Honda-The Power of Dreams
World-Leading Low Levels of Discharged Dioxin Concentrations New Waste Incinerator Goes into Operation at Honda's Suzuka Factory

Tokyo, April 13, 1998 --- Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that from this month it will begin using a new type of waste incinerator at the company's Suzuka Factory, which greatly reduces the amounts of dioxins being discharged among waste gases. The introduction of this new equipment reflects a new Honda policy to aim for zero pollutant levels in its factory emissions. An upgrade of existing equipment, the new incinerator is the first in the world to employ a method that uses dioxin degradation catalysts. Dioxin discharge concentrations of less than 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm3 place the plant at the top of world rankings in this regard.

The equipment also uses the steam collected by waste heat boilers and channels it to drive inductor fans, which in turn drive a steam turbine. The steam is then returned to the steam lines used in the factory. This arrangement is very effective at saving energy.

Honda plans to introduce similar technological modifications to all its incineration equipment in all of its other manufacturing plants in Japan, and thereby reduce the concentrations of dioxin waste gases being discharged to an absolute minimum.

As one of the most poisonous and carcinogenic waste substances produced during incineration processes, dioxins are subject to strict regulations worldwide. In Japan they are controlled substances under the Prevention of Atmospheric Pollution Act. Enacted on December 1, 1997, this law stipulates maximum legal amounts of dioxin discharges from incinerators, and also regulates the timing of incineration processes expected to produce dioxin by-products.

Outline of new waste incinerator:

  • Main specifications
    Incinerator type rotary kiln and stoker
    Processing capacity 1.6 tons/hour
    Waste gas processing method bag filter (injections of slaked lime and activated charcoal)
    plus catalyst (Ti-V honeycomb, cubic volume 6 m3)
    Waste gas processing targets Fine dust: 0.1 g/Nm3 NOx: 80 ppm SOx: K-value = 2 HCL: 60 g/Nm3 Dioxins: 0.1 ng TEQ/Nm3
    Volume of steam recovered 7.7 tons/hour, 18 kg/cm2

    • Anti-dioxin measures:
      1. Keep waste incineration gases in the secondary combustion chamber at over 800 degrees Celsius for more than two seconds (a basic standard to restrict the generation of dioxins).
      2. Inject slaked lime and activated charcoal into the cooled waste gases, removing using a bag filter onto which the neutralized dioxin precursors are adsorbed.
      3. After the bag filter process, subject the waste gases to another degradation using the catalysts, and then remove.

    • Energy saving measures:
      1. When the waste heat boilers are operating at a standard pressure of 18 kg/sq. cm, the system collects 7.7 tons of steam per hour, and delivers this to drive a steam turbine via an inductor fan.
      2. After the steam has been used to drive the turbine, it is returned to be pumped (now at a pressure of 8 kg/sq. cm, 7.7 tons/hour) into the factory's steam lines to be used during production.
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