MASS BURN

High Tech Incineration

ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT W2E PROCESSES

Incineration, the combustion of organic material such as municipal solid waste (MSW) with energy recovery, is the most common and the most financially feasible (affordable) of all W2E methodology. Most new W2E plants incinerating waste (residual MSW, commercial, industrial or RDF (Refuse-derived fuel) are designed to  meet most emission standards, including those processing nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) or heavy metals and dioxins.

Hence, modern incineration plants are vastly different from the older designs, some of which were not able to recover energy nor materials. Modern incinerators reduce the volume of the original waste by 95-96 percent, depending upon composition and the degree of recovery of materials such as metals from the ash for recycling.

Modern Incineration emits a very fine particulate, which with exhaust scrubbers and filters is not harmful to the environment. Most heavy metals, trace dioxin and acid gas are relatively low from modern incinerators and captured in the process. With proper management, residues such fly ash can be routed into hazardous waste disposal installations as well as "incinerator bottom ash" (IBA), which must be reused properly.

Many European countries employ incineration to avoid landfilling. Incinerators have electric efficiencies between 14-28%. The total efficiencies of cogeneration incinerators are typically higher than 80% (based on the lower heating value of the waste).

Modern incineration to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into electric power entails burning waste (residual MSW, commercial, industrial and RDF) creating a syngas firing boilers which power steam generators that can be transmitted to the grid to be used in homes, businesses, institutions and industries.

Problem associated with the older waste 2 energy incinerators  was  pollutants entering the atmosphere with the flue gases from the boiler. Modern incinerators eliminated this problem by the use of lime scrubbers and electro-static precipitators on smokestacks.

By passing the effluent through  lime scrubbers acids that might be mixed in the smoke are neutralized.  Other devices, such as fabric filters, reactors, and catalysts destroy or capture other regulated pollutants. Modern incineration plants are so clean that "many times more dioxin is now released from home fireplaces and backyard barbecues than from industrial incineration. " According to the European Environmental Ministry, "because of stringent regulations, waste incineration plants are no longer significant in terms of emissions of dioxins, dust, and heavy metals".