Iconic Waste to Energy Facility for Beirut, Lebanon

Iconic Waste to Energy Facility
for Beirut, Lebanon
George Boueri
Advisors: Jaime Stein, Alec Applebaum
Capstone Research in fullfillment of
M.S. in Urban Environmental Systems Management
Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development,
School of Architecture
Pratt Institute, December 2011
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to my advisors Jaime Stein
and Alec Appelbaum for their guidance and efforts without which the completion of
this thesis would not be possible.
Secondly, I would like to show my appreciation to the following people for providing essential information needed for the project:
Professor Nicholas J. Themelis, Director of the Earth Engineering Center and
Chair of U.S. Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council.
Ms. Jihan Seoud, Programme Analyst/Officer in Charge,
Energy & Environment Programme, United Nations Development Programme.
Mrs. Sabine Saba, Consultant Technical Officer at the Ministry of the Environ-
ment of Lebanon
Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba, Director of the Nature and Conservation Center for
Sustainable Future Ibsar.
In addition, I would like to acknowledge my colleagues and friends in the Urban
Environmental Systems Management program at Pratt for their friendship, suggestion, and encouragement throughout the course.
Finally I would like thank my family in New York and Lebanon for their constant
support in every way, especially my father, Mr. Antoine Boueri who guided me to
pursue this topic.
Outline
I- Introduction
page 1
II- Introduction about Lebanon
page 2
a. Current Waste Management Practices
b. Current Electricity Sector Status
III- Introduction to Waste to Energy
page 8
IV- WTE in Lebanon
page 13
a. Determining Technology and Capacity
b. Cost and Benefits
c. Defining Design Parameters
V- Architectural Concept Drawings
page 20
VI- Conclusion
page 22
I- Introduction
The objectives of this study are to illustrate current energy and waste management networks in Lebanon and portray the unsustainable cavities in the way they
currently operate. This thesis will follow through to propose reworking those systems through the implementation of a strategically located Waste to Energy Facility. The systems under study go beyond understanding conventional waste and
energy streams, to layering-in the social schemes affected as well. Potentially,
advocating the vitality of transforming such infrastructure into an architectural
Icon would put into effect a much larger outcome; one that is emblematic of the
local community’s aspirations as well as anchor a strong creed in government
functioning.
This thesis will start by informing the reader with a general overview about Lebanon and this writer’s objective. It will then divulge the current working energy and
waste streams while keeping into perspective the environmental consequences
that are occurring. Further on, an overview of Waste to Energy technology and
facilities will be illustrated. Applying this to Lebanon’s local scenario will reveal
specific programmatic requirements for its relevant implementation, as well as an
adequate siting rationale.
The final portion of this thesis takes the reader into a more tangible extent to unveil architectural visions of Lebanon’s proposed iconic Waste to Energy facility.
II- Introduction about Lebanon
great toll on the country’s infrastructure and
economy. Instigated by religious strife, the civil
Lebanon is geographically located in Western
war started in 1975 and lasted fifteen years.
Asia, off the Eastern shore of the Mediterra-
The result was massive human and property
nean Sea. This relatively small country spans
loss as well as taking a devastating toll on the
an area of 10,452Km2 or 4,000 square miles
economy. This war finally bread a confession-
(roughly half the size of the state of New Jer-
al system of democracy, where parliament
sey) and is home to about 4.2 million inhab-
seats are divided according to a demograph-
itants with an average density factor of 404
ic, religious distribution. This clearly shows
inhabitants per km2 (1046 per square mile) [1].
the deeply ingrained importance given to re-
The country is further subdivided into six dis-
ligious ideology in the society and in the way
tricts (called mouhaafazat) with Mount Leba-
the government is formed and represented.
non, Beirut and its suburbs containing about
Furthermore, in 2006, Lebanon’s civil infra-
49% of the population [1].
structure was further damaged by a month
long war with Israel, impeding rehabilitation
efforts.
Religious building and icons have long been
a projection of their strong integration in the
Lebanese culture, granting religion a far
greater precedence over civic references.
Due to the dilapidated state of the country’s
infrastructure, from its bridges to its power
plants, monumental religious buildings have
long overshadowed any symbol of government power. Proposing to create an “iconic”
piece of infrastructure, as the title of this paper indicates, serves the intent to make an
emblematic mark in the urban landscape representing a shift of trust towards government
institutions. An iconic waste to energy facility
Above, Map of Lebanon with its seperate districts [1].
will play a symbolic role on the national scale
on one hand, but also has a role in instigating
a cultural move towards civic institutions.
Politically, Lebanon has seen constant political turmoil along with a civil war that took a
Current Waste Management Practices
sciousness as a priority given the economic
drain the government is trying to get out of
Waste management refers to the multi-
after years of war.
ple processes involved in the handling of a
In a 2011 study, uncontrolled, open, Municipal
waste stream system, from the collection,
Solid Waste Dumps as well as Construction
to the transportation, processing, disposing
and Demolition Waste Dumps reached the
and monitoring of waste materials. Municipal
number of 670 with an approximate volume of
Solid Waste (MSW) is what would be more
6.7 million cubic meters
commonly referred to as garbage or trash of
the country’s generated waste. The arbitrary
the discarded items we consume and mostly
and unrestrained operation of the uncon-
categorized under household waste, not to
trolled waste dumps has often led to soil, sur-
include industrial, agricultural, medical, and
face, groundwater, as well as coastal water
sewage waste types.
contamination.
Above, Trash being openly dumped in Saida,
Lebanon.
Presently, the problem of waste management
, receiving 32% of
[4]
Above, Survey of uncontrolled dumps with their
severity level [4].
in Lebanon has reached a critical point due
Moreover, the uncontrolled combustion of
to deficient national plans, lack of funding,
MSW results in harmful air pollution. The de-
as well as an absence of environmental con-
struction of extended area of land causes ad-
verse effects towards the decline of tourism,
open dumping, are the strategies resorted to
one of the country’s main revenue sectors.
[2]
The city of Saida, along the southern sea front,
This study focuses on the two regions of Bei-
has amassed tons of MSW on its sea front
rut and Mount Lebanon which serve 49% of
since 1982. Today referred to as the “garbage
the population
mountain”, this enormous open dump is a
grouped due to their similar, urban to semi-ur-
grave environmental hazard, threatening the
ban, fabric on one hand, as well as their cur-
remaining touristic shore line of the city with
rently combined waste management stream,
its odors and uncontrolled seeping leachates.
merged by Sukleen. Today, they face a great
A study conducted by the World Bank in 2004
challenge concerning SWM. The majority of
on the cost of environmental degradation
MSW generated along this waste stream is
caused by pollution and waste burning to be
disposed at the Naameh Landfill (one of two
around $10 million per year, and rising [2].
landfill in the country dealing with MSW, with
.
. These two regions can be
[1]
a third being one for inert materials).
Long term planning and political commitment
Population Distribution
form the basis for any Solid Waste Manage-
10%
18%
ment (SWM) solution to be effective. Unfortunately, to this day, the Lebanese Government
some of the reasons being a constantly unstable political environment complemented
by a recent war in 2006 which has taken a big
financial toll on the country.
Today, Solid Waste Management relies on
an Emergency Plan put in effect in 1997 and
has been the working strategy ever since. It
grants private contracting companies, Averda
Group Sukleen - Sukomi, the directive of collecting and landfilling of solid wastes in the
greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon Areas.
wastes, quick solutions and fixes, including
Beqaa
South Lebanon
Above, Chart showing that 49% of the population
live in Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
Fate of MSW
Below, Chart8%
showing that the Beirut & Mount Leba9%
non is contributes
to 57% of the total
waste generLanfilled
ated in Lebanon
Open Dumped
Landfilled
51%
Population
Distribution
MSW Generation by Wasteshed
32%
10%
13%
Beirut
17%
18%
Composted
North
Lebanon & Akkar
Recycled
Bekaa & Baalbeck
Mount Lebanon
11%
North Lebanon
South Lebanon &
39%
Nabatiyye
15% Beqaa
57%
20%
Beirut & Mount
Lebanon
South Lebanon
Below, Chart showing 51% of MSW generated end
up in Landfills
Fate of MSW
9%
8%
posing of their waste. Due to the high and unsupported financial burden of managing their
North Lebanon
39%
20%
Outside these areas, municipalities assume
responsibility for collecting, treating and dis-
Mount Lebanon
13%
has not been able to pursue the implementation a SWM plan continuously and effectively,
Beirut
32%
Lanfilled
Landfilled
51%
Open Dumped
Composted
Recycled
Currently, household trash are amassed in
Out of the current 2,300 tons of daily collected
dumpsters and garbage barrels before col-
MSW, 1,470 tons (64%) go through the Quar-
lection. The private contractor, Sukleen, is
antina collection point and sorting facility,
charged with the collection and transporta-
and 1,800 tons (78%) end up in the Naameh
tion to two sorting facilities in Aamrousieh and
Landfill.
Quarantina. Running under the jurisdiction
This particular landfill is located in the district
of the Emergency plan, it was assumed that
of Shouf in an old quarry site, across from a
Sukleen would collect 1,700 tons per day of
seasonal watercourse, 15 km south of Beirut.
which 9.41% would be recovered as recycla-
This landfill was originally intended to receive
bles. As the geographic coverage of Sukleen
2 million tons of waste in 2 cells. In 2001,
expanded, the capacity exceeded its original
these 2 cells reached their capacity [2].
assumptions to 2,300 tons per day in 2010
with recycled waste recovery rates dropping
From 2001 through 2011, this landfill has
to 6-7% [2].
been periodically expanded to accommodate
Above, Diagram Map of the Waste Management Stream in Beirut and Mount Lebanon [2].
growing capacities. Expanding the landfill re-
lution to the waste problem in Lebanon is con-
quired expensive land expropriations and has
sidered as crucial.
faced stiff public opposition and protests by
The Lebanese Government has already fore-
local residents
. Moreover, the Landfill site
seen the possibility of using waste to ener-
has become a great environmental burden on
gy technologies as a valid alternative to the
the country. It produces 250 tons of leachate
current situation that could both help protect
daily (about 90,000 tons annually), which af-
the environment and as a valid energy con-
ter being pretreated on-site, get shipped off
servation method
to the Ghadir Waste Water Treatment plant
the Ministry of the Environment incorporated
only to be mixed with raw sewage discharge
SWM as one of its top 15 priority themes into
and dumped in the sea. Accordingly, these
its Work Program for 2011-2013 further in-
amounts of leachate produced account for
cluding the setting up of a detailed plan for
40% of the total leachate amounts of Leba-
waste to energy under its short and long term
non’s landfills and dump sites
goals.
[2]
. The State
[5]
. Pursuant to the above,
[10]
and trends of the Lebanese Environment Report published in 2010 finds it “very unlikely
Current Electricity Sector Status
that Lebanon will be able to accommodate a
second Naameh Landfill on its territory”.
Coinciding with the unsustainable level of the
This current waste management system has
current SWM problem in Lebanon, the elec-
very well proven itself unsustainable function-
tricity sector has also reached unmaintain-
ally as well as environmentally. Therefore, it is
able conditions that require immediate inter-
quite evident that a search for a new solution
ference. The following paragraphs will briefly
system should be the goal of any new strate-
provide an overview of the electricity sector’s
gy. A promising long-term technique that may
current situation.
be investigated as a treatment process is the
incineration of waste to generate thermal and
Formally, Electricite du Liban (EDL), a state
electric energy. (Waste-to-Energy - WTE).
owned entity under the jurisdiction of the Leb-
WTE facilities save valuable landfill space,
anese Ministry of Energy and Water, has been
as they can reduce the waste volume by up
granted monopoly over electricity production
to 90% and can be used in perpetuity with
in the country. Today, EDL operates seven
proper maintenance. About 130 million tons
thermal power plants and six hydro-electric
of MSW are combusted annually in over 600
power plants. Yet, it is only able to meet 71%
WTE facilities worldwide that produce steam
of the average load (estimated at 2,100MW in
and electricity as well as recovering metals
2009), and supply about 70% of yearly elec-
for recycling
tric energy consumption (estimated at 15,000
. For this reason, a study for
[14]
the implementation of WTE as a possible so-
GWh in 2009)
. It is safe to say that the
[3]
country is suffering from a serious problem
Lebanon is an energy poor country, importing
of power availability. Throughout its territory,
around 97% of its energy needs. An overview
citizens are exposed to daily and prolonged
of EDL’s generating and import capacity (refer
electricity blackouts due to this shortage in
to the above table) presents that the primary
generation capacity. Moreover, the existing
fuel source used by power plants is heavily
infrastructure has been suffering from struc-
reliant on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and Light
tural and operational deficiencies for the past
Fuel Oil (LFO). HFO and LFO are considered
three decades. The EDL’s mounting debt due
as relatively dirty sources of fuel, promoting
to technical losses as well as “non-technical
high levels of atmospheric pollution.
losses” such as theft and uncollected bills, is
Considering HFO is mostly consumed by the
further straining the public sector debt, and
electricity sector (up to 85% of total HFO im-
depreciating the Government’s ability to in-
ports)
tervene in its repair. Today, citizens have in-
ceptability of power plants in their neighbor-
formally, through acquiring private electric
hoods has been tarnished by the unappealing
generators, been able to compensate for the
sight of black fumes exiting their smoke
shortages in power generation. It was esti-
stacks; one that has branded iconic the Zouk
mated that in 2007, 61% of citizens have ac-
and Jieh power plants, posing as symbols of
quired or gained access to private generators,
this dilapidating sector.
, it becomes evident that public ac-
[3]
even spending more on private sources than
on EDL. With the passing of time and with no
substantial investment being infused in the
sector, nearly half of EDL’s generating capacity is currently nearing retirement, while the
other half is running on suboptimal levels[3].
Above and Below, The Zouk Power Plant, located
in a dense residential area, showing cloud of smoke
emitted.
Above, Table showing the 7 Power Plant in Lebanon and their fuel source [3].
The future might not be as grim a picture
III- Introduction to Waste to Energy
though. A recent Government endorsement
of the Policy Paper for the Electricity Sec-
Waste to Energy is the process that uses the
tor aims to increase the country’s generating
incineration of waste to create energy in the
capacity to 4000 MW by 2014
. This goal
form of electricity or heat. It is a very basic,
relies mostly on new thermal power plants
and relatively old, method of dealing with Mu-
(2200MW), and rehabilitating and upgrading
nicipal Solid Waste that entails using every-
the existing facilities in Zouk, Jieh, Beddawi,
day garbage as a fuel source, burning it to
Zahrani, Baalbak and Tyre (245MW). Also,
boil water and transforming it into steam. The
increasing hydropower capacity, currently
steam is then directed through steam genera-
at less than 80MW generation, by 40MW is
tors to produce the electricity used in our ev-
part of the strategy along with harvesting 60-
eryday lives. To fully understand the benefits
we
solid waste
heavy fuel oil
[15]
private collection
power plant
landfill
electricity
we
100MW through wind power. More important
and burdens of such a process it is important
to the topic of this report, the endorsed strat-
to understand the bigger workings and look at
egy goes further to mention the possibility of
it through the systems it taps into.
relying on WTE plants to generate 15-25 MW
The current working streams of waste gener-
of power. This is well timed with the Ministry
ation and energy production can be described
of the Environment’s work plan for 2014 that
as singularly directional; meaning there is but
proposes the study of the potential of waste to
a one way direction in the production of the
energy technology.
end result.
The classical waste and energy stream scenario goes as follows: we use basic fuel
sources (typically nonrenewable) in our power plants in order to produce energy to trans-
620kwh/ton
80% less
WTE
1.8 million pple
Waste
To
Energy
1 kg/day
Free Fuel
2234 Tons/day
form raw material into a final product which
becomes waste which in turn is reprocessed
we consume and then throw away as waste.
as fuel for the cycle. That is why Waste to En-
This waste is then collected and ends up
ergy is considered an Energy Recovery pro-
dumped or buried in a landfill. Therefore the
cess whereby the input energy is recovered
initial fuel source and energy (initial input) is
from the end of the waste stream.
ending up as buried waste (final output). This
But the production of electricity from a practi-
cradle to grave approach has two loose ends
cally free source and drastically reducing the
on either side. We constantly require more
amounts of landfilled waste are not the only
initial, finite input to carry on producing, and
proponent reasons for adopting WTE technol-
we constantly amass more waste as output
ogy. Implementing a WTE facility not only re-
which we can’t keep on burying forever. This
pairs the MSW management stream, but can
clearly illustrates the current crisis in Leba-
work towards enhancing the quality of life of
non which persistently imports fuel at ever
its surrounding area. Surplus heat from the
increasing costs to power its power plants,
electricity generation process can be distrib-
and has reached a crisis level in managing its
uted to neighboring building for cooling/heat-
waste now that landfilling has become a non-
ing purposes. Metals can be recovered by
viable option. This is where Waste to Energy
processing the ash produced after the com-
plays a role in fixing the above described sys-
bustion of waste
tem by simply closing the loop and reconnect-
several beneficial uses in road construction
ing the final output with the initial input; Fuel
and landfill construction and maintenance for
. The ash itself also has
[14]
example. More importantly, if appropriately
infrastructure that promotes Danish culture,
designed, WTE facilities can become attrac-
and reflects their knowledge of sustainability
tion sites in their neighborhoods, boosting
while creating ground to enrich the local com-
property value and playing an educational
munity [13].
role regarding waste management rather
than being faced with public opposition (as is
currently the case with landfills) and being a
sign of disgrace.
The word “iconic” introduced in the title of this
paper pushes to involve this crucial piece of
infrastructure in a much greater role, beyond
that of functionality, to become a manifestation of a solid government presence in solving
peoples’ day to day problems and as a symbolic shift from preceding dividing religious
Above, A Diagram showing the integration of parks
and a skiing facility within the WTE facility [13].
and cultural dogmas to a more cohesive, constructive civic society.
Today, over 600 WTE facilities burn though
In Copenhagen, Denmark, Ulla Tottger, the
130 million tons of MSW, producing electric-
Director of Amagerforbraending WTE com-
ity, steam for district heating, and recovered
pany recently unveiled the design of their
metals for recycling; all while substantially re-
new WTE plant describing the proposal as
ducing the volume of waste to be disposed [14].
one that is “useful and beautiful” with which
So how does this all work? Collection trucks
they can showcase Danish technology and
haul in the trash through the dumping hall and
knowledge to the world. Instead of consider-
unload it into the waste bunker. The waste
ing the new facility as an isolated architectural
bunker ensures that there will be a constant
object, BIG architects conceived it as a des-
quantity of waste stored within the facility so
tination by turning the roof into a 31,000 m2
as not to disrupt the incineration process. A
ski slope of varying skill levels. The architects
crane then lifts up the garbage and feeds it
themselves title this new breed as Hedonistic
through the combustion box into the furnace
Sustainability, a project that is “ecologically,
and onto the grate system that shuffles the
economically, and socially sustainable”.
waste while it is being incinerated.
The project further extends parks for informal
A series of water pipes run along the fur-
sports throughout the seasons and connects
nace’s outer wall and use its heat to evapo-
them to the neighboring residential quarters.
rate the water into steam. The steam is direct-
Scheduled to be completed in 2016, this proj-
ed through a Steam Turbine that converts the
ect is a prime example of an iconic piece of
heated steam into electricity. An ash handling
system collects the ash from the incineration
garbage that powers the generators. These
process while a series of scrubbers which
pollutants are extremely acidic and have
comprise the Air Pollution Control unit that
been reported to cause serious environmen-
captures the emissions from the combustion
tal damage by turning rain into acid rain. One
process (further discussed later). The steam
way that this problem can be significantly re-
and remaining emissions are then funneled
duced is through the use of lime scrubbers on
into the smoke stack where they are released.
smokestacks. The limestone mineral used in
. (appendix 1 with more detailed section)
these scrubbers has a pH of approximately
[6]
8, making it is a base. By passing the smoke
through the lime scrubbers, any acids that
may be in the smoke are neutralized which
prevents the acid from reaching the atmosphere and hurting our environment [14].
The following table shows the average emisAbove, Diagram showing the multiple processes of
a WTE plant.
sions of 10 WTE plants (4 of which were in
It is important to note that the heart of the WTE
competition (won by the Brescia, Italy WTE).
process is the combustion chamber in which
One can perceive that a well maintained WTE
the MSW is introduced and reacts with oxy-
plant produces emissions well below the Eu-
gen at high temperatures. Most WTE plants
ropean and U.S. standards [8].
the US) that participated in the WTERT 2006
operate in the range of 980 to 1090°C, which
Emissions of WTE Facilities competing for
ensures good combustion and elimination of
2006 Columbia/WTERT Industry Award
odors, and is still sufficiently low to protect the
EMISSIONS,
Mg/Nm3
AVERAGE of
10 WTEs
E.U.
STANDARD
WTEs as % of
E.U.
STANDARD
perature within the combustion chamber is
Particulates
3.06
10
31%
critical for successful operation. If it is too low,
SO2
12.2
50
24%
NOx
123
200
61%
HCL
7.88
10
79%
1090 °C, the refractories in the furnace will
CO
26.3
50
53%
have a short life. Thus the window for effec-
Mercury
0.01
0.05
20%
tive operation is not large, requiring close
TOC
0.92
10
9%
Dioxins, ng
TEQ/m3
0.02
0.1
21%
lining of the combustion chamber. The tem-
then combustion may be incomplete. Above
control be kept on the charge to the combustion chamber and the amount of underfire and
overfire (secondary) air [14].
Above, Table showing Average Emissions of 10
WTE facilities as compared to EU standards
One serious problem associated with incin-
A New York Times Article published in April
erating MSW are the pollutants that are re-
2010 states that modern incineration plants
leased into the atmosphere when burning the
have become so clean that “many times more
dioxin is now released from home fireplaces
net electricity output to utilities is equivalent
and backyard barbecues than from incinera-
to a saving of 1.43 barrels (190 liters) of fuel
tion” [17].
oil per ton [14]. Furthermore, the combined bot-
Moreover, while describing the possible ben-
tom and fly ashes, residues of the incineration
efits of adopting WTE technologies, the State
process, only amount to 15-25% of the weight
of the Environment Report issued by the Leb-
of the original MSW.
anese Ministry of the Environment indicates
Beyond issues of emissions and emission
that implementing a WTE reduces the carbon
control, the burdens on a community that
footprint where WTE facilities are considered
should be foreseen range within various cat-
to produce 0.336 kg of CO2/kwh as compared
egories from odors released due to the pres-
to 0.594kg of CO2/kwh for power plants and
ence of large volumes of trash, heightened
1.037kg of CO2/kwh (more than twice as
noise levels from the machinery and trucks
much as WTE) for landfill cells
. A WTE
rolling in and out, as well as substantial in-
plant that provides 550 KWh/ton of MSW of
crease in amounts of vehicle emissions from
[2]
*
Above, Diagram Map of the Waste Management Stream in Beirut and Mount Lebanon locating where a proposed
WTE facility would be integrated.
the trucks flowing through the neighborhoods,
implementation not only because they repre-
ones that escape the scope of Air Emissions
sent the greatest bulk of MSW and because
Control within the plant. Therefore it is cru-
they affect a greater portion of the overall
cial that these burdens be considered as they
population, but primarily because, and un-
heavily affect the local community’s everyday
like other municipalities, the currently running
lives. As will be discussed in the following sec-
1997 Emergency Law has consolidated this
tion, most of these burdens can be addressed
great bulk under a single private contractor,
by appropriately siting the facility, away from
funneling it through a single waste stream.
residential neighborhoods, close to main ve-
1.89 million Inhabitants, 49% of the country’s
hicular access roads that ease the course of
overall population, live within the borders
trucks. In terms of controlling odors, the com-
of the districts of Greater Beirut and Mount
bustion chamber injects the air from outside
Lebanon. This waste shed collects 2234 tons
the chamber in order to control the combus-
of MSW per day and represents 57% of the
tion process. Seeing as the entire system,
total MSW generation in the country. Out of
even the waste bunker, is placed indoors, the
the current 2,234 tons of daily collected MSW,
building is constantly negatively pressurized,
1,470 tons (64%) go through the Quarantina
deterring any odors from seeping out.
collection point and sorting facility before they
are further processed and forwarded to the
IV- WTE in Lebanon
Naameh Landfill [2].
Intervening at the Quarantina collection point,
The following will analyze the hypothetical im-
where the greatest bulk of the MSW in the
plementation of a WTE facility in Lebanon. As
country is collected, permits to build on the
a first step, the chosen scope of implementa-
existing waste management infrastructure
tion for the project will be discussed to deter-
without rerouting it and yet still have a pro-
mine the proper siting, sizing, and technolo-
nounced effect on the waste stream (refer to
gies to be used. In researching potential ways
Appendix 2). Moreover, the site itself, being
to incorporate WTE into the current Waste
in an industrial area disconnected form resi-
Management system, it was important to in-
dential neighborhood and with direct connec-
tegrate this new link in the already existing
tion to the main coastal highway would not
flow and have it plug in instead of reconfigur-
further impede any transportation network. In-
ing the entire network. It was also important to
stead, if applied there, the WTE facility would
pinpoint an area that would have the greater
decrease the number of trucks having to
impact and yield optimum beneficiary results.
transfer the waste from the collection point to
the landfill, located 15km away, since it will be
The waste shed of Greater Beirut and Mount
incinerating the waste on site and drastically
Lebanon were a prime choice as a zone of
reducing its volume. In addition, the current
existing sorting facility could be integrated
a Mass- burn system is that it offers flexibility
into the envisioned WTE plant to shrink the
in the type of staple supplied. With a Mass-
area of the newly proposed building. (refer to
burn system, co-firing other types of fuels
Appendix 2)
such as sewage sludge residues from waste
water treatment plants can take part of solv-
Determining Technology and Capacity
ing other concurrent waste water problem [6].
The potential amount of energy production
This section will investigate the application of
relies heavily on the energy content, calorific
the most suitable technology to be applied. It
value, of the waste combusted. The amount
further details the estimated capacity of the
of energy released from an unknown fuel,
WTE facility based on MSW composition and
such as is the case with the mixed compo-
collected quantity. Then, we will elaborate on
nents of MSW, is based, in this study, on their
some of the unique specification required to
compositional quotas.
guide the design of this facility.
MSW are composed of different types of
waste, each with different moisture content.
There are 2 main technologies used for the
The moisture content of a waste type affects
combustion of MSW: Mass- burn or Refuse
its combustion and the amount of heat it re-
Derived Fuel (RDF). They are at their core
leases. For example, food wastes have a high
very similar systems in terms of steam gen-
moisture content of about 70% which reduc-
eration, air pollution control and waste han-
es their overall calorific value and thus the
dling; yet, the fact that Lebanon does not im-
amount of heat you can generate from them
pose waste source separation at their initial
[9]
.
dispatch favors the use of the Mass-burn approach. This method is comparatively simpler,
flexible, more reliable, more economical, and
more commonly widespread than RDF burning. The only advantage of an RDF system is
that it can produce about 5% more energy because it screens out types of waste that have
a low heating value. But, this requires more
complex processing lines as well as operators
with a greater skill set. Seeing as this WTE is
the first of its kind to be implemented in Lebanon, and due to the nature of the mixed waste
Material Composition
Metal
6%
Glass
4%
Paper
17%
Misc
10%
Food
Waste
50%
Plastic
s
Above,
Chart showing the average material
13%
composition of MSW in Lebanon [2].
stream, a Mass- burn system is recommend-
The following table associates the overall
ed. One of the additional advantages of using
percentage composition of MSW in Lebanon
with their respective heat values, estimating
WTE facility can possibly produce 620kwh/
an overall average heat value for the Greater
metric ton of MSW, of net electricity to be sold
Beirut and Mount Lebanon region of 9796 kj/
commercially. With the abundant 2234 tons
kg [9].
of MSW generated per day, we would ex-
Material
Composition
%
Heat Value
kj/kg
pect the WTE plant to process an estimated
Food Waste
50
4647
working days) = 737,220 tons of MSW per
Plastics
13
32531
year. Therefore, an expected contribution of
Paper
17
16730
620kwh/metric ton x 737,220 tons/year yields
Glass
4
0
457,076,400 kwh/year worth of electricity out-
Metal
6
0
put is readily available, yet completely over-
Misc
10
4000
100
9796.63
Above, Table showing average heating value by
composition of MSW in Lebanon [9].
2234tons/day x 330 days (number of yearly
looked [6].
Costs & Benefits
The minimum Heat Value required for a WTE
While it is not within the scope of this report to
facility to work with no additional fuel is 7000
perform an accurate financial analysis of the
kj/kg. Thus, the high value represented would
feasibility of a WTE plant for the districts of
be sufficient to make the plant work with no
Greater Beirut and Mount Lebanon, we will try
supplemental fuel [9].
to illuminate major beneficial as well as pos-
Below, Table showing estimated Net Electricity Output per Average Heating Value [9].
Heat value
(kJ/kg)
Net electricity output*
(Kwh/ton)
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
11,000
350
450
550
650
750
sibly aversive factors to be considered.
Although it is difficult to estimate the construction costs of a WTE with the proposed
above capacity due to it being the first to be
implemented in the country, it is important to
estimate high upfront costs owing to the high
price tag of the Air Pollution Control Systems.
The Waste-to-Energy Research and Technology Council appraises the average capital
cost per annual ton of capacity of a WTE facility to be $650/annual ton of capacity [8]. Con-
* This is considering the net electricity to be
sidering, as is proposed in this report, that the
sold commercially[6].
WTE facility will be running 330 days a year
on a 24 hour basis, it can be inferred that the
It is expected that, at such a calorific value
capital cost would be of $200,000 per daily
and working 24 hours for 330 days a year, the
ton capacity ($600 x 330 days). Of course the
capital costs would vary depending on the
the amount of waste that would eventually
size of the plant and its location, so account-
reach the landfill would range between 15 and
ing for the lower construction cost in Lebanon
25% by weight or 10% by volume [6]. At these
due to the cheap labor force should be con-
estimated coefficients, we can easily assume
sidered in the construction cost analysis.
that 1500 tons of MSW is diverted from going
On the other hand, if we are to value the price
to the landfill.
of purchasing electricity at its current rate of
1500 daily tons of MSW x $38/ton (minimal
9.4 US cents per kwh (refer to table below) [2]
cost of landfilling) = $57,000 of daily diverted
(not to mention that due to the energy sector’s
costs. We can consider that the cost of abated
high reliance on non-renewable fuel sources,
landfilling eliminates the cost of operating the
it is expected that the price of electricity will
WTE plant, although, considering landfilling
inevitably increase over the years to come),
involves buying land which is highly expen-
one can assume a return rate of 0.094$/
sive, the costs of operating the plant would be
kwh x 457,076,400kwh/year = $42,965,182
drastically cheaper. This would render a safe
per year. Instead of shipping in the fuel from
assumption that the power generated from
abroad, the WTE facility makes use of a much
the WTE plant can be considered as pure
cheaper local fuel source, local municipal sol-
net revenue. Moreover, by diverting the need
id waste.
to move 1500 tons of MSW from the collec-
Adding on to the revenue stream, and con-
tion point in Quarantina to the Naameh land-
sidering that the cost of collecting the MSW
fill (15km away), we are eliminating up to 60
is almost equal to the price of its disposal, ad-
hauling trucks from the streets (25ton load per
ditional benefits can be considered from the
truck); thus reducing traffic pressure, 1800km
costs of landfilling.
(1,118 miles) traveled daily, and abating exhaust fumes.
Beyond financial benefits of WTE plants, one
has to consider the social costs of building
such a facility. A lot of concerns regarding decreasing the neighboring land values as well
as environmental concerns have to be taken
Above, Table showing Landfilling and Waste
Collection prices in Lebanon [2].
into account. Seeing as in this particular scenario the WTE plant will simply plug into existing waste management facilities, it would not
The above table shows the costs of landfill-
be the cause of diverting waste into the Burj
ing in Beirut and Mount Lebanon to range
Hammoud neighborhood, since this is already
between $38-54 per ton. Depending on the
an existing condition.
amount of ash being reused from the WTE,
Typical criticism of WTE facilities are claims of
possible adverse health effects from danger-
Emissions of most major pollutants due to
ous pollutant emissions. While there are his-
WTE combustion decreased by upwards of
torical evidence for these claims, WTE tech-
95% between 1990 and 2005, and continue
nology has evolved at a fast rate in the past
to fall as Air Pollution Control technologies
20 years and become a very well-refined and,
develop. It has been shown from a public
above all, safe technology
. Many modern
health standpoint that disposal via WTE is
plants now include real-time emissions moni-
less damaging than landfilling in many cases
toring systems with outputs publicly available
[18]
to demonstrate a commitment to accountabil-
known, a public outreach agenda should be
ity for health and safety awareness. Concerns
put in place. The Spittelau WTE plant in Vi-
related to dioxins, and other common pollut-
enna, Switzerland implemented within the
ants like SO2 and NO3 are minimized by air
residential city quarters is a prime example of
pollution control technologies, and fall safely
how such a project can be integrated in the
within EPA regulations under the Clean Air
local community and be accepted by it. Its
Act and EU regulations [8].
key features of success are the aesthetically
The following table shows the average emis-
designed facade done by local artist Frieden-
sions of 10 WTE plants (4 of which were in
sreich Hundertwasser and their transparency
the US) that participated in the WTERT 2004
in publishing emissions in real time through
competition for “one of the best WTEs in the
an electronic billboard outside the facility
world (won by the Brescia, Italy WTE). It can
These two features have allowed the local
be seen that the WTE emissions were well
community to reference a sense of pride in
below the European, and also the U.S. stan-
having this beautiful piece of urban art in their
dards [8].
neighborhood and has ensued trust that their
[14]
. Still, since such information is not widely
.
[12]
Emissions of WTE Facilities competing for
wellbeing is being considered. On the other
2006 Columbia/WTERT Industry Award
hand, the public display of emissions in real
EMISSIONS,
Mg/Nm3
AVERAGE of
10 WTEs
E.U.
STANDARD
WTEs as % of
E.U.
STANDARD
time exerts a sense of moral pressure on the
Particulates
3.06
10
31%
SO2
12.2
50
24%
unable to cover up any corners cut in emis-
NOx
123
200
61%
HCL
7.88
10
79%
Therefore, personalizing and integrating icon-
CO
26.3
50
53%
ic features in its architecture is a main drive
Mercury
0.01
0.05
20%
TOC
0.92
10
9%
to gathering local community acceptance. In-
Dioxins, ng
TEQ/m3
0.02
0.1
21%
Above, Table showing Average Emissions of 10
WTE facilities as compared to EU standards
people managing the facility since they are
sions control.
volving the local community in imbedding this
iconic infrastructure in their community, be it
through its construction, it architectural symbolism or its energizing secondary program is
of huge profit, crucial to transform this project
will deal with identifying the proper sizing of
into an appreciated symbolic icon.
the main entities of the facility [19].
•
A Scale House located at the entrance
of the facility is needed to weigh the collection trucks through under-floor computerized
scales. Closely monitoring the quantity of incoming waste allows proper planning of the
WTE process.
•
An enclosed Tipping floor with unob-
structed openings of 5m in width and 5m in
height (proportional to the size of the garbage
Above, the facade of the Spittelau WTE facility.
Below, the electronic board used to display
emissions
trucks) and with an overall minimum height of
10m is required. The floor area would assume
10 trucks unloading at the same time giving it
an overall floor area of 1800m2. Housing an
indoor tipping floor helps control dissipating
odor by enclosing the facility operations and
having it negatively pressurized.
•
The refuse bunker is proposed to ac-
commodate for possible unexpected loads
atop the designed 3000tons/ day. Since it is
essential for the facility to have constantly
Defining Design Parameters
available MSW for an efficient, continuous
combustion process, a total storage capac-
In order to bring this facility to life, this sec-
ity for 5 days, 18,000 tons would be recom-
tion will examine the required technical pa-
mended as mitigation for possible bad weath-
rameters that define the physical scope of
er, strike, or any unforeseen circumstance.
implementing the proposed WTE facility in
•
the Quarantina area in the neighborhood of
grate combustion system is the most com-
Burj Hammoud.
monly used system type. This technology has
A mass burning system with a moving
several benefits, identified in previous seca. Programmatic analysis
tions, and would be recommended especially
(refer to Appendix 1)
for its ability to accommodate variations of
After having pinpointed the expected capacity
types of waste allowing it to complement lags
of the WTE plant (2234tons/day), this section
in other infrastructural systems such as waste
water treatment.
•
•
The number of Waste Processing
50 to 110 meters depending on the site’s ter-
Lines should foresee the needs to perform
rain, prevailing weather conditions, neighbor-
maintenance operations. Accordingly, three
ing building heights as well as the Air Pollution
1000tons/day processing lines would handle
Control system. Located in an urban setting,
the daily expected input of 2234 tons [2]. More-
we will assume 110m to be the needed ap-
over, the strategy should anticipate further
plied height.
possibilities of growth as well.
•
•
The Grate System serves two main
administration building, laboratory, employ-
functions of shifting and mixing the waste on
ees’ facilities center as well as a maintenance
one hand, while distributing the necessary air
building should be included.
for the combustion process. Longitudinal divi-
•
sion of the grate system, depending on the
host educational programs. Designing prop-
type of waste, must be further recommended
er circulation throughout all processes of the
by the suppliers.
WTE plant should consider possible tours to
•
demonstrate the proper functioning of the fa-
The Combustion Chamber design
The Smoke Stack height ranges from
Complementary programs such as an
A visitor’s center would be needed to
should bear the objective of minimizing the
cility.
risk of slag deposits and ash fouling on the
Drawings appendixed (refer to appendix 1)
furnace walls. Also, a large volume and height
exemplify the design of a WTE plant of similar
of at least 20m is usually recommended in or-
proportions. The total expected building area
der to make sure the flames from the com-
used is approximately 21,200 m2.
bustion process do not harm the inner lining
The above information simply identifies gen-
of the furnace walls.
eral parameters of dimensions to be taken
•
The Boiler System consists of a water-
into consideration in the design process. Fur-
wall running on the furnace walls where water
ther research would be required to more ac-
is evaporated into steam through the heat of
curately detail the full scope of programmatic
the combustion process, a convection section
requirements.
which further heats the steam, and finally a
steam turbine to generate electricity.
Beyond the basic building parameters, it is
•
The Air Pollution Control System should
wise to also highlight innate features that
be specified of the most advanced level see-
make a WTE plant an iconic element in the
ing as the plant is located in an urban setting,
urban landscape. Three main characteristics
in proximity of residential quarters. Such air
of a WTE facility should be taken advantage
pollution control would include dry scrubbing,
of: First, the 110m high smoke stack is an im-
injecting ammonia and activated carbon, and
mediate visual allure that is unique in the city
baghouse filters.
skyline. It adds verticality to the building, in-
herently imposing its presence. Secondly, un-
provides an ideal plug in situation for the WTE
like any other type of architecture, this build-
plant. To the North, the site connects to the
ing blows out steam! It is the waving flag of
former notorious Burj Hammoud dump, the
the building and a keen visual indicator of the
iconic mountain open dump that has for years
building’s health and the soundness of its op-
caused numerous environmental concerns to
eration. Steam is a natural attraction that calls
the community and local fishing port until it
attention far beyond the height of the chim-
was completely covered in 1997 [2].
ney tower. Thirdly, and most importantly, the
building itself is alive. It has large scale moving parts such as the cranes and the grate
system. It also deals with chemical processes
of combustion and cooling. All these mechanics of operation can be a great attraction and,
if exploited properly, can stir fascination in its
visitors which can prove to be a great educational tool.
Above, street life in Bourj Hammoud’s residential
zone
b. Site analysis
In order to draw community acceptance and
Bourj Hammoud is a middle to low income
try to erase the negative correlation the local
community mostly of residents from Armenian
community sees in Waste management fa-
descent with a strong cultural heritage. Re-
cilities being imposed in their areas, the WTE
nowned for their craftsmanship and industri-
should integrate itself not only programmati-
ous economy, this Armenian community set-
cally by introducing programs to serve the
tled in Lebanon between 1915-1930 following
community, but it should also seek to make
the Arminian Genocide. Around 150,000 resi-
use of their skilled labor force and renowned
dents, most live on the East side of the main
craftsmanship in its construction. This will
coastal highway separating residential from
help create a sense of belonging, participa-
industrial zones. Access to the site is made
tion, and ownership from the locals and ease
fairly smooth for trucks and vehicles allow-
any negative association they might have or
ing easy admission for collection vehicles
have had due to the site’s history. Moreover,
which already use the route. On the other
integrating ways of exhibiting and touring the
hand, pedestrian access is hard due to the
facility through educational programs in local
vast width of the highway with few pedestrian
schools would broaden awareness of the fa-
bridges across. The site itself is immediately
cility’s work and benefits.
connected to the Sukomi sorting facility which
VI- Architectural Concept Drawings
proper functioning.
(refer to Appendix 3 & 4)
Building on the resources already flowing
The following is an exercise in rendering a
through the WTE plant such as the heat from
vision of how an Iconic Waste to Energy fa-
the furnace, the water and steam from the
cility implemented in Quarantina might be
boiler system and the electricity being gener-
portrayed. This has a goal to visually express
ated, a new system of relationships between
the objectives that the previously mentioned
programs materializes, resembling a sort of
technical analysis has built the foundation for.
ecosystem with the WTE at its heart. The
The technical program of the proposed WTE
waste consumed in the waste shed of Beirut
was based and sized referencing plans made
and Mount Lebanon is being funneled to fuel
for a WTE plant for Afval Energie Bedrijf in
the WTE plant which in turn pumps out elec-
Amsterdam of similar incineration capacity.
tricity to the residents on one hand, and on
Taking the technical program as a rigid entity
the other provides the raw resources needed
that cannot be restructured easily if we are to
to heat the pools and showers, irrigate the
maintain optimum working efficiency for the
parks and light the exhibition and gathering
plant, a second level of program is overlaid
spaces. Even the parks themselves start to
around the shell of the facility. This new layer
play a role in diminishing emissions released
aims to infuse the facility with a social compo-
by the plant.
nent to attract and entice the local community.
The Architectural Visions portray an icon as-
Connecting the words “waste management”
sembled of different planes of assorted mate-
with programs of enjoyment such as pools,
rials that reflect the mixture of waste flowing
youth centers, fun, exhibitions, parks, and
through the facility on one hand as well as the
recreation begins to redefine their meaning in
vibrant industrial zone in which it is located. A
people’s minds from something once related
play of lights on the façades becomes a spir-
to odors, filth or even disgrace. Having the
ited way of portraying emission levels to the
public program wrapping around the facility
public while reflecting the living nature of the
ignites the possibility of fueling an educational
program that is constantly at work. A grow-
component related to waste management and
ing landscape depicting a symbol of health
the functioning of the WTE plant. It becomes
is added to all this collage to culminate in a
a tool for spreading awareness around issues
communal hall that engulfs the height of the
of waste management and sustainability and
smoke stack. This emerging crystal of light in
reposes local concerns of any misconceived
the skyline differentiates itself and begins to
environmental and health effects the project
compete with the monolithic architecture of
might have. Having the watchful public eye
the religious buildings. It becomes a beacon
constantly around also engages the workers
of trust in the urban landscape and an Icon of
and managers of the facility to maintain its
a reborn government and civic institutions.
VII- Conclusion
Waste to Energy provides a viable solution for the waste and energy crises that
Lebanon is facing. Implementing it along the most waste generating waste-shed
of Beirut and Mount Lebanon yields the most efficient results in terms of quantity
of waste being managed, the number of people if affects, as well as the minimum
disturbance on restructuring the waste and energy streams since it is able to plug
into existing infrastructure. Pursuing current practices of landfilling and relying on
heavy fuel oil imports have already taken a big toll on the environment and have
reached unsustainable limits that impede the proper functioning of the sectors.
Waste to Energy technology will restructure both streams to function together
in manner that solves the issues of waste disposal on one hand and provides a
relatively free energy source to provision electricity and sustain the increasing
demand for power.
Investing in building an Iconic Waste to Energy facility should be recognized as
a unique opportunity to transform a simple piece of infrastructure to one that
becomes emblematic of civic institutions, one that garners trust in the presence
of the government in supporting people’s needs and as a mean to integrate it
in the local community of Bourj Hammoud, enrich its potential, and become an
educational tool to raise awareness around matters of waste management and
sustainability.
It goes without saying that Waste to Energy is but a portion of the efforts needed
to restructure the waste and energy sectors, one that can provide for an immediate solution. In the long run, it has to be complemented with an all-encompassing
Solid Waste Management Plan to include an awareness campaign that pushes
for recycling and reducing the amounts of waste produced as a primary tool in
waste management. Perhaps someday the mountains of trash we see in many
neighborhoods will then begin to disappear from our skyline.
Appendix 1: Defining Design Parameters [7]
Appendix 2: Site and Location of Proposed Facility [20]
*
*
Site
Local
Industrial Zone
Qurantina
Dump
*
Bourj Hammoud
Appendix 3: New Programmatic Relationships
Exhibition
Youth Center
Free
Heat
Culture
Gathering Space
Community
Electricity
Integration
Water
Park
Light
Waste
Management
Steam
Transparency
Green
Pool
Iconic
Youth Center
Exhibition
+
Fun
+
Appendix 4: Architectural Concept Drawings
Observation Deck
Communal Hall
Pool
Exhibition
Youth Center
Recreation
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