Performance assessment of the co-gasification for sustainable management of municipal solid waste: Moroccan Case

Abstract

In the quest of virtuous energy system, clean energy production poses important environmental, social, and financial challenges. Among the potentially useful energy carriers, hydrogen emerges as a serious alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen is a clean energy vector whose use is likely to undergo significant development in the medium and long term. This article describes the current situation of municipal solid waste generation and management in Morocco. Additionally, a co-gasification plant model for hydrogen production from municipal solid waste and biomass blends was developed in Aspen Plus. A parametric analysis was carried out to study the effect of various parameters such as the temperature of gasification and the steam to feedstock ratio on syngas composition. The main findings show an increase in hydrogen molar fractions for higher temperatures (optimal values being achieved for ∼750 °C) and steam to feedstock ratios ≥1.2. The present model of the co-gasification plant could be further improved by adding a water–gas-shift reactor. This process intensification technique can contribute to the production of sustainable alternatives to the actual predominant fossil-based fuels.

Keywords

• Gasification
• MSW
• Biomass
• SYNGAS
• Hydrogen
• ASPEN PLUS