Analysis of Medical Waste Incinerator Performance Based on Fuel Consumption and Cycle Times

Samwel Victor Manyele, Ignatio Simon Kagonji

Department of Chemical and Mining Engineering, Collage of Engineering and Technology, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35131, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

DOI: 10.4236/eng.2012.410080                

Abstract

A detailed assessment of an incinerator based on fuel consumption and cycle time data is presented in this paper. The study was conducted at Temeke district hospital for 22 months consecutively covering 654 days of daily data collection on fuel consumption and cycle times. The composition for the medical waste incinerated varied between 15% and 35% for sharps waste and between 65% and 85% for other waste, with mean values of 25% and 75%, respectively. The results revealed poor performance of the incinerator due to higher fuel consumption (above 30 L/cycle). The incineration cycle times were observed to range between 2 and 4 hours, all of which were too high for the loading rates observed (55 - 214 kg). A strong dependency of diesel oil consumption on cycle time was observed due to lack of temperature control leading to continuous fuel flow into the burners. The incineration capacity was very low compared to other incinerators in terms of tons per year. This paper gives an insight on the factors affecting incinerator performance assessed based on diesel oil consumption and cycle times. It can be generalized that the incinerator performance was poor due to several factors ranging from poor incinerator design, operator skills, waste management practices, waste storage practices, etc. The hospital was advised to install a new incinerator with short incineration cycle time (30 - 40 minutes) and lower fuel consumption (10 L/cycle) at a loading rate of 200 kg/cycle.

Keywords

Waste Combustion; Incinerator Performance; Medical Waste Incineration; Fuel Consumption; Incineration Cycle Time; Sharps Waste; Incinerator Capacity; Fuel Effectiveness

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Wang, Q., (2004), “Aspects of pretreated hospital waste biode-gradation in landfills”, Proc, 7th international landfill symp., T.H. Christensen, Sardina, 59 – 66.
[2]	Jeremy, T., and Honor, A., (2005), “The Health Effects of Waste Incinerators”, The fourth Report of the British Society for Ecological Medicine Moderators.
[3]	Singh, S. and Prakash, V., (2007), “Toxic Environmental Releases from Medical Waste Incineration”, A Review, Environmental Monitoring, 132:67–81.
[4]	Gidarakos, E., Petrantonaki, M., Anastasiadou, K. andSchramm W., (2009), “Characterization and Hazard Evaluation of bottom ash Produced from incinerated hospital waste”. Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 172; NUMBER 2-3, pages 935-942.
[5]	DEA, (2007), Danish Energy Authority: Danish Energy Statistics 2005, 9 January 2007, http://ens.dk/graphics/Publikationer/Statistik_UK/Energy_statistics_2005/index.htm
[6]	Zhao Lijuan, Fu-Shen Zhang, Mengjun Chen, Zhengang Liu, and Da Bo Jianzhi Wu, (2009), “Typical pollutants in bottom ashes from a typical medical waste incinerator”, Journal of Hazardous Materials.
[7]	Manyele, S.V., (2004), “Medical Waste Management in Tanzania”, Current Situation and the Way Forward”, African Journal of Environmental Assessment and Management (AJEAM), http://ajeam-ragee.sl-writers-series.org/; Vol. 8, 74 – 99.
[8]	Manyele, S.V., (2005), “The Role of Engineering in Solving Medical Waste Incineration Problems in Tanzania”, Institution of Engineers Tanzania (IET) Annual Conference, 1st -2nd December 2005, AICC Arusha, pp. 53-67.
[9]	Powell, F., (1987), “Air Pollutant Emissions from the Incineration of Hospital Wastes”, The Alberta Experience, Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association, 37(7).
[10]	IAEA, (1992), “Design and operation of radioactive waste incineration facilities”, A Safety Guide, Safety Series No. 108, IAEA, Vienna.
[11]	Groner, R.R., (1972), “The Chemical Transformation of Solid Wastes”, AICHE Symposium Series 68 (122): 28-39.
[12]	Santoleri, J.J., (2009), “Design and Operating Problems of Hazardous Waste Incinerators,” Environmental Progress, 4(4):246–251.
[13]	Manyele, S.V., (2008), “Toxic Acid Gas Absorber Design Considerations for Air Pollution Control in Process Industries”, Educational Research and Review (ERR), Vol. 3(4), 137-147.14
[14]	Walter, R., (2002), “Combustion and Incineration Processes”, Third Edition, Marcel Dekker, New York
[15]	Landrum, V.J., (2003), “Medical waste management and disposal”, Retrieved December 2009. http://books.google.co.tz/books/
[16]	Environment Canada, (2011), Technical Document for Batch Waste Incineration, http://www.ec.gc.ca/gdd-mw/.
[17]	SEPR, (Scottish Environmental Protection Regulation), 2003, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/04/19140354/04040