Cremation method using supercritical fluid reactions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cremating a corpse, comprising the step of subjecting bodily fluids to a supercritical state in order to act as a solvent capable of decomposing the tissues and bones of the corpse, said method creating a supercritical reaction in the bodily fluids, capable of decomposing all the tissues and bones of the body and turning them into ashed bone.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for cremating a corpse which involves subjecting the body fluids of the corpse to a supercritical state to act as a solvent capable of breaking down the tissues, organs and bones of the corpse.

[0002] This method involves creating a supercritical reaction within the corpse's own bodily fluids, which breaks down all of the corpse's organs, bones and tissues into ash-like bone. [Background technology]

[0003] Cremation has become an interesting alternative to traditional burial, primarily due to limited land availability and the pressing concern of rising burial site prices. Cremation also has the advantage of easing the funeral process compared to traditional burial, which can encounter several tedious hurdles such as embalming, permits, transporting the casket, and preparing for the funeral, including preparing the grave and purchasing a headstone.

[0004] Cremation corresponds to the process of reducing the body to bone fragments and can currently be achieved by a variety of techniques, notably flame cremation and alkaline hydrolysis.

[0005] Traditional flame cremation uses flame and heat to reduce the body to bone fragments or cremated remains. In particular, flame cremation consists of placing the body in a flammable container, such as a coffin or hard cardboard container suitable for cremation, and moving the container to a cremation chamber or crematorium (also called a retort), an industrial furnace designed to expose the body and container to high temperatures, typically up to 2000°C, and reduce the body to cremated remains. Thus, the cremated remains essentially consist of bone fragments, remnants of the container, and other by-products that may have ultimately been generated during the incineration process. After a cooling period, the cremated remains are removed from the cremation chamber and inspected to recover jewelry that was inadvertently not removed, metal remnants from the container used, dental fillings and / or artificial joints that were surgically implanted while the deceased was alive, such as hip replacements. The cremated remains are then crushed by a specific processor and eventually reduced to ashes, which are then transferred and placed in an urn designed to be returned to the deceased's relatives.

[0006] Although flame cremation is more environmentally friendly than burial, it still has a significant environmental impact in itself, as it requires the use of fossil fuels to burn the body, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and in some cases mercury emissions due to the presence of amalgam fillings.

[0007] Furthermore, before carrying out the flame cremation process, and especially before being transferred to the crematorium, the body must be individually prepared. Indeed, pacemakers and medical devices, especially implanted devices that are battery-operated, must be removed for safety reasons to avoid possible explosions during incineration in the crematorium.

[0008] Additionally, flame cremation has the disadvantage that the cremated human remains become mixed with the remains of the container and the eventual by-products generated during incineration. This means that only a small amount of human remains can be usefully recovered at the end of the cremation. As a result, when the relatives of the deceased receive the urn, they do not know how much of the resulting remains are from the cremated remains of the deceased.

[0009] Alkaline hydrolysis, also known as liquid cremation, is a process that uses water and an alkali such as potassium hydroxide as the main ingredients to reduce remains to bone fragments or cremated remains, combining heat and pressure to facilitate the natural decomposition of the body. The process produces bone fragments and a sterile liquid that can be recycled through wastewater treatment systems.

[0010] In particular, liquid cremation consists of placing the body in a container and transferring the container to a designed cremation chamber filled with a mixture of water and an alkaline compound such as potassium hydroxide at high temperature and pressure, where the body decomposes. At the end of liquid cremation, bone fragments corresponding to the cremated remains and a sterile liquid consisting of a mixture of water, salts, sugars and amino acids are obtained. The cremated remains are usually dried in order to be crushed, while the sterile liquid is drained. The cremated remains are then transferred and placed in an urn designed to be returned to the relatives of the deceased.

[0011] Thus, liquid cremation has the advantage that it consumes less energy than traditional flame cremation, and the sterile liquid produced can be easily recycled through wastewater treatment systems. Liquid cremation also produces significantly less carbon dioxide emissions than flame cremation. This means that liquid cremation is more environmentally friendly than traditional flame cremation, and the process has the advantage of being closer to burial.

[0012] Furthermore, liquid cremation allows for more remains to be collected than traditional flame cremation. In other words, more remains can be collected and saved with liquid cremation than with traditional flame cremation.

[0013] Unlike traditional flame cremation, there is no need to prepare the body separately as there is no need to cut any implanted devices from the body, which means that liquid cremation is cooler than flame cremation, allowing implanted devices like pacemakers or artificial joints to remain in the body while the body decomposes. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] However, liquid cremation is not yet accepted or available in all countries, and indeed it can be perceived as a divisive process, being less dignified overall than standard flame cremation or traditional burial.

[0015] Furthermore, in countries where alkaline hydrolysis is permitted, there may be only a limited number of vendors available.

[0016] As a result, there remains a strong need to provide a cremation method that can mitigate some of the shortcomings that occur with currently available cremation methods.

[0017] In particular, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a cremation method that produces a larger volume of cremated remains, more particularly human cremated remains, with less energy consumption than standard flame cremation, and that is more generally acceptable than alkaline hydrolysis. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The present invention relates to a method for cremating a dead body, the method comprising the following steps: i) preheating the cremation chamber to a temperature of at least 300°C; ii) inserting the body into a cremation chamber; iii) sealing the cremation chamber; iv) increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to a pressure of 2900 psi or more to bring the body fluids of the corpse into a supercritical state; v) purging the cremation chamber after the bones and tissues of the corpse have been decomposed by the supercritical fluid; The following will be prepared in sequence.

[0019] The method of the present invention allows the temperature and pressure within the cremation chamber to cause the body fluids of the corpse to enter a supercritical state and act as a solvent capable of breaking down the tissue and bones of the corpse.

[0020] As a result, the method according to the invention makes it possible to bring a body fluid to a temperature and pressure above its critical point, thereby placing said fluid in a state in which it cannot be classified as either a liquid or a gas.

[0021] In particular, the decomposition of tissue and bone is achieved by the body fluids of the cadaver being brought to a supercritical state.

[0022] This method means that no addition or injection of water or oxidation catalyst is required.

[0023] In particular, the method according to the present invention differs from supercritical water processes because it utilizes the corpse's own body fluids, which have been brought to a supercritical state.

[0024] The method relies on the supercritical reaction of all the body fluids of the corpse placed in the cremation chamber to ensure the breakdown of tissue and bone.

[0025] The method of the present invention allows for a larger volume of cremated human remains to be obtained with less energy consumption than standard flame cremation.

[0026] As a result, the method of the present invention is environmentally friendly, as it reduces fuel usage and reduces carbon and mercury emissions.

[0027] The method of the present invention also has the advantage that it does not require preparation of the body prior to transfer to the cremation chamber, such as by removing implanted devices such as pacemakers or artificial joints. In fact, the body can be placed in the cremation chamber as is.

[0028] Furthermore, the method allows for the reduction of the remains to bone fragments and supercritical fluid mixture in a time period of less than 2 minutes, preferably less than 1 minute.

[0029] Thus, the method of the present invention allows for the efficient collection of cremated human remains under safe conditions.

[0030] This process allows for a quick reaction of the body to easily be reduced to cremated remains.

[0031] The cremated human remains resulting from the method may then be crushed, transferred, and collected into an urn or any suitable container.

[0032] This process allows for the recovery of greater amounts of human cremated remains than traditional flame cremation.

[0033] In particular, the cremated human remains resulting from the present method are not mixed with materials and / or other by-products resulting from the container in which the remains were placed.

[0034] The process of the present invention exhibits the characteristic of being a fireless process.

[0035] Other contents, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the following description, figures and examples.

[0036] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the expressions "between" and "in the range of" include the limits of the range of values.

[0037] Additionally, as used herein, the phrase "at least one" is equivalent to the phrase "one or more."

[0038] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the term "human remains" can indiscriminately correspond to the terms "dead body", "corpse", "cadaver", "deceased body" and / or "carcass". In other words, the term "human remains" can indiscriminately designate, in the context of the present invention, the terms "dead body", "corpse", "cadaver", "deceased body" and "carcass".

[0039] This means that the method is a method for cremating a corpse, a corpse, a dead body, a corpse or a dead body.

[0040] The term "human remains" can refer to either parts of a deceased body or the entire body.

[0041] [method] Preferably, the step of pre-heating the cremation chamber is carried out at a temperature of at least 320°C, more preferably at a temperature of at least 340°C, even more preferably at a temperature of at least 370°C and particularly preferably at a temperature of at least 374°C.

[0042] Preferably, the step of pre-heating the cremation chamber is carried out at a temperature ranging from 300°C to 420°C, more preferably ranging from 340°C to 4000°C, even more preferably ranging from 370°C to 380°C.

[0043] Preferably, the pre-heating step is carried out using a heating element, in particular a heater rod or a custom-made piece of nickel-chromium resistance wire, more preferably a custom-made heater rod, provided inside the cremation chamber.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the step of pre-heating a cremation chamber to the aforementioned temperature, said cremation chamber preferably comprising an internal insulated chamber housing a heating element, in particular a heater rod.

[0045] Preferably, the body is placed in a casket or rigid cardboard container suitable for cremation, more preferably a casket, before being transferred to the cremation chamber.

[0046] Preferably, the body is placed in a basket before being transferred to the cremation chamber, in particular the basket being large enough to accommodate the deceased remains.

[0047] The body is then placed in the crematorium.

[0048] The cremation chamber is then sealed.

[0049] The method includes increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to a pressure of 2900 psi or more (equivalent to approximately 20 MPa) to bring the body fluids of the corpse into a supercritical state.

[0050] In particular, the cremation chamber is pressurized to make the bodily fluids into a state other than liquid or gas.

[0051] This means the cremation chamber is pressurized to a pressure sufficient to turn the body's bodily fluids into supercritical fluids.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment, the pressure in the cremation chamber is increased to a pressure of 3400 psi or greater, more preferably 3800 psi or greater.

[0053] In particular, the pressure in the cremation chamber ranges from 2900 psi (about 20 MPa) to 4500 psi (31.03 MPa), preferably from 3400 psi (about 24.44 MPa) to 4500 psi (31.03 MPa), and more preferably from 3800 psi (about 26.2 MPa) to 4500 psi (31.03 MPa).

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the pressure in the cremation chamber is increased to 2900 psi (approximately 20 MPa) or more in order to bring the body fluids of the deceased into a supercritical state in a time period of less than 5 minutes, particularly preferably less than 4 minutes, and even more preferably less than 2 minutes.

[0055] In other words, the cremation chamber is preferably pressurized in a time of less than 5 minutes, especially less than 4 minutes.

[0056] Specifically, at this stage, the temperature and pressure of the body fluid are above the critical point and can be transformed into a supercritical fluid.

[0057] In particular, the temperature of the preheated cremation chamber is maintained during the step of increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to a pressure of 2900 psi or greater.

[0058] In other words, the cremation chamber is pressurized to a pressure of 2900 psi or greater at the temperature to which the cremation chamber was preheated.

[0059] As a result, the body is treated at the temperature to which the crematorium has been preheated.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to at least 2900 psi (about 20 MPa), preferably at least 3400 psi (about 24.44 MPa), more preferably at least 3800 psi (about 26.2 MPa) and increasing the temperature in the cremation chamber to at least 300°C, preferably at least 320°C, more preferably at least 340°C, even more preferably at least 370°C, and especially preferably at least 374°C.

[0061] In particular, the method comprises the steps of increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to at least 3400 psi, more preferably at least 3800 psi, and increasing the temperature in the cremation chamber to at least 320°C, more preferably at least 340°C, even more preferably at least 370°C, and most preferably at least 374°C.

[0062] More preferably, the method comprises increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to a pressure of 3400 psi or greater and the temperature in the cremation chamber is at least equal to 374°C.

[0063] According to the present invention, the characteristic "body fluid" includes water, free-flowing blood, blood components and any body fluid contained in a corpse or corpse.

[0064] Preferably, the step of increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to a pressure of 2900 psi or greater is carried out using either compressed air or nitrogen, more preferably nitrogen.

[0065] In particular, the oxygen content in compressed air is a maximum of 6% relative to the total volume of the compressed air.

[0066] Preferably, the step of increasing the pressure of the cremation chamber to 2900 psi or greater is carried out using nitrogen or a gas containing 95% or more by volume of the total gas in order to prevent the body's bodily fluid contents from boiling or burning.

[0067] Preferably, the step of increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber to 3400 psi or more is carried out using nitrogen or a gas containing 95% or more by volume of nitrogen based on the total volume of the gas.

[0068] As detailed above, once the bodily fluids reach a supercritical state, the supercritical fluids act as a solvent to break down the tissue and bones of the corpse within the cremation chamber.

[0069] In particular, supercritical bodily fluids act as solvents, breaking down molecular chains in the tissues and bones of corpses.

[0070] The reaction forms bone fragments equivalent to cremated human remains (also known as ashed bone) and a supercritical fluid mixture containing bodily fluids and tissues.

[0071] The reaction is advantageously complete in less than 2 minutes, preferably in less than 1 minute.

[0072] Once the reaction is complete, i.e. once the tissue and bones of the corpse have completely decomposed, the cremation chamber is specifically purged with air.

[0073] The step of purging the cremation chamber after the reaction is complete can be repeated several times.

[0074] Preferably, the cremation chamber is purged, in particular with air, so that the supercritical fluid mixture resulting from the reaction of the body fluids in the supercritical state with the tissue is evacuated, in particular forced through a heat exchanger.

[0075] In other words, at the end of the reaction, the supercritical fluid consists of a mixture of body fluids and tissue.

[0076] Preferably, the method comprises the step of purging the cremation chamber and then draining the supercritical fluid and forcing it through a heat exchanger.

[0077] Preferably, the purging step is carried out by opening a preset pressure relief valve in the cremation chamber, and the supercritical fluid mixture resulting from the reaction of the bodily fluids in the supercritical state with the tissue is drained, in particular forced through a heat exchanger, and into a holding tank.

[0078] Preferably the method comprises the step of cooling the supercritical fluid mixture to a liquid state in a heat exchanger.

[0079] In particular, the liquid exiting the heat exchanger has no DNA signature and a pH value below 7.

[0080] Once the cremation chamber has been purged, the pressure, especially the residual pressure, is reduced and said chamber can be safely opened.

[0081] Preferably, the method comprises the step of retrieving bone fragments or cremated human remains.

[0082] Cremated remains can be crushed into smaller pieces.

[0083] The cremated remains can then be collected and placed into an urn or suitable container.

[0084] That is, after the cremation chamber has been purged, the pressure within the chamber is released and the cremated human remains are retrieved.

[0085] [Cremation room]

[0086] Preferably, the method of the present invention is carried out in a cremation chamber as defined below.

[0087] The cremation chamber used in the present invention has an oblong shape, preferably a cylindrical shape, and more preferably a hollow tube.

[0088] The cremation chamber may be made of metal, such as stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, particularly those sold under the trade name Inconel®, or other high performance alloys used in high temperature applications.

[0089] The cremation chamber is equipped with heating elements, in particular heater rods, for pre-heating the cremation chamber to a temperature of at least 300°C, preferably at least 320°C, more preferably at least 340°C, even more preferably at least 370°C, particularly preferably at least 374°C.

[0090] Preferably, the cremation chamber comprises an internal insulating chamber having the same shape as the cremation chamber, in particular the internal insulating chamber has an oblong shape, preferably a cylindrical shape, more preferably a hollow tube.

[0091] Preferably, the internal insulating chamber forms at least a part of the interior of the cremation chamber.

[0092] Preferably, the cremation chamber has a width greater than the width of the inner insulating chamber.

[0093] The inner insulation chamber may be made of ceramic or coated with a ceramic, especially a high temperature resistant ceramic such as a high density ceramic insulation.

[0094] The inner insulated chamber is suitable for receiving a corpse, in particular a coffin suitable for cremation, a rigid cardboard container and / or a basket containing a corpse, in particular a corpse.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, the internal insulating chamber is adapted to receive a basket, in particular a stainless steel mesh basket, which is preferably reusable.

[0096] To collect only the remains of the deceased, a basket, particularly a stainless steel mesh basket, is preferred.

[0097] The internal insulating chamber preferably comprises heating elements, in particular heater rods, for pre-heating the cremation chamber to the aforementioned temperatures.

[0098] The presence of a heating element, preferably a heater rod, in the internal insulation chamber of the cremation chamber has the advantage of reducing the energy costs in heating and keeping warm in said internal insulation chamber and allowing the use of a cooler door seal.

[0099] The cremation chamber preferably incorporates an inward swinging door that cannot be opened while the chamber is pressurized. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0100] Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show one embodiment of the cremation chamber of the present invention. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a cremation chamber 1 according to the invention having an oblong shape. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a cremation chamber 1 according to the invention having an oblong shape. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along axis III-III of a cremation chamber 1 according to the invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along axis IV-IV of the cremation chamber 1 of the invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the cremation chamber 1 according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0101] According to FIG. 1, the cremation chamber 1 is a hollow tube with an outer casing 2 and containing an inner insulating chamber 3, preferably made of ceramic to withstand high temperatures such as 420°C.

[0102] The length of the outer casing 2 is greater than the length of the inner insulating chamber 3 .

[0103] The cremation chamber 1 and the internal insulated chamber 3 are sized to accommodate the remains, whether or not the remains are contained in a basket, coffin or rigid cardboard container, preferably a basket.

[0104] According to FIG. 2, the outer envelope 2 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the inner insulating chamber 3 .

[0105] Referring now to FIG. 3, the internal insulation chamber 3 is comprised of a heater rod 4 for preheating the internal insulation chamber 3 to the aforementioned temperatures, preferably to a temperature of at least 320° C., more preferably to a temperature of at least 374° C.

[0106] The heater rods 4 are arranged near the ceiling of the inner insulating chamber 3, preferably spaced at equal distances.

[0107] The inner insulated chamber 3 contains a basket 5 large enough to accommodate a carcass (not shown).

[0108] The basket 5 is placed on the floor of the inner insulated chamber 3 .

[0109] A temperature probe (not shown) can be present on the surface of the outer casing 2 and is suitable for alerting the operator when the cremation chamber 1 has reached the required temperature and for allowing a temperature drop when the door of the cremation chamber 1 is opened and the basket 4 is removed.

[0110] According to FIG. 4, the width of the outer envelope 2 is greater than the width of the inner insulating chamber 3 .

[0111] According to figure 5, the cremation chamber 1 can be mounted on a support comprising legs 6 and optional skids (not shown). The legs 6 can optionally be provided with lifting brackets (not shown).

[0112] In particular, when carrying out the method of the present invention, heater rods 4 located near the ceiling of the interior insulation chamber 3 are turned on with empty baskets 5 in place to retain and isolate heat within the interior insulation chamber 3.

[0113] Once the required temperature of at least 300°C has been reached, the door 2a is opened and the empty basket 5 is removed and replaced with a basket 5 containing the corpse. The door 2a is then closed and sealed and the cremation chamber 1 is pressurized to 2900 psi.

[0114] When the bodily fluids enter the supercritical state, the pressure in the cremation chamber 1 increases and can be controlled to bleed off excess pressure via a pressure relief valve installed at the outlet of the heat exchanger, which can be, for example, 4000 psi.

[0115] During the supercritical fluid process, the pressure is preferably reduced gradually because as the supercritical fluid breaks molecular chains, the size of the total solid volume (carcass) in the chamber decreases.

Claims

1. 1. A method for cremating a corpse, in particular a human corpse, comprising the following steps: i) preheating the cremation chamber (1) to a temperature of at least 300°C; ii) inserting the body, in particular a human body, into the cremation chamber (1); iii) sealing the cremation chamber (1); iv) increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber (1) to a pressure of at least 2900 psi in order to bring the body fluids of the corpse, in particular a human corpse, into a supercritical state; v) purging the cremation chamber (1) once the bones and tissues of the corpse, in particular of a human corpse, have been decomposed by the supercritical fluids; The method comprises the steps of:

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of preheating the cremation chamber (1) is carried out at a temperature of at least 320 °C, more preferably at a temperature of at least 340 °C, even more preferably at a temperature of at least 370 °C.

3. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of preheating the cremation chamber (1) is carried out using a heating element (4), in particular a heater rod (4).

4. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber (1) is carried out at a pressure of 3400 psi or more, more preferably 3800 psi or more.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of increasing the pressure is carried out for a time period of less than 5 minutes, preferably less than 4 minutes, and more preferably less than 2 minutes.

6. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of increasing the pressure in the cremation chamber (1) is carried out using either compressed air, nitrogen or a gas containing at least 95% by volume of nitrogen relative to the total volume of gas.

7. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cremation chamber (1) is purged with air.

8. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the decomposition of bones and tissues of the corpse, in particular of a human corpse, results in the formation of bone fragments and a supercritical fluid mixture of body fluids and tissues.

9. 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the cremation chamber (1) is purged before the supercritical fluid mixture is discharged.

10. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the supercritical fluid mixture is forced through a heat exchanger.

11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the supercritical fluid mixture is cooled back to a liquid state in the heat exchanger.

12. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that after purging the cremation chamber (1), the pressure in the cremation chamber (1) is released and cremated remains, in particular human cremated remains, are recovered.

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