Method for cremation by means of supercrtitical fluids reaction

Abstract

The present invention deals with a method for cremating a body comprising taking the body fluids to a supercritical state in order to act as a solvent capable of breaking down the tissues and bone of a corpse. The method allows creating a supercritical reaction with the body own fluids to break down all the tissues and bones of a body and convert them into ashen bone.

Claims

1. A method for cremating remains, comprising successively: i) pre-heating a cremation chamber (1) at a temperature of at least 300 C., ii) inserting said remains into the cremation chamber (1), iii) sealing the cremation chamber (1), iv) increasing the pressure of the cremation chamber (1) to a pressure above or equal to 2900 psi (20 MPa) in order to take the body fluids of the remains to a supercritical state, v) purging the cremation chamber (1) once the bones and tissues of the remains, have been broken down by the body fluids at a supercritical state, wherein the method does not include the addition or injection of water or an oxidation catalyst.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of pre-heating the cremation chamber (1) is performed at a temperature of at least 320 C., more preferably at a temperature of at least 340 C. and even more preferably at a temperature of at least 370 C.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of preheating the cremation chamber (1) is performed with heating elements (4), especially heating rods (4).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of increasing the pressure of the cremation chamber (1) is performed at a pressure above or equal to 3400 psi, more preferably above or equal to 3800 psi (26.2 MPa).

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of increasing the pressure is performed for a period of time of less than five minutes, preferably less than four minutes and even more preferably less than two minutes.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of increasing the pressure of the cremation chamber (1) is performed either with compressed air, nitrogen, or a gas containing more than 95% in volume of nitrogen relative to the total volume of said gas.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cremation chamber (1) is purged with air.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after purging the cremation chamber (1), the supercritical fluid mixture is drained.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the supercritical fluid mixture is pushed through a heat exchanger.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the supercritical fluid mixture is cooled back to a liquid state in the heat exchanger.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after purging the cremation chamber (1), the pressure in said chamber (1) is released, and the cremated remains are collected.

12. The method according claim 1, wherein the remains are human remains.

Description

(1) FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate one embodiment of the cremation chamber of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 represents a top view of a cremation chamber 1 according to the invention having an oblong shape.

(3) FIG. 2 represents a side view of the cremation chamber 1 according to the invention having an oblong shape.

(4) FIG. 3 represents a sectional view along the III-III axis of the cremation chamber 1 according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 represents a sectional view along the IV-IV axis of the cremation chamber 1 of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 represents a front view of the cremation chamber 1 according to the invention.

(7) According to FIG. 1, the cremation chamber 1 is a hollow tube providing with an outer casing 2 and containing an internal insulating chamber 3, preferably made of ceramic that is able to withstand high temperatures, such as 420 C.

(8) The length of the outer casing 2 is higher than the length of the internal insulated chamber 3.

(9) The cremation chamber 1 and the internal insulated chamber 3 are sized to receive a cadaver whether it is contained in a basket, a casket or a rigid cardboard container, preferably a basket.

(10) According to FIG. 2, the external envelope 2 has a diameter higher than the diameter of the internal insulated chamber 3.

(11) Referring now to FIG. 3, the internal insulated chamber 3 comprises heating rods 4 in order to pre-heat said insulated chamber 3 at the aforementioned temperature, preferably at a temperature of at least 320 C., more preferably at a temperature of at least 374 C.

(12) The heating rods 4 are placed near the ceiling of the internal insulated chamber 3 and are preferably arranged equidistant.

(13) The internal insulated chamber 3 comprises a basket 5 sized to contain a cadaver (not represented).

(14) The basket 5 is placed on the floor of the internal insulated chamber 3.

(15) Temperature probes (not represented) can be present on the surface the outer casing 2 and are suitable to alert the operator when the cremation chamber 1 reaches the required temperatures and to allow for temperature drop when the door of the cremation chamber 1 is open and the basket 4 is removed.

(16) According to FIG. 4, the width of the external envelope 2 is higher than the width of the internal insulated chamber 3.

(17) According to FIG. 5, the cremation chamber 1 can be mounted on a support comprising legs 6 and optionally a skid (not represented). The legs 6 can optionally be provided with lifting brackets (not represented).

(18) Especially when implementing the method of the present invention, the heater rods 4 placed near the ceiling of the interior insulated chamber 3 are turned on, with an empty basket 5 in position to retain and isolate the heat within the inner chamber 3.

(19) Once the required temperature of at least 300 C. is reached, the door 2a is opened, the empty basket 5 removed and replaced with a basket 5 containing a corpse. The door 2a is then closed and sealed, then the chamber 1 is pressurized up to 2900 psi.

(20) As the bodies fluid enters a supercritical state the chamber 1 pressure will increase, the pressure can build for example to 4,000 psi with the control excess bleed off through a pressure relief valve set up at the outlet of the heat exchanger.

(21) During the supercritical fluid process the pressure is preferably gradually reduced, this is due to the overall solid volume (deceased body) within the chamber reducing in size as the fluid cleaves the molecular chains.