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Hazardous Waste Management through Plasma Technology

Hazardous Waste Management through Plasma Technology. Chris Seymore Auburn University ELEC 6750. Questions. What are the two main advantages of using a plasma to dispose of hazardous waste?

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Hazardous Waste Management through Plasma Technology

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  1. Hazardous Waste Management through Plasma Technology Chris Seymore Auburn University ELEC 6750

  2. Questions • What are the two main advantages of using a plasma to dispose of hazardous waste? • What are two complications that have to be considered when using a plasma to neutralize hazardous waste?

  3. Overview • Background • Early Designs • Working Example • Plans for the Future • Conclusion

  4. Background • Hazardous Waste…it’s a growing problem • Approximately 400 millions tons annually worldwide • Includes: • Medical Waste • Industrial Waste • Military Waste • Household Waste http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/dpe/Anglais/dpe_main_en.asp?prev_fiche_dd http://www.ocdumps.com/hhwccproducts.htm

  5. Plasma as one solution… • Plasmas have the capability to neutralize hazardous material • Minimizes the volume of the material • Compact compared to incinerators • Operates with a high independence of material being neutralized T. Inaba, T. Iwao, “Treatmen of Waste by dc Arc Disharge Plasmas,” IEEE Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol 7, No. 5, pages 684-692, Oct 2000. M. Copsey, “The Thermal Treatment of Chemical Wastes in Plasma Processes,” EA Technology Ltd, IEEE website.

  6. How does a plasma neutralize • Typical temperature for the visible portion of a plasma arc is 6,000 K • Around 20,000 K in the center of the arc • These extreme temperatures cause molecule dissociation • Nitrogen has dissociation energy of 9.8eV • …about 11.6% dissociated at 6,000 K • Hydrogen has dissociation energy of 4.5eV • …about 99.6% dissociated at 6,000 K T. Inaba, T. Iwao, “Treatmen of Waste by dc Arc Disharge Plasmas,” IEEE Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol 7, No. 5, pages 684-692, Oct 2000. M. Copsey, “The Thermal Treatment of Chemical Wastes in Plasma Processes,” EA Technology Ltd, IEEE website.

  7. Not as simple as it seems • Chemical reactions as plasma cools • Reformation of the original hazard • Formation of molecules more toxic • Exposing all of the material to the plasma arc T. Inaba, T. Iwao, “Treatmen of Waste by dc Arc Disharge Plasmas,” IEEE Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol 7, No. 5, pages 684-692, Oct 2000. M. Copsey, “The Thermal Treatment of Chemical Wastes in Plasma Processes,” EA Technology Ltd, IEEE website.

  8. A simple setup for hazardous liquids • 50Hz, 3-phase power source, Argon gas • 200mm diameter chamber, sodium carbonate T. Inaba, T. Iwao, “Treatmen of Waste by dc Arc Disharge Plasmas,” IEEE Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol 7, No. 5, pages 684-692, Oct 2000. M. Copsey, “The Thermal Treatment of Chemical Wastes in Plasma Processes,” EA Technology Ltd, IEEE website.

  9. Results T. Inaba, T. Iwao, “Treatmen of Waste by dc Arc Disharge Plasmas,” IEEE Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol 7, No. 5, pages 684-692, Oct 2000. M. Copsey, “The Thermal Treatment of Chemical Wastes in Plasma Processes,” EA Technology Ltd, IEEE website.

  10. Solid Materials • Asbestos fibers are carcinogenic • Plasma converts the asbestos to a vitrified slag T. Inaba, T. Iwao, “Treatmen of Waste by dc Arc Disharge Plasmas,” IEEE Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol 7, No. 5, pages 684-692, Oct 2000. M. Copsey, “The Thermal Treatment of Chemical Wastes in Plasma Processes,” EA Technology Ltd, IEEE website.

  11. An Actual Setup G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, V. Shiryaev, V. Popov, S. Popov, A. Surov, “Plasma Technologies of Solid and Liquid Toxic Waste Disinfection,” IEEE, 2002. G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, A. Safronov, A. Surov, V. Schegolev,“The Technology and Execution of Plasmachemical Disinfection of Hazardous Medical Waste,” IEEE Trans on Plasma Science, Vol 30, No4, August 2002.

  12. System Operation • Rotary Kiln • 1000-1200° C • Rotation prevents fusion or baking • Products are a mineral slag and hazardous gases (HCl, SO2, HS, etc) • Afterburner • 1200-1400° C • Products include: CO2, H2O, HCl, HFl, and SO2 • Dry Scrubber • Water urea solution….cools the gases to prevent free chlorine • Gas Cleaning • Cooled again with a water and then through a heat exchanger • Sprayed with gas-liquid…heavy metals fall to the drop surface • Na2CO3 is then sprayed on the gases, breaking down the remaining hazardous gases • The remaining gas is passed through a aerosol filter and diluted with heated are and released into the atmosphere G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, V. Shiryaev, V. Popov, S. Popov, A. Surov, “Plasma Technologies of Solid and Liquid Toxic Waste Disinfection,” IEEE, 2002. G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, A. Safronov, A. Surov, V. Schegolev,“The Technology and Execution of Plasmachemical Disinfection of Hazardous Medical Waste,” IEEE Trans on Plasma Science, Vol 30, No4, August 2002.

  13. Typical Waste…before and after G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, V. Shiryaev, V. Popov, S. Popov, A. Surov, “Plasma Technologies of Solid and Liquid Toxic Waste Disinfection,” IEEE, 2002. G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, A. Safronov, A. Surov, V. Schegolev,“The Technology and Execution of Plasmachemical Disinfection of Hazardous Medical Waste,” IEEE Trans on Plasma Science, Vol 30, No4, August 2002.

  14. Next Generation…PROMETHEUS • The utilization of plasmas to destroy hazardous waste is fairly mature, however, there is always room for improvement • Utilizes pulsed-plasma power to neutralize waste • Conventional plasma incinerators continually form plasma, with globally heating of the waste • Pulsed systems use radiative heat transfer versus conduction or convection • Characteristics: • High Energy (10-1,000kJ) • High Power (10-1,000MW) • High Density (103-104 g/cm3) • High Velocity (10-20 km/s) • Short Duration (.3ms) • As a proof of concept, it has limited destruction rate (5-10 kg/hour) • Demonstration test have shown it to be over 50% more efficient S. Wald, B. Glocker, E. Weiss, A. Pokryvailo, P. Labrune, P. Kempenaers, J. Handite, “The Use of Pulsed Plasma Technology for Hazardous Waste Treatment,” IEEE, 2002.

  15. Prometheus • Three major components: • Plasma Generator • PFN and Plasma Injector • Reactor • 1m long, 80mm diameter • Exhaust Treatment S. Wald, B. Glocker, E. Weiss, A. Pokryvailo, P. Labrune, P. Kempenaers, J. Handite, “The Use of Pulsed Plasma Technology for Hazardous Waste Treatment,” IEEE, 2002.

  16. Plasma Injector • Capillary is 6mm in diameter and 10cm long • Needs dielectric coating between shots • Silicon grease or waste material • Anode acts as piston to provide coating • Electrodes life expectancy is approximately 103 pulses S. Wald, B. Glocker, E. Weiss, A. Pokryvailo, P. Labrune, P. Kempenaers, J. Handite, “The Use of Pulsed Plasma Technology for Hazardous Waste Treatment,” IEEE, 2002.

  17. A novel concept…bi-product gas as a fuel? • One of the longest parts of the process is cleaning the produced gas for release into the atmosphere • Current technology uses hydrocarbons such as oil or coal to produce high quality synthesis gases either for fuel or other chemical processes • Waste material produced gas too impure • Jim Hogan came up with a process to clean these gases produced from waste product so that it could be a useful product • J. Hogan, US Patent No 6,638,396, approved Oct 28, 2003.

  18. Conclusion • Hazardous Waste Management is a world-wide problem • Plasma has become a proven technology in eliminating the hazard, while also reducing the overall volume • Always will be areas for improvement

  19. Answers • What are the two main advantages of using a plasma to dispose of hazardous waste? Neutralize the hazard and decrease the volume • What are two complications that have to be considered when using a plasma to neutralize hazardous waste? Reformation of original or worse molecule and ensuring the plasma is exposed to all of the material.

  20. References • T. Inaba, T. Iwao, “Treatmen of Waste by dc Arc Disharge Plasmas,” IEEE Transaction on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation, Vol 7, No. 5, pages 684-692, Oct 2000. • M. Copsey, “The Thermal Treatment of Chemical Wastes in Plasma Processes,” EA Technology Ltd, IEEE website. • G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, V. Shiryaev, V. Popov, S. Popov, A. Surov, “Plasma Technologies of Solid and Liquid Toxic Waste Disinfection,” IEEE, 2002. • [2] G. Rutberg, A. Safronov, A. Bratsev, A. Safronov, A. Surov, V. Schegolev,“The Technology and Execution of Plasmachemical Disinfection of Hazardous Medical Waste,” IEEE Trans on Plasma Science, Vol 30, No4, August 2002. • S. Wald, B. Glocker, E. Weiss, A. Pokryvailo, P. Labrune, P. Kempenaers, J. Handite, “The Use of Pulsed Plasma Technology for Hazardous Waste Treatment,” IEEE, 2002. • J. Hogan, US Patent No 6,638,396, approved Oct 28, 2003.

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