Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Greeff, Isabella
• Ncwane, Simphiwe
• van der Walt, Jaco

Titel

Study on nitrogen plasma gasification for small scale waste processing

Ist Teil von

• Chemical engineering research & design, 2022-12, Vol.188, p.354-363

Ort / Verlag

Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• High temperature thermal plasma gasification can treat non-homogeneous waste at increased conversion efficiency, compared to conventional gasification. A novel nitrogen plasma technology demonstration system is presented. The system can convert 20 kg/h of biomass to synthesis gas and is constructed inside a shipping container, which makes it mobile and suitable for application in remote rural areas of developing countries. An Aspen Plus model of the plasma gasification reactor was developed to enable energy and exergy analysis. The model gave good predictions of the real synthesis gas composition obtained during experimental runs. Simple gas and steam power cycles were also modelled to assess the feasibility of the system producing its own power. Based on typical composition of wood, it was found that the plasma torch power requirement is 20.7 kW. This amount of power can be generated using an open gas turbine cycle with compressor pressure ratio of 5 and turbine inlet temperature of 1007 °C. For a combined cycle case, using steam at 8 bar and 400 °C in a steam cycle, 14.6 kW of excess power becomes available. Alternatively, 68 kg/h of steam can be delivered, in addition to satisfying the torch requirement. •Plasma gasification can treat non-homogeneous waste at high conversion efficiency.•Plasma gasification requires significant power for the plasma torch.•A containerized nitrogen plasma system for small scale waste processing is presented.•The plasma torch power requirement can be satisfied by converting the syngas to power.•Exergy analysis identified non-avoidable and avoidable losses for future improvement.