TACS TECHNOLOGY…

With the sharp increase in energy costs and global greenhouse gas emissions, public demands for more sustainable approaches and very strict new air emission policies from the US EPA, optimization of the incineration system with better controls and regulations is of primary importance.

Optimal operation of the Thermylis® high temperature fluidizing bed (HTFB) incinerator requires control of the system’s heat and mass balance. This depends on a number of process variables, including the quantity and quality of the wastewater solids feed, the fluidizing air flow and temperature, the auxiliary fuel feed, and roof water spray activation. In particular, the control of the mass loading of solids, as defined by the cake feed rate, as well as the heat loading or calorific value of the sludge as defined by the nature of the sludge, its solids content and the temperature of the preheated air are critical variables impacting system performance.

Until now, the control of the sludge quality and quantity loaded to the HTFB Incinerators was performed manually by operators. TACS is the first automatic control system developed for HTFB used to regulate and to optimize the combustion process. This innovation will promote steady operation, minimize water spray, increase the incineration system capacity, lower polymer and auxiliary fuel consumption, reduce air pollutant emissions, and ultimately yield an automatic incineration operation and optimization. This results in more efficient, less costly, and safer HTFB incinerator operation. TACS could be applied not only to dewatering followed by incineration but also to other processes such as dewatering followed by drying, or drying followed by incineration.