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How do they produce safe emissions from trash? They have a hard enough time when burning something where they control the input.


I don't think they do; however, it seems to be possible.[1] Googling "batch oxidation" gives back this PDF[2] describing it. Answering your question again:

"Unlike incinerators and other thermal processes, the BOS™ does not use a high temperature, turbulent processes to reduce the waste. The “quiet”, non‐turbulent smouldering of waste during the gasification phase means that the production of fly‐ash is almost eliminated, and the process does not suffer from temperature peaks and troughs, thus reducing problems with the formation of NOx and dioxins. However, many waste materials contain chemical components which can cause problems in any thermal process. Acid gases and metals must be neutralised and or / removed, and dioxins, furans, and particulates must all be reduced to minute amounts in order to meet the stringent EU legislation and compliance requirements. BOS™ achieves this by the use of a comprehensive Flue Gas Treatment (FGT) system through a dedicated Best Available Technology (BAT) program. The injection of sodium bicarbonate and activated carbon in a powdered form neutralises the acid gases and absorbs heavy metals and dioxins. Urea, injected into the Secondary Combustion Chamber, reduces NOx levels dramatically, and a bag-house filter system removes any last traces of particulate before the exhaust goes to atmosphere."

[1]http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/business/energy-environmen...

[2]http://wtecanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/WtEC-BOS-Web...


Phrases like "... a dedicated Best Available Technology (BAT) program." give me cause for concern.

It amounts to "we're not provably worse than any of the other technologies that have been adopted"... aka it's far from the best available, which I'm sure is cost prohibitive.

That aside, I do have a lot of respect for the work that goes into this sort of chemical engineering - absolutely fascinating stuff.


Here's a presentation regarding the 'SYSAV' waste-to-energy facility in Malmö, Sweden:

http://www.sysav.se/upload/flash/sysav.swf

There's an extensive pollution collection/scrubbing system that captures the pollutants as solids and liquids.


Burn it hot enough and emissions turn out mostly ok.


I have no idea. Here's a page about the Resource Recovery System: http://www.cityofames.org/index.aspx?page=168




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