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Title: New technological developments in processing solid waste to energy

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5158817

The state-of-the-art in production of energy from municipal solid waste outlining relative advantages, limitations, and economics of various systems is briefly reviewed including mass-burning versus RDF in spreader-stoker fired boilers; suspension-firing of RDF; pulverized fuel; pelletized fuels; and gaseous fuels generated by pyrolysis processes. A new system for processing solid waste for resource recovery separates the incoming waste by air-classification as the first processing step; conventional systems shred as the first processing step. This new system, originally developed to guard against shredder explosions, has the following supplemental advantages: produces a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) having higher heating values and less ash than conventional systems; and reclaims waste paper which can be used as paper-making furnish, utilizing current beneficiating and cleaning techniques. Production of paper from virgin materials requires 20 to 30 million Btu per ton of paper - versus 10 million Btu when waste paper is utilized as furnish. A new system proposed for storage, handling, and feeding refuse-derived fuel to large suspension-fired boilers is examined. This system proposes coarse shredding only of the light fraction at the solid waste processing plant; shipment in compactor trailers; storage in the same trailers; fine-shredding near the boiler; and air transport from the shredders using material handling fans injecting directly into the boilers. This system provides more efficient operation at less capital cost than systems utilized to date.

OSTI ID:
5158817
Report Number(s):
CONF-800352-5
Resource Relation:
Conference: 7. energy technology conference and exposition, Washington, DC, USA, 24 Mar 1980
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English