MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE RUSSIAN

FEDERATION
FEDERAL STATE AUTONOMOUS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF
HIGHER EDUCATION
«ST. PETERSBURG NATIONAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, MECHANICS AND OPTICS»

Faculty of Energy and Environmental Technologies

ITMO UNIVERSITY

Task #2, Variant 2

Course: New Energy and Resource-saving Processes in a Circular Economy
“EVALUATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION AND
SPECIFIC LOWER CALORIFIC VALUE”

Author:
Kolpikova Victoria,
G4151c
Educator:
Sergienko O.I., PhD,

Saint Petersburg
2022
PRACTICAL WORK 2. MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE INCINERATION
Incinerator types and municipal solid waste (MSW) consumption is given in Table 1.
Incinerator types differ in furnace design and excess air ratio.
It is required to determine the incinerator discharge characteristics.

Table 1 - Source data for Practical work 2

Incinerator type
Layered furnace Rotary drum furnace

Excess air ratio 𝝰 = 1,4 Excess air ratio 𝝰 = 1,8

Variant № MSW consumption, t/h Variant № MSW consumption, t/h

0 0,05 10 0,5

1 0,1 11 1,0

2 0,15 12 1,5

3 0,2 13 2,0

4 0,25 14 2,5

Excess air ratio 𝝰 = 1,6 Excess air ratio 𝝰 = 2,0

Variant № MSW consumption, t/h Variant № MSW consumption, t/h

5 0,25 15 2,5

6 0,3 16 3,0

7 0,35 17 3,5

8 0,4 18 4,0

9 0,45 19 4,5
Note: variant number is chosen by the teacher, the calculation is done for 1 kg of MSW. The
calculation is made for the working mass of the MSW from Practical work 1.

1. Calculation of the theoretical air volume required for complete combustion of the
MSW and the resulting combustion products
The excess air ratio is the ratio of the air volume that was actually consumed for the
combustion of 1 kg MSW to the required theoretical volume.
The excess air ratio may be expressed with the following formula (1):
0
α =V p /V , (1)
The theoretical air volume required for the combustion of 1 kg of MSW is calculated
using the following formula (2):
V =0,0889∗( С +0,375∗S ) +0,265∗Н −0,033∗О , m /kg
0 w w w w 3
(2)

where C w , H w , S❑w , O w – are the percentages of chemical elements in the working mass of the
MSW, %.

V0 = 3,057 m3 /kg
 Then the practical air volume V p supplied to the combustion chamber of the
incinerator will be calculated by formula (3):
0 3
V p=α∗V , m /kg (3)
3
V p=1,4∗3,057=4,280 , m /kg
If the excess air ratio α = 1, the theoretical and practical air volumes required for the
complete combustion of 1 kg of MSW will be equal.
The combustion products are calculated based on the elemental composition of the
MSW working mass. The combustion products are solid (ash) and gaseous (flue gas). Flue
gas is the mixture of triatomic gases RO 2 (CO2 + SO2), nitrogen N2, water vapour, and excess
air.
The calculation of the triatomic gases volume produced by the combustion of 1 kg of
MSW is done by formula (4):
w w 3
V RO =V CO + V SO =0,01866∗(C +0,375∗S ),m /kg
2 2 2
(4)
3
V RO =0,01866∗( 28,201+0,375∗0,214 )=0,528 m /kg .
2

The calculation of the theoretical nitrogen N2 volume produced by the combustion of 1

kg of MSW is done by formula (5):
0 0 w 3
V N =0,79∗V +0,008∗N , m /kg
2
(5)
0 3
V N =0,79∗3,057+ 0,008∗1,349=2,426 m / kg .
2

The calculation of the theoretical water vapour H2О volume produced by the
combustion of 1 kg of MSW is done by formula (6):
0 w w 0 3
V H O =0,111∗H + 0,0124∗W +0,0161∗V ,m /kg
2
(6)
0 3
V H O =0,111∗3,867+0,0124∗42,287+ 0,0161∗3,057=1,003 m /kg .
2

The calculation of the theoretical flue gases volume produced by the combustion of 1
kg of MSW is done by formula (7):
V 0g=V 0H O +V 0N +V RO , m3 /kg
2 2 2
(7)
0 3
V g=1,003+2,426+ 0,528=3,956 m /kg .
2. Determination of the disposed MSW volume, the type of the incinerator and the
operating conditions for environmentally safe operation.
Assume MSW flow rate G = 1000 kg/h.
To implement the process, we adopt an incinerator with a rotating drum, afterburning
chamber, ash removal system, recovery boiler and flue gas cleaning system.
Since the waste composition can vary under real-life conditions, additional liquid or
gaseous fuel is provided. This is necessary to avoid drastic temperature fluctuations in the
incinerator and to sustain the required process temperature.
In order to ensure the quality of the process, it is recommended to maintain following
parameters at the given levels: the excess air ratio α = 2; the flue gas temperature at the outlet
of the afterburning chamber (AC) t ac =1200−1000 oC; the holding time in the AC should
exceed 2 sec.
We assume that the flue gas temperature at the AC outlet is t ac = 1200 oC and the
excess air ratio α =2.
3. Estimation of the theoretical MSW combustion temperature
When determining the theoretical combustion temperature t g it is assumed that all the
released heat is transferred to the combustion products. The target temperature depends on the
amount of heat released to them, the composition and quantity of the combustion products
and their specific heat capacity.
The theoretical combustion temperature for MSW is about 1000-1300 оC. Therefore,
we pre-calculate the enthalpies of the air and the flue gases for two temperature values of 800
and 1500 оC. The enthalpy (H) expresses the amount of heat contained at a given temperature
and pressure in a given volume of matter, in our case this matter is air or flue gas.
Enthalpy of the theoretical air volume is calculated using formula (8):
0 0
H a =V ∗C a∗t , kJ /kg (8)
where C a – air heat capacity at a given temperature, kJ/(m *K)
3

(It is not necessary to convert the heat capacity to оC; the heat capacity implies heating the
working body by 1 degree, and it does not matter whether it is Celsius or Kelvin).
t – - temperature setpoints of 800 and 1500 оC
0
H a 800 =3,057∗1,4124∗800=3454,261kJ / kg
0
H a 1500 =3,057∗1,4937∗1500=6849,552 kJ /kg
The heat capacity of air and flue gases at different temperatures can be found in Table 2.

Table 2 - Specific average heat capacities of gases and air at constant pressure
t,оС СCO2 СN2 СO2 СH2O Сa t,оС СCO2 СN2 СO2 СH2O Сa
kJ/(m3*K) kJ/(m3*K)
0 1,6010 1,2955 1,3069 1,4954 1,3198 1200 2,2655 1,4154 1,5017 1,7782 1,4623
100 1,7016 1,2968 1,3186 1,5063 1,3253 1300 2,2915 1,4263 1,5117 1,8042 1,4736
200 1,7887 1,3006 1,3362 1,5235 1,3328 1400 2,3154 1,4359 1,5214 1,8293 1,4841
300 1,8641 1,3077 1,3571 1,5436 1,3433 1500 2,3372 1,4451 1,5306 1,8541 1,4937
400 1,9312 1,3173 1,3785 1,5666 1,3555 1600 2,3573 1,4539 1,5390 1,8775 1,5029
500 1,9902 1,3286 1,3990 1,5909 1,3693 1700 2,3761 1,4623 1,5474 1,9010 1,5113
600 2,0426 1,3412 1,4179 1,6161 1,3840 1800 2,3933 1,4698 1,5553 1,9228 1,5189
700 2,0900 1,3546 1,4355 1,6425 1,3986 1900 2,4092 1,4770 1,5629 1,9437 1,5268
800 2,1327 1,3680 1,4510 1,6693 1,4124 2000 2,4239 1,4837 1,5704 1,9643 1,5340
900 2,1708 1,3806 1,4657 1,6969 1,4259 2100 2,4377 1,4904 1,5771 1,9840 1,5411
1000 2,2052 1,3928 1,4786 1,7242 1,4384 2200 2,4503 1,4962 1,5842 2,0024 1,5474
1100 2,2366 1,4045 1,4904 1,7514 1,4594 2300 2,4620 1,5021 1,5909 2,0204 1,5536
The enthalpy of flue gas theoretical volume is calculated using formula (9):
H 0g=(V RO ∗C CO +V 0N ∗C N +V 0H O∗C H O )∗t , kJ /kg
2 2 2 2 2 2
(9)
0
H g 800=(0,528∗1,451+ 2,426∗1,368+ 1,003∗1,6693)∗¿
¿ 800=4606,681 kJ /kg
0
H g1500 =(0,528∗2,3372+2,426∗1,4451+1,003∗1,8541)∗¿
¿ 1500=9897,569 kJ /kg
The enthalpy of flue gas practical volume is calculated using formula (10):
0 0
H g=H g + ( α−1 )∗H a , kJ /kg (10)

H g 800=4606,681+(1,4−1)∗3454,261=5988,386 kJ /kg
H g1500 =9897,569+(1,4−1)∗6849,552=12637,390 kJ /kg
Useful heat release on MSW thermal oxidation Quse MSW is calculated using formula (11).
Losses in the reaction volume qlos are already taken into account as 3 % or 0,03:
use w
Q MSW =Ql ∗(1−qlos ), kJ / kg (11)
use
Q MSW =10419,993∗(1−0,03 )=10107,394 kJ /kg .
The combustion temperature can be determined by interpolation in the temperature
range 800-1500 oC if we equate the useful heat release on MSW thermal oxidation with the
enthalpy of the flue gas at the theoretical combustion temperature. In our case we have
t g=1234 oC.
 Comparison of the obtained theoretical combustion temperature t g with the
recommended one at the AC which is equal to 1200 oC shows that there is no need for
additional fuel (DF) to increase the process temperature to the recommended one.

6. Incinerator consumption characteristics

MSW consumption G=1000 kg /h
Diesel fuel consumption B=b∗G=0∗1000=0 kg /h
Air consumption V =G∗∑ V 0a =1000∗7,009=7009 m3 / h
Flue gas consumption V g=G∗∑V g=1000∗7,91=7910 m3 /h
Burning capacity is calculated using formula (21):
Q=G∗Qwl + B∗Qldf w
, kW (21)
Q=1000∗10419,993+0∗42620=10419993 kJ /h=2894,443 kW
Flue gases leave the combustion chamber of the incinerator at a temperature of
t ac =1200 oC. The theoretical combustion temperature may be higher than the recommended
temperature, depending on the composition of MSW. In this case, in order to maintain the
recommended temperature, it is necessary either to correct the morphological composition of
the MSW, or to supply the reaction volume with cooling water (liquid non-flammable waste)
through nozzles, which evaporates and reduces the process temperature to the required one. If
necessary, additional cold air can also be supplied.
The specific amount of cooling water may be determined from the following ratio:
g=(QuseMSW −H g1200 )/(hwv −hcw ), kg/kg (MSW),
where h wv=2500+С H O∗1200/ ρwv , kJ /kg – cooling water vapour enthalpy;
2

h cw=C cw∗t cw , kJ /kg – cooling water enthalpy (C cw=4,19 kJ/(kg * оС), t cw = 20 оС);
ρwv , kg/m3 – water vapour density under normal conditions, assumed to be 0,805 kg/m3.
H 0 g 1200=( 0,528∗2,2655+2,426∗1,4154+ 1,003∗1,7782)1200=7694,854
H 0 a 1200=3,057∗1,4623∗1200=5364,450
Hg1200=7694,854+(1,4−1)∗5364,450=9840,635
h wv=2500+1,7782∗1200/0,805=5150,733 kJ /kg
h cw=4,19∗20=83,8 kJ /kg
g=(10107,394−9840,635)/(5150,733−83,8)=0,053 kg /kg(MSW )

Flue gas consumption V g is determined according to the ratio:

0 0 3
V g=G∗[V g +(α ❑−1)∗V + g/ ρwv ], m /kg .
V g=1000∗[3,956+( 1,4−1)∗3,057 +0,053/0,805]=5244,667 m3 / kg .

7. Heat recovery methods

One method of recovering heat from the flue gases in the temperature range from
t ac =1200 oC to the flue gas temperature recommended for the cleaning system ( t gp=t gts ) is the
use of a utilising boiler to produce additional water vapour and hot water from the utilised
heat which can then be used for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electricity and
refrigeration purposes.