IP Library Granted Patent US 10,638,592
Granted Patent B2
US 10,638,592 · App. 15/410,853 · Granted Apr 28, 2020

System, method and apparatus for an inductively coupled plasma arc whirl filter press

Inventor: Todd Foret (The Woodlands, TX)
Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
H05H1/34C02F1/4608H05H1/26H05H1/30H05H1/38H05H1/50C02F2103/005H05H2001/3431H05H2001/466H05H2001/4667
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,638,592
App. No.
15/410,853
Granted
Apr 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plasma treatment system includes a plasma arc torch, a tee attached to a hollow electrode nozzle of the plasma arc torch, and a screw feed unit or a ram feed unit having an inlet and an outlet attached to the tee. The plasma arc torch includes a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end, a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end, an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that a centerline of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel.

Claims (60)

1. A plasma treatment system comprising:

a plasma arc torch comprising:

a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end,

a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end,

a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end,

an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and

a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that a centerline of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, the hollow electrode nozzle having a first end disposed within the cylindrical vessel and a second end disposed outside the cylindrical vessel;

a third tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the hollow electrode nozzle; and

a screw feed unit or a ram feed unit having an inlet and an outlet attached to the third tangential inlet/outlet.

2. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a fourth tangential inlet/outlet connected between the third tangential inlet/outlet and the screw feed unit or the ram unit.

3. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical vessel.

4. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a cylindrical tube connected between the hollow electrode nozzle and the third tangential inlet/outlet; and

a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical tube.

5. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical vessel;

a cylindrical tube connected between the hollow electrode nozzle and the third tangential inlet/outlet; and

a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical tube.

6. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an electrode stopper disposed within the cylindrical vessel.

7. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a stinger electrode extending from the screw feed unit or the ram feed unit and either aligned or canted with the centerline of the hollow electrode nozzle.

8. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

the outlet of the screw feed unit or the ram feed unit is aligned perpendicular to the centerline; and

a cyclone separator connected to the tee and having a tangential inlet aligned with the centerline.

9. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a gas source attached to the first tangential inlet/outlet of the plasma arc torch.

10. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a pump or conveyor connected to the inlet of the screw feed unit.

11. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a processor or separator connected to the output of the screw feed unit.

12. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a valve connected to the second tangential inlet/outlet of the plasma arc torch.

13. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a linear actuator operably connected to the first electrode to adjust the position of the first electrode with respect to the hollow electrode nozzle.

14. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a power supply electrically connected to the first electrode and the hollow electrode nozzle.

15. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a fourth tangential inlet/outlet connected to the third tangential inlet/outlet.

16. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical vessel.

17. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a cylindrical tube connected between the hollow electrode nozzle and the third tangential inlet/outlet; and

a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical tube.

18. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical vessel;

a cylindrical tube connected between the hollow electrode nozzle and the third tangential inlet/outlet; and

a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical tube.

19. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an electrode stopper disposed within the cylindrical vessel.

20. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a tee connected between the hollow electrode nozzle and the third tangential inlet/outlet; and

a screw feed unit having an inlet and an outlet connected to the tee, wherein the outlet of the screw feed unit is parallel with the centerline or perpendicular to the centerline.

21. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 20 , further comprising a pump or conveyor connected to the inlet of the screw feed unit.

22. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 20 , further comprising a processor or separator connected to the output of the screw feed unit.

23. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a fourth tangential dual inlet connected between the hollow electrode nozzle and the third tangential inlet/outlet.

24. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a gas source attached to the first tangential inlet/outlet of the plasma arc torch.

25. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a valve connected to the second tangential inlet/outlet of the plasma arc torch.

26. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a first linear actuator operably connected to the first electrode to adjust the position of the first electrode with respect to the hollow electrode nozzle; and

a second linear actuator operably connected to the second electrode to adjust the position of the second electrode.

27. The plasma treatment system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a power supply electrically connected to the first electrode and the hollow electrode nozzle.

28. A plasma treatment system comprising:

a plasma arc torch comprising:

a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end,

a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end,

a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end,

an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and

a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that a centerline of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, the hollow electrode nozzle having a first end disposed within the cylindrical vessel and a second end disposed outside the cylindrical vessel;

a third tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the hollow electrode nozzle; and

a second electrode either aligned or canted with the centerline of the hollow electrode nozzle aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extending into the third tangential inlet/outlet.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2017
From: FORET, TODD
To: FORET PLASMA LABS, LLC
Reel/Frame 041022/0833 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation 14217018 · Mar 17, 2014
Continuation In Part 13633128 · Oct 1, 2012
Continuation In Part 12371575 · Feb 13, 2009
Continuation In Part 12288170 · Oct 16, 2008
Continuation In Part 12370591 · Feb 12, 2009
Provisional Application 61788404 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 60980443 · Oct 16, 2007
Provisional Application 61027879 · Feb 12, 2008
Provisional Application 61028386 · Feb 13, 2008
Related Publication 20170135191A1 · May 11, 2017
Cited By (5)
US 12,195,338 US 12,214,420 US 12,261,023 US 12,311,447 US 12,406,829