Battelle Memorial Institute

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

James L Buelt

Kenton H Oma

Eugene A Eschbach

Craig L Timmerman

Paul L Koehmstedt

John G Carter

Vincent F FitzPatrick

William C Morgan

Richard A Pappas

Don Simone Daly

Scott K Cooley

Walter C Weimer

Kayte M Judd

William F Bonner

Richard A Brouns

Mark T Murphy

James A Stottlemyre

John S Tixier, Jr

A fluid level monitoring systemincludes an ultrasonic interrogation deviceacoustically coupled to a sidewallof containerand produces ultrasound that travels through the liquidalong a transverse pathand an inclined path. The liquid level is determined by calculating the times-of-flight for the received return signals, where the return signal along the inclined pathreflects from the intersectionof the liquid leveland a sidewall. The devicecan be a multi-element transducer having a plurality of transducer elements at different angular orientations in a common housing.

Ultrasonic fill level device and method

An apparatus for decontaminating ground areas where toxic chemicals are buried includes a plurality of spaced electrodes located in the ground and to which a voltage is applied for bringing about current flow. Power delivered to the ground volatilizes the chemicals that are then collected and directed to a gas treatment system. A preferred form of the invention employs high voltage arc discharge between the electrodes for heating a ground region to relatively high temperatures at relatively low power levels. Electrodes according to the present invention are provided with preferentially active lower portions between which current flows for the purpose of soil heating or for soil melting and vitrification. Promoting current flow below ground level avoids predominantly superficial treatment and increases electrode life.

Apparatus for in situ heating and vitrification

A method of making vitrified underground structures in which 1) the vitrification process is started underground, and 2) a thickness dimension is controlled to produce substantially planar vertical and horizontal vitrified underground structures. Structures may be placed around a contaminated waste site to isolate the site or may be used as aquifer dikes.

Vitrified underground structures

An electrode for use in in situ vitrification of soil comprises a molybdenum rod received within a conductive sleeve or collar formed of graphite. Electrodes of this type are placed on either side of a region containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil between the electrodes. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the electrode, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing the formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is filled with a conductive ceramic powder of a type that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as the graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquifies at operating temperatures. The molybdenum rod in the former case may be coated with an oxidation protectant, e.g. of molybdenum disilicide. As insulative blanket is suitably placed on the surface of the soil during processing to promote subsidence by allowing off-gassing and reducing surface heat loss. In other embodiments, connection to vitrification electrodes is provided below ground level to avoid loss of connection due to electrodes deterioration, or a sacrificial electrode may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes can be utilized to square up the vitrified area. Further, the center of the molybdenum rod can be made hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquifies at operating temperatures. In one embodiment, the molybdenum rod and the graphite collar are physically joined at the bottom.

Cold cap subsidence for in situ vitrification and electrodes therefor

A method and apparatus for decontaminating ground areas where toxic chemicals are buried comprises disposition of a plurality of spaced electrodes in the ground to be treated and application of a voltage across the electrodes for bringing about current flow through the ground. Power delivered to the ground volatilizes the chemicals which are collected and directed to a gas treatment system. The preferred form of the invention employs high voltage arc discharge between the electrodes for heating a ground region to relatively high temperatures at relatively low power levels.

In situ heating to detoxify organic-contaminated soils

An electrode comprising a molybdenum rod is received within a conductive collar formed of graphite. The molybdenum rod and the graphite collar may be physically joined at the bottom. A pair of such electrodes are placed in soil containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the combination, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is suitably filled with a conductive ceramic powder that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquefies at operating temperatures. The center of the molybdenum rod, used with a collar of separately, can be hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquefies at operating temperatures. Connection to electrodes can be provided below ground level to avoid open circuit due to electrode deterioration, or sacrificial electrodes may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes cna be utilized to square up a vitrified area.

Electrode systems for in situ vitrification

A method of vitrifying soil at or below a soil surface location. Two or more conductive electrodes are inserted into the soil for heating of the soil mass between them to a temperature above its melting temperature. Materials in the soil, such as buried waste, can thereby be effectively immobilized.

Growing community of inventors

Richland, WA, United States of America

James L Buelt