Evaluation of power generation efficiency increment by applying element technologies to industrial waste incineration facility in South Korea
 

It has been an important topic to talk about commercialization of waste-to-energy technology and the establishment of relevant policies as alternatives for waste treatment to prevent environmental pollution, securing energy resources to replace fossil fuels, and realizing zero reclamation of waste. In particular, the domestic and international waste policies have been shifted from the 3R system (Reduction, Recycle and Reuse) to the 4R with the addition of Energy Recovery. In South Korea, the Resource Circulation Basic Act has been newly established in order to utilize energy from waste and promote the use of such energy. This has been the law and system to recycle collected energy from waste. However, the generation efficiency of Korean waste incineration facilities is within 10%, which is not satisfactory to meet the standard of energy recovery on the current laws. Industrial waste incineration facilities, in particularly, has their limits to only utilize the steam, that is, the created heat energy. This suggests that there should be more measures to realize high efficiency of waste-to-energy and energy diversification. This study analyzes greenhouse gas reduction effects as well as the steam power generation efficiency increment by applying element technologies to industrial waste incineration facilities under the purpose of efficiency increment from waste to energy. To calculate the increment effects of generation efficiency, 5 element technologies (e.g. low-temperature economizer, low temperature catalyst denitrification) that have been suggested by the Japan’s Ministry of Environment are applied to the operation status of Korea’s industrial waste incineration facilities (lower heating value of waste: 3,300~4,100 kcal/kg, volume of emission gas: 9,500∼11,500 m3/ton, emission gas temperature from boiler outlet: 190∼250C, combustion air ratio: 1.4~2.0). As a result, it is expected to increase 36.47 % in energy recovery rate depending on element technology application at incineration facilities based on the average value of the current facilities. In the case that all of this energy would be used for power generation, it is likely to have efficiency increment of 0.62% on average in power generation. In terms of strengthening heat recovery ability and efficient usage of steam, energy reduction volume would be 155.97 Mcal/ton per input waste if element technologies are applied. This is the equivalent result to crude oil replacement volume of 60.12×103 m3 (annual), which amounts to USD 20.13 million. Also, it is expected to reduce greenhouse gas reduction of 301,421 ton CO2/yr if element technologies are applied within incineration process.