Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies a test method for continuous process analysis (real-time analysis) using nearinfrared spectroscopy for the indirect determination of the following fuel-characterising parameters:

— total chlorine content;

— water content;

— heating value.

NOTE When accuracy is proven, real-time analysis can be supplemented by further fuel-characterising parameters.

This document applies to solid recovered fuels according to ISO 21640.

Purpose

To check the specifications of solid recovered fuels quality controls are usually carried out by both the manufacturer and the recycler. They are currently mainly carried out through discontinuous chemicalphysical laboratory analyses. Due to the time interval between sampling and the availability of the analysis results, the fuel quality can only be influenced depending on the analysis results by creating appropriate temporary storage capacities. In contrast, direct process monitoring and control cannot take place or can only take place to a limited extent.

Methods based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) enable automated, non-contact, non-destructive and continuous analysis of the relevant fuel properties in moving material flows. By installing appropriate analysis equipment above the conveyor belt, the fuel-characterizing parameters of recovered fuels, e.g. the total chlorine content and the heating value, can be determined in real time. The near-infrared-based real-time analysis can thus be used as a supplementary instrument for checking the fuel quality.

In order to obtain the most representative and reproducible analysis results possible, uniform framework conditions are required for the adaptation to the respective material to be examined as well as for the procedure for the implementation and software adaptation (calibration) of the near-infraredbased real-time analysis systems. They are described in this document.