Method and system for treating contaminated materials
Provided is a method for treating contaminated soil. The method includes providing contaminated soil in a soil chamber that has at least one wall, and at least one floor, at least one heater coupled to or inside of at least one of the walls and at least one substantially elongated floor heater coupled to or in the floor. At least one of the walls at least partially includes a thermally conductive material configured to transfer heat from at least one of the heaters to an interior of the soil chamber. At least one of the walls at least partially encloses an interior of the soil chamber. At least one of the walls can move between a closed position during heating of the soil chamber, and an open position that allows a soil moving vehicle to access an interior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to and from the soil chamber unencumbered by piping located within the soil volume. The method also includes heating the contaminated soil within the soil chamber to substantially reduce the level of contaminants in the contaminated soil.
1. A method for treating contaminated soil, comprising:
providing contaminated soil to a soil chamber;
allowing heat to transfer from at least two heaters to at least one or more walls of the soil chamber and to the floor of the soil chamber, and then to the contaminated soil, wherein at least one of the two heaters is attached to or inside of at least one wall of the soil chamber, and at least one of the two heaters is coupled to or in the floor of the soil chamber; and
heating the contaminated soil in the soil chamber to a desired temperature to reduce a level of contaminants in the contaminated soil;
wherein at least one of the walls of the soil chamber is configured to move between a closed position during heating of the contaminated soil, and an open position that allows a soil loading/unloading vehicle to access an interior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to and from the soil chamber.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing gas into the soil chamber to facilitate oxidation of compounds within the soil.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired temperature ranges from 50 degrees Celsius to 500 degrees Celsius.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing contaminated soil to the soil chamber comprises providing one or more sacks, cartons, or drums comprising contaminated soil.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein heating to the desired temperature oxidizes at least a portion of one or more of the sacks or cartons.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising driving a vehicle into the soil chamber to load the contaminated soil into the soil chamber.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the soil chamber is portable, and the method further comprises moving the soil chamber to a site proximate to the contaminated soil.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein heat transfers from at least one of the heaters to thermally conductive material attached to the wall of the soil chamber and then to the contaminated soil, and wherein at least 10% of an interior surface of the wall comprises the thermally conductive material.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
collecting vapor from the heated contaminated soil; and
providing fluid to the interior of the soil chamber.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfers from at least one of the heaters to thermally conductive material attached to the wall, and then to the contaminated soil.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the heaters comprises an electrical heater.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfers from at least one of the heaters to thermally conductive material attached to the wall and wherein the thermally conductive material comprises a planar metal plate, sheet, or layer.
13. A method for treating contaminated soil comprising:
providing contaminated soil to a soil chamber, wherein the soil chamber comprises at least two walls, that enclose an interior portion of the soil chamber, wherein at least one of the two walls comprises:
at least two heaters; and
one or more heat conducting plates positioned between one or more of the heaters and the interior of the chamber such that one or more of the heaters is in thermal contact with the heat conducting plates; and
heating the contaminated soil in the soil chamber to a desired temperature to reduce a level of contaminants in the contaminated soil, wherein a majority of heat provided to the soil chamber originates from the at least two heaters;
wherein at least one of the walls is configured to move between a closed position during heating of the soil chamber, and an open position that allows a soil moving vehicle to access an interior of the soil chamber to provide or remove soil to and from the soil chamber.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing gas into the soil chamber to facilitate oxidation of compounds within the soil.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the desired temperature ranges from 50 degrees Celsius to 500 degrees Celsius.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein providing contaminated soil to the soil chamber comprises providing one or more sacks, cartons, or drums comprising contaminated soil.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein heating to the desired temperature oxidizes at least a portion of one or more of the sacks or cartons.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising driving a vehicle into the soil chamber to load the contaminated soil into the soil chamber.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the soil chamber is portable, and the method further comprises moving the soil chamber to a site proximate to the contaminated soil.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein heat transfers from at least one of the heaters to heat conducting plates and then to the contaminated soil.
21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
collecting vapor from the heated contaminated soil; and
providing fluid to the interior of the soil chamber.
22. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the walls inhibits contact between one or more of the heaters and soil in the soil chamber.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the heaters comprises an electrical heater.
24. The method of claim 13 , wherein the heat conducting plates comprise a planar metal plate, sheet, or layer.
25. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least 10% of an interior surface of at least one of the walls comprises one or more of the heat conducting plates.