CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TRANSACTIONS VOL. 39, 2014 A publication of The Italian Association of Chemical Engineering www.aidic.it/cet Guest Editors: Petar Sabev Varbanov, Jiří Jaromír Klemeš, Peng Yen Liew, Jun Yow Yong Copyright © 2014, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l., ISBN 978-88-95608-30-3; ISSN 2283-9216 DOI: 10.3303/CET1439213 Please cite this article as: Putna O., Kropáč J., Frýba L., Pavlas M., 2014, Prediction of heating value of waste and its importance for conceptual development of new waste-to-energy plants, Chemical Engineering Transactions, 39, 1273-1278 DOI:10.3303/CET1439213 1273 Prediction of Heating Value of Waste and Its Importance for Conceptual Development of New Waste-to-Energy Plants Ondřej Putna*, Jiří Kropáč, Lukáš Frýba, Martin Pavlas Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Process and Environmental Engineering, Technická 2896/2, Brno, 616 69, Czech Republic putna@upei.fme.vutbr.cz The article deals with the prediction of lower heating value (LHV) of residual municipal solid waste (MSW). LHV indicates the energy potential contained in the waste, which can be later effectively utilized during its thermal treatment, therefore it also affects the economy of a waste-to-energy plant. Heating value of MSW varies according to location and time. It is influenced by socio-economic factors, citizens’ standard of living or the overall effectiveness of waste management. Over time, it changes due to the development of these parameters. Its prediction is crucial for the design of the key equipment parts of a waste-to-energy plant (e.g. specification of operating range for the furnace) and significantly influences the plant economy. Concurrently, average heating value reported for each plant is influenced by the area, from which the waste is collected. Therefore, a concept of a new comprehensive tool which creates a predictive model based on data from various sources is introduced. These are the results of waste composition analysis carried out in different typologically selected locations and times, LHV reported at several existing plants and available waste management statistics at regional level. These sources are further discussed in the paper through examples. 1. Introduction A waste incinerator with an up-to-date heat recovery system and highly efficient flue gas treatment system (waste-to-energy, WtE) is an integral part of well-developed waste management systems. Thermal treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) represents a safe and clean technology due the very strict environmental regulations (e.g. 2000/76/EC directive on the incineration of waste and 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions). Moreover, all used equipment has to be in accordance to the Best Available Techniques stated in reference documents (European IPPC Bureau, 2006). Production of heat and power is an important part of MSW incinerators design and operation. Potential for energy production is based on calorific value of incinerated waste and it is indicated by lower heating value (LHV). Importance of LHV on plant economy and LHV prediction is the focus of this paper. The authors currently have worked on LHV estimation using operational data from real WtE plants. Benáčková et al.(2012) compared different methods of LHV estimation from operational data and showed its effect on the boiler efficiency. Touš et al. (2013) extended the previously mentioned work and suggested the LHV and efficiency evaluation improvement by applying data reconciliation principle. There are also papers describing LHV analysis based on local MSW composition examination. Methodology or procedure for analysis of MSW calorific value for larger geographical areas was not described yet. Assessment of representative LHV value for different levels of regional and administrative units is necessary for effective integration of energy recovery to the waste management system. These issues are solved by optimization tool NERUDA, which is developed in-house (Šomplák et al., 2013) in order to model a competitive environment among WtE plants, mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plants and landfills based on minimizing costs of MSW treatment for waste producers.