The proper and continuous operation of an incineration system for hazardous wastes has become a major responsibility of the plant engineer. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) established the final requirements for incinerators on July 21,1982. Owners and operators of incinerators had to submit completed applications for Part "B" of the operating permit by the end of 1983. This established the recording and monitoring procedures necessary to insure that their operation is within approved parameters.
Typical problems associated with operating a hazardous waste incinerator on an around-the-clock basis are covered in this paper. Areas of concern are: waste liquid handling (pumps, piping, and control valves); waste liquid atomization; refractory maintenance; instrumentation and analysis equipment; waste heat boilers; and air pollution control systems. Failures in the system cause shutdowns of not only the incinerator but also the process which generates the waste. This becomes serious when production (cash flow) is curtailed. Proper and scheduled maintenance will reduce these problems and provide 95+% on stream time.
PROBLEM EVALUATION
An estimated 57 million metric tons of industrial hazardous wastes were produced in the U.S.A. in 1980. Many of these wastes are incinerable. Incineration is becoming one of the principal methods used to manage hazardous waste. A better understanding of state-of-the-art incineration technology is important to the plant engineer responsible for hazardous waste management. Important in this technology are techniques needed to minimize down-time and maintenance for systems operating on a continuous basis. Close scrutiny during the design stages of a project can prevent subsequent problems. Sophisticated controls and instrumentation are now available for proper operation. Diligent maintenance must become a part of their daily routine.
An incineration system for hazardous wastes must be well designed, instrumented, operated, and maintained as though it were a process system. Plant management must be prepared to provide adequate capital and operating funds for these units. Hazardous waste incinerators are important not only for continuous operation but also for good community relations. Operating units must meet local, state, and federal codes (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, July 1982). As more systems are installed to provide reliable, safe, long term operation and performance, the public will begin to accept incineration as a safe system to have in its backyard.