Abstract: A waste processing apparatus for processing a column of waste in a processing chamber having one or more gas outlets at an upper part thereof and one or more plasma torches an output end thereof extending into a lower part of the chamber.

Abstract: One or more auxiliary plasma torches are provided to a waste processing plant at strategic locations within the chamber and directed towards the waste column. When a bridge forms within the chamber the auxiliary plasma torches may be operated such as to provide an additional heat source where needed, quickly heating the organic solids, which thus pass through the bituminsation and charcoal formation stages quickly. The additional heat source may be in the neighborhood of the bridge, but may also be near the bottom end of the chamber, in which case the additional temperature at the bottom of the chamber effectively moves the combustion and gasification zones for the charcoal to a higher part of the chamber, altering the temperature profile. The heat source also enables the inorganic wastes to be heated rapidly to pass beyond the melting stage relatively quickly.

Abstract: A plurality of fluxing agent inlets are provided at the lower part of a waste processing chamber to enable the direct application of fluxing agents to deposited “unprocessed solids” and/or to liquid products of high viscosity therein. Means are provided for sensing the presence of such blockages in the lower part of the chamber and for providing the fluxing agents thereto to remove the blockage.

Abstract: One or more auxiliary plasma torches are provided to a waste processing plant at strategic locations within the chamber and directed towards the waste column. When a bridge forms within the chamber the auxiliary plasma torches may be operated such as to provide an additional heat source where needed, quickly heating the organic solids, which thus pass through the bituminsation and charcoal formation stages quickly. The additional heat source may be in the neighborhood of the bridge, but may also be near the bottom end of the chamber, in which case the additional temperature at the bottom of the chamber effectively moves the combustion and gasification zones for the charcoal to a higher part of the chamber, altering the temperature profile. The heat source also enables the inorganic wastes to be heated rapidly to pass beyond the melting stage relatively quickly.