Before starting an optimization of the firing rate control (FRC), it is mandatory to define all objectives or aims.  First of all the actual situation needs to be determined and defined: * Are all guarantees complied with? * Are there problems with certain waste fractions? * Is the burn-out guaranteed at all times? * Do O2-drops and / or CO-peaks occur? * Is the bandwidth (range) of steam production too    high? * How often is a manual interception necessary? * Are there corrosion problems? * Is there a build-up of slack on the walls? * Are the repair intervals too short? * Are there conflicting objectives? Objectives Burning municipal and industrial waste in waste incineration plants requires a sophisticated control strategy for waste feeding, transportation of the burning waste on the grates as well as for controlling the air. Aside from achieving the desired burn-out quality, the aim of a good firing rate control is to stay within a narrow range of excess air. This will allow for a good boiler efficiency. At the same time it will contribute to avoid unwanted flue gas compositions (e.g. CO). From a commercial viewpoint it is desirable not only to meet all legal requirements but also to have a maximum of steam production while keeping the service life of the plant high. Experience has shown that generally all suppliers of waste incineration plants meet their guaranteed values at the end of the time of commissioning. The maximum efficiency of an existing plant, however, can only be achieved once the plant has been successfully commissioned. This requires a profound knowledge of the physical and chemical processes in combination with the time behaviour of these processes. It is not common that operators of a plant perform such an optimization .  As soon as the objectives for the optimization of the firing rate control (FRC) have been defined by the operator of the plant, a logical sequence of activities is determined and will be executed accordingly. It is the aim to reach an economical and optimal setting as fast as possible. With this in mind a whole array of boundary conditions are checked out:   * Which signals / measurements can be used additionally? * Which circuits (modules) need to be incorporated additionally?  * Which alternate mode of operation or settings for the existing control structure could lead to an improved result?   Procedure The thermal treatment of municipal and industrial waste has been established all over the world to a great extend. All waste incinerators which have been commissioned so far, have to cope with  the same boundary conditions and if applicable also with the same problems. In many cases the capability of the grates in reference to the expected waste throughput  is overestimated. In Asian countries very often you will find municipal waste consisting predominantly of vegetables. This may result in low calorific values, sometimes even below 6000 kJ/kg.  The requirements for a FRC increase with the decrease of the calorific value. Practical experience with problematic calorific values in Japan and Korea (and as reported also in China) support this observation. Hence the requirements for a FRC are higher in Asia than, for example in Scandinavia. Experience Welcome Optimizing The Control of Waste Incineration Plants Dipl-Ing.Dipl.-Wirtsch.Ing Heinz-Helmut Voje Optimierung von Feuerleistungsregelungen für Optimizing Firing Rate Controls for Müllverbrennungsanlagen  Waste Incineration Plants  more more