A bale boiler incinerates bales of material, and particularly bales made from waste, garbage and other refuse, in order to provide heat for a steam turbine generator, and includes a conveyor for transporting bales of waste material through a three-stage boiler. The boiler is preferably divided into three stages: 1) the warming stage, 2) the main incineration stage, and 3) the supplemental incineration stage. In the warming stage, the bale is warmed and dried. In the main incineration stage, the bale is burned to create heat that is then used to power a steam turbine electrical generator or the like. In the third, supplemental incineration stage, the remnants of the bale burn down to ash, and the remaining ash and non-combustible waste are then transported out of the boiler by the conveyor and dumped into a receptacle or container for transport and disposal.

Disclosed is a method for calculating combustion in the bed of a waste incinerator. The method is based on a model of combustion in a waste incinerator bed and comprises a water evaporation model, a volatile matter analysis model, a volatile matter combustion model, and a fixed carbon combustion model. The volatile matter of the volatile matter combustion model comprises CO, H.sub.2, CH.sub.4, NH.sub.3, and H.sub.2S. The volatile matter combustion model comprises a combustion reaction equation for said volatile matter and O.sub.2, and respective equations for CO and CH.sub.4 reacting with water vapor. Equations governing the model of combustion in the bed of a waste incinerator comprise a continuity equation, an energy equation, a momentum equation, and a component equation. Boundary conditions of said governing equations comprise: equations of heat transfer and mass transfer from an upper boundary layer of the bed to the exterior; and equations of heat transfer and mass transfer from lower boundary layer of the bed to the exterior.

Disclosed is a method for calculating combustion in the bed of a waste incinerator. The method is based on a model of combustion in a waste incinerator bed and comprises a water evaporation model, a volatile matter analysis model, a volatile matter combustion model, and a fixed carbon combustion model. The volatile matter of the volatile matter combustion model comprises CO, H.sub.2, CH.sub.4, NH.sub.3, and H.sub.2S. The volatile matter combustion model comprises a combustion reaction equation for said volatile matter and O.sub.2, and respective equations for CO and CH.sub.4 reacting with water vapor. Equations governing the model of combustion in the bed of a waste incinerator comprise a continuity equation, an energy equation, a momentum equation, and a component equation. Boundary conditions of said governing equations comprise: equations of heat transfer and mass transfer from an upper boundary layer of the bed to the exterior; and equations of heat transfer and mass transfer from lower boundary layer of the bed to the exterior.

The present invention discloses a system for the dynamic movement of waste through an incinerator. The system includes a stepped hearth combustion chamber, an input to receive a combustible material, and an output to permit egress of a product of combustion. A plurality of sensing elements and response elements are in communication with a control system to facilitate the automated movement of the combustible material through the stepped hearth combustion chamber.

The present invention discloses a system for the dynamic movement of waste through an incinerator. The system includes a stepped hearth combustion chamber, an input to receive a combustible material, and an output to permit egress of a product of combustion. A plurality of sensing elements and response elements are in communication with a control system to facilitate the automated movement of the combustible material through the stepped hearth combustion chamber.

The invention relates to a biochar production plant, a combustion chamber, and a method of operating same. The plant comprises a fuel hopper, a fuel delivery system, a combustion stage, and a post combustion stage. The post combustion stage includes a generator; a biochar removal stage and a flue gas scrubber. The combustion stage comprises a combustion chamber having an active fluid biochar bed comprising a pair of oscillating plates, one on top of the other; an air injection ring positioned above and spaced apart from the pair of oscillating plates; a biochar shelf, below and surrounding the active fluid biochar bed, positioned to receive biochar falling from the pair of oscillating plates, and means to transfer the biochar from the biochar shelf to a biochar outlet. There is provided at least one sensor operable to measure the depth of the active fluid biochar bed on the oscillating plates and a controller responsive to the sensor. The controller is operable to control the depth of the active fluid biochar bed and the temperature of combustion by controlling the oscillating plates and the air delivered into the combustion chamber. In this way, the construction is very simple, cost effective and has accurate combustion control leading to a quality biochar end product.