Nasa Cr-2526 Energy Recovery from Solid Waste
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NASA CONTRACTOR NASA CR-2526 REPORT OS u-» CM ENERGY RECOVERY FROM SOLID WASTE Volume 2 - Technical Report C. J. Huang and Charles Da/ton Prepared by UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON Houston, Texas 77004 for Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center - 't»-w ~ NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION • WASHINGTON, D. C. • APRIL 1975 1 . Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's' Catalog No. NASACR-2526 4. Title end Subtitle 6. Rupert Dura - April • 1975 ". ENERGY RECOVERY FROM SOLID WASTE, 6. Performing Organization Code VOLUME 2 Technical Report . 7. Author(i) 8. Performing Organization Report No. C. J. Huang, Director ' Charles Dalton, Associate Director S-443 10. Work Unit No.: , 9. Performing Organization Nime tnd Addresi University of "Houston — -•-•-• 11. Contract or Grant No. ., Houston, 'Texas' 77004 ! NOT- 44- 005- 114 13. Type of Report and Period Covered 12. Sponsoring Agency Nime and Address Final Report 1974 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 14. Sponsoring Agency Coos Houston, Texas 77058 16. Supplementary Notes Prepared as Final Report of the 1974 NASA/ASEE Systems Design Institute 18. Abstract A systems analysis of energy recovery from solid waste demonstrates the'feasibility of several current processes for converting solid waste to an energy form. The problem is considered from a broad point of view. The social, legal, environmental, and political factors are considered in depth with recommendations made in regard to new legislation and policy. Biodegradation and thermal decomposition are the two areas of disposal that are considered with emphasis on thermal decomposition. A technical and economic evaluation of a number of available and developing energy-recovery processes is given. Based on present technical capabilities, use of prepared solid waste as a fuel supplemental to coal seems to.be the most economic process by which to recover energy from solid waste. Markets are considered In detail with suggestions given for improving market .conditions and for developing market stability. A decision procedure is given to aid a'community in deciding on its options In dealing with solid waste. A new pyrolysls process is suggested. An application of the methods of this study are applied to Houston, Texas. 17. Key Words (Suggested by Author(s)) . -,-...'. 18. Distribution Statement ' Energy Recovery • STAR Subject Category: . '• ' Resource Recovery 44 (Energy Production and Conversion) ' Solid Waste 'Garbage , 19. Security dasslf. (of this report) 20. Security dealt, (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price' Unclassified UnclaBstfied 242 . $7. 50 . 'For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151 lilt 74) 'AUTHORS Dr. George Edward Antunes University of Houston Dr. Ronald Lad Carmichael University of Missouri at Rolla Dr. Tsong-how Chang University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Dr. Shang-I Cheng Cooper Union Dr. Gary Max Halter Texas ASM University Dr. Joel Joseph Heberte; Rice. University Dr. Francis Wilford Holm Texas A & M University Dr. Edwin Carl Kettenbrink, Jr. University of Texas of the Permian Basin Dr. James Lowell Kuester Arizona State University Dr. Loren Daniel Lutes Rice; University Dr. Dupree Maples Louisiana State University Dr. Arthur Christian Meyers University of Colorado Dr. Shankaranarayana R. N. Rao Prairie View A & M University Dr. Armando Riesco II University of Puerto Rico Dr. Fredrick Wallace Swift University of Missouri at Rolla Dr. Michael L. Steib .- ., - . University of Houston Dr. William Danny Turner Texas A & I University Dr. Lambert John Van Poolen Calvin College Dr. Henry Allen Wiebe University of Missouri at Rolla ;. EDITORS: Lambert Van Poolen George Antunes Ronald Carmichael Fred Swift" • Dan. Turner- TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE 1, INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Solid Waste Problem . 1 1.'2 Why Energy and Resource Recovery from Solid Waste? 1 1.3 Parameters of the Study • 1 1.4 The Approach Followed 1 2, SOCIAL ASPECTS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 2.1 Introduction - 5 2.2 Factors Deterring Change 6 .1 Cost '6 ..2 Maintenance of Political Stability . 7 .3 Industrial Interest Groups 7 2.3 Environmental and Other Factors Motivating Change 7 .1 Land Dumping 8 .2 Ocean Dumping . 9 .3 Regulations Relevant to Solid Waste 10 .4 Anticipated Environmental Regulations 12 .5 Environmental Regulations Significant to Energy Generation from Solid Waste 12 2.4 Federal Policies Affecting Energy and Resource Recovery from Solid Waste 14 .1 Freight Rate Policies for Virgin and Secondary Materials 15 .2 Federal Tax Policies for Virgin Materials 15 .3 Federal Policies Regulating Natural Gas 16 .4 Federal Procurement Policies and the Secondary Materials Market 17 .5 Federal Policies Encouraging Development of Recovery Technology 17 2.5 State and Local Legal and Political Problems Affecting Energy and. Resource Recovery from Solid Waste . 19 .1 New and Unproven Technologies 20 .2 Noncrisis Attitudes of Citizens and City Officials 20 .3 Problems in Developing Area-Wide Organizations for Energy and Resource Recovery • 20 .4 Lack of Planning in Selection of Disposal Sites 22 ""'•-• .5 Potential Problems in Exclusive Franchises 22 .6 Legal Liabilities for Products Produced from MMR 22 .7 . Financial and Contractual Options Open to Local Governments 23 2.6 . Product Design Legislation to Reduce Waste at Source 24 .1 Background 24 .2 Recapping Rubber Tires 24 .3 Nonrefillable Bottles 25 .4 Bimetallic Cans 26 .5 Low-Volume Potentially Hazardous Material -26 2.7 Summary of Social Aspects of Solid Waste Management 27 2.8 Recommendations 29 3, TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF ENERGY RECOVERY FROM SOLID WASTE 3.1 . Introduction 34 ".1 Sani'tary Landfill 34 .2 Pre-Conversion Processing Routes 35 .3 Energy Conversion Alternatives 36 .4 Process Economic Data Sheets 38 3.2 Pre-Processing .Techniques •• 39 .1 General Considerations . 39 .2 Size Reduction Techniques . • 40 .3 Separation Techniques 44 .4 . Separation and Size Reduction As A Terminal Process 50 3.3 Incineration Process 57 .1 Introduction 57 .2 Description of Incinerator Process 59 .3 Incineration System Alternatives Selected for Further Analysis 67 .4 Summary of Incineration Systems 93 iii CHAPTER AT:IT'LE PAGE 3.4 Pyrolysis Process - ;•" -- - 93 .1 Introduction? 'ist&': -• • • ' .5: -:V *s - • - ' ' • ' 93 .2 General Considerations •.•<... 93 .3 . Description of Process . •<< - .•, . 96 .4 Further Analysis of Selected Pyrolysis-System Alternatives . 110 .5 • Summary of Pyrolysis Alternatives • .-•' - • -• 130. .6 A Study of a Proposed Pyrolysis Process 133 3.5 Biodegradation Processes • ''' . 137 .1 Introduction 137 .2 Composting . 137 .3 Methane Production Process 148 .4 Biochemical Process 155 .5 Critical Assessment of Biodegradation System Alternatives 158 .6 Summary 160 3.6 Summary 160 4, MARKETS 4.1 Introduction . 170 - 4-. 2 Marketable Products 170 .'1 • Material Recovered Before Conversion . 170 .2 Products Derived from Conversion Processes . 170 .3- Conversion Byproducts 170 4.3 "Factors Related to Current Market Conditions !171 "Y1-- Freight Rate Policies . 171 .2 Federal Tax Policies for Virgin Materials 171 .3' Federal Policies Regulating Natural Gas 171 .4 Federal Procurement Policies 172 v.5< Social Attitudes 172 4.4 Products Suitable for Current Markets 172 • .1 Product Description 172 .2 ' Market Demand 174 .3 Market Prices . 176 4.5 Potentially Promising Markets 179 416 Markets to be Developed 179 • .1 Research and Development 179 4.7 Trends and Developments • 180 .1 Some Recent Trends 180 .2 Contract Agreements 182 .3 Market Locations • 182 4.8 Conclusion • • 182 5. A DECISION PROCEDURE 5.1 Introduction . 187 .1 Justification 187 .2 Philosophy 187 .3 Outline of Procedure 188 5.2 Development of Selection Criteria 188 .1 Introduction. 188 ..2 Economic and Cost Related Characteristics 188 .3 Qualitative Characteristics 190 .4 Outline of Considerations 190 .5 Discussion of Tradeoffs 191 5.3 Selection of Feasible Options . 191 .1 Preliminary Selection Criteria 191 .2 Technical Options Available 192 .3 Screening • 192 5.4. Analysis of Feasible Systems 192 .1 Introduction 192 .2 Evaluation Techniques 193 5.5 Final Decision 200 .1 Use of Recommendations from Decision Procedure 200 .2 Responsibility for Final Decision . 203 .3 Examples of Decision Structures 203 5.6 Summary 205 iv CHAPTER TITLE EASE APPENDICES A. Results of Pre-Bngineering Design on the HAAS Process 206 B. Houston Application 216 * C. Institute Staff 225 D. Contributors and Consultants 230 B. Vendor List : 233 GLOSSARY 238 LIST OF FIGURES ... :, .. , ,-..-.:....... ' . '. Figure,,.?- .1. ConventionaloMethods of Refuse Disposal ....,_ 3- 2 Refuse Pre-Conversion Processing Routes 3- 3 Refuse Incineration Routes, with^nergy- Recovery • 3- 4 . Py.rolysis-'Ofi'Refuse ..,.;-..' . 3- 5 f-Biodegradatipn. of Refuse -• . s- - . •' ' . 3- 6 Process Cost Sheet / .•...,.'..,.-. •- 3- 7 Resource Recovery Data Sheet • .'. 3-,.8-v^:;: Vertical Shaft JJammermi 11, ._ • f- .,••,., • , 3- 9 \.i Vr^Hor.izontaljjghjaft .Hairanermili • ,-.,.- 3-10 Primary Shredding Energy .Consumption for Mixed.Municipal Refuse,; 3-11 %i,»; .--piskj Mill,. Schematic , '» - •. •?, .. '\: • . >. ' 3-12 Wet Pulper ^Schematic 3-13 Schematic of Rasp Mill 3-14 Cage Disintegrator'Schematic ,.•-.:«:;• • - - . • -;,. - • . .....-, .\ 3-15 Suspended-.type Permanent Magnetic Separator, • . " _' 3-16 Pulley-type Permanent Magnetic Separator 3-17 Capital Cost of Magnetic Separators as a Function of Capacity 3-18 Capital Cost of Magnetic-Separators as: a Function-of - Belt