The Vertical Combustor developed by PLANTEC INC. was introduced as one of the safe and efficient technologies for treatment of medical waste in the “Compendium of Technologies for Treatment/Destruction of Healthcare Waste” (hereinafter referred to as the Compendium) which was published by UNEP IETC (United Nations Environment Programme, International Environmental Technology Centre) on September 6, 2012.
Cover image of the Compendium
In developing countries, health hazard caused by dumping medical waste, without any treatment, together with municipal waste in landfill sites, and environmental pollution caused by using old type incinerators which have inadequate pollution control equipment, are becoming serious issues.
The Compendium was published on the internet for free as a trustful information source regarding the growing demand for technologies for the treatment of infectious medical waste to help solving such problems in those developing countries. It gives a wide variety of information, such as the characteristics and treatment methods of infectious medical waste, the list of the specific technologies, and the assessment methodology to select the most appropriate technology to suit the purpose and budget for waste management. It is expected that the Compendium will promote the introduction and utilization of effective treatment technologies in developing countries.
PLANTEC’s Vertical Combustor was introduced as one of the incineration technologies which are applicable for efficient treatment of infectious medical waste (see pg. 183-184 of the Compendium).
The Vertical Combustor is applicable for incineration of a broad range of waste, from municipal and industrial waste to high moisture sludge without pretreatment such as waste separation and mixing due to its very high thermal efficiency made possible by the originally developed SLA combustion method (*1) which dries and carbonizes waste before combustion by injecting very low guantities of combustion air from the bottom of the thickly accumulated waste layers in the primary combustion chamber. The Vertical Combustor’s high thermal efficiency also enables safe and efficient incineration of medical waste which is sealed in boxes and/or bags to prevent secondary infection. And also there is no need to mix with other waste to incinerate despite the usually very uneven characteristics of medical waste (such as calorific values).
In comparison to other types of incinerators, furthermore, it is possible to keep the operating and maintenance cost lower due to unnecessity of auxiliary fuel such as kerosene and heavy oil during operation, and by the simple construction with no moving parts in the high temperature zone (less troubles and maintenance). Also it is easier to operate and thus the number of operators can be reduced. These cost advantages will certainly become points in favor in those developing countries which will utilize the Compendium in order to select the appropriate technology to introduce.
We, PLANTEC as an engineering company, will continue making effort to contribute for better waste management in the world.
*1 SLA (Super Low Air-ratio) combustion method is the combustion technology that is suitable for stable combustion of various types of waste (It was applied in the Vertical Combustor developed by PLANTEC in 1990). This technology achieves very stable combustion of a variety of waste such as municipal waste, industrial waste, medical waste and moisture sludge by combusting unburned gases by plenty of secondary combustion air (two stage combustion) which was made possible by inhibitory combustion using very limited amount of primary combustion air (one half of theoretical air requirement).
Compendium of Technologies for Treatment/Destruction of Healthcare Waste
– Compiled by UNEP DTIE IETC (United Nations Environment Programme, Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, International Environmental Technology Centre)
– Issued on September 6, 2012
– Free Download
