Abstract: In an improved refuse incineration system, wet refuse is heated in a dryer by inlet superheated steam in direct contact to remove most moisture therefrom while converting such moisture into outlet steam also in superheated state. The dried refuse is then fed into a boiler, through which the outlet superheated steam is circulated to raise temperature to much higher superheated level and recycled to the dryer as inlet superheated steam. This system will greatly increase the drying efficiency and productivity and thus reduce the necessary volume of the dryer.

Abstract: In an improved refuse incineration system, wet refuse is heated in a dryer (4) to remove most moisture therefrom while converting such moisture into steam for use in order to save energy consumption in a steam generating plant. The dried refuse is then fed into a boiler (23) for combustion where, because it has been dried, the combustion gas temperature within the boiler is greatly increased and thus the thermal efficiency improved.The preferred form of the system includes additional devices (27, 38) for preheating air used to support combustion of refuse enhancing the extent of combustion of combustible matter in the refuse. The preferred system also including devices (34, 29) for increasing the recovery of residual heat content from the waste stack gas.