Understanding the Problem
As we turn towards environmental sustainability, landfill waste stands as a major challenge. Over time municipal solid waste breaks down in the landfills and release greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere. Additionally, rainwater precipitates through the waste forming toxic leachate containing heavy metals and organic matter. However, much of the landfill waste still has useful properties which, if properly treated, can be used in energy generation, and the production of cementitious materials and syngas.
Finding the Solution
Loesche Energy Systems (LES) are experts in the development and installation of integrated solutions for waste conditioning. Once offloaded at the plant, LES’s bespoke systems will transport, sort, and process the input material into the desired end product. Whether you wish to process municipal solid waste into fuel pellets or corn husk into syngas, LES has a solution.
Size Reduction
The first stage of our plant is size reduction. Material is passed through a shredder to make it easier to handle and sort. If it is not reduced to the desired size, it is fed back into the shredder as second time before passing onto the next section.
Handling
The material handling systems in place depend very much on the material itself. We are experienced in the handling of many materials with different properties, from high density rejects to low density fluff. Through the use of our de-dusting technology, we are also able to provide ATEX ratings, even on high calorific materials.
- Belt Conveyors
- Drag Chain Conveyors
- Bucket Elevators
- Screw Conveyors
Sorting
The material is then separated using machinery including vibrating screens, drum screens, wind sifters, optical sorters, over band magnets and eddy current separators, as well as manual picking. This is primarily to retrieve the desired material for processing, however, it can also retrieve other useful materials. For example, in the case of municipal solid waste, often recyclable metals can be removed for sale.
Processing
The material is then ready to be processed. This stage depends on the input material and desired end product.
Rocket Mill – By using large, rapidly rotating chains the rocket mill is designed for tearing material apart, as opposed to cutting or crushing. This creates a high surface area fluff which can be further processed into pellets, or even put straight into a burner as a high calorific fuel. There is also a significant moisture reduction of up to 10% during milling. Through simple design and affordable wear parts, the rocket mill is extremely easy to maintain.
- Size reduction from 250 mm to 15 mm in one pulverising step
- 10% moisture reduction during pulverisation
- Different output fuel particle sizes for main burner and calciner possible
Dryer – Material is passed through a dry heated environment to remove any remaining moisture preparing the fuel for either use in a boiler, or for further processing, for example, into syngas.
Pelletiser – Solid recovered fuel is shaped into pellets (dimensions as requested). This created a fuel that is easier to transport and handle.
Gasifier – Solid recovered fuel is heated anaerobically, encouraging the processes of gasification for the generation of syngas.
