Wesleyville Questions & Answers
Incineration versus Plasma versus Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT)
Incineration - high temperature combustion
- Turbulent and volatile burn with temperatures of approximately 1,300 degrees "C".
- Contact time with the waste is typically 5 minutes or less – leaves partially combusted materials behind, high carbon in ash and toxicity in ash.
- Extremely high-stacks are required (dispersion) due to the fly-ash that is produced as a result of the incineration process.
- Extensive additional emission technologies required on back end of the system for compliance.
- Less power to the grid. Relatively low efficiency – high parasitic load with the same tonnage of waste versus ACT – low temperature gasification which has a lower parasitic load.
- On average, 30% or more ash and residual materials requiring disposal in a landfill that has been designated and specifically permitted for disposal of Hazardous Materials.
- Typically does not include any pre-sorting of waste – does not promote maximizing recycling and reuse of recyclable materials.
Plasma - high temperature gasification
- Less "power" to the Grid. Relatively low efficiency – high parasitic load with the same tonnage of waste versus ACT – low temperature gasification which has a lower parasitic load
- Typically require a pre-treated waste stream. (residual post MRF material processed and shredded)
- The residual material after plasma treatment of ash is inert silica versus inert ash both of which has secondary market usage.
- Has exhaust stack where syn-gas is combusted through burner or engines to produce energy.
Advanced Conversion Technology – low temperature gasification
- A temperature below 500 degrees "C" and contact time with the waste up to 16 hours to maximize the production of Syn-Gas and provide 100% degradation of the waste.
- More power to the grid. Higher efficiency – lower parasitic load.
- The operating process ensures that &emission control& occurs within the process, rather than the need for extensive additional add-on equipment after the combustion.
- Has exhaust stack where syn-gas is combusted through burner or engines to produce energy.
- The Entech system is environmentally superior and more efficient than most other forms of combustion including Natural Gas.
- The 3% Inert & Non-toxic Ash remaining after the gasification process is available for use in Secondary Markets.
- 20 years with a proven track record and over 160 systems built & delivered.
- REM designs a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) into the plant to remove inert materials as well as to maximize recycling & reuse potential.