(405d) Sustainable Mass-Burn Refuse-Derived-Fuel-to-Energy System: A Municipal Solid Waste Management Case Study

Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste. WtE is a form of energy recovery. Most WtE processes produce electricity and/or heat directly through combustion, or produce a combustible fuel commodity, such as methane, methanol, ethanol or synthetic fuels.

Gasification and pyrolysis processes have been known and used for centuries and for coal as early as the 18th century.... Development technologies for processing [residual solid mixed waste] has only become a focus of attention in recent years stimulated by the search for more efficient energy recovery.

Waste-to-energy can significantly reduce the amount of waste needing disposal, generate energy for a community, and also reduce municipal solid waste (MSW) transportation costs. It becomes more favorable for wastes that have high-energy content, low-moisture content, and low-ash content. These wastes include paper, plastics, textiles, rubber, leather, and wood. Therefore, MSW to a large extent is of biological origin (biogenic). Typically, more than half of the energy content in MSW is from biogenic material. Consequently, this energy is often recognized as renewable energy according to the waste input.

A case study of a WtE facility, operating at 200,000 tons of refuse annually, will be presented with pertinent information including but not limited to design and operation, annual electricity generation via turbine, life-cycle costs and overall profitability, total ash handling, emission control of PM, NO_x, SO₂, mercury, dioxins, and protection of health and environmental.