Yield prediction of MSW gasification including minor species through ASPEN plus simulation

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2020-05, Vol.198, p.117296, Article 117296
• Main Authors: Tungalag, Azjargal, Lee, BongJu, Yadav, Manoj, Akande, Olugbenga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cold gas; Computer simulation; Conversion ratio; Efficiency; Energy; Gases; Gasification; Hydrocarbons; Mass balance; Microwave plasma torch reformation; Microwave plasmas; Minor species; MSW; Municipal solid waste; Municipal waste management; Parameter sensitivity; Pyrolysis; Reforming; Sensitivity analysis; Simulation; Solid waste management; Species; Tar
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.117296

This paper presents a novel ASPEN Plus equilibrium model for MSW pyrolysis and plasma gasification associated with experimental validation. The primary goal of the study is to break down municipal solid waste (MSW) into multiple gaseous species, including synthetic gases, hydrocarbons and tar compounds in the pyrolysis stage through the theoretical yield concept of chemical equations. It is known that a significant amount of hydrocarbons and tar species are formed during the pyrolysis process. For this reason, ASPEN Plus Fortran subroutine was developed for 11 species found through experiment, based on the mass balance of volatile fraction of the parent MSW via individual reactions for each compound. The presented novel ASPEN Plus simulation model was validated by experimental results obtained from MSW plasma reforming. The goal of the experiment was to effectively crack tar containing pyro-gas using a microwave plasma torch at atmospheric pressure. The MSW feedstock was collected from Yang-Ku city in South Korea and pretreated. The results show above 98% of carbon conversion ratio and cold gas efficiency with 98.6% of destruction rate efficiency of tar and hydrocarbon like compounds. Sensitivity analysis for main operating parameters and overall efficiency was performed using developed ASPEN Plus simulation model. •Hydrocarbon and tar species formed during pyrolysis was calculated using ASPEN Plus.•The plasma reforming experiment showed 98.61% DRE in cracking of tar containing gas.•MSW gasification behaviour was investigated through sensitivity analysis.•Discussed the accuracy of the developed model and performance of the overall system.