METHOD OF THERMAL REWORKING OF WASTES Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: thermal reworking of wastes. SUBSTANCE: method includes preparation of wastes, loading them in furnace and heating them in furnace in oxidizing medium by means of energy converting devices, for example, plasmatrons, converting wastes into metal, slag and gas components which are discharged from furnace; waste gases are recovered by passing them through heat exchanger where natural gas taken from gas main before reducer on gas-distributing station is heated. Then waste gases are cleaned and are exhausted into atmosphere or cooled for phase transition from gaseous state into liquid state or solid state followed by preservation or neutralization. Heated natural gas is fed to turbo-expander reducing its pressure and is directed to after-reducer gas main; if necessary, natural gas is returned to heat after turbo-expander for additional heating, after which it is discharged to gas pipe line. Energy of expanding heated natural gas is converted into electrical energy by means of electric generator connected with turbo-expander, after which part of this energy is converted into thermal energy feeding power for electric converting devices; other part of energy is converted into mechanical energy to ensure operation of electrical equipment driving the mechanisms used in method; third part of energy is converted into chemical energy by means of air separating plant obtaining oxygen and argon. Gaseous oxygen is fed to furnace to oxidize wastes and gaseous argon is fed to energy converting devices protecting them against destruction in oxidizing medium; excessive gaseous and liquid oxygen and argon and oxygen and argon obtained at air separating plant are preserved. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency. 7 cl, 1 dwg