Plasma gasification and vitrification of ashes

摘要

Method for gasification and vitrification of ashes by means of a plasma arc, the method comprising: (a) feeding a predetermined quantity of ashes into a shaft furnace (14) provided in its heating section with two or three tiltable plasma arc electrodes (22a, 22b); (b) igniting the arc (26) between the ends of the electrodes (22a, 22b) when they are positioned essentially horizontally, facing one another; (c) tilting the electrodes downwardly, thereby increasing distance between their ends and lengthening the plasma arc (26) which helps to heat the ashes, producing combustion gases and slag; (d) allowing the tilting to proceed until the electrodes are positioned essentially vertically and whereby the arc (26) between them is broken while separate arcs (26a, 26b) are formed, one between each electrode and the slag (28) accumulated at the bottom of the furnace (14), thereby heating said slag and maintaining it in a molten state; and (e) tapping the molten slag (28) when required. An apparatus is also disclosed.