CONTAINER-BASED HEAT TREATMENT METHOD FOR CONTAMINATED SOILS AND WASTE CONTAINING PFAS AND SIMILAR CONTAMINANTS

BE1033147B1Active Publication Date: 2026-07-01HAEMERS TECH SA
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Authority / Receiving Office
BE · BE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
HAEMERS TECH SA
Filing Date
2024-11-28
Publication Date
2026-07-01
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Abstract

The invention relates to a containerized method for the thermal treatment of contaminated solids, pasty materials, and waste. The system comprises at least one thermally insulated container designed to minimize heat loss and allow material loading from a top or hinged side panel, and at least one heat generation unit equipped with a burner control system and a combustion chamber capable of achieving oxidation conditions for the complete destruction of contaminants. The method enables simultaneous thermal treatment of materials and vapor-phase contaminant destruction, aided by a ventilation system and a monitoring system allowing for real-time adjustments.In a second aspect, the invention proposes a containerized device with comparable operational characteristics, designed for portability and modular deployment, facilitating on-site sanitation in remote locations.
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Description

2 heterogeneity,includingvariationsinmoistureandpollutantconcentrations.This unevennesscomplicatesthermaltreatmentandnecessitatesprecisecontrolto ensureperformance. PFASandsimilarorganiccontaminants,oftenresultingfromindustrialandmilitary activities,poseuniquechallengesduetotheirhighchemicalandthermalstability.5 Traditionalremediationmethods,suchasbioremediationandsoilwashing,are frequentlyinadequate,whilethermaldesorptiongeneratescontaminatedvapors requiringextensivesecondarytreatment.Thesetreatmentsoftencreatewaste,such asactivatedcarbon,wherecontaminantsarefixatedbutnotdestroyed. ThepresentinventionovercomesthesechallengesbycombiningTCHwithdirect10 thermaloxidationathightemperaturesandresidencetimeinacontainerized system.Thisintegrationminimizeswastegeneration,enhancestreatmentefficiency, andreducesoperationalcostsandcarbonfootprint,offeringacomprehensiveand sustainablesolutiontosoilremediation 15 SUMMARYOFTHEINVENTIONThepresentinventionandembodimentsthereofservetoprovideasolutiontoone ormoreofabove-mentioneddisadvantages.Tothisend,thepresentinvention relatestoasystemandmethodswhichcombinesimprovingtheheatingefficiency20 andadaptabilityaswellasthermaldestructionofvaporizedonctaminantsinthe samedevice. Thisinventionprovidesacontainerizedthermaltreatmentsystemforcontaminated soilswithPFASorotherpersistentorganicscontaminants.Thesystemutilizes ThermalConductiveHeating(TCH)toheatthesoiltotemperaturesupto350–25 450°C,effectivelymobilizingthecontaminantsintothevaporphase.Thevaporized contaminantsarethendirectedintoahigh-efficiencyburnersystem,designedto oxidizethosecontaminantsattemperaturesexceeding1,400°Cwithoptimized residencetimeandturbulence. Keyfeaturesoftheinventioninclude:30 CompactDesign:Astandard40”containermodularsystemcapableof treatingupanyquantitiesofsoilperbatch,givenitsmodularity. IntegratedOxidationSystem:Burnersthatservedualpurposesofsoil heatingandvapordestruction.HighEfficiency:Achievesnear-totalPFASandotherorganics’destruction,35 convertingthemintobyproductssuchasCO₂,H₂O,HCl,HBrNO2,NO3and HFaswellasotherharmlesscompounds. BE2024 / 5838 3 EnvironmentalSustainability:EliminatestheneedforexternalVapor TreatmentUnits(VTU),significantlyreducingwasteandenergyuse. Thesystem’smodulardesignallowsforscalabilityandportability,enabling deploymentinremoteorurbansitesaswellaslargeindustrialwithminimalsetup time.5 DETAILEDDESCRIPTIONOFTHEINVENTION Theterms"contaminatedsoil"and"contaminatedmaterial"areusedhereas synonymsandshouldbeunderstoodtoincludealltypesofsoil,sludgeorother10 materialsthatmaybecontaminatedwithanycocktailofpollutants,suchasorganic contaminants,e.g.hydrocarbons,andinorganiccontaminants,withaboilingpoint atatmosphericpressureof550°Cormoreand / orheavymetals. Conductiveheatoccurswhentwomaterialsormaterialobjectsareindirectcontact15 andthetemperatureofoneishigherthanthetemperatureoftheother.Thermalconductionisthetransferofkineticenergyfromthewarmermediumtothecolder one.Theterm"conduction"asusedhereinisthereforeintendedtorefertoalltypes ofheattransferinwhichheatismovedfromone(warmer)objecttoanother(colder) objectbydirectcontact.Itshouldbeunderstoodthatinthepresentinvention,when20 heattransferbyconductionismentioned,alsoasmallamountofheatisusuallyalso transferredtothesoilthroughconvection(fluidmovement)andradiation. Theterm"remoteflame"referstothemovementofthecombustionchamber,burner head,andthustheflame,insidetheheatingtube(insidethesoil)ratherthanoutside thesoilasisthecasewiththeconventionalsystem.25 Descriptionofthecontainer Thecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsystemisdesignedtohouseandprocess contaminatedsoilefficientlywhilemaintainingacompactandmodulardesign.The30 soilisstoredwithinathermallyinsulatedcompartment,definedbyright insulationpanel(2)andleftinsulationpanel(3),whichprovidelateralthermal containment.Thetopinsulatedpanel(5)andtheinsulateddoors(4)completetheenclosure,ensuringminimalheatlossandexternalcontamination.Theground levelthermalinsulation(32)furtherreducesheatdispersion.Anopeningpanel35 atthetopofthecontainer(6)facilitatesloadingthecontaminatedmaterial(1), whileslotsforliquidcollection(7)andslotsforvaporcollection(8)allowfor efficientextractionofbyproductsduringthetreatmentprocess. BE2024 / 5838 4 Theheatingelements,comprisingcombustionchambers(9)andheatingplates (10),areintegratedintothecontainer,transferringheatdirectlytothesoil.The thermalenergyisdelivereduniformlythroughanetworkofinnerheatingtubes (9)surroundedbyheatexchangevolumes(33).Thecombustionchambers (9)canbeadjustedfordepthusingsleeves(17)andthreads(15),ensuring5 targetedheatingtoareaswithhighermoistureorcontaminantconcentrations. Thefanextractor(22)andairintakevalve(12)regulateairflowforcombustion, ensuringoptimaloxygenlevelsforefficientheatingandcontaminantdestruction. Combustiongasesareexpelledviatheexitofcombustiongases(11),whilepreheatedairandreburnvaporsarereintroducedintothesystemforenhanced10 energyefficiency. Atthecontainer’srear,doors(26)provideaccessformaintenance,loadingand unloadingtreatedsoil.Additionally,acontainerextension(25)enablesflexibility inaccommodatinglargertreatmentbatchesoradditionalequipmentasneeded. Theburnercontrolbox(31),combinedwithmonitoringsystems,allowsprecise15 adjustmentsofheat,pressure,andvaporflow.Forliquidfuelburners,themetal coilforfuelpreheating(19)ensurescombustionefficiencybypreheatingfuel beforeitreachesthefuelinjector(20).Aflamedetectionprobe(27)and electricigniter(28)ensurereliableandsafeoperationthroughouttheprocess. Thisrobustandadaptablecontainersystemensuresefficientremediationof20 contaminatedsoilswhileminimizingenvironmentalimpactandoperational complexity. Burners 25 Theburnersinthecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsystemareacriticalinnovation designedtoachieveefficientheatingandnear-totaldestructionofcontaminants,includingchallengingcompoundssuchasPFAS,dioxins,pesticides,PCBorsimilar long-chainorganiccontaminants.Theseburnerscombineprimarycombustion withanintegratedreburnsystem,ensuringhightemperatures,extendedresidence30 time,andoptimizedturbulenceforcompletethermaloxidationofcontaminants. 1.PrimaryCombustionChamber:Theburnersareequippedwitha combustionchamber(9)locatedwithintheheatexchangevolume (32).Thischambergeneratestheinitialflameusingeithergaseousorliquid fuels,suchasdiesel,biodiesel,naturalgas,biogasorotherfuelswhichare35 preheatedthroughametalcoil(19)toenhancecombustionefficiency.The combustionchamberisthermallyinsulatedwithrefractorycement(13)to ensureconsistenthightemperaturesandminimizeheatloss. BE2024 / 5838 5 2.ReburnSystem:Thesystemincorporatesareburnflexibleline(16)that redirectspartiallycombustedgasesandunburnedcontaminantsbackintothe burner.Thismechanismfacilitatessecondarycombustionattemperatures exceeding1,400°C,furtherbreakingdownpersistentorganicpollutantsintobyproductslikeCO₂,H₂O,NO2,NO3,HF,HCl,HBrandotherharmless5 byproducts.Thereburnprocessensuresthoroughoxidationwhileminimizing secondaryemissions. 3.ExtendedCombustionChamber:Toachievetherequiredresidencetime ofatleast1–2seconds,theburnersfeatureanextendedcombustion chamberdesign.Thiselongatedchamberallowsthecontaminantsinthe10 vaporphasetoremainexposedtohightemperaturesforasufficientduration, ensuringcompletethermaldestruction.Thechamberisequippedwithprecise airflowcontrols,includingtheairintakevalve(12)andfanextractor (22),tomaintaintheidealoxygenlevelsforcombustion. 4.TurbulenceGeneration:Withintheextendedcombustionchamber,15 optimizedturbulenceisgeneratedbyacombinationofairflowpatternsand thechamber’sgeometry.Thecontrolledturbulenceensuresthoroughmixing ofthevaporizedcontaminantswithoxygen,maximizingtheefficiencyofthe oxidationprocess.Thisfeatureiscriticalforbreakingdowncomplexchemical structureslikethoseofPFASandotherpersistentorganicpollutants.205.MonitoringandControl:Real-timemonitoringoftemperature,pressure, andgascompositionisfacilitatedbytheburnercontrolbox(31)and integratedsensors,includingaflamedetectionprobe(27).Thesesystems ensureprecisecontrolofcombustionparameters,enablingconsistent performanceacrossvaryingsoilandcontaminantprofiles.25 6.EnvironmentalEfficiency:Theburnerseliminatetheneedforexternal vaportreatmentunitsbyintegratingheatingandvapordestructionintoa singlesystem.Thisdesignsignificantlyreduceswastegeneration,energy consumption,andoperationalcomplexity,makingthesystemboth environmentallysustainableandcost-effective.30 Insummary,theburners'advanceddesign,combiningaprimarycombustion chamber,reburnsystem,extendedchamberforresidencetime,andturbulence generation,ensuresefficientcontaminantdestructionwithminimalenvironmental impact.Theiradaptabilitytovariousfuelsandcontaminantprofilesfurtherenhances theirversatilityandeffectivenessinsoilandsolidwasteremediationapplications.35 BE2024 / 5838 6PreferredEmbodimentwithEnrichedOxygenforEnhancedCombustion Efficiency Inapreferredembodiment,thesystemisconfiguredtooperatewithburnersthat utilizeenrichedoxygeninsteadofprimaryair.Thisconfigurationisachievedby5 integratinganoxygenconcentratorintothesystem.Theoxygenconcentrator separatesatmosphericoxygenfromnitrogenandothergases,supplyinghigh-purity oxygendirectlytotheburners. Byusingenrichedoxygen,thetotalflowrateofcombustiongasesissignificantly reducedwhilemaintainingthesameenergyinput.Thisreductioninflowhasseveral10 keyadvantages: 1.IncreasedResidenceTime:Thelowertotalflowratewithinthe combustionchamber(9)resultsinasubstantialincreaseintheresidence timeofthevapor-phasecontaminants.Thisextendedexposuretohigh- temperatureconditionsensuresmorethoroughoxidationofPFASandsimilar15 contaminants’molecules. 2.HigherTemperatures:Theenhancedcombustionenvironmentcreatedby enrichedoxygenallowsfortheachievementofmuchhighertemperatureswithinthecombustionchamber,exceedingthelevelsattainablewithprimary air.Theseelevatedtemperaturescontributetothesystem’sabilitytobreak20 downeventhemostthermallystablemolecules,achievingnear-complete destructionefficiency. 3.ImprovedDestructionEfficiency:Thecombinationoflongerresidence timesandhighertemperaturessignificantlyenhancesthedestructionrate efficiency(DRE)oforganiccontaminantsandotherpersistent25 contaminants.Thisimprovementensurescompliancewiththemoststringent environmentalstandardsforpollutantdestruction. 4.EnergyOptimization:Theuseofenrichedoxygenreducesthevolumeof combustiongases,therebyminimizingenergylossesduringheattransferand furtheroptimizingthesystem’soverallthermalefficiency.30 Theoxygenconcentratorcanbeinstalledwithinthetechnicalareaofthefront panel(24),integratingseamlesslywiththeexistinginfrastructure.Thismodular additionensuresoperationalflexibility,enablingthesystemtoswitchbetween primaryairandenrichedoxygenmodesbasedonspecificsiteorregulatory requirements.35Thisembodimentdemonstratesthesystem’sadaptabilityanditscapabilityto achievesuperiorperformancemetricsinPFASremediation,particularlyinscenarios whereenhanceddestructionefficiencyiscritical.Theenrichedoxygenconfiguration BE2024 / 5838 7 furtherunderscoresthesystem’sinnovativeapproachtoaddressingcomplex environmentalchallengeswithadvancedthermaltechnologies 5 Catalyticoxidation Thecatalyticoxidizersintegratedintothecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsystem serveasafinalpolishingstepforthecombustiongases.Positionedattheexitof combustiongases(11),theseunitsaredesignedtoensurethatanyresidual10 pollutantsorunburnedhydrocarbonsremainingaftertheprimaryandsecondary combustionprocessesarefullyoxidizedintoharmlessbyproducts,suchascarbon dioxide(CO₂),watervapor(H₂O),andtracesofotherproductssuchasHBr,HF, HCl,NO2,NO3,etc. 1.PurposeandFunction:Thecatalyticoxidizersarecriticalforremoving15 tracecontaminantsfromtheexhaustgases.Despitethehighefficiencyoftheburnersandreburnsystem,smallamountsofvolatileorganiccompounds (VOCs),semi-volatileorganiccompounds(SVOCs),andotherbyproducts maypersist.Thecatalyticoxidizerschemicallyconvertthesecompoundsinto benignsubstancesthroughoxidationatlowertemperaturesthan20 conventionalthermaloxidation. 2.CatalystComposition:Thecatalyticoxidizersemployamatrixofhigh- surface-areamaterialscoatedwithpreciousmetalcatalysts,suchas platinum,palladium,orrhodium.Thesematerialsfacilitateoxidation reactionsbyloweringtheactivationenergyrequiredfortheprocess.This25 enablescompleteoxidationofresidualpollutantsattemperaturestypically between200°Cand700°C,preferablybetween250°Cand600°Candmost preferablybetween300°Cand400°Csignificantlylowerthanthoseinthe primarycombustionchambers.Infunctionofthetypeofcontaminants, specificcatalystscanbeused,asthedesignallowsforeasyreplacementof30 saidcatalysts. 3.ProcessDescription: oGasFlowControl:ExhaustgasesfromtheHeatExchangevolume(33)areroutedthroughthecatalyticoxidizers.Theflowrateand temperaturearecarefullycontrolledtooptimizecontacttimebetween35 thegasesandthecatalystsurface,ensuringeffectivetreatment. oOxidationReactions:ResidualVOCsandSVOCsareexposedtothe catalyst,wheretheyundergochemicalreactionswithoxygenpresent BE2024 / 5838 8 intheexhauststream.ThesereactionsconvertthepollutantsintoCO₂ andH₂Oandtraceelements,incompliancewithemissionlimits. oFluorideManagement:IncaseoftreatmentofPFAS,tracelevelsof hydrogenfluoride(HF)producedduringPFASdecompositionarealso polishedthroughsorptionorreactionwithspecificcoatingsonthe5 catalystordownstreamfiltration. 4.Efficiency:Thecatalyticoxidizersachievenear-completedestructionof remainingcontaminants,withdestructionefficienciesexceeding99%for mosttargetpollutants.Thisensuresthatthesystemmeetsorexceeds stringentenvironmentalemissionstandards.10 5.IntegrationandDesign:Thecatalyticoxidizersarecompactandintegrated seamlesslyintothesystem’sexhaustline,minimizingadditionalspacerequirements.Theyareconstructedwithdurablematerialstowithstandthe elevatedtemperaturesandcorrosiveconditionsassociatedwithcombustion gases.15 6.Sustainability:Byeliminatingtheneedforexternalvaportreatmentunits andreducingenergyrequirementscomparedtoconventionalhigh- temperaturethermaloxidation,thecatalyticoxidizersenhancetheoverall environmentalsustainabilityofthesystem.Theirabilitytooperateat lowertemperaturesfurtherreducesenergyconsumption,improving20 operationalefficiencyandloweringthecarbonfootprint. Inapreferredembodiment,saidcatalystscanbeplacedbeforethereburnpipe(16) aswellorinsteadofonthegassesfromtheheatexchangevolumes(33). CombustionChamberDesignandAdaptability25 Thecombustionchamber(9)isacentralcomponentofthecontainerizedthermal treatmentsystem,engineeredtoachieveoxidizingconditionsexceeding 1,400°Cwitharesidencetimeofatleastonesecond.Theseparametersarecritical forensuringnear-completedestructionoforganicpollutants,includingthermallystablecompoundslikePFAS.Itsdesignincorporatesseveralinnovativefeatures:30 1.BurnerIntegration:Thechamberisequippedwithacombustionhead (41),whichoperatesinconjunctionwiththefuelinjector(20)todelivera consistentflame.Thisflameintensityandpositioncanbedynamically adjustedwithinthecombustionchamber(9)toconcentrateheatinthemost areasareasofthecontainer.35 2.AirflowOptimization:Thesystemincludesafanextractor(22)andan airintakevalve(12),whichtogetherregulatetheairflowandmaintainan BE2024 / 5838 9 oxygen-richenvironment.Thisensuresefficientcombustionandprevents incompleteoxidationofcontaminants. 3.ThermalInsulationandDurability:Thechamberislinedwithrefractory cement(13)toretainheat,stabilizehigh-temperatureconditions,and protectthestructuralintegrityofthesystem.Thisinsulationreducesenergy5 lossesandenhancesoperationalefficiency. 4.EnergyRecovery:Thefrontpanel(40)incorporatesheatexchangersthat recoverenergyfromtheexhaustgasesandpreheattheprimarycombustionairenteringthechamber.Thisdesignreducesfuelconsumption whilemaintainingthehightemperaturesrequiredforcompletepollutant10 destruction. 5.ReburnIntegration:Thesystemfeaturesareburnflexibleline(16)that routespartiallycombustedvaporsbackintothecombustionchamberfor secondarytreatment.Thisprocessensuresthebreakdownofresidual contaminantswhilemaximizingtheefficiencyoftheheatgenerated.15 Thesefeaturesworksynergisticallytoachieveoptimalcombustionconditions, ensuringthatallorganicpollutantsaredestroyedeffectivelywhileminimizing secondaryemissions.Themodularandadaptabledesignofthecombustionchamber enablespreciseenergydelivery,improvingtheoverallefficiencyandsustainability oftheremediationprocess.20 HeatTransferEfficiency Theheattransfersysteminthecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsystemis meticulouslydesignedtomaximizetheutilizationofthermalenergygeneratedby thecombustionchamber(9).Itensuresefficientanduniformheatingofthe25heatingelements(10),whileminimizingenergylossesandoperationalcosts.Thisis achievedthroughseveralintegratedfeatures,asillustratedinthefigures: 1.CirculationofHotCombustionGases:Theheatexchangevolumes, includingpanelsinthefrontarea(24)andtopinsulatedpanel(5)are specificallyengineeredtocirculatethehotcombustiongasesgenerated30 withinthesystemaftertheyhavealreadypassedthroughthemainheating panels.Thesegasestransferheatdirectlytothecontaminatedsoil(1)by flowingthroughthecombustionchamber(9)andthesurroundingspace betweenheatingpanels(33),ensuringconsistentanduniformheating throughoutthesoilmatrix.35 2.HeatExchangersforEnergyRecovery:Embeddedinthefrontarea(40) arehighlyefficientheatexchangers(39),whichrecoverthermalenergy fromtheexitingcombustiongases.Thisenergyisusedtopreheatthe BE2024 / 5838 10 primarycombustionairenteringthroughtheairintakevalve(12), significantlyreducingthefuelrequiredtomaintainhightemperaturesinthe combustionchamber.3.ThermalInsulation:Topreventheatloss,theentiresystem,includingthe combustionchamber(9)islinedwithrefractorycement(13).This5 ensuresthatthemaximumamountofgeneratedheatisdirectedtowards hightemperatureandhighdestructionratebeforebeingpassedontothe materialsinthecontainer. 4.GasFlowPathControl:Thesystemincludesconfigurableplumbinginthe frontarea(40),enablingoperatorstocontroltheflowpathofhot10 combustiongasesandvapors.Thisdesignallowsfortwooperationalmodes: oReburnMode:Vaporscanbedirectedbackintothecombustion chamberviathereburnflexibleline(16)forfurthertreatment. oBypassMode:Vaporscanbediverteddirectlytoanexternalvapor treatmentunit(VTU)whenneeded,providingoperationalflexibility.15 Insaidpreferredembodiment,thereburnpipe(16)isnotconnected totheprimaryairinput(12)butdirectlytoanexternalseparateVapor TreatmentUnit. 5.EnhancedInsulationviaWeldedRoofPanel:Theroofpanel(5)is weldedexceptforthelastsection(6),whichcanbeliftedforloading20purposes.Thisfixedstructureminimizesthermallosseswhilemaintaining accessibilityformaterialhandling. 6.DirectEnergyTransfertoSoil:Thecombustionchamber(9)is designedformaximumthermalconductivity,ensuringthattheheat generatedbytheburnersandcirculatedgasesisefficientlytransferredtothe25 soilmatrix.Thiseliminatestheneedforadditionalheatingelements, simplifyingthesystemwhileimprovingheatdelivery. Theseheattransferfeaturesensurethattheenergygeneratedisutilizedefficiently, notonlyfordestroyingcontaminantsbutalsoforheatingthesoiluniformly.This minimizesenergyconsumption,acceleratestreatmenttimes,andreduces30 operationalcosts,makingthesystembotheffectiveandsustainable. VaporHandlingandReburnBypass Thevaporhandlingsysteminthecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsystemis designedforflexibility,efficiency,andenvironmentalcompliance.Itensuresthat35 vaporizedcontaminantsgeneratedduringthethermaltreatmentprocessare managedeffectively,eitherthroughadditionalcombustionorexternaltreatment.Keyfeaturesandtheirintegration,asreferencedinthefigures,include: BE2024 / 5838 11 1.ReburnIntegration:Thesystemincorporatesareburnflexibleline(16) thatallowsvaporizedcontaminantstobereintroducedintothecombustion chamber(9)forsecondarycombustion.Thisensuresthatresidual contaminantsundergocompleteoxidation,achievingnear-totaldestruction oforganicpollutants.5 2.BypassOption:Plumbinginthefrontarea(40)isconfiguredtoenablea bypassoption.Whenactivated,vaporizedcontaminantsarerouteddirectly toanexternalvaportreatmentunit(VTU)foradditionalprocessing.This flexibilityallowsthesystemtoadapttosite-specificrequirementsor regulatoryconstraints.10 3.CompressorforCleaning:Acompressorlocatedatthefrontofthe containerfacilitatesautomatedcleaningofthevaporhandlingsystem betweentreatmentbatches.Thisfeatureensuresthatthesystemremains freeofclogsandmaintainsoptimalperformanceoverextendedperiodsof operation.15 4.CatalyticOxidizerforPolishing:Attheexitofthecombustiongases(11),acatalyticoxidizerservesasafinalpolishingstep,ensuringthatany residualcontaminantsordegradationbyproductsarefullyconvertedinto harmlesscompoundssuchasCO₂andH₂O.Thecatalyticoxidizeralsoacts asapassivebackupsystem,continuingtoprovideemissioncontrolduring20 short-termburnershutdowns. 5.VacuumApplicationCapability:Thesystemiscapableofapplyinga controlledvacuumwithinthetreatmentarea,withoperatingpressures rangingfrom100–500mbar(preferably200–350mbar,andideally250– 300mbar).Thisvacuumreducestheboilingpointofcontaminants,allowing25 fortheirvaporizationatlowertemperatures.Thisnotonlyprotectsmaterials suchassteelfromexcessiveheatbutalsoimprovesenergyefficiency. 6.MinimizedAirIngress:Thecontainer’sdesign,includingtheweldedroof panelandinsulatedtoppanel(5),preventstheingressofcoldoutsideair duringvacuumoperation.Thisensuresstablethermalconditionswithinthe30 system,maintainingefficientcontaminantvolatilizationwithoutenergyloss. 7.VaporCollectionSystem:Vaporizedcontaminantsaredirectedtothevaporextractiontube(35),whichensurescontrolledandefficientremoval ofgaseousbyproductsfromthesoil.Thistubeisstrategicallyintegratedwith theheatexchangevolume(33)andprotectedbysurroundingthermal35 insulation(14)tomaintainvaportemperatureandflow. 8.LiquidManagement:Freeliquidscollectedviatheslotsforliquid collection(7)areseparatedbeforetheycanbevaporizedunnecessarily. BE2024 / 5838 12 Thisreducestheburdenonthevaporhandlingsystem,conservesenergy, andacceleratesthetreatmentprocess. Thesefeaturescollectivelyprovidearobustvaporhandlingsystemthatnotonly maximizestheefficiencyofcontaminantdestructionbutalsoensurescompliance withstringentenvironmentalstandards.Theflexibilitytoalternatebetweenreburn5 modeandbypassmode,coupledwiththepolishingcapabilitiesofthecatalytic oxidizer,makesthesystemadaptable,reliable,andenvironmentallysustainable. AutomaticCleaningandLiquidCollection Thecleaningsysteminthecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsetupisakey10innovationdesignedtomaintainoperationalefficiency,reducedowntime,andensure consistentperformanceoverprolongedusage.Itsintegrationwithothersystem componentsenhancesautomationandminimizesmanualintervention.Keyfeatures, asreferencedinthefigures,include: 1.CompressorforAutomaticCleaning:Acompressor(38)locatedinthe15 frontarea(24)facilitatesautomatedcleaningprocessesbetweentreatment batches.Thissystemgenerateshigh-pressureairtodislodgeresiduesand particulatesfromcriticalcomponents,suchastheheatexchangevolume (33)andcombustionchamber(9),ensuringunrestrictedairflowand consistentcombustionefficiency.20 2.CleaningofVaporHandlingSystem:Thevaporextractiontube(35) andassociatedplumbingbenefitfromthecompressor-assistedcleaning, whichremovesresidualcontaminantsorcondensationthatcouldaccumulate duringoperation.Thisfeatureensuresthatvaporflowremainsunimpeded, maintainingthesystem’sefficiencyandreliability.25 3.AutomatedCycleIntegration:Thecleaningsystemisintegratedintotheoperationalcyclesofthecontainer.Betweentreatmentbatches,cleaningcan beinitiatedautomaticallywithoutrequiringmanualaccess,reducing downtimeandlaborcostswhileensuringthatthesystemisreadyforthenext operation.30 4.PreservationofHeatTransferEfficiency:Residuebuild-uponthe heatingelements(10)orthermalinsulation(14)canreduceheat transferefficiencyovertime.Theautomatedcleaningsystemmitigatesthis riskbyperiodicallyclearingthesesurfaces,preservingoptimalthermal performance.35 5.LiquidRecoverySupport:Theslotsforliquidcollection(7)andthe bottomplatearealsocleanedusingthecompressorsystemtoensurethat accumulatedliquidsordebrisareremoved.Thispreventsblockagesand BE2024 / 5838 13 enhancestheefficiencyoftheliquidrecoverysystem,acceleratingthe treatmentprocess. 6.EaseofMaintenance:Byautomatingthecleaningprocess,thesystem minimizestheneedformanualinterventioninhard-to-reachareas,suchas thereburnflexibleline(16)ortheinternalsectionsofthecombustion5chamber(9).Thisreducestheriskofoperationalerrorsandprolongsthe lifespanofcriticalcomponents. 7.DesignforMinimalDowntime:Thecompressor’splacementatthefront ofthecontainerensuresaccessibilityandeaseofservicing,allowing maintenanceteamstoquicklyaddressanyissueswithoutdisruptingthe10 overalloperationofthesystem. 8.EnvironmentalConsiderations:Thecleaningprocessisdesignedto capturedislodgedparticulatesandcontaminants,preventingthemfrombeing releasedintotheenvironment.Thisalignswiththesystem’sbroader sustainabilitygoalsandcompliancewithenvironmentalregulations.15 Thecleaningsystem,withitscompressor-drivenautomationandintegrationwith operationalcycles,significantlyimprovesthesystem'suptimeandreliability.By maintainingthecleanlinessandefficiencyofkeycomponents,itreducestreatment costs,enhancesperformance,andensuresuninterruptedoperationforextended periods.20 MaterialHandlingInnovations Thematerialhandlingsysteminthecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsolutionisdesignedtomaximizeoperationalefficiency,streamlineloadingandunloading processes,andminimizedowntime.Byeliminatingtraditionalcomplexities,it25 introducesahighlyefficientanduser-friendlymethodformanagingcontaminated soilduringtreatment.Keyfeatures,asreferencedinthefigures,include: 1.EliminationofHeatingTubes:Unlikeconventionalsystemsthatrelyon internalheatingtubes,thisdesignremovestheneedforsuchcomponents. Thisinnovationsimplifiestheloadingandunloadingofsoilwithinthe30 container,significantlyreducingpreparationtimeandoperationalcomplexity. 2.TopLoadingwithLiftableRoofPanel:Theroofpanelisweldedfor optimalinsulationbutincludesaliftablesectionatthelast2meters.This sectionallowsforsoiltobeloadedfromabove,ratherthanthroughsideor endopenings.Thisconfigurationnotonlysimplifiesloadingbutalsoenhances35 theinsulationofthecontainerduringoperationbyminimizingmovingparts. 3.ExpandableContainerDesign:Thesystemcanbeextendedbyattaching asecondcontainertothebasecontainer.ThissecondcontainerlackstheBE2024 / 5838 14 technicalequipmenthousedinthefrontarea(40),allowingforasignificant increaseinsoiltreatmentcapacity—morethandoublingthevolume—with minimaladditionalcost.Thismodularsetupimprovesscalabilityforlarger remediationprojects. 4.QuickTurnaroundTimes:Theremovalofinternalheatingtubesandthe5 streamlineddesignofthecontainerenablerapidsoilunloadingafter treatment.Treatedsoilcanbeeasilyremovedviathedoorsatthebackof thecontainer(26),andthecontainerisreadyforreloadingalmost immediately.Thisreducesdowntimebetweenbatchesandincreasesthe overallthroughputofthesystem.10 5.IntegratedLiquidCollection:Theslotsforliquidcollection(7)inthe bottomplateallowfortheseparationandrecoveryoffreeliquidsduring treatment.Byisolatingliquidsfromthesoilbeforeheating,thesystem reducesunnecessaryvaporization,acceleratestreatment,andconserves energy.Thisfeaturealsosimplifiescleanupaftertreatment,further15 enhancingmaterialhandlingefficiency. 6.ImprovedUptimeandCostEfficiency:Byoptimizingtheloading,unloading,andcleaningprocesses,thesystemmaximizesequipmentuptime, reducingtheoverallcostoftreatment.Operatorscanhandlelargervolumes ofsoilwithfewerdelays,makingtheprocessmoreeconomicalandscalable.20 7.Closed-SystemDesignforVacuumApplication:Theweldedroofpanel andinsulatedstructureallowthecontainertooperateasanearlysealed system.Thisenablestheapplicationofcontrolledvacuumconditions(100– 500mbar,preferably250–300mbar)withoutdrawinginoutsideair,which couldcomplicatematerialhandlinganddisruptthermalprofiles.25 8.CompatibilitywithMultipleSoilTypes:Theabsenceofrigidinternal componentsallowsthesystemtohandleawiderangeofsoilcompositions andcontaminantlevels,enhancingitsversatilityacrossdifferentproject requirements.Itishighlysuitableforsludgesandhighmoisturesolids. Theadvancedmaterialhandlingsystemisasignificantimprovementovertraditional30 methods,offeringfaster,simpler,andmorecost-effectiveoperations.Byfocusing oneaseofloadingandunloading,modularscalability,andintegrationwithothersystemfeatures,itensureshighthroughputandreduceddowntime,makingita criticalcomponentoftheoverallthermaltreatmentprocess. 35 RoofPanelandLoadingEfficiency Theroofpanelinthecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsystemisacriticaldesign elementthatenhancesboththermalinsulationandoperationalefficiency.Thepanel BE2024 / 5838 15 ispredominantlywelded,exceptforthefinalsection,whichcanbeliftedtofacilitate loading.Thisconfiguration,asdetailedinthefigures,offersseveralkeybenefits: 1.MaximizedInsulation:Theweldedportionoftheroofpanelensures exceptionalthermalinsulation,significantlyreducingheatlossduring operation.Thisdesignminimizesenergyconsumptionbyconcentrating5 thermalenergywithinthecontainer,allowingformoreefficientsoilheating andcontaminanttreatment. 2.LiftableLoadingSection:Thefinalsectionoftheroofisdesignedtobe lifted,creatingaconvenientloadingopening.Thisfeatureallows contaminatedsoiltobeloadeddirectlyfromabove,bypassingtheneedfor10 operatorstomanoeuvrewithinthecontainer.Thissimplifiestheloadingprocessandreducesthetimerequiredtopreparethecontainerfortreatment. 3.EnergyEfficiency:Bycombiningaweldeddesignformostoftheroofwith aliftablesectiononlywherenecessary,thesystemmaintainsahighlevelof insulationwithoutcompromisingfunctionality.Thereducedthermallosses15 translatetolowerenergyrequirements,improvingthecost-effectivenessof thetreatmentprocess. 4.SeamlessIntegrationwithMaterialHandling:Theliftableroofsection alignswiththematerialhandlingsystem,enablingquickandeasysoil loadingwhilemaintainingthecontainer’soverallstructuralintegrity.This20 configurationsupportsthestreamlinedloadingandunloadingprocesses, maximizingequipmentuptime. 5.EnhancedDurability:Theweldeddesignofthemajorityoftheroofensures structuraldurabilityandresistancetowearoverextendedoperations.The movablesectionisconstructedwithrobustmaterialstowithstandrepeated25 usewithoutcompromisingthecontainer’soverallperformance. 6.VacuumCompatibility:Theweldeddesigncomplementsthesystem'sabilitytooperateundercontrolledvacuumconditions(100–500mbar, preferably250–300mbar),ensuringthatthetreatmentarearemains sealedandinsulatedduringtheprocess.Thispreventstheingressofcoldair,30 whichcoulddisruptthermalefficiencyandpressurestability. 7.OperationalFlexibility:Theliftableroofpanelallowsoperatorstoadapt thesystemtovariousprojectrequirements,includingdifferentsoilvolumes andloadingequipment.Thedesignsupportsefficientoperationinawide rangeofsiteconditions.35 Bycombininghighthermalefficiency,easeofuse,andstructuraldurability,theroof paneldesigncontributessignificantlytothesystem’soverallperformance.It BE2024 / 5838 16 streamlinestheloadingprocesswhilemaintainingoptimalenergyefficiency,making itavitalcomponentofthecontainerizedthermaltreatmentsolution. VacuumApplicationandPressureControl Thevacuumapplicationandpressurecontrolsysteminthecontainerized5 thermaltreatmentsystemenhancesoperationalefficiencyandenergyconservationbyoptimizingtheconditionsforcontaminantvaporization.Thisfeatureisseamlessly integratedintothesystem'sdesignandprovidesseveralkeybenefits: 1.LowerVaporizationTemperatures:Byreducingtheinternalpressureto 100–500mbar(preferably250–300mbar),thesystemlowerstheboiling10 pointsofcontaminants.Thisallowsvolatileandsemi-volatilecompoundsto vaporizeatreducedtemperatures,protectingthestructuralintegrityof componentslikeheatexchangervolumes(33)andheaterelements (10)andminimizingenergyconsumption. 2.Closed-SystemDesign:Theweldedroofpanelandinsulatedtoppanel15 (5)createanearlyairtightstructure,preventingtheingressofcoldoutside air.Thisensuresstablethermalconditions,maintainingtheefficiencyofthe vacuumandavoidingtemperaturedisruptions. 3.EnhancedEnergyEfficiency:Loweroperationaltemperaturesunder vacuumconditionsreducethethermalloadonthecombustionchamber20 (9),extendingthelifespanofcriticalcomponentsandloweringfuelcosts. 4.ImprovedContaminantMobilization:Applyingavacuumfacilitatestheefficientextractionofcontaminantsviathevaporextractiontube(35), acceleratingtreatmentcycleswhileensuringthoroughremediation. 5.IntegratedControl:Thesystem’svacuumcapabilitiesareprecisely25 managedthroughintegratedsensorsandcontrols,ensuringconsistent performancetailoredtothespecificrequirementsofthesoilbeingtreated. Byreducingthepressureandmaintainingasealedenvironment,thevacuum applicationandpressurecontrolsystemenhancesboththeperformanceand sustainabilityofthethermaltreatmentprocess,providingsuperiorcontaminant30 removalwithreducedoperationalcosts. EnvironmentalandEconomicBenefits Thisinventionofferssignificantenvironmentalandeconomicadvantages: 1.EnergyEfficiency:Integratedheatrecoverysystemsandimproved35 insulationminimizefuelconsumptionandoperationalcosts. 2.Sustainability:Theeliminationofsecondarywastestreamsandtheuseof catalyticpolishingreducetheoverallenvironmentalimpact. BE2024 / 5838 17 3.ScalabilityandFlexibility:Modularextensionsanddual-pathvapormanagementadaptthesystemtoawiderangeofprojectsizesandsite conditions. DESCRIPTIONOFFIGURES5 Thefollowingdescriptionofthefiguresofspecificembodimentsoftheinventionis merelyexemplaryinnatureandisnotintendedtolimitthepresentteachings,their applicationoruses.Throughoutthedrawings,correspondingreferencenumerals indicatelikeorcorrespondingpartsandfeatures.10 1ContaminatedMaterial 2RightInsulationPanel 3LeftInsulationPanel 4InsulatedDoors 5InsulatedTopPanel 6InsulatedOpeningPanel 7SlotsforLiquidCollection 8SlotsforVaporCollection 9CombustionChamber 10HeatingElements(Plates) 11ExitofCombustionGases 12InputofPrimaryAirandReburnVapors 13RefractoryCement 14ThermalInsulation 15ThreadsforInternalHeatingTube 16Reburnpipe 17SleeveforAssemblingHeatingTubes 18Fixed-LengthElementsoftheInternalTube 19MetalCoilforLiquidFuelPreheating 20FuelInjector 21OutletofHeatingTube 22FanExtractor 23Containerframestructure 24HeatexchangevolumewithinthefrontPanelofContainer 25ContainerExtension 26DoorsatBackofContainer27FlameDetectionProbeorPhotoelectricSensor 28ElectricIgniter 29FlexibleGasand / orLiquidFuelLines 30SteelExtensionTubeforHeatingSystem 31BurnerControlBox 32Groundinsulationpanel 33Heatexchangervolume 34GravelforDrainage BE2024 / 5838 18 35VaporExtractionTube 36High-TemperatureResistantCables 37Catalyticoxydizer 38Compressor 39Plateheat-exchanger 40Frontareaofcontainer 41Combustionhead Figure1showsacrosssectionofaadditionalmoduleofacontainer. Figure2showsacrosssectioninthelengthofabasecontainer,showingthe combustionchambers,theheatexchangevolumesandthevaporrecovery5 Figure3showsacrosssectionfromthebasemodulecontainer Figure4showsahorizontalcrosssectionatthebottomofacontainer,showingliquid recoveryslots Figure5showsthebacktoacontaineroranextension,showingtheinsulated openingpanelforloading10 Figure6showsanexampleofconfigurationwith3containersandextensions Figure7showsaverticalcrosssectionofacontainershowingtheextentofthe insulatedopeningpanelFigure8showsthefrontareaofthecontainer,wherethepipingandmonitoring equipmentislocated15 Figure9showsthedetailoftheburnerinsidethecombustionchamberaswellas thecombustionchamber Figure10showsacrosssectionofthefrontareaofthecontainerwiththeinletand outletscomingfromthecontainer