Thermochemical Conversion of Waste Tires for Energy Recovery

The present work studies the possibility of energy recovery by thermal conversion of combustible residual materials, namely tires and rubber-plastic, plastic waste from outdoor luminaires. The waste has great potential for energy recovery (HHV: 38.6 MJ/kg for tires and 31.6 MJ/kg for plastic). Considering the thermal conversion difficulties of these residues, four co-combustion tests with mixtures of tires/plastics + pelletized Miscanthus, and an additional test with 100% Miscanthus were performed. The temperature was increased to the maximum allowed by the equipment, about 500 °C. The water temperature at the boiler outlet and the water flow were controlled (60 °C and 11 L/min). Different mixtures of residues (0–60% tires/plastics) were tested and compared in terms of power and gaseous emissions. Results indicate that energy production increased with the increase of tire residue in the mixture, reaching a maximum of 157 kW for 40% of miscanthus and 60% of tires. However, the automatic feeding difficulties of the boiler also increased, requiring constant operator intervention. As for plastic and rubber waste, fuel consumption generally decreased with increasing percentages of these materials in the blend, with temperatures ranging from 383 °C to 411 °C. Power also decreased by including such wastes (66–100 kW) due to feeding difficulties and cinder-fusing problems related to ash melting. From the study, it can be concluded that co-combustion is a suitable technology for the recovery of waste tires, but operational problems arise with high levels of residues in the mixture. Increasing pollutant emissions and the need for pre-treatments are other limiting factors. In this sense, the thermal gasification process was tested with the same residues and the same percentages of mixtures used in the co-combustion tests. The gasification tests were performed in a downdraft reactor at temperatures above 800 °C. Each test started with 100% acacia chip for reference (like the previous miscanthus), and then with mixtures of 0–60% of tires and blends of plastics and rubbers. Results obtained for the two residues demonstrated the viability of the technology, however, with mixtures higher than 40% it was very difficult to develop a process under stable conditions. The optimum condition for producing a synthesis gas with a substantial heating value occurred with mixtures of 20% of polymeric wastes, which resulted in gases with a calorific value of 3.64 MJ/Nm3 for tires and 3.09 MJ/Nm3 for plastics and rubbers.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of the washability characteristics of Khushab coal (Pakistani) by heavy media separation process

Energy & Environment ◽

10.1177/0958305x17714151 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (5-6) ◽

pp. 598-607 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hafiz Sana ◽

Sumaira Kanwal ◽

Javaid Akhtar ◽

Naseer Sheikh ◽

Shahid Munir

Keyword(s):

Energy Recovery ◽

Power Plants ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Environmental Issues ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Low Grade ◽

Particle Sizes ◽

Clean Coal ◽

Recovery Schemes ◽

Combustion Technique

The use of high-sulfur Pakistani coals can cause serious problems of slagging and fouling in thermochemical conversion reactors along with environmental issues like acid rain, etc. In this study, a pre-combustion technique, namely heavy media separation, is employed for the cleaning of low-grade Pakistani coal. Six crushed coal samples of different particle sizes were individually subjected to heavy media solutions of ZnCl2 of different specific gravities. It was found that the sample with a particle size of −6.25+4 mm at specific gravity of 1.4 produced the optimum float product as clean coal, showing 83.53% yield of clean coal with 1.24% ash and 1.0% sulfur contents. An overall reduction of 91.68% in ash and 86.11% sulfur contents was obtained. Moreover, up to 19.3% enhancement of gross calorific value was achieved. The resultant clean coal can be used in various energy recovery schemes in Pakistan such as coal-fired power plants and cement industries.

Download Full-text

Energy Recovery from Waste Tires with Plasma Method

2018 2nd International Symposium on Multidisciplinary Studies and Innovative Technologies (ISMSIT) ◽

10.1109/ismsit.2018.8567305 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Beycan Ibrahimoglu ◽

Cagla A. Demircan ◽

Seren E. Kizisar ◽

M. Zeki Yilmazoglu ◽

N. Turkes

Keyword(s):

Energy Recovery ◽

Waste Tires ◽

Plasma Method

Download Full-text

Energy Recovery from Wood Pellets and Waste Mulching Film with Minimization of Harmful Byproducts via Thermochemical Conversion with CO2 Agent

Chemical Engineering Journal ◽

10.1016/j.cej.2021.131459 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 131459

Author(s):

Chanyeong Park ◽

Seonho Lee ◽

Jechan Lee

Keyword(s):

Energy Recovery ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Wood Pellets ◽

Mulching Film

Download Full-text

Thermochemical and Economic Analysis for Energy Recovery by the Gasification of WEEE Plastic Waste from the Disassembly of Large-Scale Outdoor Obsolete Luminaires by LEDs in the Alto Alentejo Region (Portugal)

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10134601 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 4601

Author(s):

Manuel Jesús Hermoso-Orzáez ◽

Roberta Mota-Panizio ◽

Luis Carmo-Calado ◽

Paulo Brito

Keyword(s):

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Energy Recovery ◽

Large Scale ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Fixed Bed ◽

Plastic Waste ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Great Success ◽

Energy Potential

The recovery of urban waste is a social demand and a measure of the energy-environmental sustainability of cities and regions. In particular, waste of electrical origin, waste of electrical and electronic materials (WEEE) can be recovered with great success. The plastic fraction of these wastes allows their gasification mixed with biomass, and the results allow for producing syngas with a higher energy potential. This work allows for obtaining energy from the recovery of obsolete materials through thermochemical conversion processes of the plastic waste from the disassembly of the luminaires by mixing the said plastic waste in different proportions with the biomass of crop residues (olive). The gasification tests of these mixtures were carried out in a downstream fixed-bed drown daft reactor, at temperatures of approximately 800 °C. The results demonstrate the applied technical and economic feasibility of the technology by thermal gasification, for the production of LHV (Low Heating Value) syngas with highest power energy (more than 5 MJ/m3) produced in mixtures of up to 20% of plastic waste. This study was complemented with the economic-financial analysis. This research can be used as a case study for the energy recovery through gasification processes of plastic waste from luminaires (WEEE), mixed with agricultural biomass that is planned to be carried out on a large scale in the Alentejo (Portugal), as a solution applied in circular economy strategies.

Download Full-text

Experimental Investigation on Energy Recovery System for Continuous Biochar Production System

International Journal of Environment and Climate Change ◽

10.9734/ijecc/2020/v10i1230306 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 300-310

Author(s):

Laleet Jawale ◽

N. L. Panwar ◽

B. L. Salvi ◽

Sudhir Jain ◽

Deepak Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Recovery ◽

Production System ◽

Energy Recovery ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Waste Biomass ◽

Energy Recovery System ◽

Syngas Production ◽

Bio Oil ◽

Recovery System

Fossilfuel requirement is the necessity for fulfilling the global energy needs, which is increasing day by day due to this it will drain in future. Bio-energy became as one of the vital alternatives to replace fossil fuel. Thermochemical conversion of biomass for obtaining the bioenergy is getting more popular in the recent time. In the present study, slow pyrolysis is used for bio-energy production from the waste biomass available in the form of crop residues of Groundnut Shell (GS), Chana Straw (CS) and Wheat Straw (WS) using the developed continuous biochar production system (Pratap Kiln) to produce biochar. An energy recovery system consisting of cooling chamber was developed to recover the bio-oil from the waste flue gas (syngas). The pyrolysis of selected biomass was carried out at 450°C and residence time of about 4 min. The yield of biochar and bio-oil and syngas properties were determined. The maximum biochar yield was found in CS feedstock as 35% followed by WS and GS, i.e. 33% and 29%, respectively. The bio-oil recovery in GS, CS and WS was 31%, 26% and 30% respectively, whereas the syngas production was 40%, 39% and 37% respectively.

Download Full-text

Thermochemical Conversion of Olive Oil Industry Waste: Circular Economy through Energy Recovery

Recycling ◽

10.3390/recycling5020012 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leonel J. R. Nunes ◽

Liliana M. E. F. Loureiro ◽

Letícia C. R. Sá ◽

Hugo F.C. Silva

Keyword(s):

Olive Oil ◽

Energy Recovery ◽

Energy Content ◽

Oil Industry ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Olive Pomace ◽

Industry Waste ◽

Direct Combustion ◽

Laboratory Characterization ◽

Conversion Technologies

The demand for new sources of energy is one of the main quests for humans. At the same time, there is a growing need to eliminate or recover a set of industrial or agroforestry waste sources. In this context, several options may be of interest, especially given the amounts produced and environmental impacts caused. Olive pomace can be considered one of these options. Portugal, as one of the most prominent producers of olive oil, therefore, also faces the problem of dealing with the waste of the olive oil industry. Olive pomace energy recovery is a subject referenced in many different studies and reports since long ago. However, traditional forms of recovery, such as direct combustion, did not prove to be the best solution, mainly due to its fuel properties and other characteristics, which cause difficulties in its storage and transportation as well. Torrefaction and pyrolysis can contribute to a volume reduction, optimizing storage and transportation. In this preliminary study, were carried out torrefaction and pyrolysis tests on olive pomace samples, processed at 300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C, followed by laboratory characterization of the materials. It was verified an improvement in the energy content of the materials, demonstrating that there is potential for the use of these thermochemical conversion technologies for the energy recovery of olive pomace.

Download Full-text

Energy Recovery of Shrub Species as a Path to Reduce the Risk of Occurrence of Rural Fires: A Case Study in Serra da Estrela Natural Park (Portugal)

Fire ◽

10.3390/fire4030033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 33

Author(s):

Leonel J. R. Nunes ◽

Mauro A. M. Raposo ◽

Catarina I. R. Meireles ◽

Carlos J. Pinto Gomes ◽

Nuno M. C. Almeida Ribeiro

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Energy Recovery ◽

Thermochemical Conversion ◽

Value Chains ◽

Small Scale ◽

Small Tree ◽

Burnt Area ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Creation ◽

Serra Da Estrela

The accumulation of biomass fuels resulting from the growth of heliophilous shrubs and small tree species at the edge of forests and on scrub and pasture lands contributes to the increased risk of rural fires in Mediterranean climate regions. This situation has been managed with a set of legislative measures launched with the objective of promoting cleaning and the control of these species. Areas of scrub and pasture already constitute the largest part of the annually burnt area in Portugal, resulting in high-intensity fires. In the present study, shrubs and small tree species were characterized in the laboratory. Thermogravimetric, chemical and calorimetric analyses for the evaluation of the potential for the energy recovery of the selected species were carried out. It was observed that energetic valorization (i.e., to enhance the value by planned actions) of these species is difficult because they present high levels of ash and metals, becoming prone to the occurrence of fouling and slagging phenomena. Thus, the creation of value chains that justify the incorporation of these materials becomes very difficult, except if used in non-certified, small-scale and locally based processes. The possibility of recovery through thermochemical conversion processes, such as torrefaction, pyrolysis or gasification, must be studied so that more efficient and feasible recovery alternatives can be found, allowing for the creation of value chains for these residual materials to promote their sustainable management and, thus, mitigate the risk of rural fires occurring.

Download Full-text

Energy Recovery from Waste Tires Via Thermochemical Pathways

Green Energy and Technology - Advances in Energy and Combustion ◽

10.1007/978-981-16-2648-7_21 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 477-521

Author(s):

Kiran R. G. Burra ◽

Zhiwei Wang ◽

Matteo Policella ◽

Ashwani K. Gupta

Keyword(s):

Energy Recovery ◽

Waste Tires

Download Full-text