PR0535342 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

residential wood combustion in a fireplace, and 13,000 times more mutagenic than coal-fired utility emissions with good combustion efficiency and add-on controls. A list of 34 target compounds representing the highest potential for inhalation health impacts from open tire fires was developed by analyzing laboratory test data and open tire fire data collected at nine tire fires. The list can be used to design an air monitoring plan in order to evaluate the potential for health risks in future events. Methods for preventing and managing tire fires are presented. Recommendations are presented for storage site design, civilian evacuation, and fire suppression tactics. For example, tire piles should not exceed 6 m (20 ft) in height; maximum outside dimensions should be limited to 76 m (250 ft) by 6 m (20 ft). Interior fire breaks should be at least 18 m (60 ft) wide. Civilians should be evacuated when they may be subject to exposure by the smoke plume. Fire suppression tactics are site and incident-specific and firefighters should have specialized training to deal effectively with them. Other Impacts from Open Tire Burning The scope of this report is limited to airborne emissions. However, significant amounts of liquids and solids containing dangerous chemicals can be generated by melting tires. These products can pollute soil, surface water, and ground water and care must be taken to properly manage these impacts as well. Controlled Combustion The results of a laboratory test program on controlled burning of tire-derived fuel (TDF) in a Rotary Kiln Incinerator Simulator (RKIS) are presented. In all, 30 test conditions were run, with the TDF feed rate varying from 0 to 21.4% of heat input. The test conditions were achieved by varying kiln firing rate, combustion air flow rate, and tire feed rate. The majority of the tests were conducted with a steady-state feed of TDF. However, variations in the mode of TDF feeding were simulated in two tests to evaluate the impact of transient operation on air emissions. Based on the results of the RKIS test program, it can be concluded that, with the exception of zinc emissions, potentia I emissions from TDF are not expected to be very much different than from other conventional fossil fuels, as long as combustion occurs in a well- designed, well-operated and well-maintained combustion device. However, as with most solid fuel combustors, an appropriate particulate control device would likely be needed in order to obtain an operating permit in most jurisdictions in the United States. Test data, from 22 industrial facilities that have used TDF are presented: 3 kilns (2 cement and 1 lime) and 19 boilers (utility, pulp and paper, and general industrial applications). All sources had some type of particulate control. In general, the results indicate that properly designed existing solid fuel combustors can supplement their normal fuels, which typically consist of coal, wood, coke and various combinations thereof, with 10 to 20%TDF and still satisfy environmental compliance emissions limits. Furthermore, results from a dedicated tires-to-energy (100% TDF) facility indicate that it is possible to have ix