Co-Firing of Refuse-Derived Fuel with Ekibastuz Coal in a Bubbling Fluidized Bed Reactor: Analysis of Emissions and Ash Characteristics

Botakoz Suleimenova, Berik Aimbetov, Daulet Zhakupov, Dhawal Shah and Yerbol Sarbassov ()
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Botakoz Suleimenova: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Berik Aimbetov: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Daulet Zhakupov: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Dhawal Shah: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Yerbol Sarbassov: Department Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-11

Abstract: Converting municipal solid waste (MSW) into valuable feedstocks, such as refuse-derived fuel (RDF), is a sustainable method according to the concept of waste management hierarchy. A heterogeneous composition with a good calorific value and lower emissions allows RDF to be used for energy recovery purposes. We have earlier analyzed the generation and thermochemical characteristics of the MSW produced in Kazakhstan. This work aims to study the combustion characteristics in terms of emissions and ash composition to evaluate the possibility of RDF co-firing with Ekibastuz coal. In particular, RDF is blended with high ash bituminous coal (Ekibastuz coal) and co-fired in the laboratory scale bubbling fluidized bed reactor (BFB) at a bed temperature of 850 °C. The co-firing tests of RDF to coal samples were conducted under various proportions to analyze flue gas compositions. Experiments were carried in the presence of bed material (sand), and the fuel particles were fed in batch mode into the hot riser. The BFB reactor had a height of 760 mm and internal diameter of 48 mm. The gaseous products in the flue gas were analyzed by FTIR spectrometry (Gasmet Dx4000). Ash composition was examined by XRD, XRF, SEM, and PSD. The results showed that a high RDF content decreased SO 2 emissions to 28 ppm, while it negatively affected NO x release to 1400 ppm, owing to excess air. The emissions of gases from different blended samples and mineral transformations were investigated and discussed in this study.

Keywords: Ekibastuz coal; refuse-derived fuel; bubbling fluidized bed; residual ash (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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