Dual shell reactor vessel: A pressure-balanced system for high pressure and temperature reactions

Abstract

DISCLAIMERPortions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. SummaryThe main purpose of this work was to demonstrate the Dual Shell Pressure Balanced Vessel (DSPBV) as a safe and economical reactor for the hydrothermal water oxidation of hazardous wastes. Experimental tests proved that the pressure balancing piston and the leak detection concept designed for this project will work.The DSPBV was sized to process 10 gaVhr of hazardous waste at up to 399°C (750°F) and 5000 psia (34.5 m a ) with a residence time of 10 min. The first prototype reactor is a certified ASME pressure vessel. It was purchased by Innotek Corporation (licensee) and shipped to Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) for testing. Supporting equipment and instnunentation were, to a large extent, transported here from Battelle Columbus Division. A special air feed system and liquid pump were purchased to complete the package. The entire integrated demonstration system was assembled at PNL.During the activities conducted for this report, the leak detector design was tested on bench top equipment. Response to low levels of water in oil was considered adequate to ensure safety of the pressure vessel.Shakedown tests with water only were completed to prove the system could operate at 35OOC at pressures up to 3300 psia. Two demonstration tests with industrial waste streams were conducted, which showed that the DSPBV could be used for hydrothermal oxidation. In the first test with a metal plating waste, chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, and cyanide concentrations were reduced over 90%. In the second test with a munitions .waste, the organics were reduced over 90% using H,O, as the oxidant.