Three municipal solid waste gasification technologies analysis for electrical energy generation in Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina Medina Jimenez ◽  
Reynaldo Palacios- Bereche ◽  
Silvia Nebra

In Brazil, in 2016, 196,050 tonnes day-1 of municipal solid waste (MSW) were collected, which means a waste generation of 1.035 kg per capita per day. Only 59.1% of the waste has adequate destination in sanitary landfills, whereas the remaining 40.9% has inadequate destination in controlled landfills and open dumps (ABRELPE, 2018). Among all the states in the country, the State of São Paulo has the biggest per capita generation: 2.290 kg. Today, the only waste destination practiced in the country is deposition in landfills, but other possibilities can be considered. Among thermal treatment routes, the gasification of MSW is an interesting alternative to be studied, because of its versatility and relatively low emissions. The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of electricity generation through MSW gasification in Santo André city, Brazil, comparing three waste gasification technologies: TPS Termiska Processer AB, Carbogas and Energos. These alternatives have operated commercially for a few years, and data are available. Specific characteristics of each technology were taken into account, such as the reactor type and fuel properties. For the electricity production scheme, two energy conversion systems were assumed: an internal combustion engine and a steam power cycle. From the process parameters adopted, the results showed that Carbogas technology, coupled to internal combustion engines, presents the highest efficiency of electricity generation (30%) and also the lowest cost of electrical energy produced (US$65.22 MWh-1) when Santo André’s gate fee is applied.

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 996
Author(s):  
Venera Giurcan ◽  
Codina Movileanu ◽  
Adina Magdalena Musuc ◽  
Maria Mitu

Currently, the use of fossil fuels is very high and existing nature reserves are rapidly depleted. Therefore, researchers are turning their attention to find renewable fuels that have a low impact on the environment, to replace these fossil fuels. Biogas is a low-cost alternative, sustainable, renewable fuel existing worldwide. It can be produced by decomposition of vegetation or waste products of human and animal biological activity. This process is performed by microorganisms (such as methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria) by anaerobic digestion. Biogas can serve as a basis for heat and electricity production used for domestic heating and cooking. It can be also used to feed internal combustion engines, gas turbines, fuel cells, or cogeneration systems. In this paper, a comprehensive literature study regarding the laminar burning velocity of biogas-containing mixtures is presented. This study aims to characterize the use of biogas as IC (internal combustion) engine fuel, and to develop efficient safety recommendations and to predict and reduce the risk of fires and accidental explosions caused by biogas.


2019 ◽  
pp. 92-106
Author(s):  
Valter Silva ◽  
João Cardoso ◽  
Paulo Brito ◽  
Luís Tarelho ◽  
José Luz

Municipal solid waste provides an opportunity for electricity production. This strategy provides the rural communities a potential waste-to-energy opportunity to manage its costly residues problem, turning them into a valuable recycled asset. To address this issue, a techno-economic study of an integrated system comprising gasification of Acacia residues and Portuguese Municipal Solid Waste (PMSW) with an Internal Combustion Engine-Generator (ICEG) for electricity generation at small-scale (100 kW) was developed. Current studies only devote attention to biomass residues and do not explore MSW potential to eschew biomass supply shortage. Conventional systems are generally part of biomass supply chains, limiting flexibility and all year operation for their operators. Experimental data was gathered at a downdraft gasifier to provide a clear assessment of particle and tar concentration in the syngas and levers conditioning a satisfactory ICE operation. Once the potential of using Acacia residues and PMSW has been proven during gasification runs testing, and validation, a set of new conditions was also explored through a high-fidelity CFD model. We find that residues blends have the highest potential to generate high-quality syngas and smallest exposure to supply disruption. Despite both substrates showing potential at specific conditions, they also present individual drawbacks which will be best mitigated by executing a hybrid supply comprising the mix of substrates. An economic model coupling the financial indicators of net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and the payback period (PBP) considering a project lifetime of 25 years was developed. Cost factors include expenses with electricity generation, initial investment, amortizations and operation and maintenance (containing fuels costs). Revenues were estimated from electricity generated and sales to the national grid. A sensitivity analysis based on the Monte Carlo method was used to measure the economic model performance and to determine the risk in investing in such venture. The risk appraisal yielded favorable investment projections, with an NPV reaching positive values, an IRR superior to the discount rate and PBP lower than the project life span. This work allowed to confirm the positive effect of the generation of energy from downdraft gasification plants on a small-scale. Regardless of the project’s feasibility, the economic performance depended to a large extent on the electricity prices which present considerable variability and are subject to political decisions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-72
Author(s):  
Rareş-Lucian Chiriac ◽  
Anghel Chiru ◽  
Ovidiu Condrea

AbstractThe internal combustion engines performance can be increase. The residual gases can be recovered through turbo charging systems because is an important reserve of exhaust gas energy, which can be capitalized. The turbo charging solution is one of the most popular technical solutions for increasing the energy performance of internal combustion engines. The solutions proposed for the theoretical and experimental research is the hybrid turbocharger. The hybrid turbocharger has a double function: to compress the fresh air and to generate electric energy for the vehicle. The compressed fresh air is compress by the rotor wheel of the compressor. The generator which produces the electrical energy is linearly coupled to the rotor on the compressor shaft outside zone. The electrical energy can be used for consumption of the military vehicles or can be stored in to the battery of the vehicle. The military vehicle must have a internal combustion engine or a hybrid engine equipped with a hybrid turbocharger. The article aim is to present the results of the hybrid turbocharger. The simulation was realised with the AMESim Software developed by Siemens. To simulate the exhaust gas energy was used a CIMAT test bed which can provides high pressure air.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2098559
Author(s):  
RA Ibikunle ◽  
IF Titiladunayo ◽  
SO Dahunsi ◽  
EA Akeju ◽  
CO Osueke

This research investigates the quantity of municipal solid waste produced during the dry season, and its characterization at Eyenkorin dumpsite of Ilorin metropolis, along the Lagos-Ilorin express way. The physicochemical and thermal compositions of the combustible fractions of municipal solid waste were analysed, to ascertain the available calorific value. In this research, the quantity (tonnes) of waste generated, the rate of generation (kg per capita per day), its sustainability and the likely energy and power potentials in the dry season, were essentially predicted. The population responsible for municipal solid waste generation during this study was 1,120,834 people. During the characterization study from November 2018 to February 2019, it was established that 203,831 tonnes of municipal solid waste was produced during the four months of the dry season, at the rate of 1.12 kg per capita per day. It was found that 280 tonnes/day of municipal solid waste with low heating value of 19 MJ kg-1, would generate 1478 MWh of heat energy and 18 MW of electrical energy potentials discretely, and grid of 13 kW.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (46) ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
Alexander Saakian ◽  
◽  

At present, much attention is paid to reducing the emission of harmful impurities into the atmosphere in exhaust gases. This is achieved by using alternative sources of thermal energy necessary for the operation of the internal combustion engine operating by using electrical energy and transferring existing internal combustion engines operating on liquid fuel (diesel or carburetor) to gas. At the same time, the issue of transferring energy resources used in agricultural production to the above-mentioned sources of thermal energy is very acute. This is since the transfer to alternative fuels requires a certain amount of money. This issue is especially acute in small farms that do not have sufficient funds to buy a new one or transfer existing energy resources to more environmentally friendly fuels. The presented article presents the results of studies on increasing the efficiency of using available energy resources and improving the quality of fuel combustion using a combined composition of the combustible mixture. Keywords: TRACTOR, FUEL, FUEL MIXTURE, TORQUE, EFFICIENT ENGINE POWER


Author(s):  
Fábio C. Barbosa

Abstract The transport industry, as any other sector, has been permanently challenged by both the continuously stringent environmental standards and the energy efficiency requirements, which has driven a set of initiatives focused on both the fuel burn reduction and the environmental performance improvement. The rail sector currently relies on the efficient and local zero emission electrical traction for the medium to heavy density corridors. However, for the light to medium density corridors (both passenger and freight), given the high upfront costs associated with the electrical infrastructure, they are currently required to rely on fossil fuel based traction (often, the diesel-electric) architecture, with an inherent efficiency and environmental burden. The advent of hybridization, i.e. the use of more than one power source in a powertrain (mainly — but not restricted to — an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric motors (EM), associated with an electrical energy storage device - ESD) — currently a feasible approach for the automotive sector — has opened the way for the rail industry, as an opportunity to improve the energetic efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint for the aforementioned low to medium density rail corridors, without the cost burden of an electrical infrastructure. The hybrid powertrain efficiency drivers are basically: i) kinetic energy recovery, through the use of the regenerative braking (i.e. using electric motors as generators, to recover part of the train’s kinetic energy); ii) improved engine performance, avoiding the low efficiency (low load) engine range and iii) engine downsizing (engine power requirement reduction, as it is assisted by the electric traction on power bursts). From an environmental perspective, the reduced fuel consumption also means lower emissions. Moreover, hybrid configurations might also reduce noise and gaseous engine emissions within/nearby stations or urban rail yards, by switching off internal combustion engines, running the train and powering auxiliary systems with the previously stored electrical energy on the ESD. Finally, for electrified rail lines, the hybrid rail configuration might also provide the so called last mile capability, used to circumvent non electrified rail stretches, like bridges or tunnels, as well as small extension non electrified rail segments. This work presents a review of hybrid rail technology, covering hybrid configuration and energy storage devices, from both a technical, operational and environmental perspective, supported on current available technical literature, as well as on simulation and field test reports, followed by a near to mid term outlook of hybrid rail technology for both freight and passenger segments.


2015 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 321-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fábio Codignole Luz ◽  
Mateus Henrique Rocha ◽  
Electo Eduardo Silva Lora ◽  
Osvaldo José Venturini ◽  
Rubenildo Vieira Andrade ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivy Nuo Chen

The US consumes large quantities of electricity. As a result, there is a growing concern that energy may not be readily available in the future. This worry is compounded by the depletion of traditional sources such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Municipal solid waste in landfills is a resource the country may utilize as a renewable source of energy, as the gas produced from landfills can be used to power generators for electricity production, rather than wasted and flared to comply with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act standards. Systems that utilize reciprocating internal combustion engines, microturbines, and molten carbonate fuel cells can feasibly and cleanly reduce landfill gas emissions while producing electricity. However, these methods require input work and initial investments. The main economic goal is to maximize energy production. After economic analysis, the molten carbonate fuel cell system was determined to be the most efficient due to its versatility and low emissions. The successful implementation of the system may result in the propagation of the system, the increase in value of landfill gas, and the waste that produces landfill gas. This may also lead to restructuring of municipal waste system to enhance the usage of landfill gas. Keywords: municipal solid waste, MSW, landfill gas, reciprocating internal combustion engines, microturbines, molten carbonate fuel cells, MCFCs, siloxanes, emissions, greenhouse gases.


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