Some Aspects Contributing to Improved Process and Equipment Design in the Field of Waste-To-Energy and Environmental Protection

Waste-to-energy technology (WTE) is also referred to as thermal processing of wastes including energy utilization. It means not only combustion of various types of wastes (incineration) in order to substantially reduce their volume is performed but also WTE systems can provide us with clean, reliable and renewable energy. A number of conditions of sustainable development in the process industry involving waste-to-energy systems can be formulated. Some criteria which can play a decisive role are discussed (economic and efficient process design, global heat transfer intensification, efficient selection of utilities including combined heat and power systems, using WTE systems, design of efficient equipment, local heat transfer intensification etc.). Relations between process, waste and energy are shown as well as relations between an improved process design and equipment design. Some examples from the field of heat exchangers (a new type of shell-and-tube heat exchanger, optimisation of plate type heat exchangers, and a new type of heat recovery steam generator) and their contribution to economic and environmental characteristics are demonstrated. It is shown that units for the thermal treatment (and/or processing) of wastes are used not only for the purpose of disposal of various types of wastes but also for recovering the heat by generating steam and electricity or for preheating purposes (WTE). Some examples (multipurpose incinerator for processing solid wastes, unit for processing sludge originating in the pulp and paper plant) including a WTE plant structure are described.