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)

Waste

Flue Gas

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

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

Stack

Fabric Filter
Spray Dryer

Ash Conveyer

Metal Recovery

Mass Burn Facility Pinellas County

Refuse Boiler
Tipping
Floor

Overhead Crane

Turbine Generator

Fabric Filter

Return to Home page

Updated August 2005