incinerators in disguise

Incinerators in Incinerators in DisguiseDisguise Incinerators are so unpopular with Incinerators are so unpopular with

the public they use different the public they use different names - resource recovery names - resource recovery facilities, waste-to-energy etc etc facilities, waste-to-energy etc etc

The latest phase is to call them The latest phase is to call them gasifiers, pyrolyzers or plasma arc gasifiers, pyrolyzers or plasma arc facilitiesfacilities

Comments on Comments on Gasification plantsGasification plants

Gasification plants Gasification plants claim NOT to be claim NOT to be incinerators, but all involve two incinerators, but all involve two stages: stages:

1) the conversion of solid waste into a 1) the conversion of solid waste into a gas, gas,

2) the burning of the gas, producing 2) the burning of the gas, producing many of the same problems as a many of the same problems as a regular incinerator regular incinerator

So the more appropriate name would So the more appropriate name would be:be:

GasifyingGasifying incineratorincinerator

Comparing Comparing mass burn mass burn incineration incineration withwith gasifying gasifying incinerationincineration Mass burn incineration Mass burn incineration Needs very little external Needs very little external

energy to maintain burn energy to maintain burn Gases are cleaned after the Gases are cleaned after the

burnburn

Produces a toxic bottom ash Produces a toxic bottom ash Produces a very toxic fly Produces a very toxic fly

ashash Releases toxic Releases toxic

nanoparticlesnanoparticles

Gasifying incineration Gasifying incineration Needs a lot of external Needs a lot of external

energy to convert solid to energy to convert solid to gasesgases

The gases have to be The gases have to be cleaned cleaned before and after before and after they are burned they are burned

Produces a charProduces a charProduces a very toxic fly ashProduces a very toxic fly ashReleases toxic nanoparticlesReleases toxic nanoparticles

CHUTESECONDARYCHAMBER

TURBINE

BOILER

ELECTRICITY

STEAM

TRASHBOTTOM ASH FLY ASH

TEMP< 200oC

SEMI-DRYSCRUBBER

FABRIC FILTER

WET SCRUBBER

DE-NOX

ACTIVATEDCHARCOAL

Ca(OH) 2 SUSPENSION

AMMONIAINJECTION

GRATES

Ogni 3-4 ton di rifiuti ottieni circa 1 ton di ceneriOgni 3-4 ton di rifiuti ottieni circa 1 ton di ceneri

Comparing Comparing mass burn mass burn incineration incineration withwith gasifying gasifying incinerationincineration Mass burn incineratorsMass burn incinerators NOT SUSTAINABLENOT SUSTAINABLE They destroy finite They destroy finite

resources, which have resources, which have to be replacedto be replaced

Gasifying incineratorsGasifying incinerators NOT SUSTAINABLENOT SUSTAINABLE They destroy finite They destroy finite

resources, which have resources, which have to be replacedto be replaced

Gasification incineratorsGasification incinerators - - chemical constraintschemical constraints

There is no magic available to destroy toxic ELEMENTSThere is no magic available to destroy toxic ELEMENTS Toxic elements in = toxic elements out!Toxic elements in = toxic elements out! Where does the mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead, Where does the mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead,

chromium, chlorine, bromine and fluorine end up? In the chromium, chlorine, bromine and fluorine end up? In the char? In the fly ash or into the air?char? In the fly ash or into the air?

Where is the data?Where is the data? Have they done a mass balance study on their pilot Have they done a mass balance study on their pilot

plants?plants? High temperature gasification does not solve the High temperature gasification does not solve the

NANOPARTICLESNANOPARTICLES Scaling up from pilot plants to full-scale commercial Scaling up from pilot plants to full-scale commercial

facilities is notoriously difficult.facilities is notoriously difficult. The gases produced at high temperatures is very The gases produced at high temperatures is very

corrosive on plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)corrosive on plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)

Gasification incineratorsGasification incinerators – – physical problemsphysical problems

Scaling up from pilot plants to full-Scaling up from pilot plants to full-scale commercial facilities is scale commercial facilities is notoriously difficult.notoriously difficult.

The gases produced at high The gases produced at high temperatures is very corrosive on temperatures is very corrosive on plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)plant (furnace linings, ductwork etc)

Many plants have failedMany plants have failed

The difference The difference between PR hype and between PR hype and RealityReality

The following slides are taken The following slides are taken from from www.GREENACTION.org

They document the dismal track They document the dismal track record of various gasification, record of various gasification, pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch pyrolysis and plasma arc/torch facilitiesfacilities

http://www.GREENACTION.org/

INDUSTRIAL CLAIMS

THERMOSELECT FACILITY IN KARLSRUHE

BRIGHTSTAR’S WOOLONGONG FACILITY

GASIFICATION, GASIFICATION, PYROLYSIS etcPYROLYSIS etc

Engineering consultants’ view:Engineering consultants’ view: ““Many of the perceived benefits of Many of the perceived benefits of

gasification and pyrolysis over combustion gasification and pyrolysis over combustion technology proved to be unfounded. These technology proved to be unfounded. These perceptions have arisen mainly from perceptions have arisen mainly from inconsistent comparisons in the absence of inconsistent comparisons in the absence of quality information.”quality information.”

Fichtner Consulting Engineers Ltd, Stockport, Fichtner Consulting Engineers Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire, March, 2004Cheshire, March, 2004

Lurgi letterLurgi letter “…“…a decision has been taken within Lurgi to a decision has been taken within Lurgi to

discontinue marketing gasification and pyrolysis discontinue marketing gasification and pyrolysis technologies for waste conversion applications.technologies for waste conversion applications.

This decision has come after rigorous analysis of This decision has come after rigorous analysis of market requirements, technical feasibility and market requirements, technical feasibility and economic sensitivities of gasification and pyrolysis economic sensitivities of gasification and pyrolysis of waste, as applied by Lurgi and our competitors. of waste, as applied by Lurgi and our competitors.

We recognize there is a positive bias towards We recognize there is a positive bias towards gasification/pyrolysis amongst politicians and gasification/pyrolysis amongst politicians and environmentalists. However, we are in no doubt environmentalists. However, we are in no doubt that in the short to medium term neither that in the short to medium term neither technology will be developed and commercially technology will be developed and commercially proven to the point where it can compete.”proven to the point where it can compete.”

Letter (08-09-2003) to Fichter Consulting Engineers Ltd, Cheshire, UKLetter (08-09-2003) to Fichter Consulting Engineers Ltd, Cheshire, UK

The modern incinerator is The modern incinerator is attempting to perfect a bad attempting to perfect a bad ideaidea

Our task in the 21st Century is Our task in the 21st Century is not to find better ways to destroy not to find better ways to destroy discarded materialsdiscarded materials

But to stop making packaging and But to stop making packaging and products that have to be products that have to be destroyed!destroyed!

Comments on Comments on plasma arc/torch plasma arc/torch

plantsplants

PLASMA ARC TECHNOLOGY

PLASCOPLASCO Has built a 100 ton per day pilot Has built a 100 ton per day pilot

plant in Ottawa, Canadaplant in Ottawa, Canada Is aggressively marketing Is aggressively marketing

technology all over Canada, US technology all over Canada, US and some other countriesand some other countries

PLASCOPLASCO

SolidSolid convertedconverted

to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO

At aboutAt about 600 -700 deg. C600 -700 deg. C


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

SolidSolid


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

SolidSolid

Vitrified slagVitrified slag


to gasto gas

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

SolidSolid

Vitrified slagVitrified slag

External External energyenergy


to gasto gas

Gas Gas CoolingCooling

&&CleaningCleaning

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

InternalInternalCombustionCombustion

engineengine


to gasto gas


&&CleaningCleaning

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGasFFLLAARREE

When combustion enginesWhen combustion enginesnot workingnot working


to gasto gas


&&CleaningCleaning

PLASCOPLASCO


GasGas

InternalInternalCombustionCombustion

engineengine

??

GAS Cooling & CleaningGAS Cooling & Cleaning

HeatHeatRecoveryRecovery

unitunit

HeatHeat

NaOH NaOH solutionsolution

NaClNaClNaFNaFNaBrNaBr

NaCN ?NaCN ?


unitunit

HeatHeat

WetWetScrubberScrubber

““Salt” + waterSalt” + water



NaCN ?NaCN ?


unitunit

HeatHeat



ActivatedActivated CarbonCarbon

Carbon Carbon + mercury+ mercury+ dioxins+ dioxins

etcetc



NaCN ?NaCN ?


unitunit

HeatHeat



ActivatedActivated CarbonCarbon

Carbon Carbon + mercury+ mercury+ dioxins+ dioxins

etcetc

CarbonCarbonFilterFilterPlusPlus

bacteriabacteria

SulfurSulfur

PLASCO CEO Rod PLASCO CEO Rod Bryden says:Bryden says: 1) Filter ash goes back into furnace.1) Filter ash goes back into furnace. 2) System produces no dioxin 2) System produces no dioxin

because no oxygen available.because no oxygen available. 3) System destroys nanoparticles.3) System destroys nanoparticles. 4) Slag to be used in asphalt & 4) Slag to be used in asphalt &

concrete.concrete. 5) Salt to be used on roads.5) Salt to be used on roads. 6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture6) Sulfur to be used in agriculture

Recycling fly ashRecycling fly ash Modern incinerators use activated carbon filters to Modern incinerators use activated carbon filters to

remove mercuryremove mercury This carbon is part of the fly ash, and this should This carbon is part of the fly ash, and this should

then be a SINK for the mercury (and sent to special then be a SINK for the mercury (and sent to special facilities for recovery or containment)facilities for recovery or containment)

However if you put the fly ash back into the furnace However if you put the fly ash back into the furnace then you will release ALL the mercury againthen you will release ALL the mercury again

There is only place left for the mercury to go (and There is only place left for the mercury to go (and other volatile metals) and that is into the AIR.other volatile metals) and that is into the AIR.

No dioxin because no No dioxin because no airair

There is plenty of air in incoming There is plenty of air in incoming waste!waste!

Dioxin emitted in other plasma Dioxin emitted in other plasma arc facilitiesarc facilities

Yang & Kim (2004).Yang & Kim (2004). Characteristics of dioxins Characteristics of dioxins and metals emission from radwaste plasma and metals emission from radwaste plasma arc melter system. arc melter system. Chemosphere 57: 421-428Chemosphere 57: 421-428

When PVC was fed into the high-temperature When PVC was fed into the high-temperature melter, a significant quantity of PCDD/Fs, melter, a significant quantity of PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead was emitted.cadmium and lead was emitted.

Wet scrubbing with rapid quenching, as well Wet scrubbing with rapid quenching, as well as a low temperature two-step fine filtration, as a low temperature two-step fine filtration, or both of them together or both of them together cannot cannot effectively effectively control the volatile metal species and gas-control the volatile metal species and gas-phase PCDD/Fs.phase PCDD/Fs.

The removal of PVC from the feed waste The removal of PVC from the feed waste stream must also be effective to reduce the stream must also be effective to reduce the emissions of the PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead emissions of the PCDD/Fs, cadmium and lead species.species.

Using salt on roadsUsing salt on roads ““Salt” will not be pure salt (NaCl) Salt” will not be pure salt (NaCl)

- could be problems with other - could be problems with other salts which are very toxic , e.g. salts which are very toxic , e.g. sodium fluoridesodium fluoride

Using sulfurUsing sulfur Using sulfur in agriculture could Using sulfur in agriculture could

be problem if it is contaminated be problem if it is contaminated with mercury etc.with mercury etc.

RICHLAND, WASHINGTON

One of PEAT’s claims is One of PEAT’s claims is very disturbingvery disturbing They also claim that they They also claim that they

will have no fly ash will have no fly ash because they are going to because they are going to recycle it back into the recycle it back into the process.process.

incinerators in disguise

Documents

burn gases

pilot plants

toxic elementstoxic

gasifying incinerationmass

marketing gasification

high temperature gasification

ductwork etcmany plants

pyrolysis technologies