RCRA & TSCA Permitted Hazardous Waste Incinerator

Application

An RCRA and TSCA permitted hazardous-waste incinerator. The equipment consists of a rotary kiln, followed by a 61.9 MMBtu/hr afterburner, water quench spray tower, four-compartment fabric-filter collector, and acid-gas scrubbing equipment. The offline cleaning pulse-jet baghouse used to control PM emissions, including heavy metals, uses 1,020 filter bags. Measured inlet grain loading is approximately 1 gr/acf @ 65,000 acfm @ 475°F. The gas-to-cloth ratio is 2.89 fpm (gross) and 3.86 fpm (net).

Optimization Potential

Several conventional filter media, including Tri-Loft®, experienced pressure drops in excess of 12 inches w.g., despite constant pulsing at 110 psig, resulting in short bag life, excessive downtime and labor costs, and frequent filter-bag replacements. These problems occurred within approximately six weeks of startup, after which the entire collector was bridged over with PM from the tubesheet to the bottom of the filter bags.

Solution

A complete set of GORE® membrane/Teflon® B fiberglass fabric filter bags was installed. Gore worked with the operators to develop start-up, operation, and shutdown procedures for the baghouse in conjunction with the incineration process. Engineers closely monitored the baghouse throughout the year.

Results

The GORE® membrane filter bags operated for one year at approximately six inches w.g. and cleaned down to two inches w.g. using 60 psig cleaning air. The cleaning system would cycle approximately once every two-to-eight hours, depending on waste-stream content. No loss of burn time was experienced during the year. GORE® membrane filter bags have also helped reduce heavy-metals emissions. During a recent trial burn, levels of lead and chromium-which had been a concern in the past-were near minimum detection limits.

TEFLON is a registered trademark of E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Inc.
TRI-LOFT is a registered trademark of BHA Group, Inc.