Oxygen refuse converter

Claim 1

Apparatus for disposing of refuse by converting it to useful gaseous products and inert solid residue comprising in combination: 1. a vertical double frusto-pyramidal metal shaft tapering towards progressively smaller cross-sectional areas at both the top and at the base thereof, said shaft providing a drying zone at the top section thereof, a hearth at the base section thereof, and a thermal decomposition zone between said drying zone and said hearth, wherein the cross-sectional area at the base of the hearth is equal to or less than the value given by the formula: A R/8 where: A cross-sectional area at base of hearth (ft2) and R refuse feed rate (tons/day), 2. means for feeding an oxygen-containing gas into said hearth, 3. vapor-tight means for feeding refuse into the top section of said shaft to form a refuse bed therein, the cross-sectional area of said shaft at the level of the top surface of said refuse bed being at least equal to the value defined by the formula: B R (0.17 + 0.023 (100-P)/(p)) where: B cross-sectional area (ft2), P percent oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas, and R refuse feed rate (tons/day), 4. conduit means communicating with the top section of said shaft for discharging the gaseous products formed, 5. a taphole communicating with said hearth for discharging molten residue therefrom, said taphole having a cross-sectional area greater than that defined by the formula: C 0.0035 RX where: C cross-sectional area of the tap (in2), R refuse feed rate (tons/day), and X percentage of metal, glass, ash and like high melting materials in the refuse (%), said taphole being provided with a pouring lip extending outwardly from the bottom edge of said taphole to guide the flow of molten residue discharged therefrom into 6. receptacle means for containing the discharged molten residue and for permitting same to solidify into a solid residue, and 7. means for removing said solidified residuE from said receptacle means.