Abstract: An industrial waste management facility (IWMF) for disposing of spent potlining includes a co-current gas-fired rotary kiln for containing a molten pool of spent potlining throughout the entire length of the rotary kiln from the inlet to the outlet, an ash quencher and cooler for receiving molten residue from the discharge end of the rotary kiln, a secondary combustion chamber, and a down-draft transition chamber for channeling discharge gases from the rotary kiln to the secondary combustion chamber. Pneumatic injection slingers feed and distribute spent potlining into the inlet end of the rotary kiln. A discharge dam provides a predetermined average depth of molten bath material in the rotary kiln over its entire length. A blended ratio of comminuted materials injected through the pneumatic injection slinger feeder is adjusted and controlled in response to signals received from a radiative optical kiln bath temperature measurement system.

Abstract: An industrial waste management facility (IWMF) for disposing of spent potlining includes a co-current gas-fired rotary kiln for containing a molten pool of spent potlining throughout the entire length of the rotary kiln from the inlet to the outlet, an ash quencher and cooler for receiving molten residue from the discharge end of the rotary kiln, a secondary combustion chamber, and a down-draft transition chamber for channeling discharge gases from the rotary kiln to the secondary combustion chamber. Pneumatic injection slingers feed and distribute spent potlining into the inlet end of the rotary kiln. A discharge dam provides a predetermined average depth of molten bath material in the rotary kiln over its entire length. A blended ratio of comminuted materials injected through the pneumatic injection slinger feeder is adjusted and controlled in response to signals received from a radiative optical kiln bath temperature measurement system.

Abstract: An industrial waste management facility (IWMF) for disposing of spent potlining includes a co-current gas-fired rotary kiln for containing a molten pool of spent potlining throughout the entire length of the rotary kiln from the inlet to the outlet, an ash quencher and cooler for receiving molten residue from the discharge end of the rotary kiln, a secondary combustion chamber, and a down-draft transition chamber for channeling discharge gases from the rotary kiln to the secondary combustion chamber. Pneumatic injection slingers feed and distribute spent potlining into the inlet end of the rotary kiln. A discharge dam provides a predetermined average depth of molten bath material in the rotary kiln over its entire length. A blended ratio of comminuted materials injected through the pneumatic injection slinger feeder is adjusted and controlled in response to signals received from a radiative optical kiln bath temperature measurement system.

Abstract: A thermal treatment system for converting contaminants in soil to non-hazardous compounds. The system includes a combustion chamber in which the soils to be treated are heated to a temperature above the volatilization temperature of the contaminants in the soil. Reagents are injected into the gas stream above the soil which contains the volatized contaminants to interact with the inorganic contaminants to form solid particles that can be collected on a filter for safe disposal. The volatized organic contaminants are burned to form non-toxic combustion gases.

Abstract: A system for the controlled safe shutdown of a hazardous waste incinerator upon loss of power. The system includes a primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber, a gas treatment system, and two standby power sources. One standby power source is available immediately for elements that cannot be shut down even for a second. The other standby power source is a heavy duty generator that takes a short time to get up to speed but is used to power elements that can be allowed to coast for a short time without causing damage to the equipment or the environment. The system includes an uninterruptable power source connected to continue supplying heat and air to the secondary combustion chamber and prevent opening an emergency vent stack cap and thereby prevent the unwanted discharge of gas from the system.

Abstract: Method for gasifying cellulosic material comprises feeding cellulosic material into the uphill end of an inclined rotary kiln; transporting a bed of cellulosic material through the kiln and continuously tumbling the bed; withdrawing fuel gas from the uphill end of the kiln so it flows countercurrent to the bed and removes moisture in the drying zone and thermally decompose volatiles in the devolatilization zone; admitting air overbed in the devolatilization zone and only underbed in the gasifying zone; and controlling the mass flow rate of air into the devolatilization and gasifying zones respectively as predetermined percentages of that rate of which is stoichiometric to the cellulosic material fed into the kiln to thereby limit temperature rise, prevent agglomeration and minimize entrainment of solid particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and operation is disclosed in which light solid material such as shredded paper passes from an upper end of a column and heavier material such as glass and metal particles drop from a lower end of the column. The column includes an air locked feed chute having a downwardly inclined material feeding surface, that opens intermediate the column ends into a stream of air moving upwardly in the column, for admitting mixed light and heavy solid particles of refuse material to the air stream. The column beneath the discharge end of the chute has vertical walls defining a rectangular air intake zone. The vertical wall opposite to and facing the chute is pivotally hung from an inclined member which is in turn pivotally supported by the column so this pivotally hung wall can move toward and away from the chute while remaining vertical.

Abstract: An apparatus and operation is disclosed in which light solids material such as shredded paper passes from an upper end of a column and heavier material such as glass and metal particles drop from a lower end of the column. The column includes an air locked feed chute having a downwardly inclined material feeding surface, that opens intermediate the column ends into a stream of air moving upwardly in the column, for admitting mixed light and heavy particles of refuse material to the air stream. A zone of expanded volume is provided at the level where the column and the chute come together and this zone extends upwardly from the material feeding surface and terminates at a level below the upper end of the column where column cross section area is less than beneath the expanded zone.