Mass Balance ● Semester 2 Session 2018/2019

MASS BALANCE
SEMESTER 2 SESSION 2018/2019
GROUP MINI PROJECT

Technical Memorandum

To: Project Engineer Team.

From: Project manager ( Ir Dr Ramli Mat)

Date: 1 April 2019

Subject: Langkawi incineration Plant Project

Currently all the waste produced in Langkawi is disposed by land fill. A landfill site (also known as
a tip, dump, rubbish dump, garbage dump or dumping ground is a site for the disposal
of waste materials by burial. It is the oldest form of waste treatment (although the burial part is modern;
historically, refuse was just left in piles or thrown into pits). Historically, landfills have been the most
common method of organized waste disposal and remain so in many places around the
world. Landfills that are poorly designed or operated share more problems that are faced at the
uncontrolled dumping areas. Landfill can pollute air, water and also the soil. In a poorly
developed landfill it is difficult to keep the dangerous chemicals from leaching out into the surrounding
area. Due to this problem and land shortage, other alternative waste disposal is suggested such as
incineration.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration plants tend to be among the most expensive solid waste
management options, and they require highly skilled personnel and careful maintenance. For these
reasons, incineration tends to be a good choice only when other, simpler, and less expensive choices are
not available. Because MSW plants are capital-intensive and require high maintenance costs and
comparatively higher technically trained operators, they are commonly adopted by developed countries.

Incineration is an efficient way to reduce the waste volume and demand for landfill space. Incineration
plants can be located close to the center of gravity of waste generation, thus reducing the cost of waste
transportation. Using the ash from MSW incinerators for environmentally appropriate construction not
only provides a low cost aggregate but further reduces the need for landfill capacity.

Detail info on incineration can be obtained here https://www.nap.edu/read/5803/chapter/5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DROZUstnsnw

An incinerator is proposed to be built in Langkawi island to cater for their domestic waste (municipal
solid waste ). A municipal solid waste (MSW) contains 73wt% C, 4.7wt% H (not including Hydrogen in the
moisture, 3.7 wt% S, 6.8Wt% H2O and 11.8wt% ash. The MSW is burned at certain amount to be

Group Mini Project ● Deadline 30 April 2019

Mass Balance ● Semester 2 Session 2018/2019

determined by the project proponent with 50 % excess air needed to burn all carbon to CO2. The solid
residue from the incinerator is analysed and found to contain 28.7wt% C, 1.6wt% S and the balance is
ash. Of the ash in the coal, 30% emerges in the solid residue and the balance is emitted with the stack
gas as fly ash.

The process flow diagram of the incinerator and other processes units are as shown the diagram below.

You and your team are given the task to

a. Propose the incinerator capacity to be built (kg/day) and your justification ?

b. Based on the given process descriptions, develop/draw a process flow diagram (PFD). Label the
process units/equipment and streams
c. For this project, use Microsoft Excel to solve the problem
i. Calculate the mass flowrate of all component in the stack gas and the volumetric flowrate
of this gas ( assume no fly ash and no CO).
ii. How much air does the incinerator require?

Data to be included as input/output in excell

Input

Waste capacity (kg/h)

Waste composition (wt%)

% of excess air

Output

Flue gas flowrate ( mass and it volume flowrate) and its composition

Group Mini Project ● Deadline 30 April 2019

Mass Balance ● Semester 2 Session 2018/2019

d. In Microsoft Excel, in different sheets provide the calculations for: (i) the overall process
(should contain the PFD developed in (b) and table of mass flowrate of each component) as
shown in Table 1, (ii) each equipment involved in the process (one equipment in one sheet,
with diagram and inlet outlet streams)
Table 1: Summary Mass Balance Table
e.
Stream …
1
Number
Vapour
1.0
Fraction
Total
Mass
Flowrate
(kg/hr)
Total
Molar
Flowrate
(kmol/hr)
O2
N2
….
Temp.
(oC)
Pressure
(bar)
f.

g. What is the purpose of lime and Activated carbon (AC) injected in the reactor (6)

The team representative need to submit the Microsoft Excel file to project manager (their
respective lecturer ) through their e-mail or e-learning page on 30th of April 2019 before
midnight.

This is a group project. Therefore, you are only required to work with your team mates. Zero
marks will be given to those groups who are found copying other groups’ work.

Group Mini Project ● Deadline 30 April 2019