Abstract
The aim of this study is two-fold. First, an extension of the original GasifEq model developed in our laboratory takes place. The new model, called as modified GasifEq, deals with the thermodynamic analysis of the gasification process and is able to predict the concentrations of the main gaseous products of the process, e.g., carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, as well as the concentrations of some minor components present in the final gas produced such as hydrochloric acid, hydrogen sulfide and chlorine. The results of the modified GasifEq, are compared against experimental data taken from the literature showing very good agreement. Second, the modified GasifEq is applied in a case study, concerning a plasma gasification plant in Greece that treats 750 tonnes per day (TPD) of municipal solid waste (MSW). Sensitivity analysis of the operational parameters of the plasma gasification process is performed, aiming to maximize the net energy produced and minimize the costs of the plant. For the calculation of the capital, operational and maintenance costs of the process, correlations from the literature as well as market data, when available, were used. It is shown that the cost of the plasma gasification process is comparable to that of the widely used incineration process.
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Data Availability
All data generated or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
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Both authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Athina Zitouni-Petrogianni and Epaminondas Voutsas. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Athina Zitouni-Petrogianni and both authors read and approved the final manuscript. Epaminondas Voutsas supervised the project.
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Highlights
• Thermodynamic analysis of the plasma gasification process
• Case study of a plasma gasification plant that treats municipal solid waste
• Sensitivity analysis of the plasma gasification process
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Zitouni-Petrogianni, A., Voutsas, E. Modeling, Optimization and Cost Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Treatment with Plasma Gasification. Environ. Process. 8, 747–767 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-021-00518-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-021-00518-y