Incineration method to produce energy

Incineration is an alternate method of landfilling of the waste. From incineration technique the
combustion technique came in to produce energy. Such WtE plant burns the waste in control
condition to generate steam that is used to run the turbine and generate electricity. Around 500MWh
to 700MWh energy is generated by per ton of waste by MSW combusted. [57]
57. The ABC of Sustainable Waste Management (SWM). Retrieved from:
http://www.seas.columbia.edu/earth/wtert/faq.html
The method is simple but the complication occurs while maintain and controlling the harmful
materials, compounds produced. The below diagram is an example of a WtE mass burner.
Figure 7: Waste to Energy Plant Diagram

It works by burning waste that cannot be recycled. In the above figure it is shown that the trash is
stored in a bunker and later it is burned and the steam is used to generate electricity and this electricity
can be fed into the national grid or supplied to the local community and the flue gases are sent for
treatment. And the ash produced from the burning of the waste is collected. The ashes can be used to
for constructions. The plants can also produce high-pressure hot water or steam that can be used by
industry or domestic heating. These plants are highly efficient and are encouraged by UK Government
policy. [56]
56. Columbia Engineering, Retrieved from: http://www.engineering.columbia.edu/
The electricity produced by the mass burner can be used for the plan itself. More advanced
technologies are being implemented to control the flue gases. In Uk , Germany strict rules and
regulations are followed and maintained for the combustion method. Not just that the combustion
system provides heat service in many countries. 30% of Denmark’s district heating comes from
the 28WtE facilities. [57] The below image shows average emission of ten WtE facilities, it is
said that WtE has lower carbon emission equivalent to landfilling and

Waste Generation
Waste generation rates are affected by socio-economic development, degree of industrialisation and
climate. Generally, the greater the economic prosperity and the higher percentage of urban population,
the greater amount of waste produced. Low-income countries have the lowest waste generation rates,
ranging from 0.4 to 0.9 kilogram per capita per day.
 Sources of waste
Street sweeping
23%
Residential

Residential
44%
Industrial

Commercial
Commercial
18%

Street sweeping

Industrial
15%

Calorific value of waste fraction

Component Calorific value (dry matter) MJ/kg

Organic food waste 18
paper 18
Plastic 40
Iron and metal package 0
Glass 0
Other waste not for incineration 0
Source: Received by fax from „Videncenter for Affald“ DK-2830, Virum
Composition of The Waste
There are mainly three types of waste generated from three sector such as residential, commercial and
industrial sector in the Dhaka South city. Every sector generate different fraction of the waste. Food
and vegetable waste, paper products, plastic, rubber, leather, garden waste and cloths are main
fraction of the waste.

Component Residential Waste By Commercial waste By Industrial Waste By

weight (%) weight (%) weight (%)
Food 69.6 72 32.9
Paper 10.56 4.36 6.93
Plastic, rubber and 12.5 3.10 7
leather
Metals 0.15 1.02 -
Glass - 0.8 -
Garden wastes, 5.2 2
tree trimming
and straw
Wood - - -
Cloths - 15.10 42.38
 miscellaneous 2 3.62 8.79
Source: DSCC
Calorific value of the waste in Dhaka city
Calorific value of residential waste is calculated 9.20 MJ/kg. Calorific value of Industrial waste is
calculated 5.67 MJ/kg. Calorific value of commercial waste is calculated 6.94 MJ/kg.
Residential waste = 44.2%.
Industrial waste = 14.7%
Commercial waste = 17.7%.
Street sweeping = 23.4%

Therefore, street sweeping is out of our consideration. Now new percentages of waste in individual
sector are:
Residential waste = 44.2/ (44.2+14.7+17.7) =0.5770 = 57.70%.
Industrial waste = 14.7/ (44.2+14.7+17.7) =0.1919 = 19.19%.
Commercial waste = 17.7/ (44.2+14.7+17.7) =0.2311 =23.11%.

Calorific value of the waste generated in the Dhaka South city is

9.19*57.7%+5.67*19.19%+6.94*23.11% = 8.00 MJ/kg
This value is technically enough for incineration Of course, some extra fuels are necessary for burning
of the waste of the Dhaka city since the moisture content of the waste is higher. Natural gas could be
used as a extra fuel for burning the waste in Dhaka south city while the country has own gas reserve.