Incineration Power Generation: Structure and Operating Principle

Incineration Power Generation: Structure and Operating Principle

Incineration power generation involves burning waste in a combustion chamber, producing high-temperature flue gases. The heat from the hot flue gases boils water in a boiler, generating steam that drives a turbine connected to a generator, generating electricity.

Key components of the process include a waste hopper, a combustion chamber (typically with a grate system), a heat recovery boiler, a steam turbine/generator unit, and a multi-stage flue gas cleaning system to remove pollutants before the gases are discharged.

Structure

Waste-to-energy plant: A facility that incinerates waste to generate electricity.

Hopper and feeder: A storage area where waste is deposited and moved into the incinerator by mechanical devices such as grabs or conveyors.

Incinerator/combustion chamber: The main furnace where waste is burned, typically on a mechanical grate, where the waste is dried and burned, and the remaining ash is collected.

Waste heat boiler: A heat exchanger that captures the heat energy from the hot flue gases and uses it to convert water into steam.

Steam turbine and generator: The high-pressure steam generated by the boiler rotates turbine blades, which are directly connected to a generator to generate electricity. Flue Gas Treatment System: A series of scrubbers and filters remove pollutants from the flue gas before it is discharged through the chimney.

Ash Collection System: Bottom ash is collected from the boiler and fine ash is collected from the flue gas treatment system. Working Principle: Waste Feed: Waste is fed into the combustion chamber, where it is dried, gasified, and burned.

Combustion: The waste is burned in a controlled environment at high temperatures, typically between 850 and 1100°C.

Heat Exchange: Hot flue gases from the combustion chamber are passed through the boiler. Steam Generation: Heat from the flue gases boils water in the boiler, producing high-pressure steam.

Power Generation: The steam drives a turbine connected to a generator, generating electricity. Flue Gas Treatment: The remaining gas is treated to remove pollutants, such as acid gases and particulate matter, before being discharged to the atmosphere.

Ashing: The solid ash is collected and typically used for other purposes, such as road construction.