Cofiring of pelletized refuse-derived fuel with coal to achieve sulfur dioxide emissions requirements

Processing of municipal solid waste with lime additives has produced a high quality, storable, fuel pellet. Earlier studies of the beneficial effect of lime addition to coal and of the cofiring of lime-rich refuse-derived fuel pellets with coal suggested cofiring these pellets with Illinois or Kentucky coals in order to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. A series of burn tests were conducted at Argonne National Laboratory in the summer of 1987 to verify the rate and conditions for optimum sulfur capture. Pellets with lime additions of 4-8% (by weight) were fired at 10, 20, or 30% (by ratio of heat input) with coal. This paper presents the results to date.