Emissions form the WtE are the Yesterdays talks

By: Mr. Ram Suresh, Ms. Arshi Metha, Mr. Amit

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic
substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other hightemperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment".
Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and heat. The
ash is mostly formed by the inorganic constituents of the waste, and may take the
form of solid lumps or particulates carried by the flue gas. The flue gases must be
cleaned of gaseous and particulate pollutants before they are dispersed into the
atmosphere. In some cases, the heat generated by incineration can be used to
generate electric power. Incineration with energy recovery is one of several wasteto-energy (WtE) technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis and anaerobic
digestion. While incineration and gasification technologies are similar in principle,
the energy product from incineration is high-temperature heat whereas combustible
gas is often the main energy product from gasification. Incineration and gasification
may also be implemented without energy and materials recovery. In several
countries, there are still concerns from experts and local communities about the
environmental effect of incinerators.
In some countries, incinerators built just a few decades ago often did not include a
materials separation to remove hazardous, bulky or recyclable materials before
combustion. These facilities tended to risk the health of the plant workers and the
local environment due to inadequate levels of gas cleaning and combustion process
control.
Most
of
these
facilities
did
not
generate
electricity.
Incinerators reduce the solid mass of the original waste by 8085% and the volume
(already compressed somewhat in garbage trucks) by 9596%, depending on
composition and degree of recovery of materials such as metals from the ash for
recycling. This means that while incineration does not completely replace landfilling,
it significantly reduces the necessary volume for disposal.

When world is trending to the circular economy & sustainable solutions are the
demand for the society, Valorization of the waste by products is upcoming as new
business & Ecofriendly sustainable solutions is the demand of the hours. In such a
scenario where these WtE plants valorizes the waste to the energy & also saves the
millions of hectares of the land. Thus these we causing the environmental issue in
the past. With the new stringent norms SWM 2016 is there in the framework, thus
no plant can run away from the same. Also the combinations of the different
technologies & research by the scientist in these filed had made it possible to have
the almost mil emission form these plants. Thanks to the new technologies that
totally eliminate the emissions & Dioxins & Furans most hot term in this context.

With the development of the technologies now it is possible to emit the air which is
virtually more pure than the
ambient air.

Earlier there were only the

physical & chemical treatment of
the flue gas, with most advanced

technologies use of the Selective catalytic reactor, Wet electrostatic precipitator &
bag filters reduces the toxic emission to very low level. But the development of the
manual sorting & segregation & development of the boiler technologies & special
furnace that limits the formation of the toxic carcegenogenic compounds from Ions
family. Residual time of 2.5 seconds at 950C, eliminates the formations &
secondary formations is reduced by the numerous technologies in combinations
depending upon the fuel parameters, The flexibility of the system with the
secondary oil firing makes it possible to adjust the emission wit heterogeneous
waste can be done online. As these following reactions can be curtained by
maintain the flue gas at higher temperatures:

Comparative
graph,

of

chart.

the

emission of dioxin & furans with shown in

thus combination of technologies &
treatment will curtain the
emission to almost nil the
later cases as clear form the

Other than dioxin & furans there are other emissions in the flue gas from the WtE
same are shown with remedial technology:

Parameters
Particulate
matter
(dust)
HCl
SO2
SO3
CO
TOC
HF
NOx
Total dioxins
& furans
Cd +Th +
their
compounds
Hg and its
compounds
Sb + As +
Pb + Cr +
Co + Cu +
Mn + Ni +
V+ their
compounds

Cyclon
e
separat
or

Ventur
i
scrubb
er

Equipments / Technologies1
Semi
Fabr
Dry
Wet
ES
dry
SNC
ic
syste
syste
P
syste
R
filter
m
m
m

Activat
ed
carbon

SCR

Option

Case study on the different combinations is tabulated below:

Particulars

SNCRDry
system Fabric
filter
SNCRSemi dry
system Fabric
filter

Syste
m
type

Meeting
emission norms

Dry

Yes

Semi
dry

Yes

1 -indicates removed, *- partially removed

Requirements
Reagent required is
high, bags in the filter
need to be
periodically
maintained
Reagent required is
relatively low, bags in
the filter need to be
periodically

Cape
x

1
2

Ope
x

SNCR
Semi
dry
system
Wet ESP

Wet

Yes, almost nil

particulate matter
& other gases are
dissolved in water

SNCRESP
Semi
dry
system Fabric
filter

Dry

Yes, even NOx of

<100 mg/Nm3 is
achievable

SNCSemi
system Fabric
filterWet ESP

Wet

Almost nil

maintained
Reagent required is
relatively low and use
of Wet ESP is to
validate by vendor
Wet system and SCR
are costly, bags in the
filter need to be
periodically
maintained
SCR & Wet system is
costly

1 being highest & 3 being lowest

Although there is huge capital investment in this, but with the attractive tariff these
days & grant from the government use of the exotic technologies is possible which
saves take care of the environment for all & the aids & attractive tariffs keeps the
ROI & IRR good for the Investors thus win-win situation. This is why most of the
developed countries have the WtE plant in the center or vicinity of the cities where
as in India sub-continent due to lack of the technological awareness & access of
techonologies same is always a topic for debate!!

With the help of the consults & technology suppliers it is possible to

have the ecofriendly WtE solutions, key of the environment lies in
hands of the consultants who designs the systems. Exhaustive desk
work need to be carried out for the selection of the most technocommercially suitable system for the sustainable solution. Instead of
protesting & aggregating its time to rethink the thought process for
the solutions for the sustainability in the present running plants
too. As every problem cones with solution just perspective need to
be changed, now technology & finance aids are available to develop
the solution for WtE

Government should plan some more attractive measures of the Make in India for
these technologies so as same can be made available not in WtE but every plant
where it is required. Indian companies & sign the MOU with European & US
companies for the technologies transfer under the WTO protocol.

DESK @ DESL