Co-firing of Thai lignite and municipal solid waste (MSW) in a fluidised bed: Effect of MSW moisture content

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering 2010-12, Vol.30 (17), p.2693-2697
• Main Authors: Suksankraisorn, K., Patumsawad, S., Fungtammasan, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon monoxide; Co-firing; Cobalt; Combustion; Combustion efficiency; Conversion; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fluidised bed; Heat transfer; Lignite; Moisture content; Solid waste; Solid wastes; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Wastes
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2010.07.020

Co-firing investigation of a high-moisture-content municipal solid waste (MSW) with Thai lignite have been performed in a laboratory-scale fluidised bed to study the effects of MSW moisture content on the combustion and emission characteristics of major gaseous pollutants. In this study the comparison of 35%- and 60%-moisture MSWs were tested. The results show that the bed temperature in the case of 35%-moisture content is higher than for in case of 60%-moisture content due to the difference of physical properties of the fuel. The combustion efficiency for the case of 35%-moisture MSW is higher than that for 60%-moisture MSW due to higher bed temperature at lower waste moisture content. The synergistic effect of the co-firing of lignite with MSW reduces the emission of CO leading to increase in combustion efficiency. CO concentration for the case of 35%-moisture content is generally lower, and is much less sensitive to the level of excess air. Both the concentration values of SO 2 and the fuel-S converted are lower for lower moisture content waste, particularly at high mass fraction of waste. The fuel mixture with low-moisture in waste gives higher fuel-N conversion to NO whereas the fuel-N conversion to N 2O is higher for higher moisture content waste, particularly at high excess air. ► The moisture content in waste has affected to both combustion and emission characteristics. ► The higher moisture content in waste concerned, the higher bed temperature and the higher combustion efficiency achieved. ► Gaseous emissions, such as CO and SO2, are lower for lower moisture content waste. ► Low moisture content waste gives higher fuel-N conversion to NO whereas this effect is reversed when moisture content increases.