Abstract: A waste vitrification apparatus (10) having rotatable mixer impeller (16) functioning as a shaft electrode (60) and metallic vessel (14) functioning as a vessel electrode (62). A stream (12) of waste material and vitrifiable material are mixed and melted in the vessel (14) for vitrification. The waste vitrification method converts a feed stream (12) by mixing the feed stream into a glass melt (13) and melting glass batch of the feed stream (12) to form a foamy mass. The stream is dispersed by the impeller (16) to form a foam which is then densified in a settling zone (22), recovered through a spout (24) and solidified in storage containers. Means are provided to adjust the location of the mixing impeller (16) in the vessel (14) to change the depth of the settling zone (22). The impeller (16) is mounted on a drive shaft (18) having a recirculating coolant flow.

Abstract: A waste vitrification apparatus (10) having rotatable mixer impeller (16) functioning as a shaft electrode (60) and metallic vessel (14) functioning as a vessel electrode (62). A stream (12) of waste material and vitrifiable material are mixed and melted in the vessel (14) for vitrification. The waste vitrification method converts a feed stream (12) by mixing the feed stream into a glass melt (13) and melting glass batch of the feed stream (12) to form a foamy mass. The stream is dispersed by the impeller (16) to form a foam which is then densified in a settling zone (22), recovered through a spout (24) and solidified in storage containers. Means are provided to adjust the location of the mixing impeller (16) in the vessel (14) to change the depth of the settling zone (22). The impeller (16) is mounted on a drive shaft (18) having a recirculating coolant flow.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. A voltage is applied across spaced electrical connections (72) of the melting vessel (46) to heat material within the melting vessel. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). Different embodiments of the heater (38) provide current flow through molten material (18) being heated, induction heating, electric resistance heating, and using the metallic mixing vessel (12) as an electric resistance element. A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. A voltage is applied across spaced electrical connections (72) of the melting vessel (46) to heat material within the melting vessel. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating. The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12).

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which a stirrer (38) mixes hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating while an electrical current is applied across the melting vessel and the stirrer to provide electrical current flow, and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12). The sensing of the failure can be either by a pressure change in the hermetically sealed chamber (58) or by sensing of the presence of material received by the containment vessel (46) from the failed melting vessel (12) such as by an electrical circuit type detection.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). Different embodiments of the heater (38) provide current flow through molten material (18) being heated, induction heating and electric resistance heating. A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating. The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12).

Abstract: A glass melter 30 having a mixing impeller 34 for converting a feed stream 38 supplied to a vessel 32 into a vitrified glass melt 50. Heating means such as electrodes 36 or a gas burner 58 are used to heat the glass melt 50. Electrode 36 arrangements are proposed for minimizing current flow through the impeller 34. Current flow through a special continuous circular impeller or conical pump 70 is disclosed. A cylindrical vessel 98, triangular vessel 94, square vessel 32, and hexagonal vessel 96 are disclosed. Methods of processing particular waste streams are disclosed including coated mineral fibers, ash, radioactive material, chemical waste and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which a stirrer (38) mixes hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating while an electrical current is applied across the melting vessel and the stirrer to provide electrical current flow, and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). The containment vessel (46) is hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12). The sensing of the failure can be either by a pressure change in the hermetically sealed chamber (58) or by sensing of the presence of material received by the containment vessel (46) from the failed melting vessel (12) such as by an electrical circuit type detection.

Abstract: A waste vitrification apparatus (10) having rotatable mixer impeller (16) functioning as a shaft electrode (60) and metallic vessel (14) functioning as a vessel electrode (62). A stream (12) of waste material and vitrifiable material are mixed and melted in the vessel (14) for vitrification. The waste vitrification method converts a feed stream (12) by mixing the feed stream into a glass melt (13) and melting glass batch of the feed stream (12) to form a foamy mass. The stream is dispersed by the impeller (16) to form a foam which is then densified in a settling zone (22), recovered through a spout (24) and solidified in storage containers. Means are provided to adjust the location of the mixing impeller (16) in the vessel (14) to change the depth of the settling zone (22). The impeller (16) is mounted on a drive shaft (18) having a recirculating coolant flow.

Abstract: A waste vitrification apparatus (10) having rotatable mixer impeller (16) functioning as a shaft electrode (60) and metallic vessel (14) functioning as a vessel electrode (62). A stream (12) of waste material and vitrifiable material are mixed and melted in the vessel (14) for vitrification. The waste vitrification method converts a feed stream (12) by mixing the feed stream into a glass melt (13) and melting glass batch of the feed stream (12) to form a foamy mass. The stream is dispersed by the impeller (16) to form a foam which is then densified in a settling zone (22), recovered through a spout (24) and solidified in storage containers. An adjuster adjusts the location of the mixing impeller (16) in the vessel (14) to change the depth of the settling zone (22). The impeller (16) is mounted on a drive shaft (18) having a recirculating coolant flow.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). Different embodiments of the heater (38) provide current flow through molten material (18) being heated, induction heating and electric resistance heating. A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating. The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12).

Abstract: The mineral fiber forming apparatus having electrodes for heating heat softenable mineral material to form a molten mineral mass is disclosed. Organically-coated glass fiber scrap and cullet are supplied to the vessel providing the heat softenable mineral material. An impeller turbulently mixes the molten mineral mass dispersing batch into the molten mineral mass and converting water in the molten mineral bath to steam. Molten mineral material formed by the apparatus includes small seeds and gaseous occlusions. The molten mineral material is fed from an outlet port in the vessel to a rotary spinner which forms hollow mineral fibers having gaseous occlusions of between 1% and 10% by volume by centrifuging the molten mineral material through a rotary bushing.

Abstract: A glass melter 30 having a mixing impeller 34 for converting a feed stream 38 supplied to a vessel 32 into a vitrified glass melt 50. Heating means such as electrodes 36 or a gas burner 58 are used to heat the glass melt 50. Electrode 36 arrangements are proposed for minimizing current flow through the impeller 34. Current flow through a special continuous circular impeller or conical pump 70 is disclosed. A cylindrical vessel 98, triangular vessel 94, square vessel 32, and hexagonal vessel 96 are disclosed. Methods of processing particular waste streams are disclosed including coated mineral fibers, fly ash, radioactive material, chemical waste and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing various hazardous waste materials by melting in a vessel for subsequent solidification is disclosed which includes a seal for the cover thereof. Melter includes a high-speed mixing impeller powered by a drive shaft which extends through an opening in the cover. The vessel is electrically heated by discharge of electrical energy through the melt contained in the vessel. In one embodiment the impeller and shaft are included in the electrical heating circuit. A shaft seal engages the shaft at a point spaced from the cover. An axially extensible seal seals a space bounded by the shaft seal and the opening in the cover. Purge gas is supplied to the sealed space to provide positive gas flow from the sealed space into the vessel. A cold wall transport duct for off-gas porting is disclosed. A bottom drain structure including a sleeve and plug is also disclosed. The output of the melter may be subsequently heated in a holding tank to refine the output.