MODELING OF REFUSE-DERIVED FUEL COMBUSTION ((RDF), MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, (MSW))

Most research applicable to the combustion of refuse-derived fuels (RDF) has dealt with thermal decomposition of pure organic polymers, or involved traditional fuel analysis, rather than investigations of the stages of RDF combustion. This research proposes a model for the stages of RDF combustion. The model represents the weight loss of a fuel sample combusted in a thermobalance as a series of first order reactions.; A thermobalance apparatus is constructed allowing particulate samples of up to 25 grams to be combusted in an air atmosphere. Temperature and weight data is collected with a micro-computer.; A synthetic RDF formulation is proposed and validated using traditional fuel analysis methods and the results from samples combusted in the thermobalance apparatus.; Samples of the synthetic RDF are combusted in the thermobalance, and the results compared to the weight loss profile predicted by the proposed model. Good agreement between the model and experimental results is obtained. The calculated apparent rate parameters are used to identify the differences in the combustion stages between the synthetic RDF and samples of the National Bureau of Standards Synthetic Refuse-Derived Fuel Combustion Calorimetric Standard.