Control of thermally integrated incineration–waste heat recovery systems, a case study

Abstract Thermally integrated incineration–waste heat recovery systems should feature operational flexibility. The objectives of pollutants’ destruction and satisfaction of thermal demand are to be fulfilled simultaneously, despite disturbances in the waste stream throughput and in the heat load. A rigorous steady state model relating the relevant process variables is developed on the basis of extensive heat balance computations for an industrial unit typifying such systems. The generated results are represented by simple correlations suitable for online computations. It is suggested to complement conventional feedback loops with a heat balance based feed forward computer control scheme to manipulate the flows of alternative backup fuels and combustion air.