A novel approach for the numerical analysis of waste-to-energy plants

In this paper the authors present a simplified 0D-3D approach for modelling operating conditions of a waste-to-energy plant This innovative methodology combines a 0D lumped parameters model, able to describe the processes of solid and gaseous combustion and the heat transfer within the first radiant channel, with a detailed 3D CFD simulation of the thermo-fluid-dynamic field within the plant combustion chamber. Besides, results from the 0D model allow the definition of input data and boundary conditions for detailed 3D CFD simulation of the thermo-fluid-dynamic field within the plant combustion chamber. In this way, the T2S temperature can be determined using a more efficient and complete methodology. The developed numerical tool, does not employ correlations based on empiric observations or on experimental data regressions and, being phenomenological, is generally applicable to any waste-to-energy plant, and is here applied for the characterization of different operating conditions of an Italian WTE. The analysis allows the verification of the constraints imposed by the European legislation on the temperature of the combustion products and the identification of any issues related to the plant operation. Input parameters are determined from measurements and the obtained numerical results are validated against experiments showing a good agreement.