Methods and systems are provided for two-stage treatment of contaminated particulate material, such as soil, sediment, and/or sludge. The methods and systems utilize a thermal desorption process combined with a smoldering combustion process. The contaminated particulate material is first exposed to thermal desorption at high temperatures (e.g., greater than 150° C.) to form a heated contaminated particulate material. Next, a smoldering combustion process is initiated by introducing a combustion-supporting gas. The combined process can take place in the same or different treatment units. Treating the particulate material with a thermal desorption process prior to a smoldering combustion process enhances the completeness and throughput compared to operating these processes separately.

The gas swirling state determination system (10) determines the quality of the swirling state of gas that swirls around the central axis. The gas swirling state determination system (10) includes an imaging device (39), an information processing device (11), and a display device (42). The imaging device (39) captures swirling gas from a direction along the central axis to acquire a still image. The information processing device (11) includes a calculation unit (40), a smoothing unit (41), and a determination unit (43). The display device (42) displays a determination result.

The gas swirling state determination system (10) determines the quality of the swirling state of gas that swirls around the central axis. The gas swirling state determination system (10) includes an imaging device (39), an information processing device (11), and a display device (42). The imaging device (39) captures swirling gas from a direction along the central axis to acquire a still image. The information processing device (11) includes a calculation unit (40), a smoothing unit (41), and a determination unit (43). The display device (42) displays a determination result.

The invention comprises: a) first comburent supplying means (18) connected to the lower part of the oxidation chamber, for introducing pressurized oxygenated gas in the oxidation chamber at a speed that comprises a tangential component; b) a particle recirculation system, which comprises: a particle separator (24) on the upper part of the oxidation chamber for trapping hot particles of ash and unburned material, and a transportation system (25) for transferring trapped particles from the particle separator (24) to the base of the oxidation chamber; and c) a gas recirculation system comprising: a sucker (26) for suctioning combustion gases from the upper part of the oxidation chamber, and pipes (27) for transferring the suctioned gases to the base of the oxidation chamber. It provides an optimized thermal transfer that reduces the emission of pollutants in waste recovery.

The invention comprises: a) first comburent supplying means (18) connected to the lower part of the oxidation chamber, for introducing pressurized oxygenated gas in the oxidation chamber at a speed that comprises a tangential component; b) a particle recirculation system, which comprises: a particle separator (24) on the upper part of the oxidation chamber for trapping hot particles of ash and unburned material, and a transportation system (25) for transferring trapped particles from the particle separator (24) to the base of the oxidation chamber; and c) a gas recirculation system comprising: a sucker (26) for suctioning combustion gases from the upper part of the oxidation chamber, and pipes (27) for transferring the suctioned gases to the base of the oxidation chamber. It provides an optimized thermal transfer that reduces the emission of pollutants in waste recovery.

The invention relates to a wood gas boiler having a boiler wall and a boiler bottom, at least one device for supplying air and at least one grating being arranged within the boiler wall and above the boiler bottom, and wood gas being produced in a firebed from wood chips on the grating, which wood gas can be extracted and/or conducted outwards, there being in the region of the firebed a star having a plurality of arms which extend in a star shape towards the boiler wall and can each be rotated about a rotational axis running radially with respect to the central vertical axis of the star.

A waste treatment unit. It comprises at least one gasifier having a main receptacle (1) with a waste inlet (2), a syngas outlet (6) and an ashtray outlet (8). In the interior of the receptacle there is a body (4) with at least one inclined section (7) disposed opposite to the waste inlet (2), and with a base (14) which creates a depletion shaft (17) that prevents the passage of waste; and a dividing wall (9a) in contact with said body (4) or an evacuation tube (9a) in the interior of the body (4), such as to create a waste zone (15) that encompasses at least the zone where the inclined section (7) is located, and a waste-free zone (16) wherethrough the syngas produced during oxidation of the waste flows towards the syngas outlet (6).

A waste treatment unit. It comprises at least one gasifier having a main receptacle (1) with a waste inlet (2), a syngas outlet (6) and an ashtray outlet (8). In the interior of the receptacle there is a body (4) with at least one inclined section (7) disposed opposite to the waste inlet (2), and with a base (14) which creates a depletion shaft (17) that prevents the passage of waste; and a dividing wall (9a) in contact with said body (4) or an evacuation tube (9a) in the interior of the body (4), such as to create a waste zone (15) that encompasses at least the zone where the inclined section (7) is located, and a waste-free zone (16) wherethrough the syngas produced during oxidation of the waste flows towards the syngas outlet (6).

A combustor for burning waste material includes a horizontally extended combustion chamber through which a mixture of waste material and air is introduced under pressure tangentially for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material toward one of the end walls. The waste material is ignited during its vortical movement. A second discharge port extends for discharging from the chamber non-combustible material entrained in the outer region of the vortex. The discharged material is conveyed through a conduit to a separator which separates the discharged gases and solid material. A secondary air manifold supplies air through controlled and automated dampers at portals positioned at intervals along the length of the chamber. An adjustable baffle is mounted on the flue adjacent its open end for deflecting outwardly toward the side wall solid material which moves from adjacent the one end wall toward the open end of the flue. A recuperator is mounted externally to the chamber on the exhaust flue, supplying heated air to the secondary air manifold and to the primary air and waste feed intake. Additionally, control means are provided for the use of specialized sensors to monitor the temperature, air flow and volume of the chamber, integrated into a process automation system that allows for control of individual components, stages, regions, as well as the entire process.

A combustor for burning waste material includes a horizontally extended combustion chamber through which a mixture of waste material and air is introduced under pressure tangentially for establishing a vortical movement of the waste material toward one of the end walls. The waste material is ignited during its vortical movement. A second discharge port extends for discharging from the chamber non-combustible material entrained in the outer region of the vortex. The discharged material is conveyed through a conduit to a separator which separates the discharged gases and solid material. A secondary air manifold supplies air through controlled and automated dampers at portals positioned at intervals along the length of the chamber. An adjustable baffle is mounted on the flue adjacent its open end for deflecting outwardly toward the side wall solid material which moves from adjacent the one end wall toward the open end of the flue. A recuperator is mounted externally to the chamber on the exhaust flue, supplying heated air to the secondary air manifold and to the primary air and waste feed intake. Additionally, control means are provided for the use of specialized sensors to monitor the temperature, air flow and volume of the chamber, integrated into a process automation system that allows for control of individual components, stages, regions, as well as the entire process.