Physical and thermal properties of extruded refuse derived fuel

This paper is concerned with the production and properties of fuel pellets for use in energy from waste technologies. The analysis conducted was performed using feedstocks made up of residues from a range of Mechanical Biological Treatment plants. Such plants are likely to be utilised as future waste solutions in order for the UK to meet challenging EU solid waste treatment targets.Two major themes were examined, these were the physical and thermal characteristics of the extruded fuel pellets. This was further investigated in the context of the parameters required during production and the properties of the extruded product. Pelletised fuel was produced using a laboratory-scale ram-driven extruder. Analysis of the produced pellets was undertaken by testing the compressive strengths in a tensile testing machine. Devolatisation characteristics were measured in an inert atmosphere in an electric vertical tube furnace and mass balance.Results showed that the resultant pellet compressive strength was not influenced significantly by extrusion conditions. Analysis of the pellets in a high-temperature environment highlighted that there was evidence of several components devolatilising at ∼ 280 °C and ∼ 420 °C and that little of the sample was left post devolatisation. The study indicated that heating rate did not appear to affect amount of devolatisation i.e. waste derived briquettes devolatise quickly.