Theoretical assessment of plasma gasification process of low grade coal and biomass feedstock

Abstract

© 2015 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.Thermal plasma gasification technologies are the last two decades in commercialization stage for industrial wastes as, municipal solid waste (MSW), ash residues, low grade coals and biomass. These can be used to produce a high calorific syngas (HHV ≥ 20 MJ/kg) at low operating cost. Consequently, the potential market of the plants for Waste-to-Energy plasma gasification will increase during the next period. Joint project of Westinghouse Plasma Corporation and of Geoplasma in Florida USA is an example of efficient facility with middle-scale productivity up to 600 tons/day, for thermal plasma gasification of the solid waste. This chapter presents the assessment of thermal plasma gasification of Brazilian industrial wastes as low grade coal and biomass sugar cane bagasse. Based on the parametric analysis of the air and steam plasma gasification with using thermochemical simulation methods, the results show that the gasification of both feedstock using air as gasifying agent is more efficient on such output parameter as energy efficiency, which is higher at the optimal temperature level of 1250 K, and the ratio of mass flow rates of the feedstock to air up to 0.65 for the bagasse and up to 0.79 for the coal.