Sheffield Incinerator
Encyclopedia
The Sheffield Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) is a modern incinerator which treats Sheffield
's household waste. It is notable as it not only provides electricity from the combustion of waste but also supplies heat to a local district heating
scheme, making it one of the most advanced, energy efficient incineration plants in the UK. In 2004, the district heating network prevented 15,108 tonnes of CO2 from being released from buildings across the city, compared to energy derived from fossil fuels. The incinerator is presently owned by Veolia Environmental Services.
The hopper feeds the waste into a single incineration unit where it is burned in excess of 850°C. A large boiler located above the incineration unit is heated to produce superheated steam at 400°C. A condensing steam turbine
uses this steam to generate electricity for the National Grid and produce hot water for the District Energy network.
Urea
is introduced into the furnace to treat NOx
(Oxides of Nitrogen) emissions. Lime and activated carbon
is introduced to neutralise the acidity of the flue gas
and adsorb other pollutants. The cooled flue gases pass through a filter house where the particulate (dust) is captured by 1760 filters and stored in a silo for separate disposal later. Cleaned gases are then released through the chimney. These gases are continuously monitored to ensure they meet strict environmental regulations.
An electromagnetic
overband separator removes metal from the ash. The metal is delivered to a local company for recycling
. Ash from the incineration process goes into a bunker before being taken to a process plant for treatment and recycled into aggregate for the construction industry.
) from Sheffield City Council
. Earlier that year the old incinerator ceased operations after protests by the public and Greenpeace
. At the time Greenpeace declared it the 'worst incinerator in England'. A new modern plant was commissioned in 2006 bringing it into line with the Waste Incineration Directive
, with strict environmental standards.
Detractors state the new incinerator is still responsible for 31,308 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per annum that would be prevented were the waste to be recycled, even taking into account that the incinerator recovers heat and power. As the UK Government's new waste strategy appears to support recycling
and anaerobic digestion
over CHP Incineration
for most waste streams, the role of the incinerator may have to change.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
's household waste. It is notable as it not only provides electricity from the combustion of waste but also supplies heat to a local district heating
District heating
District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
scheme, making it one of the most advanced, energy efficient incineration plants in the UK. In 2004, the district heating network prevented 15,108 tonnes of CO2 from being released from buildings across the city, compared to energy derived from fossil fuels. The incinerator is presently owned by Veolia Environmental Services.
The process
Waste from households, Local Authority services and some local businesses is brought to the ERF. It is tipped into a waste storage bunker. From the bunker the waste is lifted into a feed hopper by an overhead crane at a rate of 28 tonnes per hour.The hopper feeds the waste into a single incineration unit where it is burned in excess of 850°C. A large boiler located above the incineration unit is heated to produce superheated steam at 400°C. A condensing steam turbine
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
uses this steam to generate electricity for the National Grid and produce hot water for the District Energy network.
Urea
Urea
Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO2. The molecule has two —NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl functional group....
is introduced into the furnace to treat NOx
NOx
NOx is a generic term for the mono-nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 . They are produced from the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen gases in the air during combustion, especially at high temperatures...
(Oxides of Nitrogen) emissions. Lime and activated carbon
Activated carbon
Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal, activated coal or carbo activatus, is a form of carbon that has been processed to make it extremely porous and thus to have a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions.The word activated in the name is sometimes replaced...
is introduced to neutralise the acidity of the flue gas
Flue gas
Flue gas is the gas exiting to the atmosphere via a flue, which is a pipe or channel for conveying exhaust gases from a fireplace, oven, furnace, boiler or steam generator. Quite often, the flue gas refers to the combustion exhaust gas produced at power plants...
and adsorb other pollutants. The cooled flue gases pass through a filter house where the particulate (dust) is captured by 1760 filters and stored in a silo for separate disposal later. Cleaned gases are then released through the chimney. These gases are continuously monitored to ensure they meet strict environmental regulations.
An electromagnetic
Electromagnetic
Electromagnetic may refer to:* Electromagnetism* Electromagnetic field* Electromagnetic force* Electromagnetic radiation* Electromagnetic induction* Electromagnetic spectrum...
overband separator removes metal from the ash. The metal is delivered to a local company for recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
. Ash from the incineration process goes into a bunker before being taken to a process plant for treatment and recycled into aggregate for the construction industry.
Controversy
In 2001 ownership of the incinerator was transferred to Onyx UK (now Veolia Environmental ServicesVeolia Environmental Services
Veolia Environmental Services is a division of Veolia Environnement. It employs nearly 78,000 staff, has operations in 35 countries around the world, and generated revenues of nearly €9.02 billion in 2009....
) from Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
. Earlier that year the old incinerator ceased operations after protests by the public and Greenpeace
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam, The Netherlands...
. At the time Greenpeace declared it the 'worst incinerator in England'. A new modern plant was commissioned in 2006 bringing it into line with the Waste Incineration Directive
Waste Incineration Directive
The Waste Incineration Directive, more formally Directive 2000/76/EC of the European Parliament and of the Councilof 4 December 2000 on the incineration of waste , is a Directive issued by the European Union and relates to standards and methodologies required by Europe for the practice and...
, with strict environmental standards.
Detractors state the new incinerator is still responsible for 31,308 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per annum that would be prevented were the waste to be recycled, even taking into account that the incinerator recovers heat and power. As the UK Government's new waste strategy appears to support recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
and anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. It is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to release energy....
over CHP Incineration
Combined Heat and Power
Combined Heat and Power may refer to:* Cogeneration* Combined Heat and Power Solar...
for most waste streams, the role of the incinerator may have to change.