Concept design and optimization of MSW management system

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1999

OSTI ID:6456429

Palmer, J R

The maximum recovery of recyclables from municipal solid waste (MSW) using material recovery facility (MRF) technologies is determined. Two waste streams at Spangdahlem AB, Germany are analyzed; stationary container wastes and commingled recyclables. Three schemes are considered, one for each waste stream, and one for both. Multi-criteria decision making is the methodology. The criteria are recovery and annual benefit minus cost (B-C). Recovery is determined using the recovery factor transfer function of Diaz et al. (1982). Each technology, or unit operation, in a sequence is independent because particle size distribution of each waste component is considered. B-C is based on revenue from sold recyclables, tipping fees saved by not landfilling separated waste, and manual labor and amortized equipment costs. Six unit operations are considered: eddy current separator (ECS), magnet, air classifier, screen, manual sort, and shredder. Sequences one to six operations long are considered. Three heuristics eliminate 42,179 of 55,986 potential sequences as infeasible. The result is domination by a MRF to process both wastes and a tradeoff between 35.7% recovery of the total at an annual B-C of $0.95 million and recovery of 35.6% at an annual B-C of $1.02 million. Hand sort recovers the most, and is economical.

• Research Organization: Air Force Inst. of Tech., School of Engineering, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6456429
• Report Number(s): AD-A-361791/XAB; AFIT/GEE/ENV--99M-12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY FACILITIES
EUROPE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PLANNING
PROCESSING
RECYCLING
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS
WASTES
WESTERN EUROPE