Large Scale Energy Recovery Trials on Polyurethane, PET, Acrylic and Nylon

The use of plastics as an energy source has been demonstrated on a commercial scale at a plastics manufacturing site. This paper covers the preparation and use of pre and post consumer plastics as supplementary fuels within a circulating fluidised bed boiler specially designed for co-combustion with coal. Full emissions data on the 15% mixtures of individual plastics with coal are presented together with calculations of thermal efficiencies. Measurements by an independent body confirm that the co-combustion of coal and plastic reduce some emissions relative to coal alone. Thermal efficiencies of around 80% were achieved during operation, and this heat was used effectively during the production of plastics.