SCWO We are often taught that water exists in three phases: liquid, gas (steam) and solid (ice). However, when heated to temperatures of over 705°F and pressures of more than 3200 pounds per square inch (psi; atmospheric pressure is about 15 psi at sea level), water enters a unique, supercritical phase. This supercritical water flows like a gas but still is able to dissolve things like a liquid. Supercritical water can dissolve suspended sewage, and with the addition of oxygen, one can oxidize (i.e., burn) the sewage sludge, producing a sterile combination of water, carbon dioxide and salts. Similar to waste incineration, this supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) process produces heat, despite the presence of water. Some of this heat can be used to preheat the incoming sewage to supercritical temperatures, eliminating the need for an external heat source to sustain supercritical combustion once it is has begun. The remaining hot water may be supplied to the community directly or used to power an electrical generator.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 14:02:10 +0000
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