A steady-state numerical model for the rotary kiln segment of a hazard
ous waste incinerator is presented. This model builds on work previous
ly conducted at Louisiana State University by including radiation and
soot in the heat transfer analysis, by switching to an adiabatic kiln
wall boundary condition, and by including a more accurate geometry and
better fitting grid. These changes improve agreement with data taken
from a field-scale rotary kiln, operating with a natural gas support f
lame but no waste processing, by up to 2 orders of magnitude compared
to previously developed models at LSU, In most instances, prediction i
s within repeatability limits of the experiments. Grid dependency is d
emonstrated, especially at the upper front of the kiln where gradients
are very steep. Near the exit of the kiln, however, where the limited
experimental data are available, both coarse and refined grids produc
ed very similar results. Parametric and sensitivity studies using the
developed model are reported.