Chemical Analyses of Refuse Components

The proximate and ultimate analyses of 20 constitu­ ents of municipal and commercial refuse are presented, to .. gether with the calorific values. The analyses are useful o incinerator engineers as they are the basis for calcu­ Jating air requirements, flue .. gas volumes, and heat and material balances. The analyses of components of refuse permit the calculation of composite analyses of mixed refuse from known proportions. Future investigations Brc suggested to obtain more complete refuse data and to de­ termine the variability of municipal refuse. Introduction Millions of tons of solid wastes are burned annually by communities, industries, agriculture, commercial establishments, and residences. At least 4.51b of refuse are generated daily per capita in U.S. cities. Incinera­ tors to consume the reluse range from small batch-led units to large municipal plants with furnaces, each of which burns over 10 tph, 24 hr/day, by continuous firing on'moving grates. The cost of the large plants is upward of 84500 per ton..!ay (24 hr) 01 capacity. Modern engineering design of incinerators begins with a known or �ssumed analysis and weight of �eluse. The refuse determines the quantity 01 air required, the heat released, the volume of flue gas produced, and hence the size and proportion of ducts, flues, chambers, and stacks. " The variability 01 reluse and the lack of interest in refuse as a fuel for steam generation have caused some delay in -{entific studies of refuse. However, interest in refuse