Inventors:
Robert C. W. Chang - Wilkins Twp., Allegheny County PA
Steven C. Vorndran - Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland County PA
Michael F. Joseph - Monroeville PA
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
F23G 500
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for pyrolytically decomposing waste material characterized by injecting a mixture of waste and water into a plasma torch having an operation temperature of in excess of 5000. degree. C. to form a mixture of product gases and solid particulate; separating the gases and particulate in a first cyclone separator into separate phases; transferring the particulate to a second cyclone separator and subjecting the particulate to a partial vacuum to separate any carryover gases from the particulate; subjecting the combined reaction chamber and carry over gases in a scrubber to a spray consisting of a caustic solution and water to eliminate any carryover particulate from the gases and to neutralize and HCl in the gases; and removing the gases from the scrubber.