wall portion <NUM> installed in the front side of the chamber body <NUM>, so that an inner space <NUM> for generating water plasma is formed in the chamber <NUM>. The front wall portion <NUM> has an opening communicating with the inner space <NUM>, and an injection port formation plate <NUM> is installed to block this opening from the front side. The injection port formation plate <NUM> has an injection port <NUM> for injecting water plasma.

A rib 140a extending in a circumferential direction in the vicinity of the front side is provided in the chamber body <NUM>, and a plasma water supply passage <NUM> is provided in front of the rib 140a. In addition, a plasma water discharge passage <NUM> for discharging plasma water flowing to the opening is provided in the front wall portion <NUM>. High-pressure plasma water is supplied from the high-pressure pump <NUM> to the plasma water supply passage <NUM>, and the plasma water is sucked from the plasma water discharge passage <NUM> by virtue of the negative pressure of the vacuum pump <NUM>.

In rear of the rib 140a of the chamber body <NUM>, a coolant supply passage <NUM> and a coolant discharge passage <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) are provided. The coolant is supplied from the supply pump <NUM> to the coolant supply passage <NUM>, and is sucked from the coolant discharge passage <NUM> by virtue of a negative pressure of the vacuum pump <NUM>. The plasma water supply passage <NUM>, the coolant supply passage <NUM>, and the coolant discharge passage <NUM> are formed in a round hole shape corresponding to the cylindrical inner circumferential surface.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the plasma water supply passage <NUM> communicates with the lower part of the inner space <NUM> having a circular shape as seen in a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and extends in the left-right direction. Specifically, the plasma water supply passage <NUM> extends in the lower tangential direction of the inner space <NUM>. More specifically, the lower end of the plasma water supply passage <NUM> is positioned on a tangential line extending from the lower end of the inner space <NUM>. As a result, the plasma water flowing from the plasma water supply passage <NUM> smoothly flows along a circumferential direction of the inner space <NUM>.

Note that the plasma water supply passage <NUM> has an inner diameter d1 set to be substantially or nearly equal to a width h1 between the inner circumferential surface of the chamber body <NUM> that forms the inner space <NUM> and a cylindrical portion <NUM> described below. The longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the coolant supply passage <NUM> is similar to the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the plasma water supply passage <NUM>, so that the coolant as well as the plasma water can flow to the inner space <NUM>. In addition, the coolant discharge passage <NUM> communicates with the upper part of the inner space <NUM> and extends in the left-right direction as seen in a longitudinal cross-sectional view.

The water plasma generator <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical vortex water flow generator <NUM> housed in the chamber <NUM>. The vortex water flow generator <NUM> is arranged such that the inner space <NUM> is aligned with the center axis line position C1. Note that this center axis line position C <NUM> is aligned with the center axis line position C1 of the injection port <NUM> described above (refer to <FIG>). Therefore, as seen in a longitudinal cross-sectional view, the inner space <NUM> forms a circular space between the inner circumferential surface of the inner space <NUM> and the outer circumferential surface of the vortex water flow generator <NUM>, and the plasma water flowing to the inner space <NUM> flows to turn in a circular space as described above.

<FIG> is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the chamber and the vortex water flow generator. As illustrated in <FIG>, the vortex water flow generator <NUM> includes a cylindrical portion <NUM> that forms a cylindrical shape, first and second middle partitions <NUM> and <NUM> protruding from the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion <NUM>, a rear partition (one-end-side partition) <NUM> provided in one end side (rear end side) of the cylindrical portion <NUM>, and a front partition (the-other-end-side partition) <NUM> formed in the other end side (front end side) of the cylindrical portion <NUM>. The first middle partition <NUM> is placed in rear of the second middle partition <NUM>. The rear partition <NUM> is arranged to face the negative electrode <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) placed in the rear side. A front end portion of the vortex water flow generator <NUM> is fitted to the opening of the front wall portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the vortex water flow generator. As illustrated in <FIG>, the cylindrical portion <NUM> is dividable into a plurality of pieces along an axial direction (front-rear direction). The cylindrical portion <NUM> includes a front end portion <NUM> positioned in the injection port <NUM> side (front side), a rear end portion <NUM> positioned in the side opposite to the front end portion <NUM> (rear side), first and second middle portions <NUM> and <NUM>, three water flow generation rings <NUM>, and six spacer rings <NUM> positioned between the front and rear end portions <NUM> and <NUM>. The spacer rings <NUM> are provided on both front and rear sides of each of the three water flow generation rings <NUM>, and the inner circumference of the spacer ring <NUM> protrudes forward or backward and is fitted to the inner circumference of the water flow generation ring <NUM>. The first and second middle portions <NUM> and <NUM> are interposed between the water flow generation rings <NUM> from both the front and rear sides while nipping the spacer rings <NUM>. In addition, out of the three water flow generation rings <NUM> arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, the front end portion <NUM> is provided in front of the frontmost water flow generation ring <NUM> while nipping the spacer ring <NUM>, and the rear end portion <NUM> is provided in rear of the rearmost water flow generation ring <NUM> while nipping the spacer ring <NUM>.

<FIG> is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating the vortex water flow generator. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the front end portion <NUM> is formed integrally with the outer circumference of the front partition <NUM> in a flange shape, and the rear end portion <NUM> is formed integrally with the outer circumference of the rear partition <NUM> in a flange shape. Therefore, the front end portion <NUM> and the front partition <NUM> constitute a head portion 160A as one component, and the rear end portion <NUM> and the rear partition <NUM> constitute a terminated portion 160B as one component. In addition, the first middle portion <NUM> is formed integrally with an outer side of the first middle partition <NUM> in a flange shape, and the second middle portion <NUM> is formed integrally with an outer side of the second middle partition <NUM> in a flange shape. Therefore, the first middle portion <NUM> and the first middle partition <NUM> constitute an annulus disk portion 160C as one component, and the second middle portion <NUM> and the second middle partition <NUM> constitute an annulus disk portion 160D as one component.

Partitions <NUM> to <NUM> have circular openings 163a to 166a, respectively, to include the center axis line position C1 of the cylindrical portion <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the invention, center positions of the openings 163a to 166a are aligned with the center axis line position C1. Each of the openings 163a to 166a has a different opening shape in size. Specifically, the opening 165a of the rear partition <NUM> has the largest diameter D1, and the opening 163a of the first middle partition <NUM> has the smallest diameter D2. In addition, the diameters have a relationship D4>D3>D2, where "D3" denotes a diameter of the opening 164a of the second middle partition <NUM>, and "D4" denotes a diameter of the opening 166a of the front partition <NUM>. As a result, the opening sizes (opening shapes) increase from the opening 163a of the first middle partition <NUM> toward the front side (as far from the negative electrode <NUM> (refer to <FIG>)) to form a conical shaped space.

The rear surfaces of the partitions <NUM> to <NUM> are formed as tapered surfaces 163b to 166b, respectively, narrowed forward as close to the center positions of the openings 163a to 166a, respectively (as far from the negative electrode <NUM> (refer to <FIG>)). The tapered surfaces 163b, 164b, and 166b of the first middle partition <NUM>, the second middle partition <NUM>, and the front partition <NUM> are curved to form a bowl-shaped surface. Specifically, as seen in a cross-sectional view, the tapered surfaces 163b, 164b, and 166b are curved surfaces formed such that regions close to the openings 163a, 164a, and 166a are placed on a plane perpendicular to the center axis line position C1, and slopes become steep as going to the outside from the regions. The front surface of each of the partitions <NUM> to <NUM> is placed on a plane perpendicular to the center axis line position C1.

In the first middle partition <NUM>, the second middle partition <NUM>, and the front partition <NUM>, arc-shaped beveled portions 163c, 164c, and 166c are formed between the openings 163a, 164a, and 166a and the tapered surfaces 163b, 164b, and 166b, respectively. The beveled portions 163c, 164c, and 166c have curvatures larger than curvatures of the tapered surfaces 163b, 164b, and 166b, respectively.

Here, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, each of the three water flow generation rings <NUM> includes a plurality of channels <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the invention, three channels <NUM> are formed in a single water flow generation ring <NUM>, and two channels <NUM> are not illustrated in <FIG>. By forming the channels <NUM> in this manner, three channels <NUM> are formed in three positions of the water flow generation ring <NUM> along the extending direction of the center axis line position C1, and front and rear positions of the three channels <NUM> are aligned with each other. In addition, three channels <NUM> are formed in each gap between the partitions <NUM> and <NUM> neighboring in the front and rear sides. Each channel <NUM> is formed in a round hole shape having a cylindrical inner circumferential surface.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the channels <NUM> are formed at equal angular intervals along a circumferential direction of the water flow generation ring <NUM> (at an interval of <NUM>° in this embodiment). Each channel <NUM> penetrates through the water flow generation ring <NUM> to allow the inside and the outside to communicate with each other and extends in a direction sloped from a thickness direction. Specifically, each channel <NUM> extends in a tangential direction to the inner circumference of the water flow generation ring <NUM> in the communicating position. More specifically, each channel <NUM> is formed in a tangential position to the inner circumference of the water flow generation ring <NUM> to allow the inner circumferential surface of the channel <NUM> to linearly overlap. Therefore, there is no bulging portion between the innermost edge of the channel <NUM> and the inner circumference of the water flow generation ring <NUM>. Furthermore, an angle θ between a flow direction of the plasma water from the outside to the inside of the channel <NUM> and a flow direction of the plasma water turning at the outside of the water flow generation ring <NUM> becomes an acute angle.

By forming the channel <NUM> in this manner, the plasma water flowing along the inner circumferential surface of the chamber body <NUM> in the outside of the cylindrical portion <NUM> flows to the inside of the cylindrical portion <NUM> through the channel <NUM>. In addition, the plasma water flows smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion <NUM>, so that a vortex water flow turning a circular shape is formed to provide a cavity in the center axis line position C1 as seen in a longitudinal cross-sectional view.

The water plasma generator <NUM> further has various components in rear of the vortex water flow generator <NUM> in the chamber <NUM>. These components will now be described sequentially from the front side to the rear side.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a cylindrical stopper <NUM> makes contact with a rear surface of the rib 140a of the chamber body <NUM>. The rear partition <NUM> and the rear end portion <NUM> of the vortex water flow generator <NUM> are fitted to the opening of the stopper <NUM> to hold the position of the vortex water flow generator <NUM> not to move backward.

A stepped cylindrical casing <NUM> makes contact with the rear surface of the stopper <NUM>, and a cylindrical water flow forming cylinder <NUM> is fitted to the rear surface of the casing <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the water flow forming cylinder <NUM> has a plurality of channels 203a shaped to match the channels <NUM> described above. By the channels 203a, the coolant supplied from the coolant supply passage <NUM> to the inner space <NUM> flows to the inside of the water flow forming cylinder <NUM> and makes contact with the negative electrode <NUM> to cool the negative electrode <NUM>. The coolant subjected to the cooling is discharged from the coolant discharge passage <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>).

Note that the coolant supplied from the coolant supply passage <NUM> flows to the vortex water flow generator <NUM> placed in front through the stopper <NUM> and the like and is also used as plasma water. In addition, the plasma water does not hinder cooling of the negative electrode <NUM> through the stopper <NUM> and the like. In short, the plasma water and the coolant mean main use purposes depending on differences in supply position and supply pressure, so that the common water is shared between the plasma water and the coolant available for both the use purposes.

A sensor hole 203b is formed in the left side of the water flow forming cylinder <NUM>, and a sensor <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) is provided to face the sensor hole 203b. The sensor <NUM> is installed in a sensor installation hole 140b (not shown in <FIG>) formed in the chamber body <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> detects presence of the negative electrode <NUM> placed in the front or rear side of the sensor hole 203b through the sensor hole 203b. If the sensor <NUM> detects that there is no negative electrode <NUM>, the detection data is output to a controller (not shown), and the feed screw shaft mechanism <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) is driven to move the negative electrode <NUM> forward by a predetermined length. As a result, a front end position of the negative electrode <NUM> can be maintained within a predetermined range in front of the sensor hole 203b.

A stepped cylindrical casing <NUM> internally having a step is provided in rear of the water flow forming cylinder <NUM>. A front end portion of the casing <NUM> is fitted to the rear end side of the water flow forming cylinder <NUM>. A contactor <NUM> that makes contact with and holds the negative electrode <NUM> is provided inside the casing <NUM>. The contactor <NUM> is divided into several pieces on a predetermined angle basis in a circumferential direction although not shown in the drawing. In addition, the inner diameter of the contactor <NUM> is variable. Furthermore, a ring-shaped elastic body <NUM> is provided on the outer circumference of the contactor <NUM> such that a contact state between the negative electrode <NUM> and the contactor <NUM> is maintained by tightly fastening the negative electrode <NUM> while interposing the contactor <NUM> by virtue of an elastic force of the elastic body <NUM>.

The ring-shaped seal holder <NUM> makes contact with the rear end surface of the contactor <NUM>, and a seal <NUM> is provided in a seal holder <NUM>. The seal <NUM> maintains liquid tightness with the negative electrode <NUM> to restrict leaking of the coolant to the rear side of the seal <NUM>.

The ring-shaped connector <NUM> makes contact with the rear end surface of the seal holder <NUM>, and a wire <NUM> is connected to the connector <NUM> through an adapter and the like (not shown). The wire <NUM> is supplied with DC power from the DC generator <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) through a switch board and the like. The connector <NUM>, the seal holder <NUM>, and the contactor <NUM> are formed of a conductive material, and the negative electrode <NUM> and the wire <NUM> are electrically connected through the connector <NUM>, the seal holder <NUM>, and the contactor <NUM>. As a result, DC power for generating arc discharge is supplied to the negative electrode <NUM>.

The ring-shaped spacer <NUM> makes contact with a rear end surface of the connector <NUM>, and a stop screw <NUM> penetrating through the negative electrode <NUM> makes contact with a rear end surface of the spacer <NUM>. A female thread (not shown) fastenable to the stop screw <NUM> is formed on the inner circumferential surface in rear of the chamber body <NUM>. By fastening the stop screw <NUM> forward, each component in rear of the vortex water flow generator <NUM> described above is positioned in the front-rear direction.

Note that the components <NUM> to <NUM> of the chamber <NUM> are seal members such as an O-ring for maintaining liquid tightness on such a contact surface.

Next, a vortex water flow in the vortex water flow generator <NUM> will be described. As illustrated in <FIG>, as high-pressure plasma water is supplied from the plasma water supply passage <NUM>, the plasma water flows to turn in a cylindrical space provided between the inner circumferential surface of the chamber body <NUM> that forms the inner space <NUM> and the outer circumferential surface of the vortex water flow generator <NUM>. By virtue of the turning flow of the plasma water, the plasma water flows to the inside of the cylindrical portion <NUM> through the channel <NUM>. In this case, the inner circumferential surface of the channel <NUM> linearly overlaps with a tangential position on the inner circumference of the water flow generation ring <NUM>. Therefore, the plasma water flows smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing a vortex water flow by enlarging some parts of <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the plasma water flowing from the channels <NUM> to the inside of the cylindrical portion <NUM> flows to turn between the partitions <NUM> to <NUM> neighboring in the front-rear direction. In this case, the turning plasma water is sucked from the plasma water discharge passage <NUM> provided in the front wall portion <NUM>. For this reason, the plasma water flows to the front side through the openings 163a, 164a, and 166a, passes through a gap between the front end of the front partition <NUM> and the injection port formation plate <NUM>, and is discharged from the plasma water discharge passage <NUM>. In this case, the turning vortex water flow W is formed to provide a cavity H in the center axis line position C1. Here, if the cavity H is not provided in the vortex water flow W, no arc discharge AR (refer to <FIG>) is generated between the positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM>. Therefore, it is important to form the vortex water flow W to stably generate the cavity H.

In this regard, the inventors made experiments over and over under various conditions and found a fact that the cavity H of the vortex water flow W is most stably provided when a relationship D4>D3>D2 is established between the diameters D2 to D4 of the openings 163a, 164a, and 166a as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. It is conceived that, since the opening diameters D2 to D4 increase toward the front side in a conical shaped space, the plasma water easily flows from the rear side to the front side as close to the downstream side (close to the front side). Note that, besides the aforementioned relationship, the cavity H is stably provided by forming the opening diameters D1 to D4 in different sizes. In this case, at least one of the openings 163a to 166a may have a different size of the diameter from the other opening diameters. By forming the openings 163a, 164a, and 166a in different sizes, it is possible to improve freedom of adjustment for the amount of plasma water flowing through each of the opening 163a, 164a, and 166a. As a result, it is possible to employ various opening diameters to appropriately provide the cavity H in the vortex water flow W and stably inject the water plasma.

By curving the tapered surfaces 163b, 164b, and 166b to form a bowl-shaped surface or forming the arc-shaped beveled portions 163c, 164c, and 166c, it is possible to suppress a turbulence that hinders formation of the vortex water flow W. This contributes to stable formation of the cavity H. Note that the plasma water also has an effect of cooling the vortex water flow generator <NUM> or the chamber body <NUM> by virtue of the turning flow.

As DC power is supplied to the positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> while the vortex water flow W is provided with the cavity H, arc discharge AR is generated between the positive electrode <NUM> and the negative electrode <NUM>. In this case, the arc discharge AR is generated through the cavity H of the vortex water flow W. As the arc discharge AR is generated, the plasma water of the vortex water flow W is dissociated or ionized, and a water plasma jet stream J having high energy is injected from the injection port <NUM>.

The water plasma jet stream J is converted into a high-speed fluid having a significantly high temperature, and the hazardous wastes provided from the tip of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are decomposed as illustrated in <FIG>. Since the tip of each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> is arranged in the positions described in conjunction with <FIG> according to an embodiment of the invention, the decomposition can be performed under the better condition in a part having a higher temperature in the water plasma jet stream J. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently decompose the provided hazardous wastes into gasified wastes. Here, the hazardous wastes may include PCB, sulfuric acid pitches, asbestos, freon, halon, tires, various types of garbage, and the like. As illustrated in <FIG>, from the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM>, liquid wastes are provided through the liquid feeder <NUM>, and granulated or powdered wastes are provided through the powder feeder <NUM>. Even when such hazardous wastes are provided, it is possible to decompose the hazardous wastes into unharmful wastes.

The container <NUM> is heated during the decomposition of hazardous wastes. However, the container <NUM> can be cooled and used by passing the coolant within a thickness of the container <NUM>. In addition, since each of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM>, especially their tips are positioned in the middle of the water plasma jet stream J, the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are heated with high energy. However, using the cooling structure <NUM> described above in conjunction with <FIG>, it is possible to suppress damage that may be caused by the heating.

The acidic gas gasified by the water plasma jet stream J is neutralized by the exhaust gas disposer <NUM> described above in conjunction with <FIG>. Therefore, it is possible to convert the gas treated by the water plasma into the safer exhaust gas. In addition, the unharmful gas can be discharged from the exhaust portion <NUM> placed in the upper part.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, the hazardous wastes described above can be disposed on the vehicle <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to operate the water plasma generator <NUM> in a mobile manner and dispose hazardous wastes unsuitable for delivery in a field where the wastes are stored. As a result, it is possible to reduce cost for moving and disposing hazardous wastes and to dispose a large amount of hazardous wastes to reduce cost for disposal.

However, in Patent Document <NUM> described above, the water plasma jet stream is discharged from the water plasma burner, and the water plasma jet stream is discharged in a shape widening from the injection port of the water plasma burner as far from the injection port within a predetermined range. In the technique of Patent Document <NUM>, a supply means for supplying incinerated ashes from the upper side of the water plasma jet stream is provided far from the injection port of the water plasma burner by a predetermined distance.

In the apparatus of Patent Document <NUM>, a tip (lower end) of the supply means serving as a supply port is arranged over the water plasma jet stream. A temperature of the water plasma jet stream decreases as far from the injection port, and decomposition performance for incinerated ashes also decreases. Therefore, there is a demand for improvement of the decomposition performance. In view of such a demand, in order to improve efficiency of the decomposition process based on water plasma, the aforementioned configuration is provided. That is, the supply device <NUM> has the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> for providing hazardous wastes (decomposition target object) from the tip, and the tips of the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are placed inside of the water plasma jet stream. Using such a configuration, it is possible to provide the decomposition target object into the inside of the water plasma jet stream and decompose the decomposition target object at a significantly high temperature. As a result, it is possible to improve decomposition reliability for the decomposition target object and efficiently perform the decomposition.

Note that the present invention encompasses various modes without limiting to the aforementioned embodiments. In the aforementioned embodiments, sizes, shapes, or directions illustrated in the attached drawings may be appropriately changed without a limitation as long as the effect of the present invention can be exhibited. Besides, various modifications or changes may be possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, although the middle partition includes a pair of the first and second middle partitions <NUM> and <NUM> in the aforementioned embodiments, the number of middle partitions may be three or more, or singular as long as the vortex water flow W can be formed as described above.

Although the vortex water flow generator <NUM> can be divided into a plurality of members as illustrated in <FIG>, the members neighboring in the front-rear direction may be integrated without a limitation. For example, in the head portion 160A, the spacer ring <NUM> and the water flow generation ring <NUM> placed in the rear may be integrated with each other. Besides, various structures may also be employed as long as they can be formed.

The shapes of the openings 163a to 166a are not limited to a circular shape. The shape of the opening may be changed to an oval shape, a polygonal shape, and the like as long as the vortex water flow W can be generated as described above.

The position of the channel <NUM> in the circumferential direction of the water flow generation ring <NUM> is not particularly limited. Although the positions of the channels <NUM> are aligned across all of the water flow generation rings <NUM> in <FIG>, the position of the channel <NUM> may be changed in each water flow generation ring <NUM>.

The position or direction of each nozzle <NUM> or <NUM> may also be changed as long as the nozzles <NUM> and <NUM> are placed in the tip positions described in the aforementioned embodiments.

The target object decomposed and disposed by the water plasma generator <NUM> is not limited to the aforementioned hazardous wastes. An unharmful object may also be used as a decomposition target object. In addition, the water plasma generator <NUM> may be used in any process based on water plasma such as a thermal spray without limiting to the waste disposal.

Claim 1:
A vortex water flow generator (<NUM>) placed between a negative electrode (<NUM>) and a positive electrode (<NUM>) of a water plasma generator (<NUM>) that injects a water plasma, the water plasma becoming a jet stream by dissociating or ionizing water to form a vortex water flow having a cavity for passing arc discharge generated between the negative and positive electrodes, the vortex water flow generator (<NUM>) comprising:
a cylindrical portion (<NUM>) configured to form the vortex water flow along an inner circumference;
at least one middle partition (<NUM>, <NUM>) protruding from the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion (<NUM>);
a one-end-side partition (<NUM>) disposed in one end side of the cylindrical portion (<NUM>) to face the negative electrode (<NUM>); and
the-other-end-side partition (<NUM>) disposed in the other end side of the cylindrical portion (<NUM>),
wherein each of the partitions (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) has an opening (163a, 164a, 165a, 166a) in a position including a center axis line of the cylindrical portion (<NUM>), the openings having different opening shapes in size,
the at least one middle partition (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the-other-end-side partition (<NUM>) have surfaces at the negative electrode side, the surfaces being formed by tapered surfaces (163b, 164b, 166b) gradually receding from the negative electrode (<NUM>) as close to the center axis line,
an arc-shaped beveled portion (163c, 164c, 166c) is formed between the tapered surface (163b, 164b, 166b) and an inner circumferential surface of the opening (163a, 164a, 166a), respectively, and
the cylindrical portion (<NUM>) has a channel (<NUM>) for passing water from the outside to the inside thereof.