INNOVATIVE COAL-FIRED INCINERATION TECHNOLOGY FOR WASTE FIBERGLASS RECYCLING

THE PRODUCTION OF INSULATION FIBERGLASS RESULTS IN SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITIES OF WASTE PRODUCTS THAT MUST, IN SOME STATES, BE DISPOSED OF IN HAZARDOUS WASTE LANDFILLS. THE COST OF LANDFILLING THESE MATERIALS AT A SINGLE PLANT OFTEN EXCEEDS $1 MILLION/YR. IN THE END, THE COST OF THIS PRACTICE IS PASSED ON TO AMERICAN CONSUMERS; MOREOVER, IT TAKES UP VALUABLE LANDFILL SPACE. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCE COAL-FIRED INCINERATOR/GLASS MELTER IS A MEANS OF (1) ELIMINATING THE SOLID/HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF INSULATION PRODUCTS AND (2) ENABLING GLASS MANUFACTURERS TO USE AN ABUNDANT AND INEXPENSIVE FUEL. THE TECHNOLOGY PLANNED FOR THE SOLID WASTE INCINERATION/MELTING IS BASED ON ADVANCED IN-FLIGHT SUSPENSION GLASS MELTING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED FOR DOE. PHASE I WILL, VIA TESTING WITH A LABORATORY SCALE INCINERATOR, VERIFY THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF INCINERATING WASTE INSULATION FIBERGLASS MATERIALS IN AN ADVANCED COAL-FIRED CYCLONE MELTING SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WILLINCINERATE THE WASTE MATERIALS SO AS TO OXIDIZE COMBUSTIBLE HAZARDOUS WASTE MATERIALS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PROCESS WILL YIELD A GLASS THAT MAY BE EITHER DIRECTLY RECYCLED TO THE FURNACE/FOREHEARTH SYSTEM AS HOT GLASS OR LATER RECYCLEDTO THE FURNACE AS COLD FEED STOCK.