Thermal Actively Controlled Sludge Treatment
Abstract
The SERDP Program CP 1132 was started in FY99 to develop a combustion system for the treatment of shipboard generated oily and non-oily wastes, which have to be disposed in an environmentally acceptable manner according to International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. To comply with IMO MARPOL ANNEX 1 and 6 (proposed), on-board thermal destruction (incineration) in compact, efficient, and continuously monitored combustion devices may be required to avoid the high cost of storage, off-loading, treatment, and disposal. IMO standards require CO emissions of less than 200 milligram (mg)/megajoule (MJ) (equivalent to approximately 420 parts per million (ppm) corrected to 7% O2) and exhaust emission opacity (smoke) of less than 20%, which corresponds to a Bacharach number of 3. The selected incinerator concept was based on a high performance Vortex Containment Combustor (VCC), which provides high firing density and high particulate matter trapping. In addition to the treatment of shipboard generated wastes, shore and harbor applications were explored in sub-scale experiments. For this purpose, the VCC was integrated with an efficient, compact, actively controlled afterburner (AB). Initially it was planned to also use the integrated VCC/AB for shipboard applications; however the IMO performance could be obtained without AB. The VCC is a demonstrated technology for combustion of pulverized coal and other fuels (Ref. 1). The concept involves a spinning combustion zone with long residence times for liquid droplets & solid particles and a classic cyclone-type flow for separation and trapping of noncombustible solids as ash (Figure 1). In the present program the VCC was modified for the treatment of marine sludge with highly variable characteristics and heat content.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA608403
Entities
People
- Klaus Schadow
- Tim Parr
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division