Optimization of incineration process

Abstract

Municipal solid waste management has become a challenge in many cities in the developing countries due to the poor methods of waste disposal, which increase the risk of the spread of diseases, leach and increase the demand of land for waste disposal. Characterization study of waste samples from Arusha shows that the combustible fraction is about 87% and biodegradable is 80%. The Thermal gravimetric analyser and Bomb calorimeter show the energy value of about 12.5 MJ/kg and the degradation of about 85%. The study shows that the municipal solid waste disposal method can be thermal, biological or physical. However, thermal method by incineration process is the most preferred and convenient because it destroys pathogens and reduces waste volume in the fastest way. The waste flow analysis of Arusha city shows that the waste has the annual recoverable potential of 128GWh. The case study used an existing incinerator as showed the variation of effluents with operating conditions. The design optimization using computational fluid dynamic techniques to predict the performance of incinerator showed the deviation of input air by 14%, the mass flow rate by 26.5%, the mass fraction of carbon dioxide by 10.4% and slight deviation of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. The research suggested removing the ash during the incineration process by using a moving grate mechanism to minimize the possibility of formation of NOX. To feed the incinerator by using mechanical means without direct opening the door, it suggested to incorporating moving grate mechanism. The operating conditions of the incinerator designed should have the optimum values for input air one A1-1 as 0.036 39 kg/s, the input air two A2-1 as 0.030 46 kg/s, the input air three A3-1 as 0.034 09 kg/s, the input fuel value as 19.6 kg/h and the maximum capacity of incinerator as 68 kg/h.