Soil remediation system having heat-loss dust decontamination apparatus

Abstract

A soil remediation system having apparatus for decontaminating particulate matter or dust entrained in and exhausted with a hot gas stream from a rotary drum wherein the particulate matter is subjected to heat-loss through an outer cylindrical wall of the drum. The system includes an inclined drum having a burner arrangement for directing a flame and hot gas stream into and axially through the drum ro remediate soil being processed through the drum, and dust decontamination apparatus including a fixed sleeve concentric with a downstream end of the drum such that an annular cavity is formed between the sleeve and the drum, and a filtering arrangement adapted to receive the hot gas stream as the hot gas stream is exhausted from the drum and to remove particulate matter entrained therein. The system is adapted to convey the removed particulate matter to the annular cavity where the particulate matter is decontaminated by heat-loss conductively transferred through and/or radiatively transferred by the cylindrical wall from the flame. A spiral arrangement spaced within the annular cavity lifts the particulate matter up, over and in contact with, the cylindrical wall. The dust decontamination apparatus is adaptable for use with an existing soil remediation plant.