The facility operates three Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)-fired combustors (MWCs) capable of processing 408 tons of waste per day and 131,400 tons per year. The facility’s mass burn combustion system incorporates the Enercon technology. Waste is combusted at furnace temperatures above 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and reduced to an inert ash residue that is approximately 10% of its original volume. Liquid wastes, such as fats, oil and grease (FOG), is injected directly into each of the 3 combustors to be burned in suspension. Before leaving the facility, combustion air is directed through a series of technologically advanced air pollution control equipment including an activated carbon injection system to effectively manage mercury and dioxins, with dry lime injection, followed by a fabric filter baghouse for fly ash collection. Facility emissions and residual ash are both strictly and aggressively regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as well as federal agencies. The steam produced by the MWCs is sent to a turbine generator where it is converted into electricity for internal plant use (1.9 MW) with the remainder (7.5 MW) sent to the power grid.

• Diagram of Process ( Diagram )

• Pollution Control

  • Air emissions are controlled by high efficiency combustion within the furnace/boiler and state-of-the-art air quality control equipment.

    • Highly efficient combustion controls potential organic pollutants as well as carbon monoxide.

    • The activated carbon injection system controls mercury emissions and has been found to reduce dioxin levels well below the standards.

    • The dry lime injection neutralizes the acid gases before they enter the fabric filter bag house.

    • The fabric filter baghouse removes particulate matter (fly ash) and provides a secondary acid gas neutralization surface on the filtercake and is the final capture point for acid gas and other emissions prior to release of the cleaned gas stream to the atmosphere.

Covanta Springfield, LLC 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 of the 3 combustor units. The CEMS data is monitored and reviewed in-house and provided to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.