Research estimated toxicity of refuse-derived fuel fly ash (RDF-FA) on two earthworms species, Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia foetida. Specific objectives were to: (1) Compare their 14-day LC50s under light and dark conditions; (2) separate toxicity due to osmotic, pH and physical factors from that of heavy metal contaminants; (3) compare relative differences of artificial soil and commercial soil as exposure media for evaluating toxicity to earthworms. The 14-d LC50s for L. terrestris in dark and light were 57.0 and 48.34 % RDF-FA, and 59.25 and 41.00 % RDF-FA for E. foetida using artificial soil. All of the toxicity resulted from heavy metals within the RDF-FA. Using L. terrestris, the LC50s for artificial soil and commercial soil were 52.30 and 64.34%.

There are 150 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) annually produced in the United States, which is approximately equivalent to 150 million barrels of oil. MSW production is inexhaustible, and is increasing on an annual per capita basis of approximately three per cent. After controlling the moisture and adding a binder, the combustible portion of MSW was converted to pellets. The objects of this project were to 1) evaluate the binder, 2) prepare the pellets, and 3) evaluate the pellets with regard to density. The manufacture of pellets was conducted at the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida. The evaluation of the binders and the pellets was done at North Texas State University (NTSU). There were three procedures for measuring the density. The first, using water displacement, was from the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM). The second, using wax coating, was also from ASTM. The third, using sharply-cut cylindrical pellets, was developed at NTSU.

The goal of this Master’s Thesis is to design a refuse derived fuel (RDF) fired steam boiler with 70 t/h processing ability. The assignment consists of requested output parameters of overheated steam and analysis of fuel components. This analysis was used for stoichiometric calculation of fuel. Furthermore, heat balance of the boiler was calculated, from which was determined the heat loss and the efficiency of the boiler. Individual designs and calculations of heating surfaces and boiler dimensions were carried out from requested output parameters.

The aim of the master’s thesis is design of grade boiler for combustion refuse derived fuel. There are specified the steam parameters and the fuel-element analysis, based on this analysis are determined stoichiometric calculation. Furthermore is calculated heat balance of the boiler, heat losses and thermal efficiency of the boiler. From the parameters are design main dimensions and parameters heat-transfer surfaces and the boiler.

O estado de São Paulo produz cerca de 58.700 t/dia de resíduos dividido pelos seus 645 municípios nas vizinhanças de aproximadamente 170 usinas de açúcar e álcool. Diante deste fato, é evidente o potencial para se fazer o uso consorciado destes dois combustíveis na geração de energia. Este trabalho investigou os possíveis efeitos deletérios que a presença de cloro, flúor, sódio e potássio possam trazer nas caldeiras voltadas para a produção de energia elétrica, utilizando bagaço de cana e combustível derivado de resíduo (CDR). Foi realizada uma busca criteriosa na literatura internacional a fim de possíveis efeitos deletérios em caldeiras de biomassa para a produção de energia em razão do uso consorciado de resíduo, no aspecto da integridade da caldeira, principalmente no papel desempenhado pelos elementos, cloro, flúor, sódio e potássio, e em seguida uma análise criteriosa dos resultados encontrados. Esta análise foi realizada através de um estudo de caso, considerando uma caldeira de leito fluidizado borbulhante (BFB) de 60MW, queimando bagaço e parte do resíduo de uma cidade de 600.000 habitantes. Verificou-se que o resíduo que a cidade produz pode ser transformado em CDR que irá alimentar a caldeira como combustível auxiliar, produzindo energia elétrica de forma limpa e sustentável. Um parâmetro utilizado para se definir a quantidade máxima de CDR queimada na caldeira, foi o cloro específico, calculado pela razão entre o teor de cloro e o poder calorífico inferior (PCI) do combustível. Com base na literatura encontrada, limitou-se o cloro específico em 40 mg/MJ, para que não haja danos a integridade do equipamento. A combustão consorciada de bagaço de cana e CDR pode ser uma alternativa para o estado de São Paulo reduzir o problema da falta de aterros para descarte de resíduos e uma possibilidade para as usinas de açúcar e álcool produzirem energia elétrica por um período mais extenso no ano, economizando bagaço de cana. / The state of São Paulo produces about 58,700 tons/day waste divided by its 645 municipalities in the vicinity of about 170 sugar and alcohol mills. Given this fact, the potential is evident to make the consortium use of these two fuels in power generation. This paper investigated the potential deleterious effects that the presence of chlorine, fluoride, sodium and potassium can bring the boilers focused on the production of electric power using bagasse and refuse derived fuel (RDF). A thorough search in the international literature with the view to possible deleterious effects on biomass boilers for power generation because of consortium use of residue in the boiler integrity aspect, particularly the role played by the elements chlorine, fluorine, sodium and potassium, and then a careful analysis of the results. This analysis was conducted through a case study, considering a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler of 60 MW, burning bagasse and part of the residue of a city of 600,000 inhabitants. It was found that the residue that the city produces can be turned into RDF which will feed the boiler as an auxiliary fuel, producing electricity in a clean and sustainable manner. A parameter used to set the maximum amount of burned RDF in the boiler, was the specific chlorine, measured by the ratio between the chlorine content and the lower heating value (LHV) of the fuel. Based on the literature found, the specific chlorine was limited to 40 mg/MJ, so there is no damage to the integrity of the equipment. The consortium combustion of bagasse and RDF can be an alternative to the state of São Paulo reduce the problem of landfills for waste disposal and a possibility for the sugar and alcohol mills producing electric power for a longer period in the year, saving bagasse.

O estado de São Paulo produz cerca de 58.700 t/dia de resíduos dividido pelos seus 645 municípios nas vizinhanças de aproximadamente 170 usinas de açúcar e álcool. Diante deste fato, é evidente o potencial para se fazer o uso consorciado destes dois combustíveis na geração de energia. Este trabalho investigou os possíveis efeitos deletérios que a presença de cloro, flúor, sódio e potássio possam trazer nas caldeiras voltadas para a produção de energia elétrica, utilizando bagaço de cana e combustível derivado de resíduo (CDR). Foi realizada uma busca criteriosa na literatura internacional a fim de possíveis efeitos deletérios em caldeiras de biomassa para a produção de energia em razão do uso consorciado de resíduo, no aspecto da integridade da caldeira, principalmente no papel desempenhado pelos elementos, cloro, flúor, sódio e potássio, e em seguida uma análise criteriosa dos resultados encontrados. Esta análise foi realizada através de um estudo de caso, considerando uma caldeira de leito fluidizado borbulhante (BFB) de 60MW, queimando bagaço e parte do resíduo de uma cidade de 600.000 habitantes. Verificou-se que o resíduo que a cidade produz pode ser transformado em CDR que irá alimentar a caldeira como combustível auxiliar, produzindo energia elétrica de forma limpa e sustentável. Um parâmetro utilizado para se definir a quantidade máxima de CDR queimada na caldeira, foi o cloro específico, calculado pela razão entre o teor de cloro e o poder calorífico inferior (PCI) do combustível. Com base na literatura encontrada, limitou-se o cloro específico em 40 mg/MJ, para que não haja danos a integridade do equipamento. A combustão consorciada de bagaço de cana e CDR pode ser uma alternativa para o estado de São Paulo reduzir o problema da falta de aterros para descarte de resíduos e uma possibilidade para as usinas de açúcar e álcool produzirem energia elétrica por um período mais extenso no ano, economizando bagaço de cana. / The state of São Paulo produces about 58,700 tons/day waste divided by its 645 municipalities in the vicinity of about 170 sugar and alcohol mills. Given this fact, the potential is evident to make the consortium use of these two fuels in power generation. This paper investigated the potential deleterious effects that the presence of chlorine, fluoride, sodium and potassium can bring the boilers focused on the production of electric power using bagasse and refuse derived fuel (RDF). A thorough search in the international literature with the view to possible deleterious effects on biomass boilers for power generation because of consortium use of residue in the boiler integrity aspect, particularly the role played by the elements chlorine, fluorine, sodium and potassium, and then a careful analysis of the results. This analysis was conducted through a case study, considering a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) boiler of 60 MW, burning bagasse and part of the residue of a city of 600,000 inhabitants. It was found that the residue that the city produces can be turned into RDF which will feed the boiler as an auxiliary fuel, producing electricity in a clean and sustainable manner. A parameter used to set the maximum amount of burned RDF in the boiler, was the specific chlorine, measured by the ratio between the chlorine content and the lower heating value (LHV) of the fuel. Based on the literature found, the specific chlorine was limited to 40 mg/MJ, so there is no damage to the integrity of the equipment. The consortium combustion of bagasse and RDF can be an alternative to the state of São Paulo reduce the problem of landfills for waste disposal and a possibility for the sugar and alcohol mills producing electric power for a longer period in the year, saving bagasse.

In Canadian remote northern communities most electricity is generated by burning diesel fuel. However, because it is expensive to import fuel into remote communities the cost of electricity is very high. Waste management is also difficult in remote northern communities. The goal of this thesis was to investigate the co-gasification of refuse waste materials and biomass as a means of reducing solid waste volumes while also using locally available materials for power generation. As part of this research, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) was investigated as a potential means of characterizing refuse derived fuels (RDF). Laboratory sample preparation of RDF for TGA had not been thoroughly considered. Laboratory sample preparation is important since RDF is very heterogeneous compared to other solid fuels and since TGA typically requires a very small sample size. A TGA method was applied to a variety of materials prepared from a commercially available RDF using a variety of procedures. The repeatability of the experimental results was related to the sample preparation methods. Cryogenic ball milling was found to be an appropriate means of preparing RDF samples for TGA. Applicability of the TGA method to the determination of the renewable content of RDF was considered. Air-blown auto-thermal gasification experiments using materials representative of waste and biomass were performed at 725°C, 800°C, and 875°C, using a 0.15 m internal diameter bubbling fluidized bed gasifier located at NRCan CametENERGY in Ottawa, Ontario. Commercially prepared RDF and PET scrap were used to represent waste materials. Commercially produced hardwood pellets were used to represent biomass. The co-gasification of hardwood pellets and commercially produced RDF indicated that each fuel make a contribution to the results which is proportional to its fraction in the feed mixture. Inclusion of the RDF in the fuel mixture led to bed agglomeration at the 875°C temperature condition. Higher temperatures were found to provide better conversion of the fuel to gas, and the limitation which inclusion of RDF places on the operating temperature of the gasifier negatively affects conversion of biomass. Results obtained with RDF suggested that utilization of mixed waste for a thermal conversion process located in a Canadian remote northern community is probably not a viable option. It was then decided to target plastic waste in particular. Plastic could be source-separated, collected, and gasified alongside biomass. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is often used for food and beverage containers, was chosen to represent plastic. Initially, attempts were made to co-gasify mixtures of PET pellets and hardwood pellets. These attempts failed due to the formation of coke above the bed. To alleviate these problems hardwood-PET composite pellets were manufactured and these were gasified at 725°C, 800°C, and 875°C. Inclusion of PET in the pellets dramatically increased the amount of tar produced during gasification.

This thesis deals with a project of steam boiler to combustion of refused-derived fuel. Considering the required fuel and output parameters of the steam was made the thermal calculation of boiler with it design and an individual calculation of heat exchange surfaces; hydrodynamic and aerodynamic calculations of the steam boiler.

This master's thesis deals with design of steam grade boiler for burning refuse derived fuel with power output of 70 t/h. The assignment contain a requiered steam output parameters and composition of fuel. From this composition of fuel is calculated stoichiometric calculation, the heat loss and the efficiency of boiler. After that follows a design of the boiler with closer design of each of the heating surfaces.

Resource recovery is an attractive alternative to the waste disposal problem. The chief by-product of this process, refuse derived fuel (RDF) can be co-fired in traditional coal burning facilities. The cement industry is a potential user of RDF. This study, based on a test burn done at Texas Industries Inc. in Midlothian, Texas, demonstrated the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of using RDF fuel in a cement kiln. Technically, the cement showed no deleterious effects when RDF was substituted for coal/natural gas at 20% by Btu content. Environmentally, acid rain gases were reduced. Economically, RDF was shown to be a cost effective fuel substitute if a resource recovery facility was erected on site.