Westinghouse Electric Corporation

William H Reed

Edgar Berkey

James E Bauerle

Maurice G Fey

Thomas N Meyer

William M Hickam

Raymond F Taylor, Jr

Joseph W George

This invention relates to an electric arc heater process and apparatus for the essentially complete decomposition of hazardous materials including polychlorinated biphenyls. Finely divided liquid or gaseous hazardous material is injected into a primary gas stream which has been superheated in an electric arc heater. The mixture is directed into a primary reactor for complete decomposition with dwell times in the reactor being in the order of 0.05 to 0.15 seconds. The decomposition products are neutralized with the gases being released to atmosphere and any remaining particulates being collected for ultimate disposal. Large solid hazardous material is first shredded then heated in a roaster or rotary kiln to vaporize the primary gas stream. A soaking reactor is provided where increased dwell times are required for the decomposition of thermally stable compounds which may be formed in the primary reactor. When these compounds are absent the soaking reactor can be by-passed.

Electric arc heater process and apparatus for the decomposition of

A sensor for detecting the presence of thermally ionizable particles and vapors is disclosed. The sensor comprises an ionizer for supplying sufficient heat to thermally ionize the particles to be detected. The ionized particles are then caused to flow between the ionizer and an anode by impressing an electrical potential between the ionizer and the anode. The magnitude of the ion current is indicative of the concentration of the particles of vapors to be detected. The sensor is particularly useful in detecting alkali vapors and other particles, for example sodium, which may be easily thermally ionized. In most applications it is contemplated that the sensor will serve as a detector for alkali vapors and particles present in a gaseous atmosphere. Specifically it will serve as a detector for locating leaks in components of the fast breeder nuclear reactor system which employs sodium as a heat exchanger fluid.

Sensor for thermally ionizable particles and/or vapors

Variations in the conventional filament and collector electrodes of an alkali metal ionization detector, including the substitution of helical electrode configurations for either the conventional wire filament or flat plate collector; or, the substitution of a plurality of discrete filament electrodes providing an in situ capability for transferring from an operationally defective filament electrode to a previously unused filament electrode without removing the alkali metal ionization detector from the monitored environment. In particular, the helical collector arrangement which is coaxially disposed about the filament electrode, i.e. the thermal ionizer, provides an improved collection of positive ions developed by the filament electrode. The helical filament design, on the other hand, provides the advantage of an increased surface area for ionization of alkali metal-bearing species in a monitored gas environment as well as providing a relatively strong electric field for collecting the ions at the collector electrode about which the helical filament electrode is coaxially positioned. Alternatively, both the filament and collector electrodes can be helical. Furthermore, the operation of the conventional alkali metal ionization detector as a leak detector can be simplified as to cost and complexity, by operating the detector at a reduced collector potential while maintaining the sensitivity of the alkali metal ionization detector adequate for the relatively low concentration of alkali vapor and aerosol typically encountered in leak detection applications.

Alkali metal ionization detector

An oxide coated filament exhibiting surface ionization and electron conductivity characteristics is employed in alkali metal ionization detectors to provide extended filament operating life.

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Monroeville, PA, United States of America

William H Reed