210benherbert.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
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Advanced Plasma Gasification Systems
Current & Emerging Technologies
The 14th Annual APGTF Workshop 13.03.14
Dr. Ben Herbert - Director of Research &
Environment
Stopford Energy & Environment
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Stopford is an international energy and environment
consultancy providing innovative multidisciplinary solutions to
a global market leveraging over 30 years of experience
Stopford is an associate company of Lancaster Environment
Centre giving its staff access to the world class research and
development facilitates on the campus.
Our Organisation
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Clients
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Energy from Biomass &
Waste - Our Approach
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Current WtoE Climate
Increasing energy prices
High demand for renewable and clean electricity
Increasing waste disposal and landfill costs
Lack of efficient & safe waste disposal systems
Increasingly stringent environmental regulations
Increasing interest in novel energy generation technologies e.g. Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Gas
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The Technologies
Non-Thermal Technologies:
Anaerobic Digestion
Biodrying
Mechanical Biological Treatment
Thermal Technologies:
Incineration (Thermal Oxidation)
Pyrolysis
Gasification
Plasma Arc Gasification
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The Technologies
Non-Thermal Technologies:
Anaerobic Digestion
Biodrying
Mechanical Biological Treatment
Thermal Technologies:
Incineration (Thermal Oxidation)
Pyrolysis
Gasification
Plasma Arc Gasification
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Plasma-Arc Gasification
Gasification is defined as the partial thermal degradation of a substance
under sub-stoichiometric conditions (i.e in the presence of oxygen but
with insufficient oxygen to oxidise the fuel completely).
Plasma-Arc Gasification uses high electrical energy and high
temperatures to break down waste into its basic elemental composition,
under controlled oxygen conditions, producing a synthesis gas and an
inert vitrified slag.
A high temperature process with operating temperatures exceeding
5000oC
All organic materials in the feedstock of the gasifier are converted to a
syn-gas (comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen)
All Inorganic materials are vitrified into an inert a glass-like slag
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Plasma-Arc Gasification
The advantage of gasification process is that the production of energy
from syngas is potentially more efficient than direct combustion of the
original fuel.
The process does not convert all of the chemical energy in the fuel into
thermal energy but instead leaves some of the chemical energy in the
syn-gas and in the solid residues
Syn-gas may be burned directly for electricity production, used to
produce methanol and hydrogen, or converted via the Fischer-Tropsch
process into a second generation biofuel.
The typical NCV of the gas from gasification using oxygen is 10 to 15
MJ/Nm3
For comparison the NCV for natural gas is about 38 MJ/Nm3
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Plasma
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Plasma Torch
The Process
Plasma Torch for Metal Cutting
NASA Technology:
Testing Shuttle Tiles
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Plasma Gasification
1. Mixed Materials Fed Into System
3. Gases Converted Into Energy
2. Organic Materials Gasified Into H2 &CO...
Inorganic Materials Vitrified Into Inert Slag
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Plasma-Arc Gasification
Isometric Full View Isometric Cut Away View
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Direct Current Plasma
High temperatures (~5000 C) achievable causing improved organic-inorganic separation efficiencies
High calorific value syngas produced with multiple applications
Hazardous/Toxic compound destruction/immobilisiation (e.g. dioxin and furans/heavy metals)
Secondary vitrified product from inorganic content
High CAPEX & OPEX costs
High Parasitic Load
Large scale to be economically viable
Relatively few demonstration or commercial facilities
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The Alternative Microwave Induced Plasma
All benefits of direct current plasma
Improved energy efficiency
Lower CAPEX and OPEX
Economically viable at smaller scales
Lower maintenance requirement as no electrodes required
Ability to auto-strike plasma
Proven technology (microwaves)
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Microwave-Induced Plasma
for Energy from Waste
Project: Carbon Abatement Technology
Funding: Technology Strategy Board (TSB)
Phase I: 12 month project proof of concept
project to test the viability of microwave-
induced plasma for the gasification of mixed
wastes and biomass.
Phase II: 3 year project to develop a 160 tpa)
microwave-induced plasma gasification
demonstration system.
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What is Microwave Induced
Plasma?
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Waveguide Design
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Waveguide Design
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Waveguide Design
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Phase I Reactor
1 kW 2.45 GHz magnetron
200 x 200 x 250 mm mild steel box
100 mm removable sight glass
~40 g batch charge
Plasma gas inlet (argon at 1 L min-1)
Pressure gas inlet (nitrogen at 1 L min-1)
Stainless steel crucible
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Plasma Plume Generation
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Advanced Thermal
Treatment Trials
Aim:
To determine the syngas composition, evolution, and calorific value (CV) from microwave-induced plasma
treatment of mixed waste materials
Waste Types Trialled
Commercial & Industrial Waste (C&IW)
Biomass
Screenings Waste
Sludge Cake
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Thermal Trials Calorific Value
Waste Type Waste NCV
(MJ/kg), AR
Condition Syngas NCV
Range (MJ/m3)
C&IW 9.5 Pyrolysis 11.4 17.4
Biomass 16.3 Pyrolysis 14.5 19.2
Screenings
Waste
6.1 Gasification 8.7 11.2
Sludge Cake 1.2 Gasification 6.5 10.8
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Gas Evolution
Gas Evolution (Screenings)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
011
022
033
044
055
066
077
088
099
0
1100
1210
1320
1430
1540
1650
1760
Time (s)
Vo
l % CO2
CO
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0 66 132
198
264
330
396
462
528
594
660
726
792
858
924
Time (s)
Vo
l % CO2
CO
Left: 1.1 % O2
Right: 5.9 % O2
Bottom: 10.8 % O2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
0
88
17
6
26
4
35
2
44
0
52
8
61
6
70
4
79
2
88
0
96
8
10
56
11
44
12
32
13
20
14
08
14
96
15
84
Time (s)
Vo
l % CO2
CO
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Intermediate Reactor
2 kg/hr
Designed to:
Gain more representative gas and thermal data
Test multiple plasma operation
Reduce risks associated with scale up to
demonstration reactor
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Intermediate Reactor
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Commercial Analysis &
Modelling
ROO CfD
Payback (Years) IRR (%) Payback (Years) IRR (%)
Digester Cake 8.31 14 8.41 13.68
Screenings Waste 5.31 20 5.63 18.73
C&I Waste 5.82 18.73 6.51 16.49
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The Future
To design and construct a 160 tpa demonstration facility for commissioning in 2015
To deploy the reactor at United Utilities WwTW in Ellesmere Port, UK, for continuous operation
To optimise the process to accept a range of different waste types
To design bespoke systems to satisfy customer requirements for small-scale biomass/waste to
energy schemes
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Acknowledgements
Stopford would like to thank its project partners:
Liverpool John Moores University
United Utilities
Finning
& project funders
Technology Strategy Board
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For further information contact us
www.stopford.co.uk
+44 (0)1524 510 604
Thank you
Stopford Energy and Environment
Providers of the complete technology development solution