How do large-scale waste incinerators generate electricity?
Waste incinerators generate electricity by burning waste in high-temperature furnaces, generating heat. This heat is then used to boil water and produce high-pressure steam. This steam drives a turbine, which is connected to a generator, generating electricity. This electricity is then fed into the grid, and any remaining heat can be used for other purposes, such as district heating.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
Waste Collection and Feeding:
Trucks deliver waste to the processing plant and deposit it in a large pit. A crane then scoops the waste from the pit and feeds it into a specially designed incinerator.
Combustion:
Waste is burned in the incinerator at high temperatures (850-1,000°C or higher). This combustion process releases a significant amount of heat.
Boiler and Steam Generation:
The heat generated by the incinerator is transferred to a boiler. In the boiler, water is heated to produce high-pressure steam.
Turbine and Generator:
The high-pressure steam drives the turbine blades. The spinning turbine, in turn, drives a connected generator, converting mechanical energy into electricity. Power Distribution:
The electricity generated by the generator is then fed into the local power grid.
Air Pollution Control:
Before being emitted through the chimney, the remaining gases pass through an air pollution control system that removes harmful pollutants and particulate matter, making the emission process more environmentally friendly.
Ash Recovery:
The remaining ash after combustion is collected. Ferrous metals (such as iron) are often recovered from the ash, while the inert ash can be used to make building materials.
