The issue of burning waste organic matter
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In chemical plants, can solid waste be burned in coal-fired boilers? There are also some organic substances that are difficult to handle; can they be burned in boilers? What are the standard requirements? What impact does this have on the boilers?
This is generally how it is handled; it usually has no impact on boilers. However, caution is still needed when dealing with certain toxic chemicals. Some solids that are solid at room temperature will vaporize at high temperatures, and this is definitely harmful to human health. Additionally, sulfides, nitrogen oxides, and CO produced as a result of incomplete combustion of organic substances can have an adverse effect on the environment. Special attention should be paid to the fact that the aromatic hydrocarbons resulting from incomplete combustion are highly toxic to humans and the environment, and their effects are irreversible.
It is necessary to determine what category the solid waste falls into; if it is hazardous waste, it cannot be simply thrown into a boiler and burned. Only qualified entities can handle it. If burning is desired, it must be approved by the relevant environmental protection authorities.
I forgot to mention that some chlorinated organic compounds, when burned in boilers, can release HCl, which may cause severe corrosion to the boiler. There are also some organic substances that, if introduced, may affect slag formation in the boiler, so this needs to be taken into account.
Ordinary solid waste can be burned, but special solid waste requires specialized equipment for treatment, as there is a risk of incomplete combustion that could produce more harmful substances; for example, incomplete burning of waste can generate carcinogenic dioxins. Furthermore, disposing of solid waste in coal-fired boilers for combustion increases the difficulty of flue gas treatment and also shortens the boiler’s service life. The organic substances in solid waste undergo certain chemical reactions in boilers; some of these substances end up in the flue gas and reach the waste gas treatment facilities, resulting in insufficient capacity for such facilities and necessitating upgrades. At the same time, when organic materials burn in the furnace chamber, minor explosions or corrosive gases may occur, which affect the service life of the boiler.
Some projects come equipped with incineration units – are there no specialized options such as professional incinerators available at the moment?