Incinerator Technology Mechanical Processes

Incinerators use heat to dispose of waste.

Incineration, or burning, is an option for disposing of waste. Technologies and processes vary throughout the world, but a few keys components, such as mechanical processes, are practiced to keep the procedure safe.

Identification

An incinerator is typically an enclosed combustion chamber that uses large amounts of oxygen and heat to burn waste down. This process saves space in landfills by decreasing the volume of waste by as much as 90 percent.

Function

Two types of mechanical processes for incineration are refuse-derived fuel and mass burn. Refuse-derived fuel uses mechanical processes that separate items, such as glass or metal, into categories to be incinerated individually. On the other hand, mass burn takes all items in one large portion, dries them and verifies that they are not volatile substances before ignition.

Significance

Overall, the refuse-derived fuel process is a more efficient way to incinerate waste. The initial division of the materials through mechanical means helps achieve a cleaner burn, helping emit less pollutants into the air.

References

• WasteNet: Incineration