Thermal Study for a Cylindrical Liquid-Fuel Oven for Melting Plastic Waste

The aim of this study is to verify the energy performance of a furnace using used motor oil as fuel, enabling temperatures of up to 400°C to be reached. The heat balance, the subject of this study, is obtained by determining the quasi-static heat transfers during the cooking of waste plastics. An efficiency of around 92% is achieved, with most of the combustion energy being carried away in the flue gases and the rest stored in the furnace walls and openings. To reduce these losses, the furnace's energy efficiency must be optimized by controlling the temperature of the combustion air and fumes. Keywords: Rotary furnace, plastic waste, engine oils, combustion, energy efficiency.