Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting accelerated chemical reactions at elevated temperatures and pressures including wet oxidation of materials in waste streams. An influent waste stream or first reactant is directed through a long tubular coil within a containment vessel with a second reactant being added to the influent. The flow rates for the gas and liquid components of the waste stream are set to cause plug or slug flow of the waste stream through the tubular coil. The curvature of the coil tends to induce a secondary flow in the liquid such that the liquid tends to travel in a spiral thereby providing more intimate mixing of the reactants; and the containment vessel may be partitioned to form a series of successive compartments to permit different temperature gradients to be applied to successive sections of the tubing coil across its length.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for collecting and liquefying off-gases, particularly carbon dioxide, generated by a wet oxidation of organic matter and for the on sight gasification of liquid oxygen for use as an oxidant in the wet oxidation reaction. Through a series of separation and pressurization operations, high pressure off-gases are introduced into a heat exchanger at substantially the same time as liquid oxygen. The liquid oxygen and compressed off-gases are in heat exchange relation in the heat exchanger but are isolated from one another. Heat is transferred from the compressed off-gases to the liquid oxygen whereby the off-gases are liquified and the liquid oxygen is gasified. The liquified off-gases may then be stored in appropriate storage units. The gaseous oxygen is used as the oxidant for the wet oxidation reaction.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a reaction apparatus having an externalized heat exchange mechanism by which heat may be added to or withdrawn from a reactant mixture. In one aspect, the present invention includes a cased well which extends approximately 5000 feet vertically into the earth in which at least one reaction vessel is suspended from a support plate at substantially ground level surface. The reaction vessel comprises an outer closed-end tube in which an inner open-end tube is disposed in a concentric manner to define an annulus which is in flow communication with the bore of the inner tube. Substantially parallel to the reaction vessel and also suspended from the ground level support plate, is a conduit which extends into the chamber defined by the well-casing.

Abstract: The subterranean treatment apparatus and methods disclosed herein are useful for treating various waste streams, including municipal and industrial streams. The disclosed apparatus and methods are particularly useful in determining and controlling the temperature of the reaction zone in a deep well reaction apparatus while avoiding fouling of thermocouples and permitting easy service and replacement. In the disclosed embodiment, a fluid quiescent zone is created in the heat exchanger of the treatment apparatus located within the reaction zone and the temperature is used to control the system by operation of the heat exchanger or control of the C.O.D. of the influent.

Abstract: A method of treating organic waste is provided which includes separating the liquid portion of the waste from the solid portion prior to reacting said solid portion in an accelerated wet oxidation reaction. The method includes using an internally-derived ash from the wet oxidation reaction to weight the organic waste, thereby increasing the rate at which the liquid phase can be separated from the solid phase. By first removing the liquid portion of the waste, the oxygen demand of the waste to be processed by wet oxidation is substantially lowered. Ammonia is removed from the liquid portion of the waste in a de-ammoniating step which is followed by biological decomposition to form a liquid stream having a greatly reduced oxygen demand. In one embodiment, the method includes further treating the liquid stream to substantially remove salts and using the resulting deionized stream as a diluent to dilute the solid portion of the waste prior to wet oxidation.

Abstract: A process for effecting chemical reactions, including wet oxidation reactions, in a deep well or down-hole reactor preferably providing a crosscurrent flow in a nested tube configuration wherein the influent fluid is in heat transfer relation with the effluent fluid. The disclosed process includes flowing an influent fluid including the reactants downwardly through a downcomer pipe which extends below ground in a subterranean opening or well casing forming a hydrostatic column of fluid, which defines a predetermined pressure, with the reactants at a temperature sufficient to initiate and maintain the desired chemical reaction. The method then includes flowing the effluent fluid upwardly through an upcomer pipe to ground level, preferably in heat transfer relation with the downflowing influent fluid. The method of this invention includes boiling the effluent fluid in the upcomer pipe, thereby reducing the hydrostatic fluid pressure in the upcomer and increasing the mass flow rate.

Abstract: The method of this invention is particularly, although not exclusively, adapted for effecting accelerated oxidation reactions in a downhole or deep well wet oxidation apparatus, including the processing of aqueous organic waste, such as municipal sludge. It includes injecting a multiple-phase composition which contains an oxygen or an oxygen-rich gas which is fully saturated with water vapor and which also contains water in the liquid phase into a wet oxidation reaction apparatus which contains an aqueous stream of combustible waste, preferably at the temperature and pressure of the waste stream at the point of injection. This reduces the likelihood of hazardous spontaneous combustion which may otherwise occur if dry spots are allowed to form in the reaction apparatus. The volume of water in the composition should be equal to at least twice the volume of water necessary to saturate the gas with water vapor to maintain at least 50 percent of the water in the liquid phase.

Abstract: The heat exchanger, which forms a part of the fluid treatment apparatus of this invention, includes an insulated tubular having concentric telescopically nested spaced tubes, wherein the space between the tubes is sealed and filled with an inert gas. The surfaces of the tubes are coated with a hydrogen permeation barrier preferably comprising an aluminum-iron alloy, nickel or copper which limits atomic hydrogen permeation into the space between the tubes, which would combine to form hydrogen gas and result in heat loss. The insulated tubular is telescopically nested in a pipe, forming a fluid heat exchanger and the heat exchanger is telescopically nested in fluid waste circulation pipes, forming the fluid treatment apparatus of this invention. The preferred fluid heat exchanger is a vertically extending deep well reactor suitable for wet oxidation reaction of fluid wastes including municipal sludge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting accelerated chemical reactions at elevated temperatures and pressures including wet oxidation of materials in waste streams. An influent waste stream or first reactant is directed through a long tubular coil within a containment vessel with a second reactant being added to the influent. The waste stream includes gas and liquid components. The flow rates for the reactants of the waste stream are set to cause plug or slug flow of the waste stream through the tubular coil. The curvature of the coil tends to induce a secondary flow in the liquid component such that the liquid component tends to travel in a spiral thereby providing more intimate mixing of the reactants. The containment vessel may be partitioned to form a series of successive compartments to permit different temperature gradients to be applied to successive sections of the tubing coil across its length.

Abstract: A process for reducing calcium, magnesium and aluminum salt scale build-up in continuous flow or plug flow tube reactors in which a fluid waste undergoes a chemical reaction under heat and pressure to form more environmentally desirable compounds. The process includes the injection of a precipitating reagent into the influent path of a fluid waste stream in a tube reactor to preferentially precipitate calcium, magnesium and aluminum ions which are then carried through and out of the reaction apparatus in a non-scale forming suspension.

Abstract: A method of removing scale from the surfaces of a fluid treatment apparatus by directing a base solution and an acid solution through the fluid treatment apparatus. The fluid treatment apparatus cleaned by the method of the present invention is a vertical tube wet oxidation treatment apparatus in which an aqueous slurry of organic materials is oxidized in a tube which extends deep into the surface of the earth. Water rinses are performed between the steps of circulating the aqueous base solution, circulating the aqueous acid solution, and operating the fluid treatment apparatus. The water used for separating the sequential steps is preferably buffered water. The aqueous acid solution is preferably a mineral acid and most preferably nitric acid. The aqueous base solution is preferably potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. The method also contemplates a sectional wash of the apparatus by directing a base or acid solution partially into the apparatus.

Abstract: The heat exchanger, which forms a part of the fluid treatment apparatus of this invention, includes an insulated tubular having concentric telescopically nested spaced tubes, wherein the space between the tubes is sealed and filled with an inert gas. The surfaces of the tubes are coated with a hydrogen permeation barrier preferably comprising an aluminum-iron alloy, nickel or copper which limits atomic hydrogen permeation into the space between the tubes, which would combine to form hydrogen gas and result in heat loss. The insulated tubular is telescopically nested in a pipe, forming a fluid heat exchanger and the heat exchanger is telescopically nested in fluid waste circulation pipes, forming the fluid treatment apparatus of this invention. The preferred fluid heat exchanger is a vertically extending deep well reactor suitable for wet oxidation reaction of fluid wastes including municipal sludge.