| OCR Text |
Show Applications are anticipated in the steel industry (reheating, continuous casting, galvanizing, carburization), in aluminum heat treating and in ceramics production. Through effective signal processing, this technology can be used to determine the workpiece bulk (average) temperature, surface temperature, physical state, and the distance between the points of sound initiation and measurement without direct contact with the workpiece. Supercritical Water Oxidation The organic content of aqueous wastes can be oxidized under conditions where water is a supercritical fluid, 400-650°C and 250 atm. This process is termed supercritical water oxidation, SCWO. The heat produced during the oxidation of the organics is potenti~lIy recoverable for reuse. The technology has achieved over 99.99% waste destruction, with organics converted to CO2 and water. As a result, SCWO aqueous effluent can meet EPA ground water standards with little or no further treatment, and there are virtually no air pollution emissions. Also, the solids produced meet EPA landfill standards. Establishing effective organics destruction is a requirement before energy recovery can be considered for this technology. DOE has sponsored projects in energy recovery from waste destruction using SCWO since 1986. During this year, DOE has had two contractors attacking the major barriers to the commercialization of this technology: high capital and operating costs and the requirement of continuous operation. The contractors are Modell Development Corporation of Framingham, MA and Stone & Webster/Modar of Boston and Natick, MA respectively. The latter team is scaling up the process to 500 gallons per day. Advanced Porous Radiant Burner DOE is sponsoring the development of an advanced porous radiant burner designed to extend the advantages of radiant burners to high temperature applications. The benefits of radiant burner technology include high radiant efficiency, uniform flux to the process and simultaneously low emissions of NOx and CO. The contractor is Alzeta Corporation. Alezeta's Pyrocore ceramic fiber burners are currently used for process application temperatures no greater than 8000-1000°F. By expanding the capability of these burners to heat processes up to 1800°F, the advantages of this burner technology can be applied to energy intensive applications in the petrochemical, metals processing and other industries. Activities to date have centered on the identification and evaluation of materials of construction capable of prolonged, effective radiant burner operation at an elevated temperature. The final materials selection is expected to be complete around year end. |
