Numerical simulation and optimization study on pneumatic separation of municipal solid waste based on component physical property differences

To improve the grade of incoming fuel in waste incineration power plants, a simulation study on the pneumatic separation of municipal solid waste (MSW) was conducted using calorific value as a guide. In this study, impurity rate and loss ratio were introduced to characterize pneumatic separation performance combined with separation efficiency. Coupling effects of wind speed with air inlet angle, air inlet height and feed rate on the pneumatic separation performance were discussed, respectively. Moreover, a network framework of improving pneumatic separation parameters via multi-stage optimization was proposed for the optimal condition was proposed for the optimal condition. The results show that the optimal condition of wind speed with air inlet angle, air inlet height and feed rate is 26 m/s, 20°, 1250 mm and 4.22 kg/s. Under the optimal condition, the separation efficiencies at feed outlets 1, 2, and 3 are 99.93 %, 99.57 % and 99.72 %, respectively, and the impurity rates are 0, 2.48 % and 0.05 %, respectively, the loss ratio is 0. • Pneumatic separation in high, low calorific value and noncombustible MSW. • Introducing impurity rate and loss ratio to measure the pneumatic separation performance with the separation efficiency. • Thorough discussion of coupling effects of wind speed with air inlet angle, height and feed rate on the pneumatic separation performance. • Proposing a network framework via multi-stage optimization to obtain the optimal condition.