DYNAMICS OF ROTARY KILN INCINERATION OF TOLUENE SORBENT PACKS

The dynamic response of an industrial incinerator to the batch loading of single plastic packs loaded with a toluene/sorbent mixture is reported. Specifically, stable species concentrations and temperature are reported as a function of time for the upper half of the exit region of a rotary kiln, and the exit of the afterburner. Volatile organic sampling train (VOST) samples and continuous measurements of O2 and CO at the stack are also reported. In conjuction with video tape recordings of the phenomena occurring in the kiln during the processing of each pack, the data provide a much clearer picture than heretofore possible of the conditions that exist in an industrial incinerator. A number of observations are notable. The existence of intermittent releases or hydrocarbon from the processing of each pack has been confirmed. Attendant to these excursions is the production of large quantities of soot in the bottom half of the kiln and the formation of significant vertical gradients in temperature and stable species concentration at the kiln exit. Fluctuations in O2 and CO are observed to persist throughout the system, even to the stack. Nonetheless, under even the most vigorous hydrocarbon releases, the incinerator emissions remained well within regulatory limits. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.