Gorantla Geosynthetics Private Limited

The production of refuse-derived fuels (RDFs) from municipal solid waste (MSW) offers one solution to address the growing waste issue in countries with increasing populations such as India. At the same time, these RDFs enable the cement industry to substitute fossil fuels and reduce its CO2 emissions.

At present municipal solid waste (MSW) in India is generally unsegregated with high moisture content, low calorific value, odour and a wide range of particle size. According to a planning commission task force report in 2014,1 of the 62Mt of MSW generated in urban India, 12Mt is combustible fraction which can be potentially converted into refuse-derived fuel (RDF), thereby replacing 8Mt of coal. Currently, more than 30 per cent of India’s population live in cities and this figure is projected to rise to 50 per cent by 2050.

Equipment for separation, size classification and size reduction of MSW to produce RDF

·       Concept: - Trommels or drum screen, Disc screen and vibrating screen, Magnetic separation, Shredder.

·       Technique: - Size Classification

·       Materials: - Paper, Plastic, Organic Glass, Fines, Plastic Bags.

 RDF Production by us

The principle of RDF production is recovering quality fuel fractions from the waste, particularly through the removal of recyclable particles such as metal and glass, and converting the raw waste into a more usable form of fuel with uniform particle size and higher calorific value than raw MSW.

The required RDF Quality is determined by the end use of the fuel. For example, the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), now called the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, specifies the broad specification of RDF suitable for the Indian cement plants as follows:

·       Moisture: - 36.9%

·       Calorific Value: - 20.6 M/kg

·       Ash: - 12.4%

·       Chloride: - 1800.0 Mg/L

·       Sulphur: - 58 Mg/L

·       PH: - 7.4

Utilisation of RDF in cement kilns

Recovery of wastes and substitution of coal has only recently been practiced in India’s cement industry. The thermal substitution rate (TSR) is estimated to average 2.5% The use of RDF is essential if the Indian cement industry is to achieve a higher TSR; 30 per cent of alternative fuel mix.

We are able to supply RDF in

·       RDF size above 4 mm and below 80 mm would be around 80 % of our supply and

·       RDF size above 80 mm would be 20 % of our supply.

·       Ash content would be around 25 % plus or minus 10 % depending on the weather.

·       RDF can be sent in Loose condition. (No pallets)

·       The calorific value would range from 2000 to 3000 Kcal/kg depending on the sampling material chosen. (if thick plastics and wood pieces are there it would reach more and if it contains more polythene bags then it would be around 2000 Kcal/kg).

The production of refuse-derived fuels (RDFs) from municipal solid waste (MSW) offers one solution to address the growing waste issue in countries with increasing populations such as India. At the same time, these RDFs enable the cement industry to substitute fossil fuels and reduce its CO2 emissions.