Incineration: Difference between revisions

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In legal terms, a '''‘waste incineration plant’''' means any stationary or mobile technical unit and equipment dedicated to the thermal treatment of waste, with or without recovery of any energy generated, or whether the gases resulting from the thermal [[treatment]] are subsequently incinerated <ref>As an example, a [[Pyrolysis]] facility that burnt the produced [[Syngas]] to generate electricity would be Incineration, whereas a [[Pyrolysis]] facility that processed [[Syngas]] for vehicle fuel would not be classed as an incinerator</ref><ref name='ref01'>European Commission, 2010 Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). Official Journal of the European Union.</ref>. If the Incinerator can be shown to meet the energy efficiency measurement of [[R1]] it can be classified as a [[recovery]] facility, if it cannot it is classified as a [[disposal]] facility<ref>https://data.gov.uk/dataset/8287c81b-2288-4f14-9068-52bfda396402/r1-status-of-incinerators-in-england</ref>. This means that an incinerator that generates power, and is a net exporter of power, can be described as an '''[[Energy from Waste]]''' ([[EfW]]) facility. An incinerator that is an [[EfW]] facility that meets the [[R1]] criteria is the only type of incinerator under the legislation that can legitimately describe itself as an '''[[Energy Recovery Facility]]''' ([[ERF]]).  
In legal terms, a '''‘waste incineration plant’''' means any stationary or mobile technical unit and equipment dedicated to the thermal treatment of waste, with or without recovery of any energy generated, or whether the gases resulting from the thermal [[treatment]] are subsequently incinerated <ref>As an example, a [[Pyrolysis]] facility that burnt the produced [[Syngas]] to generate electricity would be Incineration, whereas a [[Pyrolysis]] facility that processed [[Syngas]] for vehicle fuel would not be classed as an incinerator</ref><ref name='ref01'>European Commission, 2010 Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). Official Journal of the European Union.</ref>. If the Incinerator can be shown to meet the energy efficiency measurement of [[R1]] it can be classified as a [[recovery]] facility, if it cannot it is classified as a [[disposal]] facility<ref>https://data.gov.uk/dataset/8287c81b-2288-4f14-9068-52bfda396402/r1-status-of-incinerators-in-england</ref>. This means that an incinerator that generates power, and is a net exporter of power, can be described as an '''[[Energy from Waste]]''' ([[EfW]]) facility. An incinerator that is an [[EfW]] facility that meets the [[R1]] criteria is the only type of incinerator under the legislation that can legitimately describe itself as an '''[[Energy Recovery Facility]]''' ([[ERF]]).  


The most recent recent [[BAT|BREF]] guidance<ref name="Inc">[https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/new-eu-environmental-standards-waste-incineration BAT and BREF for Waste incineration]</ref> also sets out how incinerators can be described by:
The most recent recent [[BAT|BREF]] guidance<ref name="Inc">[https://eippcb.jrc.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2020-01/JRC118637_WI_Bref_2019_published_0.pdf BAT and BREF for Waste incineration]</ref> also sets out how incinerators can be described by:
* waste origin (e.g. Municipal Incinerators), '''and in WikiWaste includes [[Residual Waste EFW]] and [[Biomass Waste EFW]]''',  
* waste origin (e.g. Municipal Incinerators), '''and in WikiWaste includes [[Residual Waste EFW]] and [[Biomass Waste EFW]]''',  
* the nature of the waste (e.g. Hazardous Waste Incinerators), '''and in WikiWaste includes [[Hazardous Waste Incineration]] and [[clinical Waste Incinerator|Clinical Waste Incineration]]'''
* the nature of the waste (e.g. Hazardous Waste Incinerators),  
* the method/type of incineration (e.g. High Temperature Incinerators).
* the method/type of incineration (e.g. High Temperature Incinerators)
 
In WikiWaste these last two bullet points are covered in '''[[High Temperature and Clinical Waste Incineration]]'''.


However, there are a range of other terms used in the sector to describe different types of incineration, the kiln/furnace used, and the [[subsidy]] that may apply to them, and these are captured in the table below:
However, there are a range of other terms used in the sector to describe different types of incineration, the kiln/furnace used, and the [[subsidy]] that may apply to them, and these are captured in the table below:

Latest revision as of 17:32, 14 January 2022

Within waste terms Incineration is a form of thermal treatment of waste for disposal or recovery.

Edmonton EcoPark EFW
Edmonton EcoPark EFW


Context and Definition

In legal terms, a ‘waste incineration plant’ means any stationary or mobile technical unit and equipment dedicated to the thermal treatment of waste, with or without recovery of any energy generated, or whether the gases resulting from the thermal treatment are subsequently incinerated [1][2]. If the Incinerator can be shown to meet the energy efficiency measurement of R1 it can be classified as a recovery facility, if it cannot it is classified as a disposal facility[3]. This means that an incinerator that generates power, and is a net exporter of power, can be described as an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility. An incinerator that is an EfW facility that meets the R1 criteria is the only type of incinerator under the legislation that can legitimately describe itself as an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF).

The most recent recent BREF guidance[4] also sets out how incinerators can be described by:

  • waste origin (e.g. Municipal Incinerators), and in WikiWaste includes Residual Waste EFW and Biomass Waste EFW,
  • the nature of the waste (e.g. Hazardous Waste Incinerators),
  • the method/type of incineration (e.g. High Temperature Incinerators)

In WikiWaste these last two bullet points are covered in High Temperature and Clinical Waste Incineration.

However, there are a range of other terms used in the sector to describe different types of incineration, the kiln/furnace used, and the subsidy that may apply to them, and these are captured in the table below:

Definitions in Legislation   Types Temp. Range °C Category   Kiln/Furnace/Reactor
Incineration With Energy Recovery Combustion 800 - 1450 Thermal Treatment Grate
Fluidised Bed
Gasification 500 - 1600 Advanced Thermal Treatment (ATT and ACT) Rotary Kiln
Without Energy Recovery Plasma
Pyrolysis 250 - 700 Advanced Thermal Treatment (ATT and ACT) Heated Tube
Surface contact

History

The large majority of incinerators built and operating to date in the UK are based on 'conventional' Combustion type incineration, with some development of Gasification and Pyrolysis types over the last 10 to 15 years in the UK, with varying degrees of success. These ATT/ACT types of technology were encouraged by the subsidy available for power generation under the Renewables Obligation.

The three types of incineration can have a variety of different furnaces (also termed kilns and reactors) and associated systems to ensure the uniform treatment and residence time of the waste in the kiln/reactor. The most common kilns/furnaces are Grate based (there are at least five different type of Grate), with Fluidised Bed kilns/furnaces more commonly used in Gasification. For the treatment of Hazardous Waste the more common kilns/systems are based on Rotary Kilns.

Emissions

The standards for emissions limits, monitoring, waste reception and treatment standards that are acceptable for waste incineration plants were set in the Waste Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC) and updated in the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU)[2]. The Industrial Emissions Directive provides the framework for regulating across the EU and requires such installations to hold a Permit based on the use of Best Available Technique (BAT).

On the 3rd December 2019 new EU standards were published for waste incineration [4] for new emissions, monitoring and efficiency standards. The new specifications stem from a review of Best Available Technique (BAT) Reference Document (BREF) for Waste Incineration.

References

  1. As an example, a Pyrolysis facility that burnt the produced Syngas to generate electricity would be Incineration, whereas a Pyrolysis facility that processed Syngas for vehicle fuel would not be classed as an incinerator
  2. 2.0 2.1 European Commission, 2010 Industrial Emissions Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control). Official Journal of the European Union.
  3. https://data.gov.uk/dataset/8287c81b-2288-4f14-9068-52bfda396402/r1-status-of-incinerators-in-england
  4. 4.0 4.1 BAT and BREF for Waste incineration