Energy from waste: current research and development in municipal waste incineration at Sheffield University waste incineration centre (SUWIC)

• Published in: International journal of ambient energy 2000-07, Vol.21 (3), p.149-160
• Main Authors: Goh, Y. R., Yang, Y. B., Goodfellow, J., Zakaria, R., Lim, C. N., Chan, K. H., Reynolds, G., Siddall, R. G., Nasserzadeh, V., Swithenbank, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biomass; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Natural energy
• ISSN: 0143-0750; 2162-8246
• DOI: 10.1080/01430750.2000.9675367

In the UK, about 30 million tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is generated each year and the disposal of this waste has become a national problem. The growing scarcity of landfill sites for municipal solid waste disposal and the increasing environmental problems with landfill waste has led to more stringent regulations and high cost of waste disposal. The landfill tax in the UK is designed to encourage energy efficient waste management strategies aimed at reducing the amount of waste to be landfilled through incineration while maximising the recovery of the waste energy. Efficient recovery of energy from waste is therefore an important aim for modern incinerator design. The incineration of MSW is known to be a very complex process since the waste is poorly specified and its composition varies from moment to moment. Hence, research into waste combustion is fundamental to rational incinerator operation and the evolution of innovative processes such as co-incineration and integrated incinerator/gas turbine plants. This paper reviews the current research activities at Sheffield University Waste Incineration Centre (SUWIC) in MSW incineration.