principles similar to an arc welding machine, where an electrical arc is struck
between two electrodes. The high-energy arc creates high temperatures as higher
as 13,000
C. In the process of MSW treatment using plasma arc technology, the
waste materials are fed into the chamber, and the intense heat of the plasma breaks
down organic molecules (such as oil, solvents and paint) into their elemental atoms.
Since the treatment process is in a carefully controlled environment, these atoms will
recombine into harmless gases such as carbon dioxide.
With plasma arc technology, there is no burning or incineration and no formation
of ash; the solids components such as glass and metals are melted to form materials,
similar to hardened lava, in which toxic metals are encapsulated. Plasma arc technology is generally divided into two major technology types which are plasma torch
and plasma arc (or DC) melter.
Plasma torch systems in the plasma touch systems (Fig. 4), an arc is struck
between a copper electrode and another electrode of different polarity. This process
has high destructive efficiency and is very robust in the treatment of any form of
wastes without pretreatment. When using the plasma torch systems for treatment of
wastes with organic contents, the organic portion of the waste is usually retained in
the stable, leach-resistant slag. However, it is worth noting that the air pollution
control in the plasma touch systems is usually larger than the plasma arc systems due
to the need for stabilising the touch gas in the system.
Plasma arc systems the plasma arc system depicted in Fig. 5 has a very high
destruction efficiency which makes them very robust in the treatment of any type of
wastes in the MSW stream with or without pretreatment. The plasma arc system uses
carbon electrodes to strike an arc in the bath of molten slag. The high temperature
produced by the arc converts the organic contents of the feed wastes into lights
organics and other primary elements. In the plasma arc systems, the consumable
carbon electrodes are continuously inserted into the chamber, thereby eliminating
the needs for shutting down the system for maintenance or electrode replacement. It
is worth noting that, the potential of air pollution in the plasma arc systems is low
because of the electrical heating in the chamber in the absence of free oxygen.
Fig. 4 Plasma touch
furnace (Adapted with
permission from: [22])
184
A. A. Gado et al.
between two electrodes. The high-energy arc creates high temperatures as higher
as 13,000
C. In the process of MSW treatment using plasma arc technology, the
waste materials are fed into the chamber, and the intense heat of the plasma breaks
down organic molecules (such as oil, solvents and paint) into their elemental atoms.
Since the treatment process is in a carefully controlled environment, these atoms will
recombine into harmless gases such as carbon dioxide.
With plasma arc technology, there is no burning or incineration and no formation
of ash; the solids components such as glass and metals are melted to form materials,
similar to hardened lava, in which toxic metals are encapsulated. Plasma arc technology is generally divided into two major technology types which are plasma torch
and plasma arc (or DC) melter.
Plasma torch systems in the plasma touch systems (Fig. 4), an arc is struck
between a copper electrode and another electrode of different polarity. This process
has high destructive efficiency and is very robust in the treatment of any form of
wastes without pretreatment. When using the plasma torch systems for treatment of
wastes with organic contents, the organic portion of the waste is usually retained in
the stable, leach-resistant slag. However, it is worth noting that the air pollution
control in the plasma touch systems is usually larger than the plasma arc systems due
to the need for stabilising the touch gas in the system.
Plasma arc systems the plasma arc system depicted in Fig. 5 has a very high
destruction efficiency which makes them very robust in the treatment of any type of
wastes in the MSW stream with or without pretreatment. The plasma arc system uses
carbon electrodes to strike an arc in the bath of molten slag. The high temperature
produced by the arc converts the organic contents of the feed wastes into lights
organics and other primary elements. In the plasma arc systems, the consumable
carbon electrodes are continuously inserted into the chamber, thereby eliminating
the needs for shutting down the system for maintenance or electrode replacement. It
is worth noting that, the potential of air pollution in the plasma arc systems is low
because of the electrical heating in the chamber in the absence of free oxygen.
Fig. 4 Plasma touch
furnace (Adapted with
permission from: [22])
184
A. A. Gado et al.