Determination of solids Residence Time Distribution in Continuousiy Fed, Shallow Fluidized Beds: Towards the Development of a Fuel Efficient Contaminated Soils Incinerator
EPA Contract Number: 68D00028Title: Determination of solids Residence Time Distribution in Continuousiy Fed, Shallow Fluidized Beds: Towards the Development of a Fuel Efficient Contaminated Soils Incinerator
Investigators: Porter, James H.
Small Business: Energy and Environmental Engineering Inc.
EPA Contact: Manager, SBIR Program
Phase: I
Project Period: July 1, 1990 through January 1, 1991
Project Amount: $50,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1990)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Hazardous and Solid Waste
Description:
Soils contaminated with toxic chemicals pose a threat to the environment, in that the chemicals may be slowly released and incorporated into the food chain. High temperature, thermal oxidation offers one method of decontaminating these soils. However, because of the normally low concen- trations of contaminants absorbed on soils, fuel is required to heat the soil mass to temperatures near 2,000'F.Current thermal treatment processes are inefficient in their use of fuel because of failure to recover heat from the decontaminated soils and fuel gases leaving the combustion zone of the Incinerator. A unique, thermally efficient, staged, fluidized bed concept has been developed which reduces treatment costs by affecting a high degree of heat recovery from effluent streams leaving the combustion stage. The foundation of the concept is based upon two assumptions: 1. that thermal equilibrium can be attained between con- tacting gas and solid streams in shallow fluidized beds; and that, 2. solids residence time distribution in shallow fluid- ized beds do not approach well-stirred behavior, and thus may be suitable for the attainment of high destruction efficiencies without requiring extraordinarily long residence on the combustion stage.
In previous research, assumption One as verified. This proposal effort is designed to verify the second assumption. Its successful conclusion will lead to the construction and operation of a small pilot unit which will be used to verify the advantages of the entire concept.
Supplemental Keywords:Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Remediation, Chemical Engineering, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Incineration/Combustion, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Hazardous, Civil Engineering, Engineering, hazardous waste incinerators, soils, shallow fluidized bed, contaminated soil, fuel efficient incinerator