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Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Reducing Willow Wood Fuel Emission by Low Temperature Microwave Assisted Hydrothermal Carbonization
Published on: May 19, 2019
Highly efficient combustion with low excess air in a modern energy-from-waste (EfW) plant
Reto Strobel1, Maurice H Waldner1, Helen Gablinger1
1Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, Hardturmstrasse 127, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The effect of low excess air and high adiabatic combustion temperatures on CO and NOx formation has been investigated on a commercially operated energy-from-waste plant. With optimal combination of low O2 levels and stable combustion control, uncontrolled NOx levels could be lowered to 100-150mg/Nm3 (dry, at 11% O2) while keeping CO emissions at low levels. Even at adiabatic temperatures above 1400°C thermal NOx hardly contributed to the total NOx emissions in a grate-fired EfW plant. An advanced combustion control system allowed continuous operation with very little excess air (λ<1.2) while keeping CO and NOx at levels well below the legal emission limits.
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