O&M of WTE facilities

This chapter deals with operation and maintenance (O&M) of waste-to-energy (WTE) systems. The O&M of WTE facilities require special consideration and operator skills. WTE facilities are power plants that require combined expertise in the combustion of solid fuel and in handling of corrosive flue gas. The O&M of WTE has to meet stringent power industry environmental regulations on waste, air, and wastewater. The WTE industry is now well known and it is possible to implement a comprehensive operation plan that carefully anticipates risks and pitfalls specific to the WTE operation. A few private and specialized full-service operation providers are also available to ensure long-term operation success of the plants. Most successful WTE facility operations can be credited to the quality and success of the commissioning phase where the long-term operator was involved during the design and construction of the facility. This is highly recommended. The operator should validate general design, operation, and maintenance access of the equipment and commissioning plan. Operation risks include risks to health, environmental risks, and maintenance and equipment breakdown. To combat these, preventative maintenance programs and major maintenance programs are used.