Patent ID: 8006631

Claim:
A radioactive waste treatment method, comprising the steps of: loading waste into a plasma shaft furnace by conveying the waste by a hermetic conveyor from automated storage into the plasma shaft furnace, wherein the conveyor loading is controlled; pyrolizing the waste; oxidizing coke; withdrawing pyrogas and a slug from the furnace; afterburning the pyrogas in a combustion chamber at an afterburning temperature of 1200-1350° C. by directing said pyrogas in a downstream direction through said combustion chamber; supplying air into the combustion chamber at two levels during the afterburning step: (1) a prechamber pyrogas air supply level, and (2) an upper part of the combustion chamber air supply level, said prechamber being upstream of the upper part of the combustion chamber; and quenching an off-gas to 200-250° C. for preventing dioxin formation; and directing quenched off-gas through a mechanical filter for removing particulate material from said quenched off-gas; directing off-gas from said mechanical filter through a scrubber for further cleaning and cooling; and directing off-gas from the scrubber through a heat exchanger for further cooling.