The combustion, or burning, of solid waste proceeds through a series of stages. Water is first driven from the unburned waste by heat produced from material burning nearby or from an auxiliary burner. As the waste heats up, carbon and other substances are released and converted into burnable gases. This is referred to as gasification. These gases are then able to mix with oxygen. If the temperature inside the burn chamber is high enough and maintained for a long enough period of time, the hot gases are completely converted into water vapour and carbon dioxide, which is then released into the air. If the temperature inside the burn chamber is not high enough and the burn time is too short, complete conversion of the burnable gases does not occur and visible smoke is released into the air. Another result of burning at low temperatures is the creation of pollutants that were not originally present in the waste. This process is known as de novo synthesis. Dioxins, furans and other complex chemical pollutants can be formed through this process.
Ash produced from combustion takes the form of either fly ash or bottom ash. Fly ash is the fine particles carried away in the form of smoke while bottom ash is the course non-combustible and unburned material that remains after the burn is complete. The type and amount of pollutants in the fly and bottom ash depend upon what waste is burned and completeness of the combustion process.
The completeness of combustion is determined by all of the following factors:
Temperature
The temperature generated is a function of the heating value of the waste and auxiliary fuel, incinerator or burn unit design, air supply and combustion control. Complete combustion requires high temperatures. Generally, temperatures that exceed 650oC with a holding time of 1-2 seconds will cause complete combustion of most food and other common household waste. Segregation of waste is required when using methods that don’t routinely achieve these temperatures. Dual chamber incinerators, which are designed to burn complex mixtures of waste, hazardous waste and biomedical waste, must provide a temperature higher than 1000oC and a holding time of at least one second to ensure complete combustion and minimize dioxin and furan emissions. When these high temperatures and holding times are achieved, waste will be completely burned and ash, smoke and pollutant concentrations will be minimized.
Because exhaust gas temperatures vary from ambient to greater than 1000°C each time a batch waste incinerator is used, optional air pollution control systems with evaporative cooling towers and scrubbers are seldom recommended. However, it may be necessary to employ these systems with large continuous feed incinerators if additional cleaning of exhaust gas is required by regulatory authorities.
Holding Time
Complete combustion takes time. Holding time, otherwise known as retention or residence time, is the length of time available to ensure the complete mixing of air and fuel, and thus the complete burning of waste. Low temperatures, low heating values of the waste and reduced turbulence require that the holding time be increased to complete the combustion process.
Turbulence
The turbulent mixing of burnable gases with sufficient oxygen is needed to promote good contact between the burning waste and incoming air. This will help in achieving the high temperatures at which waste can be completely burned. The amount of mixing is influenced by the shape and size of the burn chamber and how the air is injected. Passive under-fire ventilation achieved during open burning does not result in sufficient turbulence for the burning of a wide variety of waste. Also, it is important not to overfill the burn chamber as airflow may be blocked and the amount of turbulence further reduced. The more advanced incineration designs provide effective turbulence through the forced introduction of air directly into hot zones.
Composition of the Waste
The heating value, wetness and chemical properties of the waste affect the combustion process and the pollutants that are contained in the resulting smoke and ash. The higher the burn temperature, holding time and turbulence that are achieved, the less effect the composition of the waste has on completeness of the burn.
