METHOD OF LOW-TEMPERATURE TREATMENT OF HOUSEHOLD WASTE

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of household waste management, in particular, to methods of disposing waste by plasma-chemical destruction method. The invention is directed to attaining a technical effect of broadening range of technical solutions by providing a method of destruction of household waste at low temperature of treatment that is comparable to environment temperature. This technical effect is attained by a destruction method, where household waste is fed into a reactor via an input opening, and entry of atmospheric air into the reactor is restricted. The reactor is a closed cavity, whose inner surface is made conductive entirely or partially and is grounded. An electrode protrudes into the reactor, and this electrode is isolated from the grounded surface. High-voltage pulses are supplied to the electrode. The pulses cause formation of corona discharge streamers in a gap between the electrode and the conductive surface of the reactor.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A method of low-temperature treatment of household waste, comprising: feeding household waste into a reactor via an input opening, wherein entry of atmospheric air into the reactor is restricted, wherein the reactor is shaped as a closed cavity, whose inner surface is made conductive entirely or partially and is grounded, and an electrode protrudes into the reactor such that the electrode is isolated from the inner surface; and supplying high-voltage pulses to the electrode and the pulses cause formation of corona discharge streamers in a gap between the electrode and the conductive portion of the inner surface of the reactor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a conductive portion of the inner surface is covered by a layer of a water-containing liquid in advance of the feeding step.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a size of a gap between the electrode and a surface of the water-containing liquid is 5 to 50 millimeters.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a size of a gap between the electrode and the conductive portion of the inner surface is 5 to 50 millimeters.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the household waste is fed into the reactor in dosed amounts.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the household waste is packed into a compressed form prior to the feeding step.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein pressure inside the reactor is 0.1 to 1.0 Pa less than atmospheric pressure.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein an exhaust pump is provided at the reactor output.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0011] In the drawings:

[0012] FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross-section of the reactor for implementation of the claimed method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross-section of the reactor for implementation of the claimed method, where the following designators are used: [0015] 1—reactor body with inner cavity; [0016] 2—input opening; [0017] 3—output opening; [0018] 4—inner surface of reactor cavity; [0019] 5—conductive portions of inner surface of reactor cavity; [0020] 6—tipped electrode; [0021] 7—isolating members; [0022] 8—source of high-voltage pulses; [0023] 9—electrode tip; [0024] 10—conductive bottom of reactor; [0025] 11—device for dosed loading waste to be treated; [0026] 12—electrostatic filter with extraction air fan providing depression at reactor output.

[0027] The method is implemented by use of the reactor provided in form of the closed body (1) with the conductive bottom (10) that is grounded. The electrode (6) having the tip (9) protrudes into the body (1). The tip (9) is isolated from the conductive bottom (10) of the body (1) and directed towards it. A portion of compressed waste is fed from the device (11) for feeding waste to be treated in doses via the input opening (2) of the body (1), while entry of atmospheric air into the body (1) is restricted. High-voltage pulses are supplied to the electrode (6) from the source (8). As it is known from document [1], large number of streamers occur near the tip (9) of the electrode (6) with each pulse. The streamers start multiplying and spreading towards the conductive bottom (10) of the body (1), gradually populating the inter-electrode gap and forming streamer corona discharge. Plasma of corona discharge exerts an effect on water contained in the loaded waste and causes formation of free radicals upon destruction of water molecules: H.sub.2O.fwdarw.OH.Math.+H.Math.. In addition, other active substances are formed in the reactor due to corona discharge: O.sub.3, O.sub.2(a.sup.1Δ), H.sub.2O.sub.2, OH, O(.sup.3P), NO, HNO.sub.2 and HNO.sub.3. Corona discharge also causes ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Almost entire energy of electrons in plasma is spent for formation of the indicated active particles by dissociation, activation of electron states and creation of rotation and oscillation levels of gas resided in the reactor, where streamer corona discharge is formed, so no substantial gas heating occurs. The above-mentioned active substances and UV radiation destroy any organic and inorganic substances contained in the waste to be treated, thus providing complete destruction thereof and formation of harmless gaseous reaction products, namely, water and carbon dioxide. Non-organic contents of the waste are destroyed by acids.

[0028] The process of oxidation of organic substances in water is a chain reaction [2]. A low-rate chain reaction may be initiated by atmospheric oxygen and ozone. A high-rate chain reaction is initiated by OH radicals. In other words, plasma-chemical destruction of both organic and inorganic substances contained in the waste is provided in the device. Temperature of the body (1) and gases leaving it via the output opening (3) is near the environment temperature. In fact, entire energy of electric pulses is spent for formation of the active particles, which substantially accelerate natural reactions of oxidation of household waste. Gaseous products of destruction enter the output opening (3) of the reactor.

[0029] Thus, the specified technical effect is attained in form of providing the method of plasma-chemical destruction of both organic and non-organic substances contained in household waste at a temperature near the environment temperature.

[0030] Having thus described a preferred embodiment, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the described method and apparatus have been achieved.

[0031] It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined by the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0032] [1] Aristova N. A., Piskarev I. M., Ivanovskiy A. V., Selemir V. D., Spirov G. M., Shlepkin S. I., Initiation of chemical reactions by electrical discharge in dielectric-gas-liquid configuration // Physical Chemistry Journal, 2004, Vol. 78, #7, pages 1326-1331. [0033] [2] Piskarev I. M., Oxidation-reduction processes in water initiated by electrical discharge above water surface // General Chemistry Journal, 2001, Vol. 71, Issue 10, page 1622.