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Solid recovered fuel: materials flow analysis and fuel property development during the mechanical processing of
Costas A Velis1, Stuart Wagland, Phil Longhurst
1Cranfield University, Centre for Energy and Resource Technology, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, School of Applied Sciences, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom.
Environmental Science & Technology
|February 13, 2013
Summary
This study quantifies material flows in mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plants to optimize solid recovered fuel (SRF) production. Key findings reveal plastic film, packaging plastic, and paper/card significantly contribute to SRF
Area of Science:
- Waste Management and Valorization
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plants are crucial for waste management and producing solid recovered fuel (SRF).
- Understanding material flows and their impact on fuel properties is essential for optimizing SRF quality and marketability.
- Existing methods for quality assurance in SRF production require further refinement through detailed analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To balance material flows and their contributions to fuel properties within the mechanical section of an MBT plant.
- To quantify the incorporation of combustible materials and chlorine into SRF.
- To develop a novel mass balancing procedure for improved SRF quality assurance and process optimization.
Main Methods:
- Material flow analysis (MFA) incorporating error propagation and data reconciliation.
- Comprehensive sampling, manual sorting, and statistical analysis of waste streams.
- Analytical determination of fuel properties, including net calorific value and chlorine content.
Main Results:
- Approximately 73.2% of the net calorific value from the combustible fraction is incorporated into the SRF.
- Plastic film, other packaging plastics, and paper/card are the primary contributors to SRF's calorific value.
- Nearly 80% of the chlorine load is incorporated into SRF, influenced by trommel and air classifier operations.
Conclusions:
- A novel mass balancing procedure enhances the understanding of SRF quality and quality assurance.
- Quantification of material flows and transfer coefficients enables process optimization.
- Recommendations are provided for producing a reliable and marketable SRF product.
