Plasma Gasification Application in Organic Waste Management, a Renewable Green Energy Approach

S T R I C T L Y P R I V A T E & C O N F I D E N T I A L

Prof. Dr. Mamdouh F. Abdel-Sabour Environmental Consultant

International Innovative Environmental Solution Center (IIESC)

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mamdouh_Abdel-Sabour

http://sa.linkedin.com/pub/mamdouh-sabour/2a/999/444/

wise2007egy@yahoo.co; mamsabfan@yahoo.com

S T R I C T L Y P R I V A T E & C O N F I D E N T I A L

The sustainable strategy for the waste management is to improve waste

treatment in the aim to reduce their landfill disposal and minimize the

environmental impact. For few years, wastes became one of the renewable

resources that could play a major role in renewable energy.

1 ton of solid waste generate 200 – 300 m3 of landfill gas

1 m3 of landfill gas contains 0.5 m3 of natural gas which could be used as a fuel to generate 5 kWh energy.

1 ton of CH4 after combustion will generate 24 ton of CO2

Traditional MSW management became

more expensive and less convenient.

The objective is :

To reduce generated waste,

Improve its management,

Increase recycling,

Achieve energy recovery and

Reduce landfilling (Zero landfill

approach).

S T R I C T L Y P R I V A T E & C O N F I D E N T I A L

Various thermal processes, like combustion, pyrolysis or gasification have

been developed for treating these wastes in the aim to recover energy from

the organic fraction.

□ All Organic Material is Gasified to form a Synthetic Gas (“Syngas”). In plasma gasification the waste input is gasified by the high temperature into its constituent elements: H2, O2, C, N2 etc. The converter conditions are controlled so that prior to exit, the elements reform into the desired syngas that is rich in CO and H2. The gasification process occurs as the char reacts with carbon and

steam to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen, via the reaction

In addition, the reversible gas phase water gas shift reaction

reaches equilibrium very fast at the temperatures in a gasifier. This

balances the concentrations of carbon monoxide, steam, carbon

dioxide and hydrogen.

□ Calorific Energy and Sensible Heat from the Syngas is Recovered and transformed into Electrical Energy

Technology Application

□ Vitrified slag produced from a variety of waste materials have been shown to be non-leachable by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. In the case of low level radioactive materials or mixed waste the radio nuclides which are trapped in the solid residue are also in a stable, non-leachable form.

Technology Application

Technology Application Advanced Thermal Gasification System

Heat Source is from Plasma Torch

Plasma technology provides another means of

producing and transferring heat to waste materials.

Unlike combustion, no oxygen is required to produce

the heat. The gas stream produced is much smaller than

with combustion technology and, therefore, can be

easier and less expensive to manage.

Technology Application

In various design configurations, plasma technology units can be used on a wide variety of wastes, and can either destroy toxicity or produce a product from the treatment of waste materials. Plasma units can be operated in a manner that has fewer impacts on the environment than conventional thermal destruction technologies, such as lower air emissions and a stable vitrified residue.

Waste Receiving, Sorting and RDF Production

A Waste-to-Energy Incinerator with Pollution Controls

One tonne of waste creates 3.5 MW of energy during incineration (eq. to 300 kg of fuel oil) powers 70 homes

Gasification of the Waste

Temperature Profile Inside the Advanced Thermal Gasification Reactor

SYNGAS EXIT

1,200 – 1,400OC

GASIFICATION

3,000 – 1,400OC

SYNGAS RETENTION

3,000 – 1,400OC

CARBON BED

5,000 – 3,000OC

THERMAL ENERGY INPUT

5,000 – 3,000OC

Cooling – Filtration - HCl Absorption

BAG FILTER

INDUCED

DRAFT

BLOWER

PARTICULATE

COLLECTION

CONVEYORParticulates to

Particulate Storage

PROCESS

WATER

HCl

ABSORBER

SATURATOR

RECUPERATOR

ACTIVATED

CARBON

FILTER

CAUSTIC TANK

CAUSTIC SODA

FEED

PROCESS

WATER

TO WASTE WATER

TREATMENT

SYNGAS TO

BOILERS

SynGas from

WHSG

HP CONDENSATE

KNOCK-OUT

DRUM

HP SYNGAS

COMPRESSOR

RECUPERATOR

CONDENSATE

PUMP

CONDITIONED GAS TO

POWER GENERATION

LP SYNGAS

COMPRESSOR

ESD VALVE

EMERGENCY FLARE

BLOWER

LP CONDENSATE

KNOCK-OUT DRUM

CONDENSATE

PUMP

CONDENSATE

PUMP

SYNGAS TO

QUENCH

FROM GAS

CLEAN-UP

Gas Compression and Conditioning

Steam Cycle Power Generation

PLANT AIR, NITROGEN &

OXYGEN PRODUCTION

PLANT COOLING &

CONDENSING SYSTEMS

PLANT CCR, DCS & DATA

ACQUISITION

GAS & FIRE DETECTION

FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS

WATER & EFFLUENT

TREATMENT

DE-MINERALISED WATER

SYSTEM

PLANT POWER GENERATION &

DISTRIBUTION

Technology improvement naturally draws increased capital cost but … the environmental and health improvements supersede the conventional waste disposal technology

Dumping Landfill Sanitary

Landfill

Incinerator Gasification Advanced Thermal

Gasification System

Water source

contamination

Air pollution

impacts

Overall

environmental

costs

Various waste

disposal

technologies

Uncontrolled leachate: high risk

of water contamination Moderate risk of water

contamination

Controlled leachate:

Minimised water contamination

Moderate to high risk of air

pollution from methane

Moderate risk of air

pollution from methane

Risk of air pollution from

furans & dioxins presents

No risk of

air pollution

Prospect for

energy

recovery

No prospect of recovery of

energy waste

Minimal prospect of recovery

of energy from waste

HIGH

High prospect of recovery of energy waste

(energy recovery is maximised)

MODERATE LOW NEGLIGLIBLE

Tipping Fees

per Ton

Benefits of WTE

Multiple feedstock capability

Capable of receiving, handling, processing and disposing, different types of wastes (e.g., MSW, IHW) concurrently.

Complete destruction of wastes

Plasma gasification process is a NO BURN process hence, it does produce residuals, i.e., fly & bottom ashes as typically found with incinerators.

Fly & bottom ashes are harmful, may contain heavy metals and require secure landfilling. Since plasma gasification does not produced ash, landfilling will no longer be a requirement.

Maximum energy recovery from wastes

Plasma gasification process is designed and engineered to ensure efficient energy recovery from wastes.

Environmentally friendly

Operating at temperature range of about 3,000oC in the Gasification Zone in an oxygen starved environment, are realised in the plasma reactor therefore, plasma gasification process presents no opportunity for formation of hazardous flue gases, e.g., dioxin & furans, SOx and Nox.

Summary of Benefits Advanced Thermal Gasification System

Clean Development Mechanism under Kyoto Protocol

Capable for qualification as CDM project, i.e., reduction of emission of methane typically from landfills and reduction of CO2 emission from avoidance of use of fossil fuels for power generation.

The main component of landfill gas are methane and carbon dioxide. Both components contribute significantly to the greenhouse effect and are chiefly responsible for global temperature rise.

Summary of Benefits Advanced Thermal Gasification System