System and method for the thermal processing of ore bodies

摘要

Disclosed herein is a plasma reactor system for processing ore, wherein the system comprises (a) a reactor comprising a chamber having a first opening for accommodating entry of a plasma torch where the plasma torch operates in a non-transfer mode; the chamber further comprises a second opening near the first opening for entry of ore and carrier gas having a constrained path into the chamber, the second opening being proximate to the first opening; the constrained path of the ore and carrier gas being along the same an axis in relation parallel to the major axis of the plasma torch; where the chamber is radially surrounded by inductive coils which deliver a high frequency alternating current creating a magnetic field which stirs ore as it passes through the reactor and assists in controlling reactor temperature; (b) a bag house where the bag house comprises a plurality of filters to capture particulate ore; and (c) an off-gas system where the off-gas system comprises a filtering system to remove toxic gases exiting the reactor and the bag house. Also disclosed is a method of using the plasma reactor system to process ore.