NYSDEC Crematory Operator Training Program

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NYSDEC Crematory Operator Training Program
Prepared By
Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
(SBEAP)
David A. Paterson, Governor

Pete Grannis, Chairman
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Mission
The Environmental Facilities Corporation promotes
environmental quality by providing low-cost
capital and expert technical assistance to
municipalities, businesses and State agencies for
environmental and public health projects in
New York State.
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Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
SBEAP Provides technical assistance to
qualifying businesses to help them comply with
federal and state environmental requirements
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Types of Technical Assistance

• SBEAP Hotline [phone]
• off-site assistance
• technical/regulatory advice
• prepare permit applications
• SBEAP Site/Facility Visits
• on-site assistance
• compliance assessments
• pollution prevention
• Mailings
• Workshops

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Crematory Operator Training

• Required in NYSDEC regulation Part 219-4 passed
  in 1989
• NYSDEC requested that SBEAP help develop and
  implement

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Training and Certification
One person per site minimum

• Cremator operator must be supervised by someone
  on site that is trained and certified
• Renew every five years
• DEC will issue Certificates
• Keep Certificates on-site

See Manual pg. 1-2
7

• Terminology,
• Principles of Combustion,
• Cremators/Incinerator Design

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Terminology

• Combustion - the chemical reactions between fuel
  and an oxidant (oxygen) usually initiated with
  heat, light and sparks.
• Incineration the combustion of organic material
  to ashes.
• Cremation - the act of reducing human / animal
  remains to bone fragments through flame, heat and
  vaporization.

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Combustion Elements

• Heat
• Oxidant Oxygen
• Fuel British Thermal Units (Btu)
• The quantity of heat required to raise one pound
  of water one degree Fahrenheit

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Combustion Process / Reaction
Chemical reactions between the fuel and oxygen
where the fuel is oxidized and heat and/or light
is produced.
CH4 O2 gt CO2 H2O
heat
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Good Combustion

• Time - time the fuel, oxygen combustion gases
  are exposed to heat

• Temperature - sufficient to initiate ignition
  and sustain the combustion reactions

• Turbulence - mixing of fuel, oxygen and
  combustion gases

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Products of Combustion

• Combustion Gases / Particulate Matter
• Oxides of the chemical makeup of the fuel
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Water
• Heat / Light

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Waste Classification
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Incinerator
Any structure or furnace in which combustion
takes place type 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 refuse is
used as fuel, alone or in conjunction with fossil
fuel.

• Design Capacity
• Burning/Charging rate (lb/hr)
• Chamber volume
• Chamber dimensions
• Primary burner (s)
• Excess air gt100
• Secondary / Afterburner, if necessary
• Gas velocities

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• Burning / Charging Rate Capacity
• The amount of fuel cremated per unit of time,
  usually expressed in pounds per hour.
• Excess Air
• Air supplied in addition to the predicted
  quantity needed for complete combustion. Air
  remaining after a fuel has been completely
  burned.

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In-Line
Combustion gases flow through the incinerator
turns 90º vertical upward
draft inducer
Secondary combustion chamber
afterburner
Primary combustion chamber
grate
under-fire air
Steam o tech
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• Draft
• Pressure difference between incinerator and
  atmosphere which causes a continuous flow of air
  and combustion gases through
• the unit to the atmosphere.
• Forced draft fan / blower provides air to
  primary combustion
• Induced draft fan / blower after combustion
  zones
• Primary Combustion Chamber
• Chamber where primary ignition and combustion
  occurs.
• Secondary Combustion Chamber
• Chamber where unburned products of combustion
  are completely burned.
• Under-fired air
• Air supplied to primary combustion chamber from
  beneath grate and through fuel bed

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Retort
Chambers arranged so combustion gases turn 90º in
vertical lateral direction
Refractory lined Stack
Primary burner
Primary Chamber Thermocouple
Refractory lining
Air inlets/jets
Hot hearth
Secondary burner / Afterburner
Baffle Wall
Crawford C Series
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• Burner (s)
• Provides heat to raise the temperature of the
  chamber to the point where combustion is
  possible.
• Refractory
• High temperature material designed to withstand
  heat, abrasion and exposure to exhaust gases.
  Provides thermal efficiency.
• Air Inlets / Jets / Ports
• Opening through which air / oxygen is supplied to
  the unit for combustion, cooling, etc.
• Hot hearth
• Solid surface serves as floor to primary
  combustion chamber roof of secondary combustion
  chamber. Aids in the evaporation of moisture.

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Retort
7
4
2

• Primary air
• Primary burner
• Combustion gases
• Secondary air
• Secondary burner
• Secondary combustion

7. Exhaust Gases cool slow, particulates may
settle out finally are exhausted out stack
3
1
3
5
6
Crawford C Series
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• Retention time
• Length of time it takes for the combustion gases
  and unburned particles to travel through the
  final combustion zone prior to exhaust.
• Damper
• A manually or automatically controlled device to
  regulate draft or the rate of air flow.

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Chemical Make Up

• Potassium
• Sulfur
• Sodium
• chlorine
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Fluorine
• Zinc
• Silicon
• Rubidium
• Strontium
• Bromine
• Lead
• Copper
• Aluminum
• Cadmium
• Cerium
• Barium

• Zirconium
• Lanthanum
• Tellurium
• Gallium
• Yttrium
• Bismuth
• Thallium
• Indium
• Gold
• Scandium
• Tantalum
• Vanadium
• Thorium
• Uranium
• Samarium
• Tungsten
• Beryllium
• Radium

• Tin
• Iodine
• Titanium
• Boron
• Selenium
• Nickel
• Chromium
• Manganese
• Arsenic
• Lithium
• Mercury
• Caesium
• Molydenum
• Germanium
• Colbalt
• Antimony
• Silver
• Niobium

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Typical Values for Fuel
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Cremation Process
The act of reducing human / animal remains to
bone fragments through flame, heat and
vaporization.

• Primary Combustion
• Initial volatilization / flash off
• Heating and volatilization of fluids
• Thermal oxidation of combustible material
• Remains incombustible material, bone fragments

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Cremation Process cont.

• Secondary Combustion
• Combustion gases exit the primary chamber
• Mixing chamber / baffles
• Secondary air introduced
• Gases undergo additional combustion
• secondary burner
• secondary chamber
• Exhaust
• Draft

Turbulence
Temperature
Time
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Incomplete Combustion - Pollutants

• Smoke / Visible Emissions
• Particulate matter
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen oxides
• Sulfur dioxide
• Hydrogen chloride chlorinated plastics
• Dioxin Furans
• Metals (lead, mercury)
• Odors

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• Hydrogen chloride gas
• Produced when chlorinated plastics are burned
  including but not limited to
• - bags
• - syringes
• - gloves
• - containers

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• NYSDEC
• Air Pollution Control
• Requirements

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Crematories Subject to Subpart 219-4

• Cremators installed after January 1, 1989
• Cremators installed prior to January 1, 1989
• must comply with Part 219-5 (Upstate) or Part
• 219-6 (NYC, Long Island, Westchester)

See Manual pg. 1-3
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Regulated Pollutant

• Particulate emissions
• Contributes to lung and heart disease
• Limit 0.08 grains/cubic ft exhaust
• Minimized by good combustion

See Manual pgs. 1-3 to 1-5
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Design and Performance Standards

• Maintain Temperature of 1800 F
• Retention Time 1 second
• If dual chamber
• 1400 F (primary)
• 1800 F (secondary)
• Complete combustion of gases

See Manual pgs. 1-5, 1-6
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Operating Requirements

• Opacity/Smoke
• Must not exceed 10
• Visual observation or
• Opacity monitor
• 10 is low but average over 6 min.
• Slow down the combustion rate

See Manual pgs. 1-6, 1-7
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Visual Checks

• Look through the smoke at a distance from the
  stack, with the sun behind you
• Refer to the Ringelmann Pocket Chart

See Manual pg. 1-7
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Causes of Excess Air Emissions

• Plastics
• Excess body fat
• Casket finishes/coatings
• Unsteady/off spec chamber temps
• The exhaust gases are moving too fast

See Manual pg. 1-8
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Process Monitoring/Recording

• Instrumentation
• Temperature monitoring/control
• i.e. thermocouples
• 219-4 requires continuous monitoring of
• Primary chamber exit temp.
• Secondary (afterburner) exit temp.

See Manual pg. 1-8
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Recordkeeping

• Daily records when operating
• Paper chart or
• digital data logger
• Date
• Keep charts/log
• on site

See Manual pg. 1-8
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Prohibited Materials

• Municipal Waste
• Infectious Waste
• Up to 5 of the total permitted hourly charging
  rate is allowed BUT.
• Sharps, plastics, etc. should not intentionally
  be charged into cremator, will cause opacity
  problems
• Hazardous Waste
• Radioactive Waste
• Narcotics

See Manual pg. 1-9
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Stack Emissions Testing

• Demonstrate compliance with particulate emissions
  limit of 0.08 grains/cubic foot
• On site testing of stack emissions or
• Test report from testing on identical unit at
  another facility

See Manual pgs. 1-9, 1-10
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Permits/Registrations

• Air Facility Registration (for most)
• Apply to NYSDEC Regional Air Pollution Control
  Engineer
• State Facility Permit (discretional)
• Notify NYSDEC ten days in advance of starting up
  new cremator
• Department of State, Division of Cemeteries
  license is required

See Manual pgs. 1-10 to 1-12
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Annual Inspection Reporting

• Send report to local NYSDEC office
• Follow NYSDEC form
• Report can be on NYSDEC form or other format as
  long as you cover all the items
• Keep copy of reports on site
• Do it yourself or hire a service technician
• Must have certification form attached

See Manual pg. 1-12, Section 2
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• Operation
• Maintenance

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Operation
Follow manufacturers recommendations

• First, evaluate materials to be processed
• plan the day accordingly
• Preheat secondary combustion chamber
• Charge unit know design capacity
• Distribute charge to maximize exposure to primary
  burner

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In-Line
Combustion gases flow through the incinerator
turns 90º vertical upward
draft inducer
Secondary combustion chamber
afterburner
Primary combustion chamber
grate
under-fire air
Steam o tech
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Retort
7
4
2
7. Exhaust Gases cool slow, particulates may
settle out finally are exhausted out stack

• Primary air
• Primary burner
• Combustion gases
• Secondary air
• Secondary burner
• Secondary combustion
• chamber

3
1
3
5
6
Crawford C Series
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Operation
Follow manufacturers recommendations

• Do not block primary burner port / air inlets
• Do not start primary burner until charging is
  complete and charge door is closed
• Monitor cremation process
• Allow for cool down clean out remains
• Additional cremations know manufacturers
  recommended timeframe and conditions

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Routine Work Practices

• Check / adjust chart recorder pens
• Check chart recorder / data logger
• Start the day with the highly combustible charges
  (flammable containers, high fat content)
• Check for excess opacity

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Routine Work Practices

• Know error codes
• Keep good records
• Have replacement parts on hand
• Thermocouple
• Spark plugs

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Maintenance
Always turns off all gas electrical services

• Follow manufacturers recommendations
• Consider calling a professional
• Burners primary afterburner
• fuel air inlet
• flame detector
• spark plug attachment
• thermocouple

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Maintenance
Always turns off all gas electrical services

• Spark Plugs clean set gaps
• soot and carbon buildup
• spark plugs are within the burner housing
• unscrew clean tip with fine steel wool /
  sandpaper
• clean grounding surface

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Maintenance
Always turns off all gas electrical services

• Refractory
• Thorough inspection twice per year
• or
• More often based on of cremations (per
  manufacturers schedule)

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Maintenance
Always turns off all gas electrical services

• Primary air and draft fan
• Clean / wipe fan blades inside housing
• Lubricate
• Opacity Monitor and Sensor
• Wipe both lenses (transmitter receiver)
• Calibrate per manufacturers procedure

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Facility Inspection

• Stack
• Condition Clearances
• Cremator Area
• Clear / Remove Combustibles
• General Cleaning
• Clean / Vacuum Door Area

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Tip Sheets

• Routine Maintenance Checklist
• Daily Operating Checklist
• Post near unit

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• Future
• Regulatory
• Changes

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Changes Coming In Near Future

• Subpart 219-4 is being revised
• Changes include
• All operators will need to be certified
• All crematory units must comply
• Less medical/infectious allowed
• Additional recordkeeping requirements

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Proposed Timelines

• Formal Proposal / Hearings expected
• Spring / Summer 2009
• All Crematory Units must comply with
• Subpart 219-4 by December 31, 2013

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Certification Test

• Take home test
• Use manual and presentation
• Two weeks to submit Answer Sheet
• Fax
• Mail
• Receive DEC Certification by Mail

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New York State Environmental Facilities
Corporation
Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
(SBEAP) Hotline [phone] Free and
Confidential www.nysefc.org