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Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and...
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Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 24957

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Eliseu Monteiro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
VALORIZA-Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorisation, Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portalegre, Portugal
Interests: gasification; combustion; biomass; CFD; waste-to-energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Waste-to-energy systems have become a paramount topic for both industry and researchers, as a result of interest in energy production from waste, and improved chemical and thermal efficiencies with more cost effective designs. There are various methods to process waste, which can be broadly classified as thermal conversion and biochemical conversion. Thermal conversion techniques lead the market among waste-to-energy technologies. The integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) is a recent waste-to-energy technology that enables the chemical recycling of solid waste for power production with high thermal and electrical efficiencies, but with a higher initial investment in comparison to single cycle gasification systems. The IGCC also has higher feedstock flexibility, such as biomass, municipal solid waste, or industrial residues, showing a better environmental performance and higher energy conversion in comparison with single-cycle gasification systems.

This Special Issue on “Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies” aims to publish novel advances on waste-to-energy technologies with special emphasis on gasification systems from the experimental and computational perspectives. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Progress in waste gasification processes;
  • Studies of advanced gasification reactors, computational models, and technologies for power generation;
  • Cost and performance analysis of waste-to-energy technologies; and
  • Life cycle analysis of waste-to-energy technologies.

Prof. Dr. Eliseu Monteiro
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • integrated gasification combined cycle
  • gasification process
  • gasification modeling
  • gasification economics
  • waste-to-energy technologies
  • life cycle analysis

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1761 KiB  
Article
Conceptual Process Design, Energy and Economic Analysis of Solid Waste to Hydrocarbon Fuels via Thermochemical Processes
by Hossam A. Gabbar and Mohamed Aboughaly
Processes 2021, 9(12), 2149; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9122149 - 28 Nov 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3761
Abstract
Thermochemical processes use heat and series of endothermic chemical reactions that achieve thermal cracking and convert a wide range of solid waste deposits via four thermochemical processes to hydrocarbon gaseous and liquid products such as syngas, gasoline, and diesel. The four thermochemical reactions [...] Read more.
Thermochemical processes use heat and series of endothermic chemical reactions that achieve thermal cracking and convert a wide range of solid waste deposits via four thermochemical processes to hydrocarbon gaseous and liquid products such as syngas, gasoline, and diesel. The four thermochemical reactions investigated in this research article are: incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC). The mentioned thermochemical processes are evaluated for energy recovery pathways and environmental footprint based on conceptual design and Aspen HYSYS energy simulation. This paper also provides conceptual process design for four thermochemical processes as well as process evaluation and techno-economic analysis (TEA) including energy consumption, process optimization, product yield calculations, electricity generation and expected net revenue per tonne of feedstock. The techno-economic analysis provides results for large scale thermochemical process technologies at an industrial level and key performance indicators (KPIs) including greenhouse gaseous emissions, capital and operational costs per tonne, electrical generation per tonne for the four mentioned thermochemical processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies)
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13 pages, 4067 KiB  
Article
Design and Evaluation of the Lab-Scale Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger (STHE) for Poultry Litter to Energy Production
by Xuejun Qian, Yulai Yang and Seong W. Lee
Processes 2020, 8(5), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8050500 - 25 Apr 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4510
Abstract
Poultry litter is one type of biomass and waste generated from the farming process. This study performed a performance and process analysis of poultry litter to energy using the lab-scale shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) system along with a Stirling engine and [...] Read more.
Poultry litter is one type of biomass and waste generated from the farming process. This study performed a performance and process analysis of poultry litter to energy using the lab-scale shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) system along with a Stirling engine and a swirling fluidized bed combustor (SFBC). The effects of tube shape, flow direction, and water flow rates on water and trailer temperature changes were investigated during the poultry litter co-combustion process. Energy flow analysis and emissions were also studied. Results showed that the water outlet temperature of 62.8 ° C in the twisted tube was higher than the straight tube case (58.3 ° C ) after 130 min of the co-combustion process. It was found that the counter-current direction had higher water temperature changes, higher logarithmic mean temperature difference (LMTD), and higher trailer temperature changes than the co-current direction. A water flow rate of 4.54 L/min showed adequate heat absorption in the lab-scale STHE system and heat rejection in the trailer. Results indicated that the lab-scale STHE system has a conversion efficiency of 42.3% and produces hot water (at about 63.9 ° C ) along with lower emissions. This research study confirmed that poultry litter can be used to generate energy (e.g., hot water and electricity) by using a lab-scale biomass conversion system for space heating applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies)
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Graphical abstract

16 pages, 1855 KiB  
Article
Renewable Pulverized Biomass Fuel for Internal Combustion Engines
by Ashraf Elfasakhany, Mishal Alsehli, Bahaa Saleh, Ayman A. Aly and Mohamed Bassuoni
Processes 2020, 8(4), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8040465 - 15 Apr 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2399
Abstract
Biomass is currently one of the world’s major renewable energy sources. Biomass in a powder form has been recently proposed as the most encouraging of biomass contours, especially because it burns like a gas. In the current study, biomass powder was examined, for [...] Read more.
Biomass is currently one of the world’s major renewable energy sources. Biomass in a powder form has been recently proposed as the most encouraging of biomass contours, especially because it burns like a gas. In the current study, biomass powder was examined, for the first time, as a direct solid fuel in internal combustion engines. The aim of the current study was to investigate modeling tools for simulation of biomass powder in combustion engines (CE). The biomass powder applied was in a micro-scale size with a typical irregular shape; the powder length was in the range of 75−5800 μm, and the diameter was in the range 30−1380 μm. Different mechanisms for biomass powder drying and devolatilization/gasification were proposed, including different schemes’ and mechanisms’ rate constants. A comparison between the proposed models and experiments was carried out and results showed good matching. Nevertheless, it is important that a biomass powder simulation addresses overlapping/complicated sub-process. During biomass powder combustion, tar was shown to be formed at a rate of 57 wt.%, and, accordingly, the formation and thermal decomposition of tar were modelled in the study, with the results demonstrating that the tar was formed and then disintegrated at temperatures between 700 and 1050 K. Through biomass powder combustion, moisture, tar, and gases were released, mostly from one lateral of particles, which caused ejection of the solid particles. These new phenomena were investigated experimentally and modeled as well. Results also showed that all the proposed models, along with their rate constants, activation energies, and other models’ parameters, were capable of reproducing the mass yields of gases, tar, and char at a wide range of working temperatures. The results showed that the gasification/devolatilization model 3 is somewhat simple and economical in the simulation/computation scheme, however, models 1 and 2 are rather computationally heavy and complicated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies)
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13 pages, 3146 KiB  
Article
RF-ICP Thermal Plasma for Thermoplastic Waste Pyrolysis Process with High Conversion Yield and Tar Elimination
by Mohamed Aboughaly, Hossam A. Gabbar, Vahid Damideh and Isaac Hassen
Processes 2020, 8(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8030281 - 28 Feb 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6775
Abstract
This paper demonstrates an RF thermal plasma pyrolysis reaction apparatus that achieves 89 wt.% reaction conversion yield with no tar content. The demonstrated experimental apparatus consists of a 1100 W RFVII Inc. (104 Church St, Newfield, NJ 08344, United States) @ 13.56 MHz [...] Read more.
This paper demonstrates an RF thermal plasma pyrolysis reaction apparatus that achieves 89 wt.% reaction conversion yield with no tar content. The demonstrated experimental apparatus consists of a 1100 W RFVII Inc. (104 Church St, Newfield, NJ 08344, United States) @ 13.56 MHz RF thermal plasma generator, a Navio matching network, intelligent feedback controller, and an 8-turn copper RF-ICP torch embedded in a 12 L thermochemical reactor. The intelligent feedback controller optimizes the thermal performance based on feedback signals from three online gas analyzers: CO, CO2 and NOx. The feedback controller output signal controls the RF thermal plasma torch current that provides real-time temperature control. The proposed reaction system achieves precise temperature profiles for both pyrolysis and gasification as well as increases end-product yield and eliminates undesired products such as tar and char. The identified hydrocarbon liquid mixture is 90 wt.% gasoline and 10 wt.%. diesel. The 8-turn RF-ICP thermal plasma torch has an average heating rate of +35 °C/min and a maximum operating temperature of 2000 °C and is able to sustain stable flame for more than 30 min. The reaction operating parameters are (550–990 °C τ = 30 min for pyrolysis and (1300 °C τ = 1 sec) for the gasification process. The identified hydrocarbon liquid products are 90 wt.% of a n-butyl-benzene (C6H5C4H9) and oluene (C7H8) mixture with less than 10 wt.% decane diesel fuel (C10 H22). Comsol simulation is used to assess the RF-ICP thermal plasma torch’s thermal performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies)
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14 pages, 1932 KiB  
Article
Valorization of Industrial Vegetable Waste Using Dilute HCl Pretreatment
by Donald Blue, Dhan Lord Fortela, William Holmes, David LaCour, Shayla LeBoeuf, Cody Stelly, Ramalingam Subramaniam, Rafael Hernandez, Mark E. Zappi and Emmanuel D. Revellame
Processes 2019, 7(11), 853; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7110853 - 14 Nov 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3036
Abstract
A solid vegetable waste stream was subjected to dilute acid (HCl) pretreatment with the goal of converting the waste into a form that is amenable to biochemical processes which could include microbial lipids, biohydrogen, and volatile organic acids production. Specifically, this study was [...] Read more.
A solid vegetable waste stream was subjected to dilute acid (HCl) pretreatment with the goal of converting the waste into a form that is amenable to biochemical processes which could include microbial lipids, biohydrogen, and volatile organic acids production. Specifically, this study was conducted to identify the most suitable pretreatment condition that maximizes the yield or concentration of sugars while minimizing the production of compounds which are inhibitory to microbes (i.e., furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, and organic acids). Temperatures from 50–150 °C and HCl loading from 0–7 wt % were studied to using an orthogonal central composite response surface design with eight center points. The effects of the variables under study on the resulting concentrations of sugars, organic acids, and furans were determined using the quadratic response surface model. Results indicated that the biomass used in this study contains about 5.7 wt % cellulose and 83.8 wt % hemicellulose/pectin. Within the experimental design, the most suitable pretreatment condition was identified to be at 50 °C and 3.5 wt % HCl. A kinetic study at this condition indicated process completion at 30 mins. that produced a hydrolyzate that contains 31.30 ± 0.44 g/L sugars and 7.40 ± 0.62 g/L organic acids. At this condition, a yield of ~0.47 g sugar/g of dry solid vegetable waste was obtained. The absence of furans suggests the suitability of the resulting hydrolyzate as feedstock for biochemical processes. The results suggested that the sugar concentration of the pretreated biomass is highly affected by the presence of other compounds such as amines, amino acids, and proteins. The effect however, is minimal at low levels of HCl where the highest total sugar production was observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies)
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29 pages, 12323 KiB  
Article
Valorization of Sewage Sludge via Gasification and Transportation of Compressed Syngas
by Marek Mysior, Maciej Tomaszewski, Paweł Stępień, Jacek A. Koziel and Andrzej Białowiec
Processes 2019, 7(9), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr7090556 - 22 Aug 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3826
Abstract
A significant challenge in the utilization of alternative gaseous fuels is to use their energy potential at the desired location, considering economic feasibility and sustainability. A potential solution is a compression, transportation in pressure tanks, and generation of electricity and heat directly at [...] Read more.
A significant challenge in the utilization of alternative gaseous fuels is to use their energy potential at the desired location, considering economic feasibility and sustainability. A potential solution is a compression, transportation in pressure tanks, and generation of electricity and heat directly at the recipient. In this research, the potential for generating syngas from abundant waste substrates was analyzed. The sewage sludge (SS) was used as an example of a bulky and abundant resource that could be valorized via gasification, compression, and transport to end-users in containers. A model was developed, and theoretical analyses were completed to examine the influence of the calorific value of the syngas produced from the SS gasification (under different temperatures and gasifying agents) on the efficiency of energy transportation of compressed syngas. First, the gasification simulation was carried out, assuming equilibrium in a downdraft gasifier (reactor) from 973–1473 K and five gasifying agents (O2, H2, CO2, water vapor, and air). Molar ratios of the gasifying agents to the (SS) C ranged from 0.1–1.0. The model predicted syngas composition, lower calorific values (LHV) for a given molar ratio of the gasification agent, and compressibility factor. It was shown that the highest LHV was obtained at 0.1 molar ratio for all gasifier agents. The highest LHV (~20 MJ∙(Nm3)−1) was obtained by gasification with H2 and the lowest (~13 MJ∙(Nm3)−1) in the case of air. Next, the available syngas volume in a compressed gas transportation unit and the stored energy was estimated. The largest syngas volume can be transported when O2 is used as a gasifying agent, but the highest amount of transported energy was estimated for gasification with H2. Finally, the techno-economic analyses showed that syngas from SS could be competitive when the energy of compressed syngas is compared with the demand of an average residential dwelling. The developed syngas energy transport system (SETS) concept proposes a new method to distribute compressed syngas in pressure tanks to end-users using all modes of transport carrying intermodal ISO containers. Future work should include the determination of energy demand for syngas compression, including pressure losses, heat losses, and analysis of the influence of syngas on storage and compression devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conceptual Design and Energy Analysis in Cycle Gasification Systems and Waste-to-Energy Technologies)
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