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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Solid waste as fuel for power plants. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5137050

The technical and economic feasibility of burning prepared municipal refuse as a supplementary fuel in large suspension-fired utility boilers was investigated, including methods of air pollution control. The best boilers are equipped with electrostatic precipitators. The substitution of prepared refuse for a small percentage of pulverized coal may result in an increase in the dust loading, but is not expected to result in a discernible difference in the function of the precipitators, nor in the general quality of the dust collected by them. Particulate emissions from the chimneys should not be increased by application of the proposed process. The sulfur content of refuse is small, far less than the S present in even high grade coal, and probably some decrease in sulfur oxides emissions would result in substituting part of the refuse for coal. The air pollution control regulations in effect in the St. Louis area require the use of low sulfur coal (approximately 1.4% maximum S) by March 24, 1970. The use of low S coal will increase utility fuel costs, and it is possible that the use of prepared refuse as supplementary fuel could minimize fuel costs. 8 references.

Research Organization:
Horner and Shifrin, Inc., St. Louis, MO (USA)
OSTI ID:
5137050
Report Number(s):
PB-220-316; EPA-SW-36D-73
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English