The facility operates three Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-fired combustors (MWCs) capable of processing 990 tons per day. Martin combustion technology is used. In addition to firing MSW, each unit is capable of firing natural gas during startup and shutdown. The steam produced by the MWCs is sent to a turbine generator with a nameplate capacity of 39.5 Megawatts. The power is sold to National Grid.

• Diagram of Process ( Diagram )
  
• Pollution Control
  
  • Air emissions are controlled by high efficiency combustion within the furnace/boiler as well as by selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR), spray dryer absorbers, fabric filter baghouses and an activated carbon injection system.
    • Highly efficient combustion controls potential organic pollutants as well as carbon monoxide.
    • The SNCR system injects ammonia into the furnace to control nitrogen oxide emissions;
    • Spray dryer absorbers utilize a lime/water slurry mixture to control the boiler outlet gases. The lime slurry mixture neutralizes acid gases, such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride and cools the outlet gases as well;
    • The fabric filter baghouse removes particulate matter (fly ash) and provides a secondary acid gas neutralization surface on the filtercake; and,
    • The activated carbon injection system controls mercury emissions.
      
  • Covanta Onondaga also utilizes state-of-the art continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). The CEMS measures the stack gas for emissions, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, oxygen and opacity and allows the control room to continuously monitor the performance of each combustor unit. The CEMS data is reviewed and summarized into a report, which is routinely submitted to the NYS DEC and EPA for review.