Small-Scale thermoelectric incinerator prototype for sustainable waste management and power generation

Abstract

Indonesia faces a significant challenge in managing its waste effectively. Conventional incineration, while reducing waste volume, raises environmental concerns due to emissions. This research explores a novel approach by developing a thermoelectric incinerator prototype with a 10 kg/hour capacity. The incinerator aims to convert heat generated during waste incineration into electrical energy, offering an environmentally friendly alternative for waste management. The research involved designing and modeling the incinerator using Ansys Fluent 2021 R1 software. Incineration tests were conducted experimentally using 5 kg organic and 5 kg inorganic waste for 30 minutes. Critical parameters such as temperature distribution, moisture content, calorific value, combustion temperature, generated voltage, and ash production were analyzed. The analysis revealed good temperature distribution through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, enabling the optimization of air and heat flow within the incinerator. Organic waste with a water content of 13.93% and a calorific value of 5327.76 cal/gram reached a combustion temperature of 181°C. In comparison, inorganic waste (water content: 2.39%, calorific value: 10846.58 cal/gram) achieved a temperature of 210℃. The maximum voltage generated was 2.1 V for organic waste and 2.2 V for inorganic waste. Notably, the incineration process was reduced by 72% for organic waste and 68% for inorganic waste, highlighting its effectiveness in volume reduction. This thermoelectric incinerator prototype offers several advantages: a high level of waste reduction, a modular design facilitating easy assembly and disassembly, and the ability to handle various types of waste as fuel.

Keywords

• waste
• thermoelectric incinerator
• environmentally friendly waste processing
• heat conversion into electrical energy
• temperature distribution