Small Scale Waste Incineration

Basics

• This page aims to look at the application of Waste Incineration in the context of a scale similar to Burn Barrels BUT with thought taken to various potential forms of pollution, and ways to prevent/alleviate this.

Reasons for Doing So

• Disposal of Non-Recyclable Materials (In Areas where Large Scale Processes aren't used for this, just Landfilling) Such As:
  • Thermosets
  • Foams like Expanded Polystyrene etc
  • Hard to shred films (Although Plastic Film Recycling can be done with the right workflow)
  • Multilayer Films / Mixed Packaging Waste
• Privacy/Security ( "Burn Bags" )
  • So Important Documents, Expired Checks/Debit Cards etc
  • Although Shredding and/or Pulping are substitutes to an extent, the issue of local accessibility is another potential justification for small scale waste incineration

Potential Pollution Routes

Unburnt Hydrocarbons/Carbon Monoxide/DPM type soot

• This is the most straightforward, and the main solution is enough air and heat in the fire
• Granted Flame Temperature Emissions Curve ranges need to be taken into account (to an extent more heat = more NOx , less heat means more CO etc)
• Between the small scale+frequency though (compared to Mass Motorization or Grid Scale powerplants etc) this isn't too major of an issue

Dioxins

• Unlike CO and Hydrocarbons, Dioxins still do pose an issue as they Bioaccumulate
• How dioxins form, how to minimize this, and how to potentially scrub them from emissions needs to be investigated
  • A TLUD with Charcoal above and below the RDF may be able to trap the dioxins?

Heavy Metals / Misc Elemental Pollutants

• This is largely an issue of pre-sorting the waste
• Undyed Paper and Plastics shouldn't have this issue at all
  • Investigating what dyes may contain pollutants that could concentrate in the Bottom Ash etc is something to look in, especially if Ash Utilization is planned
• Magnetic Strips from Debit Cards and so on may have odd materials in them, granted 1 card per "batch" done every few months or so isn't too significant, needs to be looked into though

Fly Ash Bourne Particulate Matter

• This cannot be "burned up" unlike Diesel Particulate Matter / Soot type particulate emissions
• Given scale and frequency shouldn't be TOO huge of an issue, but more dedicated devices could address this with a rudimentary ESP unit etc

Existing Design Evaluation

Open Burning

• Worst Case Scenario, especially if in a pit (so air cannot enter from the sides unlike if done on a flat surface)

Pan Style Outdoor Fireplace

• Similar to Open Burning albeit with potentially different thermal characteristics (Better conduction or insulation than soil depending on material used (metal vs ceramic etc)
• Core Temperature:
• Flame Temperature:

"Paint Can"

Unventilated

• Core Temperature:
• Flame Temperature:

Natural Air Induction

• IE Holes Drilled in the Bottom and/or Sides for airflow, but no fans or blowers used
• Core Temperature:
• Flame Temperature:

Forced Air Induction

• Core Temperature:
• Flame Temperature:

55 Gallon Burn Barrel

Unventilated

• Core Temperature:
• Flame Temperature:

Natural Air Induction

• IE Holes Drilled in the Bottom and/or Sides for airflow, but no fans or blowers used
• Core Temperature:
• Flame Temperature:

Forced Air Induction

• Core Temperature:
• Flame Temperature:

External Links

• A Whitepaper by " Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management 2020" Titled "Incineration (Small-Scale) Factsheet"
  • The 55 Gallon Barrel Based Mobile Incinerator by Mavi Deniz Mentioned
    • Seems like it is barrel based forced air with a secondary combustion zone?
• "Current Developments in Biotechnology and Bioengineering - Waste Treatment Processes for Energy Generation - 2019" Chapter "Waste Treatment Processes/Technologies for Energy Recovery 4.1 Incineration"
  • Quote:
    • "For optimum efficiency, any incinerator should be focused on the “Three T's.” The Three T's stand for “time,” “temperature,” and “turbulence.” These Three T's play very important roles in determining the efficiency of an incinerator."
    • Also mentioned "multiple hearth incinerators" and "direct flame incinerators"
    • Also had a basic section on Pyrolysis, a basic one on Gasification, and some great diagrams
    • It also made a distinction between Incineration and W2E where Incineration is solely concerned about volume reduction and/or sterilization+stabalization, while W2E Prioritizes Energy moreso. This was interesting, albeit any system with good Solid Waste Sorting/Recycling shouldn't be doing Mass Incineration of Unsorted MSW
• Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable - Soil, Sediment, Bedrock and Sludge - 3.6 Ex Situ Thermal Treatment (assuming excavation) - 4.22 Incineration (Old Page)
• Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable Desorption and Incineration (New Page)
• EPA - On-Site Incineration: Overview of Superfund Operating Experience