Feasibility of Refuse Derived Fuel 5 Composed of the Mechanical Biological Waste Treatment and Crude Oil Sludge

Abstract

The main focus of this paper is concerned with the production and properties of refuse derived fuel 5 (RDF-5) for use in energy from waste technologies. The analysis was performed using feedstocks made up of residues from a range of mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plants and crude oil sludge. The RDF-5 was composed of crude oil sludge and mechanical biological waste treatment (MBWT). The ratios of MBWT to crude oil sludge were 5:95, 10:90, 15:85 and 20:80 respectively. The physical and thermal characteristics of RDF-5 were examined. This was further investigated in the context of the parameters required during production and the properties of RDF-5. RDF-5 was produced using a screw compactor. Analysis of the optimal mixing ratios between the crude oil sludge and MBWT were undertaken by testing the thermal value based on ASTM D 240 moisture contents was based on ASTM D 3173, ash was based on ASTM D 3174, and density was based on ASTM E 75 respectively. The results showed that the optimal ratios of MBWT to crude oil sludge were 15:85 and 20:80 have feasibility to produce the RDF-5. Because of the ratios of 15:85 and 20:80 have a high value 10,831 kcal/kg and 11,260 kcal/kg, the percentages of moisture were 2.73% and 5.93% and the density values were 750 kg/m3and 806 kg/m3respectively (RDF-5 has a high heating value (HHV > 5,000 kcal/kg), with the percentage of moisture content not exceeding 10 percent and the density value (D 600 kg/m3) according to production of solid fuels standards). The ash values were 5.10% and 4.74% respectively. Comparing the energy production costs between RDF-5 and other fuels used in Thailand we found that the production costs of RDF-5 were 0.014 /MJ and 0.013 /MJ which are comparable to that of paddy husk and much cheaper than those of fuel lignite and bituminous. This preliminary evaluation reveals that the recovery of energy through RDF-5 production from MBWT with crude oil sludge is cost attractive and it should be considered as a feasible option for utilizing energy from MBWT with crude oil sludge.