Combustion is the process by which a fuel is oxidized by the chain reaction ofradicals which release heat and convert fuel to products such as ash and flue gas in a furnace. Combustion is desirable because a large reduction in the overall volume of the fuel results. There are three key elements that are required for combustion: Fuel,Air and Temperature.
The Fuel for this process is the refuse that enters the burner via the use of a hydraulic ram pushed onto a stoker grate. The stoker grate is a a series of fixed and moving grate bars which are sloped downward. The purpose of the stoker grates is to agitate the MSW to improve combustion. Flue gas and ash are the products of the combustion process. The grate is located on a decline to remove the ash that has settled back onto the grates during combustion. The ash travels as a seperate flowpath through the plant. The ash volume produced by combustion is three times smaller than the original volume of the MSW. The flue gas then continues on to heat the boiler