Abstract
Where applicable, incineration is the preferred method for waste disposal of chemical wastes, hazardous wastes, medical wastes and industrial waste streams. These waste streams contain chlorinated organics, fluorocarbons, brominated compounds, sulfur containing compounds and nitrogen containing compounds. When oxidized at high temperatures, these produce hydrogen halides, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and a variety of acidic gases and corrosive particulate matter which can make materials selection extremely difficult. The incineration systems are almost always refractory-lined, but because these incinerators often cycle in temperature, the containment shell for the refractory can be subjected to acidic condensate which can cause serious corrosion damage. When the incinerators exhaust to waste heat recovery systems or air pollution control systems, the exhaust gas stream is cooled to the point that corrosive conditions become extremely severe. Acid dew points can be reached and highly corrosive aqueous condensates can form. The combination of high temperatures and highly corrosive environments make materials selection an extremely difficult matter. Aside from thermal and mass flow capabilities of the incinerators, material selection becomes the most critical design exercise for these systems.
