Municipal Solid Waste

Incineration
Combustion Types
Incineration (energy recovery through
complete oxidation)
Mass Burn
Refuse Derived Fuel
Pyrolysis
Gasification
Plasma arc (advanced thermal
conversion)
Gasification
Partial oxidation process using air, pure
oxygen, oxygen enriched air, or steam
Carbon converted into syngas
More flexible than incineration
More public acceptance
Flexibility of Gasification
Pyrolysis
Thermal degradation of carbonaceous
materials
Lower temperature than gasification
Absence or limited oxygen
Products are gas, liquid, solid char
Distribution of products depends on
temperature
Waste Incineration -
Advantages
Volume and weight reduced (approx. 90% vol. and
75% wt reduction)
Waste reduction is immediate, no long term residency
required
Destruction in seconds where LF requires 100s of years
Incineration can be done at generation site
Air discharges can be controlled
Ash residue is usually non-putrescible, sterile, inert
Small disposal area required
Cost can be offset by heat recovery/ sale of energy
Environmental Considerations
Tonne of waste creates 3.5 MW of
energy (eq. to 300 kg of fuel oil)
powers 70 homes
Biogenic portion of waste is considered
CO2 neutral (tree uses more CO2 during
its lifecycle than released during
combustion)
Should not displace recycling
Waste Incineration -
Disadvantages
High capital cost
Skilled operators are required (particularly for boiler
operations)
Some materials are noncombustible
Some material require supplemental fuel
Public disapproval
Risk imposed rather than voluntary
Incineration will decrease property value (perceived not
necessarily true)
Distrust of government/industry ability to regulate
Three Ts
Time
Temperature
Turbulence
System Components
Refuse receipt/storage
Refuse feeding
Grate system
Air supply
Furnace
Boiler
Energy/Mass Balance

Energy Loss (Radiation)

Flue Gas
Waste

Mass Loss (unburned

C in Ash)
Flue Gas Pollutants
Particulates
Acid Gases
NOx
CO
Organic Hazardous Air Pollutants
Metal Hazardous Air Pollutants
Particulates
Solid
Condensable
Causes
Too low of a comb T (incomplete comb)
Insufficient oxygen or overabundant EA (too high T)
Insufficient mixing or residence time
Too much turbulence, entrainment of particulates
Control
Cyclones - not effective for removal of small particulates
Electrostatic precipitator
Fabric Filters (baghouses)
Metals
Removed with particulates
Mercury remains volatilized
Tough to remove from flue gas
Remove source or use activated carbon
(along with dioxins)
Acid Gases
From Cl, S, N, Fl in refuse (in plastics,
textiles, rubber, yd waste, paper)
Uncontrolled incineration - 18-20% HCl with
pH 2
Acid gas scrubber (SO2, HCl, HFl) usually
ahead of ESP or baghouse
Wet scrubber
Spray dryer
Dry scrubber injectors
Nitrogen removal
Source removal to avoid fuel NOx
production
T < 1500 F to avoid thermal NOx
Denox sytems - selective catalytic
reaction via injection of ammonia
Air Pollution Control
Remove certain waste components
Good Combustion Practices
Emission Control Devices
Devices
Electrostatic Precipitator
Baghouses
Acid Gas Scrubbers
Wet scrubber
Dry scrubber
Chemicals added in slurry to neutralize acids
Activated Carbon
Selective Non-catalytic Reduction
Role of Excess Air Control
Three Ts
Stoichiometric

Insufficient O2 Excess Air

Amount of Air Added

Role of Excess Air Contd

Stoichiometric

Increasing Moisture

Insufficient O2 Excess Air

Amount of Air Added

 Role of Excess Air Contd

Stoichiometric

NOx
T
Optimum T
Range
(1500 1800 oF)
PICs/Particulates

Insufficient O2 Excess Air

Amount of Air Added

Ash
Bottom Ash recovered from combustion chamber
Heat Recovery Ash collected in the heat recovery
system (boiler, economizer, superheater)
Fly Ash Particulate matter removed prior to
sorbents
Air Pollution Control Residues usually combined
with fly ash
Combined Ash most US facilities
combine all ashes
Schematic Presentation of
Bottom Ash Treatment
Ash Reuse Options
Construction fill
Road construction
Landfill daily cover
Cement block production
Treatment of acid mine drainage
 Refuse Boiler
Stack Fabric Filter
Spray Dryer
Tipping
Floor
Ash Conveyer

Metal Recovery

Mass Burn Facility Pinellas County

Overhead Crane
Turbine Generator
Fabric Filter
 Return to Home page

Updated August 2005