Investigation of Energy Recovery from Municipal Solid Waste: A Case Study of Al-Karak City / Jordan

Municipal solid waste (MSW) from Al-Karak city is monitored and characterized. The MSW is sorted into 14 different waste categories. In addition, the MSW is separated into several size fractions, followed by sorting and characterization. The average daily production rate of waste is 61.5 ton/day. The MSW generated per capita is estimated to be 0.55 kg/capita/day. The main input MSW comprised a modest proportion of organic content 38.8 %. Other combustible fractions are present in significant proportions, allowing the waste to be utilized for energy recovery. Refuse-derived fuels (RDFs) may be made from waste fractions > 100 mm and 50 – 100 mm.

Thermal analysis of different Refuse Derived Fuels (RDFs) samples

As a result of the activities carried out by people to maintain their daily lives in different places such as homes, hospitals, hotels or workplaces, waste consisting of furniture, paint, batteries, food waste, sachets, bottles, fabrics, and fibers with the heterogeneous structure is called Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Secondary fuels with higher heating value, which are generated by recycling of non-recyclable and reusable wastes in municipal solid wastes, are called as Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). In this study, Refuse Derived Fuel1 (RDF1 : taken in December, winter season) and Refuse Derived Fuel2 (RDF2 : taken in June, summer season) samples obtained from different dates were used. The ultimate, proximate, calorific value, X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were performed for these samples. Combustion characterization from Refuse Derived Fuel samples was investigated in the applied analyzes. The results of the content analysis made were examined separately and compared with the Thermogravimetric analysis and Differential Thermal Analysis combustion graph curves. It was revealed that the Refuse Derived Fuel1 sample had a better combustion compared to the Refuse Derived Fuel2 sample, as the ash amount and content obtained as a result of the combustion also supported other data. In addition, the results of the analysis show how different the Refuse Derived Fuel samples taken from the same region in two different months are different from each other.

Analisis Keandalan Teknologi Pengolah Sampah TPA Menjadi Bahan Bakar Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF) dengan Pendekatan Six Sigma DMAIC

Teknologi pengolah sampah menjadi Refuse Derived Fuels (RDF) merupakan teknologi pendukung eksplorasi potensial material baru yang diciptakan untuk memilah, memproses, dan mencacah tumpukkan sampah TPA sampai menjadi alternatif bahan bakar. Namun hanya mampu memproduksi 3 ton/hari, sehingga dibutuhkan peningkatan performa mesin dan laju produksi dengan metode Six Sigma DMAIC. Mengukur performa mesin melalui pengecekan SOP, getaran, suara, kelurusan komponen dengan menampilkan diagram pareto yang menunjukkan pemilahan sampah (52%), ballistic separator (15%) kinerja mesin shredder (45%) pengering RDF (32%) dan menghitung nilai Overall Equipment Effectivenes (OEE) rata-rata efektifitas mesin 15,69%. Analisis menentukan penyebab utama kerusakan pada mesin pengolah sampah dengan diagram fishbone yaitu pemilahan dan kondisi shredder. Improve menentukan perbaikan dan meningkatan laju produksi RDF. Control memonitor proses manufaktur material sampah masuk ke mesin pengolah sampai pada finishing produk RDF berdiameter 25 mm. Peningkatkan performa pada laju proses produksi RDF dapat ditingkatkan nilai OEE pasca dilakukan perbaikan sebesar 45,85% sehingga ada kenaikan sebesar 30,16% dari nilai sebelumnya.

Biochar from Waste Derived Fuels as Low-Cost Adsorbent for Waste Hydrocarbons

The aim of this study is to prove technical feasibility of combined refuse derived fuel (RDF) torrefaction and oily wastewater treatment approach by using RDF derived biochar as a sorption media. Biochars prepared from refuse derived fuels in torrefaction, carbonization and pyrolysis modes were analysed as fuels and as hydrocarbon sorbents. Changes of elemental composition and properties of material during thermal treatment and subsequent washing process have been analysed. Experimental evaluation of sorption behaviour of toluene and diesel fuel on obtained biochar performed. Our results show that torrefaction/carbonization of RDF coupled with the subsequent washing of biochar is a method allowing to overcome absolute majority of the quality problems of waste derived fuels, including the most important one: high chlorine content. In spite the fact that optimal temperatures for upgrading waste derived fuels and to produce high quality sorbent does not coincide, technically it is possible to combine the washing of torrefied/carbonized waste derived fuels with the treatment of wastewaters that are polluted with oils or hydrocarbons.

Biodrying of the Light Fraction from Anaerobic Digestion Pretreatment in Order to Increase the Total Recovery Rate

Two pilot-scale tests were carried out to assess if biodrying could be an effective process for the treatment of light fraction produced by an hydromechanical pre-treatment in an anaerobic digestion plant. The trials were performed using two pilot-scale stainless steel cylindrical reactors of 750 L capacity. Two tests were performed: in Test 1, only the light fraction was used; in Test 2, the light fraction was mixed with a bulking agent composed of garden and pruning waste. In Test 2, the highest temperature (71 °C) in a short time (8 days) was reached. An average water content reduction of 78% in Test 1 and 61% in Test 2 was measured, leading to similar reductions of weight (47–48%) and volume (27–29%). A high biological stability was measured on the final light fraction samples collected from both the tests. Furthermore, the lower heating value obtained after the biodrying treatment complies with the quality specification of the European standard on refuse-derived fuels.