Solid waste-to-steam incinerator capacity enhancement by combined oxygen enrichment and liquid quench

The process for controlling the combustion and temperature in a solid waste-to-steam incineration system comprising a combustion zone, a steam boiler and means for introducing oxygen-enriched air into the combustion zone, which process comprises:

• introducing a solid waste into the combustion zone to serve as a source of fuel for the generation of steam from the steam boiler;
• feeding a primary air stream into the combustion zone to support combustion;
• measuring the temperature in the combustion zone;
• measuring the flow of steam leaving the steam boiler;
• measuring and adjusting the flow rate of the solid waste to the combustion zone to control combustion by maintaining a substantially constant flow of steam leaving the steam boiler;
• feeding a liquid quench into the combustion zone;
• removing a flue gas from the incineration system;
• measuring and adjusting the flow rate of the liquid quench to the combustion zone to control the temperature in the combustion zone within design parameters;
• and
• adding an oxygen stream to the primary air stream;
• and
• measuring and adjusting the flow rate of the oxygen stream added to the primary air stream in response to a change in the flow rate of the liquid quench and to maintain a substantially constant concentration of oxygen in the flue gas.

An incineration system for combusting waste and converting the resultant energy of combustion into steam which comprises:

• a combustion zone;
• means for introducing solid waste into the combustion zone;
• means for introducing an air stream into the combustion zone;
• means for introducing oxygen into the air stream;
• means for measuring the temperature in the combustion zone;
• a steam boiler within the incineration system;
• means for measuring the steam flow leaving the steam boiler;
• means for feeding a quench into the combustion zone;
• means for adjusting the amount of solid waste introduced into the combustion zone in response to the flow of steam leaving the steam boiler;
• means for adjusting the flow of quench fed into the combustion zone to control the temperature in the incinerator;
• and
• means to control the amount of oxygen introduced into the air stream in response to a change in the flow of the quench.