Efficiency of biomass and solid waste energy processing based on the cogeneration plant with plasma heat source

Abstract

The urgency of the use of low-grade organic fuels and wastes, in particular municipal solid (MSW), is due to recent developments in energy saving and energy efficiency. This directly relates to the direction of renewable energy, responsible for involving all wastes, such as MSW, in fuel energy balance to provide heat and electricity to decentralized power supply areas. This paper presents the process of high-temperature thermal decomposition of MSW in the steam-air medium of plasma under excessive pressure to generate electrical energy. The high enthalpy and great reactivity of the plasma gasifying agent makes it possible to carry out the process of thermal decomposition in the autothermal mode. The high-temperature mode and the use of plasma blast provides a high degree of conversion of waste into combustible components (CO, CH4, H2), the resulting gas mixture. The technological process significantly reduces the formation of potentially hazardous substances that affect the kinetics of the process. After generating electrical energy, the exhaust gases are subjected to complex purification from the products of combustion and cogeneration of residual thermal energy. In particular, purification from toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx) occurs, the formation of dioxins, furans and other dangerous derivatives of chloride compounds is prevented. Thermal energy, discharged at various sites of the plant, is almost completely used for the needs of the cogeneration plant and its units, which allows to achieve a total efficiency of at least 86%. The ability of the cogeneration plant to work on various types of solid waste gives a wide range of applications and operational capabilities.