Reconfigurable waste treatment system

Abstract

A reconfigurable waste treatment system having one or more waste treatment units such as scrubbers, absorption units, and thermal destruction units, is provided for treating waste supplied to the treatment system from one or more waste sources. The treatment units are selectively connected between an output and an input of a distribution manifold. Each input may be selectively connected to a desired output to achieve a desired configuration of treatment units. A venturi vacuum pump and an inert gas supply are used to assist the evacuation of waste from the waste source. The inert gas can also be used to charge the system as a whole or selected treatment devices, when not in use, to prevent the accumulation of moisture therein. A flow/pressure regulator prevents the system from being overloaded. Holding vessels are provided for collecting waste to allow staged treatment and/or sampling. The system is enclosed in a containment chamber to prevent insufficiently treated waste from escaping into the environment. The chamber is provided with airtight hatches for entry and with a vent stack to exhaust sufficiently treated waste to the exterior of the chamber. The system may be operated remotely and may be placed on a transporter to provide mobile capability.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A waste treatment system comprising: 
 a distribution manifold comprising a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;    a plurality of waste treatment units, each having an inlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold and an outlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of inlets of said distribution manifold;    at least one waste source connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold; and    wherein said distribution manifold further comprises a plurality of flexible connectors, each of which can connect a selected one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold to a selected one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold to thereby enable the configuration of waste treatment units connected to said distribution manifold to be easily changed.    
     
     
         2 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein said waste source comprises a cylinder rupture vessel capable of gaining access to containers comprising waste which is to be treated.  
     
     
         3 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising a receiving system connected to at least one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold.  
     
     
         4 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of waste treatment units comprises at least one thermal destruction unit comprising a chamber having an chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, and wherein a mixture of waste, oxygen, and propane is thermally destroyed within said chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of waste treatment units comprises at least one thermal destruction unit comprising a chamber having an chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, and wherein waste is thermally decomposed within said chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of waste treatment units comprises at least one scrubber unit comprising a housing, a venturi having an outlet disposed within said housing, and a pump in communication with said housing and operatively coupled to said venturi, wherein said venturi mixes a treating solution and a waste.  
     
     
         7 . The waste treatment system of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one scrubber unit further comprises a plurality of baffles positioned between said inlet and said outlet.  
     
     
         8 . The waste treatment system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one scrubber unit further comprises a demister positioned between said plurality of baffles and said outlet.  
     
     
         9 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein said waste treatment units comprise at least one of a scrubber unit, a thermal destruction unit, and an absorption unit.  
     
     
         10 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising a venturi vacuum pump connected to at least one of said outputs of said distribution manifold.  
     
     
         11 . The waste treatment system of  claim 1  further comprising a venturi vacuum pump connected to at least one of said outputs of said distribution manifold and connected to said at least one waste source.  
     
     
         12 . A waste treatment system comprising: 
 a distribution manifold comprising a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;    a plurality of waste treatment units, each having an inlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold and an outlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    at least one waste source connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    wherein said distribution manifold further comprises a plurality of flexible connectors, each of which can connect a selected one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold to a selected one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold to thereby enable the configuration of waste treatment units connected to said distribution manifold to be easily changed; and    sampling means operatively connected to at least one of said at least one waste source and said distribution manifold for sampling untreated, partially treated, or treated waste.    
     
     
         13 . A waste treatment system comprising: 
 a distribution manifold comprising a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;    a plurality of waste treatment units, each having an inlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold and an outlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    at least one waste source connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    wherein said distribution manifold further comprises a plurality of flexible connectors, each of which can connect a selected one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold to a selected one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold to thereby enable the configuration of waste treatment units connected to said distribution manifold to be easily changed; and    at least one holding vessel connected to said distribution manifold capable of holding untreated, partially treated, or treated waste received from said at least one waste source.    
     
     
         14 . A waste treatment system comprising: 
 a distribution manifold comprising a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;    a plurality of waste treatment units, each having an inlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold and an outlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    at least one waste source connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    wherein said distribution manifold further comprises a plurality of flexible connectors, each of which can connect a selected one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold to a selected one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold to thereby enable the configuration of waste treatment units connected to said distribution manifold to be easily changed; and    wherein each inlet of each treatment unit is fixedly connected to at least one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold by rigid stainless steel pipe which and said flexible connector comprises flexible stainless steel hose.    
     
     
         15 . A waste treatment system comprising: 
 a distribution manifold comprising a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs;    a plurality of waste treatment units, each having an inlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold and an outlet rigidly connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    at least one waste source connected to at least one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold;    wherein said distribution manifold further comprises a plurality of flexible connectors, each of which can connect a selected one of said plurality of inputs of said distribution manifold to a selected one of said plurality of outputs of said distribution manifold to thereby enable the configuration of waste treatment units connected to said distribution manifold to be easily changed; and    transporting means for transporting said distribution manifold and said plurality of waste treatment units.    
     
     
         16 . A method of treating waste comprising: 
 (a) configuring a waste treatment system;    (b) supplying waste to said waste treatment system;    (c) routing said waste through said waste treatment system;    (d) reconfiguring said waste treatment system; and    (e) recirculating said waste through said reconfigured waste treatment system.    
     
     
         17 . A method of treating waste comprising: 
 (a) configuring a waste treatment system;    (b) supplying a first waste to said waste treatment system;    (c) routing said first waste through said waste treatment system;    (d) reconfiguring said waste treatment system;    (e) supplying a second waste to said waste treatment system; and    (f) routing said first waste through said waste treatment system.