Quality standards and requirements for solid recovered fuels: a review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science and Engineering
• Waste Management and Energy Recovery
• Materials Science

Background:

• Growing utilization of solid recovered fuels (SRF) for energy recovery.
• Need for defined quality standards and assurance measures for efficient SRF use.
• Divergent quality requirements for SRF in mono-incineration and co-incineration (e.g., power plants, cement kilns).

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the origin and development of SRF quality assurance.
• To analyze the current status of SRF quality assurance systems.
• To clarify the definition of 'solid recovered fuel' considering differing quality needs.

Main Methods:

• Review of the historical development of SRF quality assurance.
• Analysis of the German RAL Quality Assurance System principles.
• Examination of specifications from European standardization work (CEN/TC 343).

Main Results:

• SRF utilization is increasing, demanding standardized quality control.
• Established quality assurance systems, like the German RAL system, provide a framework.
• European standardization efforts (CEN/TC 343) are crucial for harmonizing SRF specifications.

Conclusions:

• Clear definition and robust quality assurance are essential for effective SRF energy recovery.
• The German RAL system and European CEN/TC 343 specifications offer valuable insights and models.
• Continued development of quality standards will support the sustainable use of SRF.