An answer to Sri Lanka's garbage problem?

Invention of an eco-friendly trash incinerator:

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

From an announcer for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation(SLBC) in 1959, the voice that presented the famous 'Handiyagedera' program in 1978 to an enterprising businessman today, Gunatunga K. Liyanage has come up with a novel invention which may be an answer to Sri Lanka's growing garbage disposal issue; an invention of an eco-friendly trash incinerator with almost zero per cent of environmental pollution, an instantly viable solution to the staggering problem of thrash disposal confronting the Municipal and Urban Councils in Sri Lanka he says.

A detailed description of the novel invention has been sent to the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD), the Central Environment Authority, the Sri Lanka Investors Commission and the Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka for their appraisal and assessment.

A miniature model of the invention; the eco-friendly trash incinerator has been set up at Gamini Furniture Palace factory premises at Buddhaloka Mawatha, Piliyandala for inspection and a demonstration of the concept could be done for interested parties on request, Mr Liyanage said.

Asked if Mr Liyanage is an engineer, he answered in the negative and said the invention was totally his, it is unique and there were no engineers involved in the initiation of the concept.

Mr Liyanage in an interview with the Sunday Observer said, "The introduction of this incineration process is unique and does not require external fuel and has no atmospheric pollution.

The possibility of generating power is also available with this concept. So, this could be the best alternative to finding vast land fills to store garbage for months till degenerated or resorting to anaerobic digestion combined with or without bio-gas generation which is of course not so popular due to the high cost of digesters, the unpleasant and unhealthy maintenance and moreover because it is a long drawn out total digestion process."

Explaining the concept Mr Liyanage further said, "The most important novel feature of an invention of a trash incinerator of this nature is the manner in which it has been designed with the ( one or preferably four) provision of air or smoke absorbing pipes or tubes which does not cause environmental pollution.

The smoke absorbing pipes are mounted in such a manner that their top end, at the dome, above the level of the trash feeding gates with the bottom passing though the inner conical frustum to the empty space at the bottom of the incinerator thereby enabling the air or smoke to be sucked into the pipes or tubes from the top end being discharged to the inside of the inner conical frustum structure, made of heat resistant materials, thereby rejoining the combustion process".

"As the opening at the bottom, provided for servicing and burnt material removal is now closed, the "chimney effect" causes a partial vacuum at the core of the inner conical frustum thereby enabling the air and smoke to be sucked in through the said pipes or tubes from the space in the dome above the thrash feeding level.

The ratio of fresh air or smoke sucked in can be controlled by the gates provided at, or just above the top ring of the outer conical frustum. Such gates may be arranged for dual function of feeding trash from time to time and control the amount of air sucked in, or a separate gate may be provided for the two functions.

This recirculation of partially burnt gasses so caused will ensure almost total combustion of trash. While trash may be introduced from time to time, ash may also be removed accordingly by opening the ash removal openings which have to be closed immediately", Mr Liyanage further explained.

"In this invention complete combustion is assured through suction of part of the burnt gasses back to the flame thereby ensuring that almost all the material is completely burnt.

The configuration of this novel design consists essentially of a structure of the shape of a frustum of a cone, (or a frustum of a pyramid, Tetrahedral or with a polygonal base) and no visible smoke is generated thereby eliminating or reducing environmental pollution to zero per cent.

"The structure may be supported with pillars and columns, a cylindrical structure or any other suitable civil engineering structural method while the outer conical frustum may be made with reinforced concrete preferably.

The extension chimney of any suitable height may be mounted to the top dome with the inner chimney enclosed in it with a circular gap in between the two chimneys to open when initiating the burning process and close when thrash is properly ignited. These two chimneys are supported with suitable means or any standard means such as cables which are used for supporting such tall structures."

Mr Liyanage said he hopes that his invention, concept and contribution to the country's development would be taken by the Municipal and Urban Councils and put into operation as a viable solution to the confounding garbage and trash disposal issue in Sri Lanka.

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