Refuse derived fuel
In the context of the waste-to-energy strategy, we find the so-called refuse derived fuel (RDF) obtained from non-dangerous waste, and used to recover energy in incineration plants (also known as Waste to Energy systems). The range of waste materials that are used is very large and includes the residues which have been excluded from the recycling processes, waste from the industries and the distribution networks, muds from water purification systems, dangerous industrial waste, discarded biomass materials, etc. … These must be treated suitably in order to comply with the criteria, regulations and industrial specifications in order to reach a suitable heat producing potential.
One of the least costly methods, which is most widespread, for the production of RDF, is mechanical biological pre-treatment, MBT. In a MBT plant, metals (which are recycled) and inert materials (e.g. glass), and organic fractions (that are sent to the composting plants, with or without an anaerobic digesting phase) are separated from the MSW, and fractions with a higher heat producing power for the production of RDF, are chosen. Other solutions, besides MBT, are bio-stabilization and bio-drying of materials from which metals and inert materials have been removed beforehand, in which the organic fraction is stabilized and loses a part of the humidity, thus obtaining a final fraction with a higher heat producing power, that is suited for combustion, and consisting of paper and cardboard, wood, plastic and textiles that can be burnt directly. The total quantity of RDF produced from MSW in the European Union is estimated around 3 million tons. The Italian production amounts to 200,000 tons with a yield of 300 kg per ton of MSW. The characteristics that are necessary for the product that is obtained with the treatments to be used as RDF are many, and include a heat producing power of at least 15 MJ and 25% humidity.
Which are the current uses of RDF? There are numerous possibilities, which include: Waste to Energy systems, cement plants, thermal energy plants for district heating, steel plants, coal thermo-electric power plants etc. and, depending on the plant, they are uses as the only fuel or as an auxiliary fuel.
Special reports
-
5 November 2020
Years of plastics
Waste, abandoned objects, disposed items, even though we try to ignore them, hide them and shift them, they pervade our…
-
13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
30 April 2022
Solar energy in Italy: where do we stand?
The Sun is the main source of energy on our planet, from which we derive almost all the forms of…
-
5 September 2021
Faraday, an electrifying biography
"The important thing is to know how to take all things quietly". Michael Faraday...
14 July 2021
Italy’s renewable sources
Renewable energy sources in Italy The Energy Services Operator (GSE) periodically publishes data and statistics on the renewable energy sources…
18 February 2021
Is lithium the new petroleum?
Today petroleum vies for the title of “contemporary gold” with several competitors, one of those is certainly lithium...
-
5 November 2020
Years of plastics
Waste, abandoned objects, disposed items, even though we try to ignore them, hide them and shift them, they pervade our…
-
13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
-
15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
30 April 2022
Solar energy in Italy: where do we stand?
The Sun is the main source of energy on our planet, from which we derive almost all the forms of…
-
5 November 2020
Years of plastics
Waste, abandoned objects, disposed items, even though we try to ignore them, hide them and shift them, they pervade our…
From the Multimedia section
Facts
-
Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
The photovoltaic train
In Italy the PVTRAIN project by Trenitalia (co-financed by the European Union) plans...
The plant of Almeria
In the Tabernas desert, 30 km north-east of the Andalusia town of Almeria (Spain)...
-
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
-
Hydrogen from biomass
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that allows to generate energy in an environmentally sustainable way...
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
Geographical distribution of energy
Every day the Earth receives enough solar energy to satisfy the global energy need. Unfortunately we cannot exploit all this…
-
16 May 2011
Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
The photovoltaic train
In Italy the PVTRAIN project by Trenitalia (co-financed by the European Union) plans...
-
The plant of Almeria
In the Tabernas desert, 30 km north-east of the Andalusia town of Almeria (Spain)...
-
16 May 2011
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
-
Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
-
The photovoltaic train
In Italy the PVTRAIN project by Trenitalia (co-financed by the European Union) plans...
-
The plant of Almeria
In the Tabernas desert, 30 km north-east of the Andalusia town of Almeria (Spain)...