Municipal Solid Waste to Energy Conversion Processes: Economic, Technical, and Renewable Comparisons

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TO ENERGY CONVERSION PROCESSES A TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC REVIEW OF EMERGING WASTE DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGIES Intended for a wide audience ranging from engineers and academics to decision-makers in both the public and private sectors, Municipal Solid Waste to Energy Conversion Processes: Economic, Technical, and Renewable Comparisons reviews the current state of the solid waste disposal industry. It details how the proven plasma gasification technology can be used to manage Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and to generate energy and revenues for local communities in an environmentally safe manner with essentially no wastes. Beginning with an introduction to pyrolysis/gasification and combustion technologies, the book provides many case studies on various waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies and creates an economic and technical baseline from which all current and emerging WTE technologies could be compared and evaluated. Topics include: Pyrolysis/gasification technology, the most suitable and economically viable approach for the management of wastes Combustion technology Other renewable energy resources including wind and hydroelectric energy Plasma economics Cash flows as a revenue source for waste solids-to-energy management Plant operations, with an independent case study of Eco-Valley plant in Utashinai, Japan Extensive case studies of garbage to liquid fuels, wastes to electricity, and wastes to power ethanol plants illustrate how currently generated MSW and past wastes in landfills can be processed with proven plasma gasification technology to eliminate air and water pollution from landfills.

Table of Contents:
Preface ix Professional Biography xi 1 Introduction to Gasification / Pyrolysis and Combustion Technology(s) 1 Historical Background and Perspective 1 Introduction 2 What is Pyrolysis? 3 What is Pyrolysis/Gasification? 5 What is Conventional Gasification? 6 What is Plasma Arc Gasification? 8 What is Mass Burn (Incineration)? 9 Which Thermal Process Technology is the Most Efficient and Economical? 10 Performance/Thermal Efficiency of Technologies 10 What is the Economic Comparison Between the Thermal Processes? 10 References 15 2 How Can Plasma Arc Gasification Take Garbage to Electricity and a Case Study? 16 Basis 19 Economic Cases 19 Logical Approach for Future Progress 20 References 21 3 How Can Plasma Arc Gasification Take Garbage to Liquid Fuels and Case Studies? 23 MSW To Syngas to Liquid Fuels Via Chemistry (Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis) and a Case Study 23 Basis 26 Economic Case 27 Logical Approach for Future Progress 28 MSW to Syngas to Liquid Fuel via Biochemistry and a Case Study 29 Basis and Economics 31 References 33 4 Plasma Economics: Garbage/Wastes to Electricity, Case Study with Economy of Scale 35 Conclusions and Recommendations (Opinions) 39 References 40 5 Plasma Economics: Garbage/Wastes to Power Ethanol Plants and a Case Study 41 Basis 44 Economic Cases 45 Logical Approach for Future Progress 46 References 47 6 From Curbside to Landfill: Cash Flows as a Revenue Source for Waste Solids-to-Energy Management 49 References 123 7 Plasma Economics: Garbage/Wastes to Power, Case Study with Economics of a 94 ton/day Facility 124 More Recent Events About the Project 126 References 128 8 Plant Operations: Eco-Valley Plant in Utashinai, Japan: An Independent Case Study 129 References 133 9 Municipal Solid Waste and Properties 135 What is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and How Much is Generated in the United States? 135 MSW Properties 137 References 153 10 MSW Processes to Energy with High-Value Products and Specialty By-Products 155 Production of Ammonia (NH 3) from Syngas via Chemical Synthesis Route 157 Production of Gas to Liquids from Syngas via Chemical Synthesis Route 158 Production of Methanol (CH 3 OH) from Syngas via Chemical Synthesis Route 164 Production of Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) from Syngas via Chemical Synthesis Route 167 Production of Hydrogen (H 2) from Syngas via Chemical Synthesis Route(S) 169 Gasifier 172 Air Separation Unit (ASU) 172 Hot Gas Cleanup System 173 Sulfuric Acid Plant 173 CO2-Rich Separated Gas Stream/Conventional Turbine Expander 173 Production of Ethanol (CH 3 CH 2 OH) from Syngas via Chemical Synthesis Route 175 Production of Ethanol and Methanol from Syngas using Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Process 175 Production of Ethanol from Syngas via a Bio-Chemical Synthesis Route 178 Production of Ethanol via a Combination of Chemical and Bio-Chemical Synthesis Routes Using Biomass (Cellulosic Material) 181 Oxosynthesis (Hydroformylation): Syngas and Olefinic Hydrocarbons and Chemical Synthesis 186 Slag or Vitrified Slag or Ash from Gasification Reactor and Specialty By-Product Options 188 Vitrified Slag, Slag, and Ashes: Research and Development (R&D), Marketing, and Sales 192 Process for Resolving Problems with Ashes 192 Production of Road Material from Slag and Vitrified Slag 196 Production and Uses of Rock Wool, Stone Wool, and Mineral Wool 197 Production of Aggregate 200 Production of Flame-Resistant Foam 200 Destruction of Asbestos Wastes via Vitrification 201 Discussion of Potential Markets for the Vitrified Slag 202 References 204 11 MSW Gasifiers and Process Equipment 208 Conventional Gasifiers/Gasification Reactors 210 ChevronTexaco Entrained-Flow Gasifier 212 E-GasÔ Entrained-Flow Gasifier 213 Shell Entrained-Flow Gasifier 214 Lurgi Dry-Ash Gasifier and British Gas/Lurgi Gasifier 215 Prenflo Entrained Bed Gasifier 217 Noell Entrained Flow Gasifier 218 High-Temperature Winkler Gasifier 218 KRW Fluidized Bed Gasifier 219 Plasma Arc Gasification Technology 221 Alter Nrg Plasma Gasifier (Westinghouse Plasma Corporation) System 222 EUROPLASMA, Plasma Arc System 223 Phoenix Solutions Plasma Arc Torches, Phoenix Solutions Company (PSC) 226 PyroGenesis Plasma-Based Waste to Energy 227 Integrated Environmental Technologies, LLC (InEnTec) 227 Other Gasification Technology 230 Thermoselect Process by Interstate Waste Technologies 230 Primenergy’s Gasification System at Moderate Temperatures 231 Nexterra’s Gasification System at Moderate Temperatures 234 Other Process Equipments 234 Candle Filter 234 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Units 235 Mercury Removal Systems 236 Main Sulfur Removal Technologies 236 Combustion Turbine for Syngas and Gas Engine for Syngas 237 Siemens-Westinghouse Syngas Combustion Turbine for Syngas 237 General Electric (GE) Combustion Turbine for Syngas 238 GE Gas Engine for Syngas 240 Noncontact Solids Flow Meter for Waste Solids (RayMas Ò Meter) 241 References 251 12 Other Renewable Energy Sources 255 Wind Energy: Introduction 255 Big Wind Systems to Energy 258 Economic Example and Cases 259 Discussion of Economics For the Large Wind Farm Cases 266 Economy of Scale Associated With Wind Farms 270 Small Wind Systems to Energy 272 Discussion of Economics for the Small Wind Farm Cases 279 Hydroelectric Energy: Introduction 280 Hydroelectric Mill Dam: Nashua, Iowa 283 Discussion of the Nashua Hydroelectric Economic Analyses 285 Hydroelectric Mill Dam: Delhi, Iowa 293 Discussion of the Delhi Hydroelectric Economic Analyses 294 Hydroelectric Mill Dam: Fort Dodge, Iowa 298 Discussion of the Fort Dodge Hydroelectric Economic Analyses 305 Daily Flow and Production Methodology, Fort Dodge Mill Dam Hydroelectric Facility 316 References 360 13 Waste Energy to Recycled Energy 362 Introduction 362 References 378 Index 379

About the Author :
GARY C. YOUNG has over forty years of experience in processes involving the energy, food, agricultural, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, with companies such as Conoco, Stauffer Chemical Company, Beatrice Foods Company, Monsanto Company, and Carus Chemical Company. He has done consulting in areas of research and development, troubleshooting plant operations and process bottlenecks, maintenance, engineering, and environmental challenges. Dr. Young is the founder and owner of Bio-Thermal-Energy, Inc. (B-T-E, Inc.).

Review :
"This work details how currently generated municipal solid waste, as well as past wastes residing in landfills, can be processed into energy with plasma arc gasification technology. The book is written for wide audience, including engineers, academics, and policy makers in public and private sectors." (Book News, September 2010)