A new approach to sustainable solid waste incineration: the concept and generic feasibility study

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel waste incineration method using oxygen-enriched air, enhancing efficiency, reducing harmful emissions, enabling resource recovery, and demonstrating promising technological and commercial feasibility.

Contribution

It introduces a new incineration process with oxygen enrichment, innovative filtration, and resource recovery, supported by initial modeling and feasibility analysis.

Findings

Higher flame temperature ensures complete decomposition of toxins.

Significant reduction in fly ash production.

Potential for resource recovery like argon and industrial CO2.

Abstract

A method of waste incineration using pure oxygen or atmospheric air enriched with oxygen is proposed, demonstrating several advantages over conventional burning in atmospheric air. The higher flame temperature is predicted, even with low calorific value waste, ensuring the complete decomposition of harmful substances such as dioxins. This process also increases the efficiency of heat-to-electricity generation via steam turbine and facilitates the melting of ash and dust, leading to the production of gravel or rock fibre. Additionally, it enables the incineration of a wide range of waste, including sewage sludge. The higher partial pressure of water vapor in the combustion gases allows to develop a novel method of filtration: condensation filtration. The method promises less or next to zero fly ash by-production. The process produces concentrated carbon dioxide suitable for storage or use in industrial and agricultural applications. Moreover, air separation as part of this method generates large quantities of argon, which can be utilized in high-tech industries. This approach offers a comprehensive solution to waste management and resource recovery. The paper presents the principal scheme for the process, its initial modelling and general feasibility study demonstrating its technological and commercial potential.