Technology: Experiences & Outcomes
Our distinctive approach to design
After almost 20 years serving the market, in front of a workstation or in the field, we have developed a distinctive approach, valid both when we have to design a new system and when we have to improve existing ones. We follow the 6 principles detailed here below, striving to maximize flexibility and efficiency of the system; increasing the availability of the system; optimizing the process in all its aspects; designing a sound plant layout; ensuring the maximum reliability of the plant and its components through a careful selection of materials, machinery and equipment.
01
Flexibility
Our systems are designed to guarantee the maximum flexibility, intended as the capability to process materials or waste streams whose characteristics change over time, or a mix of different materials, available seasonally. When analyzing customer’s requirements, we carefully ascertain the types and characteristics of every material envisaged for use as combustible.
Illustrating and discussing the system combustion diagram with you is the key to reach this goal.
As a result, our systems are much more flexible than those offered as a standard, “off-the-shelf” product.
02
Efficiency
WTE can design tube walls, furnace-boiler integrated systems, and refractory lined furnaces. Moreover, systems with characteristics intermediate between these two extremes can be designed as well, depending on the specific issues to be faced. The choice between these systems is related to the energy content of materials used as combustible. Tube walls furnace-boiler systems are better suited to process materials with high energy content. They are more efficient but less flexible. Refractory lined furnaces are more flexible and, with the encompassing of some innovative solutions, can become as efficient.
03
Availability
When designing a new system, we focus on sturdiness and reliability.
Plants must operate safely, reliably and efficiently – at the lowest possible cost.
Plant availability plays an important role in determining the success of a new enterprise. Equipment is carefully designed, to avoid safety risks, unexpected plant shutdown and, as a consequence, high costs for unavailability. The choice of design options, materials, manufacturing process is driven by the need to guarantee the maximum plant availability.
04
Optimized Process
At WTE we strive for process optimization.
This means using all the possibilities offered by the technology to maximize fuel efficiency; optimize all the parameters governing the process; ensure the self sustainability of combustion, even when processing low energy content fuels; guarantee a complete combustion; minimize the formation of pollutants (CO, NOx, hydrocarbons, organic compounds).
05
Sound plant layout
A careful, sound design of the plant layout has a strong impact on easing operations and maintenance.
The layout of the furnace and boiler must take into account the needs for maintenance and replacement of parts subject to wear and tear.
Other issues that have to be carefully faced are vehicles access and circulation, the position of the loading/unloading bays, fuel receiving/storage/handling layout, collection of ashes and slag, position of the control room and power center.
06
Reliability
Reliability is a key characteristic of the plants we design. The choice between project options, the materials, the constructive procedures, and processes must ensure the system the capability of coping with every operational situation. When the need arises, and it is economically viable, we apply – even to small size plants – engineering solutions that are commonly used on the bigger ones. And, when possible and suggested by the situation, we engineer for redundancy, as every duplicated component decreases the probability of system failure.
Tell us about your next project
We love facing new challenges, discussing new ideas and envisaging new projects.
Feel free to contact us: we will be glad to exchange opinions, and to figure out how we can be of further help.
