Keep combustion stable in waste incineration

Waste-to-energy plants must maintain stable combustion despite changing waste composition, calorific value and plant load. At the same time, temperature sensors face high temperatures, corrosive flue gases, dust, abrasion and thermal cycling. Application-specific thermometers provide reliable temperature information across furnace, flue gas, boiler and heat recovery processes, supporting compliant operation, plant availability and efficient maintenance. 

The proposed measurement concept covers the different temperature zones of a waste incineration plant with application-specific thermometer designs. iTHERM FlameLine TAF16 is intended for furnace and hot flue gas areas where high temperatures, corrosion, abrasion and thermal cycling create an increased risk of sensor damage. iTHERM ModuLine TM131 supports boiler, heat recovery and auxiliary processes that require reliable industrial temperature measurement and maintainable device configurations.

Reliable temperature measurement helps waste-to-energy plants maintain stable combustion, comply with environmental requirements and minimize the risk of measurement-related process interruptions. Using application-specific thermometers for each temperature zone reduces maintenance complexity, helps extend equipment service life and improves plant availability. At the same time, a common Endress+Hauser portfolio creates a consistent measurement concept across furnace, flue gas, boiler and auxiliary processes, simplifying engineering, operation and maintenance.

Waste-to-energy plants must maintain stable combustion even when waste composition, calorific value and plant load change rapidly. Reliable temperature information is particularly important in the combustion chamber and flue gas path, where temperatures typically exceed 850°C a (1,562 °F) and must be reliably monitored to support complete combustion and regulatory compliance.

The operating environment makes this difficult. Sensors are exposed to corrosive flue gases, dust, ash deposits, abrasion and repeated thermal cycling. These conditions can cause measurement drift, mechanical damage or premature failure, increasing maintenance requirements and the risk of unplanned downtime.

Operators therefore need dependable temperature measurement across very different process areas, from furnace and post-combustion zones to boiler, heat recovery and auxiliary processes. The selected measurement approach must provide long-term stability while remaining robust and maintainable throughout the plant. 

Endress+Hauser combines two application-specific approaches to cover the temperature measurement across the waste-to-energy process. In furnace, post-combustion and hot flue gas zones, iTHERM FlameLine TAF16 provides reliable measurements under high temperatures and corrosive or abrasive conditions. Its protective design and application-specific thermowell material selection support a longer sensor lifetime, long-term measurement stability and a reduced risk of premature failure. 

For boiler, heat recovery and auxiliary processes, iTHERM ModuLine TM131 provides a modular temperature measurement platform for applications ranging from basic duties to demanding industrial measurement tasks. Its configurable design supports reliable operation, efficient maintenance and consistent measurement performance across standard process areas. 

Using the appropriate thermometer for each temperature zone reduces engineering complexity and provides a consistent measurement concept throughout the plant. This supports stable combustion, regulatory compliance, plant availability and optimized lifecycle costs.