Characterization, thermochemical conversion studies, and heating value modeling of municipal solid waste

Area of Science:

• Waste Management
• Chemical Engineering
• Energy Recovery

Background:

• Municipal solid waste (MSW) characterization is crucial for effective waste-to-energy (WTE) strategies.
• Accurate estimation of the high heating value (HHV) of MSW is essential for optimizing WTE processes.
• Existing models for HHV estimation require validation and improvement for diverse MSW streams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the physical and chemical properties of MSW from Red Deer, Alberta.
• To investigate the thermal decomposition behavior of MSW using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
• To develop and validate a new empirical model for predicting the HHV of MSW.

Main Methods:

• Experimental determination of moisture content, proximate and ultimate compositions, and HHV for fourteen MSW categories.
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to study thermal weight loss under pyrolysis/torrefaction.
• Multiple regression analysis and stepwise regression using 161 data points for model derivation and 32 for validation.

Main Results:

• The developed empirical model for HHV estimation is HHV (MJ/kg)=0.350C+1.01H-0.0826O, based on dry weight percentages of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
• The model demonstrated high accuracy in predicting HHV, with validation results closely matching experimental values.
• The new model exhibited a lower error level compared to seven other existing models from the literature.

Conclusions:

• The developed empirical model provides a reliable and accurate method for estimating the HHV of MSW.
• This model can aid in the efficient design and operation of waste-to-energy facilities.
• The study contributes valuable data and a predictive tool for sustainable MSW management and energy recovery.