Method for starting up and controlling operating temperature of a wet oxidation process

Claim 1

A method for starting up and controlling the operating temperature in a wet oxidation process for treating an aqueous waste containing combustible materials, said process comprising the steps of: mixing an oxygen-containing gas with said waste to form an influent for wet oxidation; sequentially passing said influent through a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and then into a reaction vessel for wet oxidation; passing superheated steam through said second heat exchanger to heat said influent to a temperature sufficient to initiate the desire exothermic wet oxidation reaction in said reaction vessel and for a start-up time period sufficient to cause the wet oxidation reaction in said reaction vessel to substantially stabilize and reach a steady state condition; withdrawing an oxidized effluent from said reaction vessel and passing said effluent through said first heat exchanger to preheat said influent; and after said start-up period, adjusting the temperature and flow of the superheated steam passing through said second heat exchanger to cool said preheated influent to a temperature suitable for continued steady state operation of said reaction vessel.

Claim 2

A method for starting up and controlling the operating temperature in a wet oxidation process for treating an aqueous waste containing combustible materials, said process comprising the steps of: mixing an oxygen-containing gas with said waste to form an influent for wet oxidation; sequentially passing said influent through a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and then into a reaction vessel for wet oxidation; passing superheated steam through said second heat exchanger to heat said influent to a temperature sufficient to initiate the desire exothermic wet oxidation reaction in said reaction vessel and for a start-up time period sufficient to cause the wet oxidation reaction in said reaction vessel to substantially stabilize and reach a steady state condition; withdrawing an oxidized effluent from said reaction vessel and passing said effluent through said first heat exchanger to preheat said influent; and after said start-up period, adjusting the temperature and flow of the superheated steam passing through said second heat exchanger to cool said preheated influent to a temperature suitable for continued steady state operation of said reaction vessel.