Abstract: A method for treatment of ash from incineration plants includes: collecting ash from an incinerator; feeding the collected ash and additional feed material to a gasification/vitrification reactor; vitrifying the ash and additional feed material in the gasification/vitrification reactor, to form a slag of molten material; allowing the slag to flow from the gasification/vitrification reactor and solidify outside the gasification/vitrification reactor; gasifying volatile components in the ash and the additional feed material; combusting syngas generated in the gasification/vitrification reactor in a secondary combustion zone in the gasification/vitrification reactor; and supplying products of the syngas combustion to the incinerator to augment the thermal environments of the incinerator. An apparatus used to practice the method is also provided.

Abstract: A process for gasification of solid feed material to produce a syngas includes: providing a plasma heated carbonaceous bed in a bottom section of a reactor vessel; forming a bed of deposited feed material on top of the carbonaceous bed; reacting the feed material with hot gases rising from the bottom section; forming, in a middle section of the reactor vessel, a syngas mixture containing a varying quantity of unreacted particles of the feed material; allowing the syngas mixture to rise into a top section of the reactor vessel; and at least partially quenching, by injecting a quench fluid including water, steam, or a mixture thereof, in a second, upper part of the top section, at least some of the unreacted particles sufficiently to reduce the number of unreacted particles exiting the reactor vessel that are likely to be deposited on walls of external ductwork.

Abstract: A method for treatment of ash from incineration plants includes: collecting ash from an incinerator; feeding the collected ash to a vitrification reactor; vitrifying the ash in the vitrification reactor, to form a slag of molten material; allowing the slag to flow from the vitrification reactor and solidify outside the vitrification reactor; gasifying volatile components in the ash and the additional feed material; and routing flue gas generated in the vitrification reactor to a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is connected to a heat recovery steam generator that receives exhaust from the incinerator.

Abstract: A method for treatment of ash from incineration plants includes: collecting ash from an incinerator; feeding the collected ash and additional feed material to a gasification/vitrification reactor; vitrifying the ash and additional feed material in the gasification/vitrification reactor, to form a slag of molten material; allowing the slag to flow from the gasification/vitrification reactor and solidify outside the gasification/vitrification reactor; gasifying volatile components in the ash and the additional feed material; and using syngas generated in the gasification/vitrification reactor to augment the thermal environments of the incinerator.

Abstract: A process for gasification of solid feed material to produce a syngas includes: providing a plasma heated carbonaceous bed in a bottom section of a reactor vessel; forming a bed of deposited feed material on top of the carbonaceous bed; reacting the feed material with hot gases rising from the bottom section; forming, in a middle section of the reactor vessel, a syngas mixture containing a varying quantity of unreacted particles of the feed material; allowing the syngas mixture to rise into a top section of the reactor vessel; and at least partially quenching, by injecting a quench fluid including water, steam, or a mixture thereof, in a second, upper part of the top section, at least some of the unreacted particles sufficiently to reduce the number of unreacted particles exiting the reactor vessel that are likely to be deposited on walls of external ductwork.

Abstract: A method for treatment of ash from incineration plants includes: collecting ash from an incinerator; feeding the collected ash and additional feed material to a gasification/vitrification reactor; vitrifying the ash and additional feed material in the gasification/vitrification reactor, to form a slag of molten material; allowing the slag to flow from the gasification/vitrification reactor and solidify outside the gasification/vitrification reactor; gasifying volatile components in the ash and the additional feed material; combusting syngas generated in the gasification/vitrification reactor in a secondary combustion zone in the gasification/vitrification reactor; and supplying products of the syngas combustion to the incinerator to augment the thermal environments of the incinerator. An apparatus used to practice the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for treatment of ash from incineration plants includes: collecting ash from an incinerator; feeding the collected ash to a vitrification reactor; vitrifying the ash in the vitrification reactor, to form a slag of molten material; allowing the slag to flow from the vitrification reactor and solidify outside the vitrification reactor; gasifying volatile components in the ash and the additional feed material; and routing flue gas generated in the vitrification reactor to a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is connected to a heat recovery steam generator that receives exhaust from the incinerator.

Abstract: A plasma gasification reactor, and process for its operation, with one or both of, first, a quench zone within an upper part of a top section of the reactor and, second, feed ports through a lateral wall of a middle section of the reactor for supplying feed material to a feed bed within the middle section and the feed ports located proximate the feed bed. The quench zone is provided with nozzles for introducing a fluid to reduce the temperature of molten solid bits sufficiently to minimize their sticking within external ductwork. The middle section feed port arrangement assists in more thorough reaction of light particles in the feed material that may otherwise exit with gaseous products.

Abstract: A method for treatment of ash from incineration plants includes: collecting ash from an incinerator; feeding the collected ash and additional feed material to a gasification/vitrification reactor; vitrifying the ash and additional feed material in the gasification/vitrification reactor, to form a slag of molten material; allowing the slag to flow from the gasification/vitrification reactor and solidify outside the gasification/vitrification reactor; gasifying volatile components in the ash and the additional feed material; and using syngas generated in the gasification/vitrification reactor to augment the thermal environments of the incinerator.

Abstract: A plasma gasification reactor, and process for its operation, with one or both of, first, a quench zone within an upper part of a top section of the reactor and, second, feed ports through a lateral wall of a middle section of the reactor for supplying feed material to a feed bed within the middle section and the feed ports located proximate the feed bed. The quench zone is provided with nozzles for introducing a fluid to reduce the temperature of molten solid bits sufficiently to minimize their sticking within external ductwork. The middle section feed port arrangement assists in more thorough reaction of light particles in the feed material that may otherwise exit with gaseous products.