RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel), also known as solid recovered fuel, is a processed waste-derived fuel containing high-energy components including plastics, paper products, cardboard, textiles, rubber materials, leather, wood, and other combustible waste fractions.
RDF Fuel Specifications:
- Calorific value: 20,000 ± 2,000 kJ/kg
- Particle size: ~20-25 mm
- Hazardous components: Strictly controlled below permissible limits
- Energy equivalent: 1.7 kg RDF = 1 m³ of natural gas
Industrial Applications:
- RDF serves as primary or supplementary fuel in:
- Cement kilns
- Power plants (CHP)
- Metallurgical furnaces
Cement Industry Case Study. Cement production requires extreme temperatures (>2000°C) with substantial energy inputs:
- Traditional fuels: 60-130 kg of heavy fuel oil (or equivalent gas) + 105 kWh electricity per ton of cement
- Energy costs: Up to 40% of total production expenses
RDF implementation benefits:
- Replaces 30-60% of natural gas in operational kilns
- Reduces cement production costs
- Maintains product quality standards
Environmental Advantages vs MSW Incineration. Cement kilns' ultra-high temperatures (~1700°C):
- Virtually eliminate harmful emissions
- Outperform waste incineration plants in emission control
- Achieve complete combustion of organic compounds
Production Requirements:
Waste Preprocessing:
- Essential for homogenizing mixed MSW into RDF feedstock
- Requires advanced sorting systems for consistent quality
Automated Sorting Advantages:
- Optical scanning technology delivers: 98% material recovery accuracy, exclusion of hazardous components (e.g., chlorinated materials)
Superior to manual sorting in:
- Throughput (10M identifications/second)
- Final RDF purity
Implementation Recommendation
Retrofitting existing MSW sorting facilities with automated systems:
- Ensures RDF meets cement industry specifications
- Optimizes recovery of high-calorific fractions
- Eliminates non-combustible contaminants
