NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF A NATURAL-CONVECT ION URBAN WASTE INCINERATOR

In the context of resource conservation and the rational production an d use of energy, there is growing interest in Switzerland, as elsewher e, in the incineration of domestic wastes. One of the characteristics of waste incineration cogeneration power plants is their frequent part ial or excess loading. In order to describe their behavior at these no n-nominal loads, there is a need for simulation teals, which predict w ith accuracy the behavior of the principal components of the plant at these loads. This paper presents a simulation model of an industrial w aste incineration furnace coupled to a natural convection boiler. The model provides information an the internal behavior of the system, whi ch leads to the creation of windows of operation for the incinerator/b oiler system. The model was validated using measurements taken at an i ndustrial site and forms the basis of a robust and accurate simulation tool for the description of this kind of system. With this tool, a mu ltitude of different parametric studies can be done on geometry, waste composition, non-nominal toads, combustion gas recirculation, etc. Si mulation results are given as well as results from the direct use of t his model in evaluating the addition of a topping cycle to an existing waste incineration cogeneration power plant.