US4564458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for disposal of a broad spectrum of waste featuring oxidation of waste
Assignee: OXIDYNE Corp A CORP OF TX
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Filing: 1984-09-12
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Granted: 1986-01-14
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Expires: 2004-09-12
Abstract
Abstract In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a deep well is utilized to form a reaction chamber for combustible waste in water. A stream of water borne combustible waste is delivered into a deep well, sufficiently deep to obtain a pressure and temperature in a bottom located reaction chamber at which the water becomes supercritical, there being a pipe for delivering oxygen under pressure for combusting oxygen dissolved in the supercritical water with the waste materials. The reaction is exothermic to sustain itself. It is started preferably by electric current flow to initially raise the temperature in the reaction chamber. The preferred structure is a cased abandoned well having a surrounding cement bond to the formation thereby retarding heat loss into the formation, the bottom located reaction chamber sustaining supercritical conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Burleson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:14
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F11/00; C02F11/06; C02F11/08; C02F11/086; C02F11/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of wet oxidation of organic waste materials in waste water comprising the steps of: (a) flowing a stream of waste water including organic waste materials into an insulated well; (b) compressing a flow of oxygen to be injected into the flowing stream of waste water; (c) extending the flow of waste water to a depth such that pressure in the insulated well is increased to the pressure required for supercritical water; (d) initially heating with a separate control means the waste water at the bottom of the insulated well by flowing an electric current through the water at the bottom of the insulated well to generate resistance heat for the water to initiate oxidation for sustaining supercritical conditions in the insulated well; (e) oxidizing the organic waste materials in the waste water to liberate heat in the insulated well to sustain the temperature required for supercritical water wherein the initial heating step with the control means is ended after the oxidized wastes sustain exothermic oxidation; and (f) over a period of time, injecting the flow of oxygen into the insulated well with the waste water, and also removing water from the insulated well to enable continuous oxidation of waste in the insulated well at supercritical conditions to sustain supercritical temperatures.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of wet oxidation of organic waste materials in waste water comprising the steps of: (a) flowing a stream of waste water including organic waste materials into an insulated well; (b) compressing a flow of oxygen to be injected into the flowing stream of waste water; (c) extending the flow of waste water to a depth such that pressure in the insulated well is increased to the pressure required for supercritical water; (d) initially heating with a separate control means the waste water at the bottom of the insulated well by flowing an electric current through the water at the bottom of the insulated well to generate resistance heat for the water to initiate oxidation for sustaining supercritical conditions in the insulated well; (e) oxidizing the organic waste materials in the waste water to liberate heat in the insulated well to sustain the temperature required for supercritical water wherein the initial heating step with the control means is ended after the oxidized wastes sustain exothermic oxidation; and (f) over a period of time, injecting the flow of oxygen into the insulated well with the waste water, and also removing water from the insulated well to enable continuous oxidation of waste in the insulated well at supercritical conditions to sustain supercritical temperatures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of flowing an electric current through the water to metal pipe in the well to provide cathodic protection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2 including the step of flowing the water to the bottom of the insulated well through a first pipe and directing the flow of water from the bottom in another pipe to flush insoluble sediment from the bottom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of flowing compressed air along the well to a specified depth to bubble the air into the flowing waste water stream and flowing the stream with entrained air to a greater depth in the well until the oxygen in the air is dissolved and oxidizes the organic waste materials wherein the oxygen dissolves with reduced surface tension in the waste water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4 wherein air is discharged into downwardly flowing waste water preheated by upwardly flowing waste water from the bottom of the insulated well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the insulated well has a bottom defining plug means at a depth determined by the well depth and wherein the well holds a standing column of water, the column of water defining a pressure at the plug means, and including the step of applying supplemental pressure at the well head to obtain supercritical pressure at the plug means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6 including the step of closing the well with a wellhead closure means and wherein pipe means extend into the well, there being an inlet and outlet waste water pipe flowing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 including the step of regulating well head pressure to vary pressure at the bottom of the well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 including the step of injecting air to obtain compressed oxygen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of injecting waste water along the well in a first pipe surrounded by an annular pipe removing treated water from the well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 10 including the step of connecting a DC source to ground at the surface of the well and connecting via a wire conductor a current flowing electrode to said source, said electrode being positioned in a chamber at the bottom of the insulated well to conduct current from the electrode through water in the chamber to heat the water, and thereafter reducing current flow to form a cathodic protection current flow in the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 including the step of insulating the wire conductor between the DC source and the electrode to limit current flow to the chamber at the bottom of the insulated well.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of flowing direct electric current through the downward flow of the waste water below the point of oxygen injection extending to the bottom of the reaction chamber to cathodically protect apparatus in the well.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-13 | 1989-07-15 | 1990-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-13 | 1993-07-15 | 1994-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-13 | 1997-07-15 | 1998-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |