Incinerators in Disguise
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Transcript of Incinerators in Disguise
Incinerators in Incinerators in DisguiseDisguise Incinerators are so unpopular with Incinerators are so unpopular with
the public they use different the public they use different names - resource recovery names - resource recovery facilities, waste-to-energy etc etc facilities, waste-to-energy etc etc
The latest phase is to call them The latest phase is to call them gasifiers, pyrolyzers or plasma arc gasifiers, pyrolyzers or plasma arc facilitiesfacilities
Comments on Comments on Gasification plantsGasification plants
Gasification plants Gasification plants claim NOT to be claim NOT to be incinerators, but all involve two incinerators, but all involve two stages: stages:
1) the conversion of solid waste into a 1) the conversion of solid waste into a gas, gas,
2) the burning of the gas, producing 2) the burning of the gas, producing many of the same problems as a many of the same problems as a regular incinerator regular incinerator
So the more appropriate name would So the more appropriate name would be:be:
GasifyingGasifying incineratorincinerator
Comparing Comparing mass burn mass burn incineration incineration withwith gasifying gasifying incinerationincineration Mass burn incineration Mass burn incineration Needs very little external Needs very little external
energy to maintain burn energy to maintain burn Gases are cleaned after the Gases are cleaned after the
burnburn
Produces a toxic bottom ash Produces a toxic bottom ash Produces a very toxic fly Produces a very toxic fly
ashash Releases toxic Releases toxic
nanoparticlesnanoparticles
Gasifying incineration Gasifying incineration Needs a lot of external Needs a lot of external
energy to convert solid to energy to convert solid to gasesgases
The gases have to be The gases have to be cleaned cleaned before and after before and after they are burned they are burned
Produces a charProduces a charProduces a very toxic fly ashProduces a very toxic fly ashReleases toxic nanoparticlesReleases toxic nanoparticles
CHUTESECONDARYCHAMBER
TURBINE
BOILER
ELECTRICITY
STEAM
TRASHBOTTOM ASH FLY ASH
TEMP< 200oC
SEMI-DRYSCRUBBER
FABRIC FILTER
WET SCRUBBER
DE-NOX
ACTIVATEDCHARCOAL
Ca(OH) 2 SUSPENSION
AMMONIAINJECTION
GRATES
Ogni 3-4 ton di rifiuti ottieni circa 1 ton di ceneriOgni 3-4 ton di rifiuti ottieni circa 1 ton di ceneri
Comparing Comparing mass burn mass burn incineration incineration withwith gasifying gasifying incinerationincineration Mass burn incineratorsMass burn incinerators NOT SUSTAINABLENOT SUSTAINABLE They destroy finite They destroy finite
resources, which have resources, which have to be replacedto be replaced
Gasifying incineratorsGasifying incinerators NOT SUSTAINABLENOT SUSTAINABLE They destroy finite They destroy finite
resources, which have resources, which have to be replacedto be replaced
Gasification incineratorsGasification incinerators - - chemical constraintschemical constraints
There is no magic available to destroy toxic ELEMENTSThere is no magic available to destroy toxic ELEMENTS Toxic elements in = toxic elements out!Toxic elements in = toxic elements out! Where does the mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead, Where does the mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead,
chromium, chlorine, bromine and fluorine end up? In the chromium, chlorine, bromine and fluorine end up? In the char? In the fly ash or into the air?char? In the fly ash or into the air?
Where is the data?Where is the data? Have they done a mass balance study on their pilot Have they done a mass balance study on their pilot
plants?plants? High temperature gasification does not solve the High temperature gasification does not solve the
NANOPARTICLESNANOPARTICLES Scaling up from pilot plants to full-scale commercial Scaling up from pilot plants to full-scale commercial
facilities is notoriously difficult.facilities is notoriously difficult. The gases produced at high temperatures is very The gases produced at high temperatures is very
corrosive on plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)corrosive on plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)
Gasification incineratorsGasification incinerators – – physical problemsphysical problems
Scaling up from pilot plants to full-Scaling up from pilot plants to full-scale commercial facilities is scale commercial facilities is notoriously difficult.notoriously difficult.
The gases produced at high The gases produced at high temperatures is very corrosive on temperatures is very corrosive on plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)
Many plants have failedMany plants have failed
The difference The difference between PR hype and between PR hype and RealityReality
The following slides are taken The following slides are taken from from www.GREENACTION.org
They document the dismal track They document the dismal track record of various gasification, record of various gasification, pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch facilitiesfacilities
INDUSTRIAL CLAIMS
THERMOSELECT FACILITY IN KARLSRUHE
BRIGHTSTAR’S WOOLONGONG FACILITY
GASIFICATION, GASIFICATION, PYROLYSIS etcPYROLYSIS etc
Engineering consultants’ view:Engineering consultants’ view: ““Many of the perceived benefits of Many of the perceived benefits of
gasification and pyrolysis over combustion gasification and pyrolysis over combustion technology proved to be unfounded. These technology proved to be unfounded. These perceptions have arisen mainly from perceptions have arisen mainly from inconsistent comparisons in the absence of inconsistent comparisons in the absence of quality information.”quality information.”
Fichtner Consulting Engineers Ltd, Stockport, Fichtner Consulting Engineers Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire, March, 2004Cheshire, March, 2004
Lurgi letterLurgi letter “…“…a decision has been taken within Lurgi to a decision has been taken within Lurgi to
discontinue marketing gasification and pyrolysis discontinue marketing gasification and pyrolysis technologies for waste conversion applications.technologies for waste conversion applications.
This decision has come after rigorous analysis of This decision has come after rigorous analysis of market requirements, technical feasibility and market requirements, technical feasibility and economic sensitivities of gasification and pyrolysis economic sensitivities of gasification and pyrolysis of waste, as applied by Lurgi and our competitors. of waste, as applied by Lurgi and our competitors.
We recognize there is a positive bias towards We recognize there is a positive bias towards gasification/pyrolysis amongst politicians and gasification/pyrolysis amongst politicians and environmentalists. However, we are in no doubt environmentalists. However, we are in no doubt that in the short to medium term neither that in the short to medium term neither technology will be developed and commercially technology will be developed and commercially proven to the point where it can compete.”proven to the point where it can compete.”
Letter (08-09-2003) to Fichter Consulting Engineers Ltd, Cheshire, UKLetter (08-09-2003) to Fichter Consulting Engineers Ltd, Cheshire, UK
The modern incinerator is The modern incinerator is attempting to perfect a bad attempting to perfect a bad ideaidea
Our task in the 21st Century is Our task in the 21st Century is not to find better ways to destroy not to find better ways to destroy discarded materialsdiscarded materials
But to stop making packaging and But to stop making packaging and products that have to be products that have to be destroyed!destroyed!
Comments on Comments on plasma arc/torch plasma arc/torch
plantsplants
PLASMA ARC TECHNOLOGY
PLASCOPLASCO Has built a 100 ton per day pilot Has built a 100 ton per day pilot
plant in Ottawa, Canadaplant in Ottawa, Canada Is aggressively marketing Is aggressively marketing
technology all over Canada, US technology all over Canada, US and some other countriesand some other countries
PLASCOPLASCO
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
GasGas
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
GasGas
SolidSolid
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
GasGas
SolidSolid
Vitrified slagVitrified slag
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
GasGas
SolidSolid
Vitrified slagVitrified slag
External External energyenergy
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
Gas Gas CoolingCooling
&&CleaningCleaning
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
GasGas
InternalInternalCombustionCombustion
engineengine
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
Gas Gas CoolingCooling
&&CleaningCleaning
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
GasGasFFLLAARREE
When combustion enginesWhen combustion enginesnot workingnot working
SolidSolid convertedconverted
to gasto gas
Gas Gas CoolingCooling
&&CleaningCleaning
PLASCOPLASCO
At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C
GasGas
InternalInternalCombustionCombustion
engineengine
??
GAS Cooling & CleaningGAS Cooling & Cleaning
HeatHeatRecoveryRecovery
unitunit
HeatHeat
NaOH NaOH solutionsolution
NaClNaClNaFNaFNaBrNaBr
NaCN ?NaCN ?
HeatHeatRecoveryRecovery
unitunit
HeatHeat
WetWetScrubberScrubber
““Salt” + waterSalt” + water
NaOH NaOH solutionsolution
NaClNaClNaFNaFNaBrNaBr
NaCN ?NaCN ?
HeatHeatRecoveryRecovery
unitunit
HeatHeat
WetWetScrubberScrubber
““Salt” + waterSalt” + water
ActivatedActivated CarbonCarbon
Carbon Carbon + mercury+ mercury+ dioxins+ dioxins
etcetc
NaOH NaOH solutionsolution
NaClNaClNaFNaFNaBrNaBr
NaCN ?NaCN ?
HeatHeatRecoveryRecovery
unitunit
HeatHeat
WetWetScrubberScrubber
““Salt” + waterSalt” + water
ActivatedActivated CarbonCarbon
Carbon Carbon + mercury+ mercury+ dioxins+ dioxins
etcetc
CarbonCarbonFilterFilterPlusPlus
bacteriabacteria
SulfurSulfur
NaOH NaOH solutionsolution
NaClNaClNaFNaFNaBrNaBr
NaCN ?NaCN ?
HeatHeatRecoveryRecovery
unitunit
HeatHeat
WetWetScrubberScrubber
““Salt” + waterSalt” + water
ActivatedActivated CarbonCarbon
Carbon Carbon + mercury+ mercury+ dioxins+ dioxins
etcetc
CarbonCarbonFilterFilterPlusPlus
bacteriabacteria
SulfurSulfur
PLASCO CEO Rod PLASCO CEO Rod Bryden says:Bryden says: 1) Filter ash goes back into furnace.1) Filter ash goes back into furnace. 2) System produces no dioxin 2) System produces no dioxin
because no oxygen available.because no oxygen available. 3) System destroys nanoparticles.3) System destroys nanoparticles. 4) Slag to be used in asphalt & 4) Slag to be used in asphalt &
concrete.concrete. 5) Salt to be used on roads.5) Salt to be used on roads. 6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture
Recycling fly ashRecycling fly ash Modern incinerators use activated carbon filters to Modern incinerators use activated carbon filters to
remove mercuryremove mercury This carbon is part of the fly ash, and this should This carbon is part of the fly ash, and this should
then be a SINK for the mercury (and sent to special then be a SINK for the mercury (and sent to special facilities for recovery or containment)facilities for recovery or containment)
However if you put the fly ash back into the furnace However if you put the fly ash back into the furnace then you will release ALL the mercury againthen you will release ALL the mercury again
There is only place left for the mercury to go (and There is only place left for the mercury to go (and other volatile metals) and that is into the AIR.other volatile metals) and that is into the AIR.
No dioxin because no No dioxin because no airair
There is plenty of air in incoming There is plenty of air in incoming waste!waste!
Dioxin emitted in other plasma Dioxin emitted in other plasma arc facilitiesarc facilities
Yang & Kim (2004).Yang & Kim (2004). Characteristics of dioxins Characteristics of dioxins and metals emission from radwaste plasma and metals emission from radwaste plasma arc melter system. arc melter system. Chemosphere 57: 421-428Chemosphere 57: 421-428
When PVC was fed into the high-temperature When PVC was fed into the high-temperature melter, a significant quantity of PCDD/Fs, melter, a significant quantity of PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead was emitted.cadmium and lead was emitted.
Wet scrubbing with rapid quenching, as well Wet scrubbing with rapid quenching, as well as a low temperature two-step fine filtration, as a low temperature two-step fine filtration, or both of them together or both of them together cannot cannot effectively effectively control the volatile metal species and gas-control the volatile metal species and gas-phase PCDD/Fs.phase PCDD/Fs.
The removal of PVC from the feed waste The removal of PVC from the feed waste stream must also be effective to reduce the stream must also be effective to reduce the emissions of the PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead emissions of the PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead species.species.
Using salt on roadsUsing salt on roads ““Salt” will not be pure salt (NaCl) Salt” will not be pure salt (NaCl)
- could be problems with other - could be problems with other salts which are very toxic , e.g. salts which are very toxic , e.g. sodium fluoridesodium fluoride
Using sulfurUsing sulfur Using sulfur in agriculture could Using sulfur in agriculture could
be problem if it is contaminated be problem if it is contaminated with mercury etc.with mercury etc.
RICHLAND, WASHINGTON
One of PEAT’s claims is One of PEAT’s claims is very disturbingvery disturbing They also claim that they They also claim that they
will have no fly ash will have no fly ash because they are going to because they are going to recycle it back into the recycle it back into the process.process.