Experience at Edmonton (GLC) of generating electricity using refuse as fuel

The paper describes a continuous power-generation process incinerating untreated domestic/industrial refuse mix as a sole fuel for electricity production based on conventional power-station practise. Details of the background, design and expected performance of the plant, as commissioned, are given. Problems of initial operations included difficulties with specialised refuse and residuals, handling equipment, as well as catastrophic failures of boiler tubes from flue side corrosion/erosion within an average 4000 operating hours for individual incinerator/boiler heat exchangers. Explanations are provided, and details given, of remedial measures involving considerable modifications to equipment. The experience of final sustained successful operations until January 1975 is discussed, including the qualities and performance of refuse as sole fuel for steam generation. Operating and thermal efficiencies, relevant to energy conversion and stage processes, including ferrous metal recovery from residuals, are noted. Conclusions arrived at relate to successful commercial operations being achieved by attention to obtaining really efficient combustion and balancing the requirement for dealing with the heavy flue-fouling characteristics of refuse burning against the effects of renewed corrosion/erosion on exposed or re-exposed boiler-tube surfaces. The economics of overall operations and achievement of viable large-scale electricity production with refuse disposal are reported.