Waste fuel densification: Pelleting technology, handling and storage properties

Abstract

For economical and product specific requirements the possibility of an extra treatment and exploitation of components with high heating values was followed, especially in connection with large units specialized to recover material components from municipal and domestic waste.

Components for fuel production can be seen in household-waste separated light fractions (RDF), fibres coming from seperated waste collections like waste paper of inferior quality, and production residues from agriculture and forestry.

Between different concepts of waste fuel densification, pelleting as a process of fuel production has been put into the limelight. Even if pelleting can be seen as a more expensive method, compared to baling press systems or container pressing, it offers some advantages concerning combustion characteristics such as diameter, shape, density and by this a better handling of the products during transport, storing, oven charging, etc..

Success of pelleting and results of pressing are dependent on a large number of material- and process determined parameters, by whose control economy as well as pellet quality can be extensively influenced.

For the realisation of the RDF densification concept, one should not only see its technical and economical production, but also place high importance on the storability. This point especially is to be retained because the production of fuel and its later use can vary in respect to space and time.