Techno-Economic Analysis of a Grid-Connected Waste to Energy Gasification Plant:A Case Study

With population growth around the world,municipal waste disposal and continued energy demand becomes some of the major challenges to deal with.In order to address these,an approach is required for an optimal waste management system that offers the population benefit with a lower environmental impact.This study evaluates the technical-economic and environmental impact analysis of a grid-connected waste to energy(WtE)plant to power a Univerisiti Teknologi Malaysia(UTM)community.The energy recovery potential of the waste stream was assessed using the life cycle assessment(LCA)method with GaBi^(TM) software(version 4).A technical,economic and environmental analysis was then carried out for the grid-connected WtE system using HOMERPro software with gasification conversion technology.The cash flow analysis was based on levelized costs of energy(LCOE)and total net present value(NPV).The results gave an NPV for the system at USD 1.11×10^(7),with most of the effects resulting from the grid operating costs and the LCOE of USD 0.43/kWh compared to the grid unit price of USD 0.7/kWh which corresponds to a saving of$0.27/kWh in energy purchase.From an environmental point of view,the results showed a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from around 2,000 tons per year to around 400 tons per year.With regard to the amount of waste sent to landfills,the results show a significant improvement from 142,605.5 kg/year to 0.13 kg/year.

2D Materials as Protective Coating against Low and Middle Temperature (100°C - 300°C) Corrosion-Erosion in Waste to Energy Plant: Case of Graphene

The combustion of MSW contains several species which if liberated into the flue gas will participate in erosion-corrosion reactions with the alloy surface and with the oxide layers. Actually with the evolution of material science and the discovery of 2D materials, we can handle that situation as well as possible. The graphene as 2D material presents a lot of advantage due to it physical properties such: melting point, boiling point and thermal conductivity, which can help to manage the problem of low and middle temperature (100°C - 300°C) erosion-corrosion into the boiler wall of waste to energy. The aim of the study was focused on analyzing the resistance at low and middle temperature (100°C - 300°C) in the enclosed environment and the corrosion-erosion resistance abilities of the graphene sheet as the 2D protective coating material. This paper analyzed the possibility of using the graphene in the aggressive environment which is waste to energy boiler. The results obtained from this study after simulation using ANSYS software which is one of the best software for simulations showed that Graphene protects the furnace walls against corrosion-erosion for temperatures lower than 400°C and that in the presence of certain impurities such as: sodium (Na), sulfur (S), chloride (Cl) and Phos- phorous (P), Sodium Chloride (NaCl), Hydrogen Chloride (HCl), Dioxide of Carbone (CO2) and Dioxide of Sulfur (SO2).

Waste to energy(WTE)in China:from latecomer to front runner

This paper discusses the 2000-2018 evolution of energy and metals recovery from urban wastes in the European Union and China.As a result of the zero-landfilling directive,in twenty years the European Union tripled its recycling rate(11%-30%)and its composting rate(6%-17%),doubled its WTE rate(14%-28%)and more than halved its landfilling(64%-25%).At the beginning of this century,the rapidly growing cities of China were literally surrounded by landfills.Therefore,the national government instituted policies,such as a credit of US$30 per MWh of WTE(waste to energy)electricity that resulted in the construction,by 2020,of 510 WTE plants with an annual WTE capacity of 193 million tons.In comparison,the European Union(EU)WTE capacity is 96 million tons and the USA has remained static at about 27 million tons,i.e.,10%of its post-recycling MSW(municipal solid waste),with the other 90%being landfilled.In the first decade of this century,two WTE technologies,moving grate and circulating fluid bed were developed in China at about the same rate.However,since 2010,the moving grate technology has become dominant and the WTE plants are built functionally and esthetically comparable to and U.S.plants.

Techno-Economic Analysis of Power Production by Using Waste Biomass Gasification

Energy recovery from waste biomass can have significant impacts on the most pressing development challenges of rural poverty and environmental damages. In this paper, a techno-economic analysis is carried out for electricity generation by using timber and wood waste (T & WW) gasification in Iceland. Different expenses were considered, like capital, installation, engineering, operation and maintenance costs and the interest rate of the investment. Regarding to revenues, they come from of the electricity sale and the fee paid by the Icelandic municipalities for waste collection and disposal. The economic feasibility was conducted based on the economic indicators of net present value (NPV) and discounted payback period (DPP), bringing together three different subgroups based on gasifier capacities, subgroup a: 50 kW, subgroup b: 100 kW and subgroup c: 200 kW. The results show that total cost increases as the implemented power is increased. This indicator varies from 1228.6 k€ for subgroups a to 1334.7 k€ for subgroups b and 1479.5 k€ for subgroups c. It is worth mentioning that NPV is positive for three subgroups and it grows as gasifier scale is extended. NPV is about 122 k€ (111,020 $), 1824 k€ (1,659,840 $) and 4392 k€ (3,996,720 $) for subgroups a, b and c, respectively. Moreover, DPP has an inversely proportional to the installed capacity. It is around 5.5 years (subgroups a), 9.5 months (subgroups b) and 6 months (subgroups c). The obtained results confirm that using small scale waste biomass gasification integrated with power generation could be techno-economically feasible for remote area in Iceland.

Solid Waste Management and Incineration Practice: A Study of Bangladesh

Considering the geographical location and one of the very densely populated countries in the world, Bangladesh is very vulnerable to climate change and its adaptability. This paper has been designed with an attempt to inform the policy maker of Bangladesh regarding the potentiality of MSW as a renewable source of energy in Bangladesh. It deals with modern waste collection, management and incineration practices based on densely populated cities or towns like Bogura Municipality and Chattogram City Corporation. Waste to Energy (WtE) conversions not only reduce the land pressure problem in urban areas, but also generate electricity and heat to supply to the surrounding urban areas. The increase in generation of methane (CH4) from municipal solid wastes (MSW) alarms the world to take suitable initiative for the sustainable management of MSW, as it is stronger than carbon dioxide (CO2). By burning one mole of CH4, 890 kJ·mol-1 heat is produced which is a major source of energy. This treatment technology is used in destruction of solid waste by controlled burning at high temperatures. With the release of heat, it can be accompanied and this heat from combustion can be converted into energy. This type of incineration is a high-quality treatment for Municipal or City Corporation solid waste like Bangladesh where were over crowded cities, towns and it can reduce the quantity and volume of a large amount of waste to landfill, which can recover energy and dispose in the compact zone. The results also examined that the total amount of solid waste produced in Bogura municipality is lower than that of Chattogram City Corporation. The percentage compositions of waste patterns are shown in both the Cities. The paper discusses these problems, analyses and finally, a recommendation has been proposed in order to understand the industrial situation enhanced.

Gasification of Municipal Solid Waste for Power Generation in Brazil, a Review of Available Technologies and Their Environmental Benefits

This article reviews the literature on thermochemical processing of municipal solid waste as the final disposal in Brazil, explores recent publications in the field of solid waste generated, its origin, characteristics and removal mechanisms currently employed, in the same way, available technologies for the thermochemical treatment of MSW with an emphasis on gasification and clean technology are evaluated, highlighting the current technical and reported in the literature in order to identify indicators of efficiency and flexibility of the technology. From the review it is concluded that gasification is a technically feasible option for the thermochemical conversion of municipal solid waste and subsequent power generation, besides being a technology that meets the applicable emission limits. Some of the main advantages of gasification of municipal solid waste are： （a） the sharp reduction in the waste mass （about 70-80%） and volume （approximately 80-90%）; （b） the drastic reduction in land use, 1：3000; （c） destruction of organic pollutants and other halogenated hydrocarbons; （d） concentration and immobilisation of inorganic contaminants so that they can be used effectively and safely removed; （e） use recyclables, such as ferrous metals, ferrous ash and slag materials; （f） reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by anaerobic decomposition of organic waste and （g） power generation.

An Analysis of Solid Waste Generation and Characterization in Thika Municipality of Kiambu County, Kenya

The rapid increase in population in Thika has led to increase in municipal solid waste generation, which has posed challenges in the waste disposal and management. This study was carried out to quantify and characterize the waste generated within Thika municipality. Six months data （between March 2014 and August 2014） of waste stream at the dumpsite was reviewed and analyzed. The survey indicated that 66.95% ± 0.34% of the total waste dumped originated from the municipal council ofThika （MCT）. It constitutes of domestic, commercial and institutional waste. 33.05% is industrial waste. Sixty eight percent （68%） of the waste consisted primarily of four components： paper, plastic, organics and food. Food accounted for 15.51% ± 0.95%, paper 18.31% ± 1.7%, plastics 17.89% ± 0.81% and organics other than food 16.51% ±1.01%, respectively obtained at 95% confidence level. Each of the components has some level of recovery. Some of the reusable and recyclable materials were being recovered, food waste had the highest recovery rate of 23% ± 1.7% and was used as animal feed, while plastic （soft plastic） 17% ± 0.93% was sold to recyclers. Recovery of materials for recycling and composting was estimated at 10.21 tonnes or 11.35% of daily generation, leaving 76.44 tonnes per day that can be converted into useful energy. The study shows waste in this dumpsite can be exploited to by converting it to energy thus a good solution for waste management.

A Survey of the Gasification of Residual Household Waste

Solid waste is a promising renewable fuel that can substitute conventional fuel. According to the researchers, thermoconversion of solid waste such as municipal solid waste or residual household waste (RHW) is beneficial to society. However, due to its heterogeneity, the gasification of RHW is more complex. This review article discusses the steps that RHW must undergo before its thermoconversion and the state of the art of solid waste gasification. First, characterisation methods of RHW are surveyed. Second, the properties of RHW, the production lines of refuse derived fuel (RDF) from RHW, the influence of RDF composition and operating parameters such as equivalence ratio and temperature are reviewed. Moreover, RDF gasification products, scientific barriers and proposed solutions are evaluated. In conclusion, concerning emissions, costs and technical aspects related to each thermochemical process, it can be said that gasification is a promising technique for the recovery of RHW. However, studies on cogasification of waste and biomass on a pilot-industrial scale are still scarce and synergistic effects of this cogasification need to be clarified.

Energy and materials recovery from post-recycling wastes:WTE

One of the most misunderstood technologies in some parts of the world and widely adopted technologies in others is the recovery of energy and materials by the controlled combustion of post-recycling wastes.This technology is commonly called waste-to-energy,or simply WTE.After all possible efforts for recycling or composting wastes,there remains a large post-recycling fraction that is either landfilled or used as fuel in WTE power plants that also recover metals and minerals.Several nations,e.g.,Switzerland,Japan,Sweden,Belgium,Denmark,and Germany,have succeeded in phasing out landfilling by processing all theãir post-recycling municipal solid wastes(MSW)in WTE power plants.This paper reviews the evolution and importance of WTE in the twenty-first century,with special focus on the world’s largest economies:the EU,US,and China.

Energy recovery from solid wastes in China and a Green-BRI mechanism for advancing sustainable waste management of the global South

The only proven alternative for the recovery of value from materials that cannot be recycled is waste to energy(WTE).The first part of the paper provides evidence as to the advantages of WTE over landfilling and examines the role of WTE in the urban environment.The second part of the paper is a holistic analysis of the legislative instruments used in China,that have led to the construction of nearly 400 plants from 2005 to 2019.The Chinese government was instrumental in the development of Public and Private Partnerships(PPPs),in form of Build-Operate-Transfer(BOT),or Build-Own-Operate(BOO)models with a lifetime of 20 years to 30 years.The government accepts most of the investment risk by participating in the equity structure,providing strong tax and policy incentives,and becoming fully engaged in public education and acceptance of new WTE projects.The construction and operation of these plants by the private sector had to comply with the governmental performance standards in order to receive incentives,such as an appreciable credit over the price of electricity received by coal-fired plants.The last part of this paper examines how the elements of the Chinese renewable energy and waste management laws,may be transposed to federal and state legislation for potential application in countries of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI)region.

Techno-economic assessment of energy generation through municipal solid waste:a case study for small/medium size districts in Pakistan

There is an increase in annual waste generation due to urbanization,industrialization,and population growth.The waste management crisis in developing countries and its complexity from region to region has inspired extensive research work in this area.Poor management not only results in environmental hazards,but it also causes significant socio-economic losses.Due to the absence of comprehensive studies on waste to energy(WTE)assessment,this study assesses and reports the merits of alternative technologies for converting WTE in small and medium-size districts.Quantitative analysis for waste collection data in this study uses a pilot study approach to provide useful insights and waste classification.A cantonment district of Pakistan(Wah Cantt)has been used as a case study for performing a technological and economic assessment of energy generation through the use of thermal and biological treatment processes.A mathematical modeling approach has been adopted for generating an economic value of each technology through which this waste can be processed.Further,the levelized cost of energy(LCOE)based assessment has been performed to provide a methodological framework for selecting the most feasible WTE technology in a small or medium-size district.Based on the model results,anaerobic digestion appears to be the most sustainable technology due to the organic nature of waste in Wah Cantt,land legislation,and availability of area to install a waste plant.Considering all the waste collected,the district can generate approximately 14.4 MW of energy through thermal treatment,19,110 m^(3) of daily biogas through anaerobic digestion,and 5 million tons of fertilizer through composting.Hence,if a proper supply chain is established for converting a portion of Pakistan’s annual waste generation,a significant amount of waste energy potential can be restored.