Energy from incineration

This paper discusses waste management in the city of Paris. Data on solid wastes in Paris is provided, then the role of incineration, and the use of energy from incineration (heating network, production of electricity, total energy recovery), is examined. Air pollution standards are listed, and a comparison made between the different energies used for a heating network. Finally, future considerations are discussed. 

MSW incinerators (qv) are typically designed to reduce the volume of soHd waste and to generate electricity in condensing power stations. Incineration of unprocessed municipal waste alone recovers energy from about 34,500 t/d or 109 million metric tons of MSW aimuaHy in some 74 incinerators throughout the United States. This represents 1.1 EJ (1.05 x 10 Btu) of energy recovered aimuaHy (18). Additionally there are some 20 RDE facihties processing from 200 to 2000 t/d of MSW into a more refined fuel (19). Representative projects are shown in Table 10. 

The recycling of plastics waste is eonsidered with respect to energy recovery through incineration. It is claimed that burning solid municipal waste could produce nearly 10% of Europe s domestic electricity and heat and conserve resources by replacing, for example, over half of current coal imports to Western Europe. The potential for power from waste plastics and examples of energy from waste in action are described. 

The combustors affected by this rule detoxify or recover energy from hazardous waste and include incinerators, cement kilns, lightweight aggregate kilns, boilers and process heaters, and hydrochloric acid production furnaces. U.S. EPA estimates that 145 facilities operate 265 devices that burn hazardous waste. These technology-based standards reduce emissions of hazardous pollutants, including lead, mercury, arsenic, dioxin and furans, and HC1 and chlorine gas. In addition, emissions of PM are also reduced. 

The successful operation of this system demonstrated the potential for heat recovery from incineration of cotton gin trash. At a 30% recovery ratio, enough heat can be recovered from the incineration process to supply most of the energy required for seed cotton drying, even in low-capacity gins (Table IX). Only the size and volume of the ginning operation will dictate whether such recovery will be economically feasible. 

Linak, W. P. and Wendt, J. O. L., 1993. Toxic metal emissions from incineration mechanisms and control. Progr. Energy Combust. Sci. 19, 145-185. 

The two leading methods of generating energy from the incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW) are the mass-bum system and the refuse derived fuel (RDF) system. The mass-burn system incinerates unprocessed MSW to recover energy and the RDF system processes unprocessed MSW into a usable fuel prior to incineration. Both methods use either starved-air modular, stoker grates, rotary kiln, or fluidized-bed units for incineration. While the mass-burn system is currently more widely utilized, both systems may be used for large waste capacities. 

To determine if serious problems are associated with modular incinerators, DOD groups have funded or actually conducted tests of operating modular incinerators (16, 17). As a result of the various field tests and engineering evaluations, the DOD has decided to install a number of modular incinerators to recover energy from solid wastes. One of these installations (with three incinerators) is located near Jacksonville, Florida, at a Navy base and will serve as a testing and demonstration facility. If the units prove to be a satisfactory answer to the solid waste disposal and energy recovery needs, then more units may be justified for use by the Navy. 

Hofmann, R. E., Controlled-Air Incineration--Key to Practical Production of Energy from Wastes, Public Works, 107(9) 72-79, 136, 138 (September 1976). 

Energy from Solid Waste by Pyrolysis-Incineration... 

Rotary kilns (e.g., cement kilns), metal-recovery and smelting furnaces, mobile incinerators, and industrial boilers are primarily used to incinerate hazardous wastes. The obvious benefits of combustion of waste as fuel are the recovery of energy from the waste and the conservation of fossil fuels. Because the kiln and furnace operators are paid to take in the waste, rather than having to pay for fuel, also create economic incentives. Mobile incinerators are most commonly used for soil decontamination projects, and can be moved from site to site once the job is completed. 

Ralph watched through the hypersonic s sensor suite as the laser blast from low orbit struck the fantasm vehicle. Just for an instant he saw the silhouette of the real Longhound inside the illusory cloak, as if the purpose of the weapon was really to expose truths. Then the energy barrage incinerated the bus along with a thirty-metre-diameter circle of road. 

Traditionally, incineration has been used to reduce waste volume. It has also been used to produce inert residuals from hazardous waste. Emissions in the form of combustion gases and solid residuals from conventional incinerators have lead to much resistance to the widespread use of incineration. Nowadays, incineration technology is available which avoids the production of such emissions [25]. It would seem that the use of clean combustion technology to recover energy from waste otherwise destined to landfill has been accepted by European governments in and attempt to reduce landfill [57]. Two of the applications for plastics waste under investigation are the co-combustion of plastics waste with municipal solid waste as the main fuel and the use of... 

With stringent implementation of energy-conservation measures, steady-state generation of municipal wastes in the United States may possibly be restricted to 1200 Ib/yr-p. This waste has roughly (Petmer et al, 1998) an energy content of 10" kJ/kg. By the year 2050, a steady-state population of about 325 x 10 will then produce waste leading to an electric power output from incineration of... 

In the former West Germany, energy recovery from incineration reduces the cost of waste disposal by 20% - 40%, in Sweden all municipal waste incinerators recover energy (ISWA, 1991), and in 1991, 137 incinerators in the USA (where approximately one sixth of municipal waste is incinerated) recovered energy. 

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