Agenda - Council - 08/26/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Dedicated boilers are systems that utilize RDF exclusively. The incoming solid waste is trommelled, shredded, passed through a materials separation process, air-classified and often retrommelled before entering the furnace. Dedicated boilers are subject to the same environmental constraints as waterwall and RDF systems. Modular combustion units (MCUs) with energy recovery are considered to be an alternative resource recovery system for small communities or small energy users where the amount of solid waste to be handled is much less. These units are prefabricated, shipped to the site and are suitable to process 5 to 150 tons per day per unit. MCUs operate as a mass burning incinerator like waterwall combustion units; hence there is little or no materials recovery except large or dangerous objects. Energy is recovered in the form of steam and can be sold to nearby users. Control of air pollution emissions can be accomplished with scrubber-type air pollution control devices. How- ever, recent studies have shown that incinerators are a major source of airborne metal particulates such as cadmium, zinc, antimony, and possibly tin and silver. The concern over the health affects of these suspended particulates may require more stringent air pollution controls. Pyrolysis is the process of thermally decomposing solid wastes in the absence or near absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis is an endothermic process, which means it requires energy, as opposed to incineration, which is exothermic. The potential energy within the solid waste itself is used to provide the heat absorbed by pyrolysis and recover the remaining energy in the form of steam or liquid or gaseous fuel. Some materials recovery is possible before the solid waste enters or after it exits the pyrolysis chamber. Revenues come from the sale of pyrolysis fuel products or steam and recovered materials. Pyrolysis is still considered to be an experimental technology. Some of the problems and issues involved in constructing and operating resource recovery systems include: ga. Should energy-recovery facilities be privately or publicly owned and operated? What methods are available to local governments for financing energy recovery facilities? 6b. How can the owner or operator of an energy-recovery obtain obtain a guarantee for the amount of solid waste to the facility for maximum operating efficiency? Is flow control necessary, or can competitive tipping fees be established? 60. If energy recovery is determined not to be as cost-effective as source separation, how should the two strategies be planned to complement each other?