Fluidized bed gasification of waste-derived fuels

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Waste-derived fuels offer a sustainable alternative to conventional energy sources.
• Fluidized bed gasification is a promising technology for converting waste into syngas.
• Catalyst selection is crucial for optimizing syngas composition and minimizing tar formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the technical feasibility of gasifying five alternative waste-derived fuels.
• To assess the catalytic performance of olivine, quartz sand, and dolomite in a bubbling fluidized bed gasifier.
• To determine the impact of different waste fuels on syngas quality and hydrogen content.

Main Methods:

• Pilot-scale bubbling fluidized bed gasifier (100 kg/h capacity).
• Utilized fuels: municipal solid waste and post-consumer packaging.
• Bed materials: natural olivine, quartz sand, and dolomite.
• Gasifying agent: air at various equivalence ratios.

Main Results:

• Gasification was technically feasible for all tested waste-derived fuels.
• Olivine demonstrated significant catalytic activity for polyolefin plastic waste, yielding 20-30% hydrogen in syngas.
• Olivine's catalytic activity was reduced with municipal solid waste and mixed plastic packaging fuels.
• All tested materials produced syngas of acceptable quality for energy applications after cleaning.

Conclusions:

• Olivine is an effective catalyst for producing high-hydrogen syngas from polyolefin plastic waste.
• The catalytic performance of olivine is influenced by the composition of waste-derived fuels.
• Fluidized bed gasification of waste-derived fuels is a viable route for energy recovery.