Waste as a Renewable Source of Energy

Transcription

1 Waste as a Renewable Source of Energy Karsten Millrath and N.J. Themelis Columbia University / Waste-To-Energy Research and Technology Council (presented by Dr. K. Millrath) ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C., November 21, 2003 Millrath 2 Overview Waste-To-Energy Municipal Solid Waste Management Status of Renewable Current and Future Practices The Waste-To-Energy Research and Technology Council Conclusions and Outlook

2 Millrath 3 Waste-To Energy Two purposes: Waste management Energy production Millrath 4 Waste Management Options Preferred Reduction Reuse Recycling Composting Waste-To-Energy To be avoided Landfill

3 Millrath 5 Closing the Loop? Reuse Products Recycling Raw Materials Waste Natural Resources Energy WTE Landfill Millrath 6 Waste-To Energy Two purposes: Waste management Energy production Origins in 19 th century (incineration = hygienic control), later energy recovery Proven technology Low air emissions (MACT)

4 Millrath 7 An Ecological Footprint BASF Eco-Efficiency Analysis of MSW Management Options, 2001 Economics Millrath 8 Costs/ton MSW in U.S. $ LF MBT WTE BASF Eco-Efficiency Analysis of MSW Management Options, 2001

5 Millrath 9 Renewable by Definition Main Entry: re new able Pronunciation: -'nü-&-b&l, -'nyü- Function: adjective Date: : capable of being renewed <renewable contracts> 2 : capable of being replaced by natural ecological cycles or sound management practices <renewable resources> MSW as Renewable Energy Source Broader definition of renewable energy: generate energy without depleting resources Current production renews waste Economic growth = more waste? Time dependence of consumer mentality Organic content of MSW more than 50% MSW already included in renewable portfolios (sometimes partially) Millrath 10

6 Millrath 11 Renewable Status of Waste Current U.S. Waste Management Millrath 12 1 ton of MSW = ~ 50 gallons of oil 0.3% of energy from WTE plants (2.8GW of electricity) In 2000, 232 million tons MSW (U.S. EPA): 37.4% paper 12% yard trimmings 11.2% food scraps 10.7% plastics 5.5% wood WTE: 14.5% Landfill: 55.3%

7 Current and Future Practices Waste-To-Energy Combustion Mass burn / RDF Continues to improve performance Anaerobic Digestion Is there a market for end products? Gasification / Pyrolysis Waste-To-Ethanol Liquefaction Millrath 13 Environmental Performance Waste-To-Energy Combustion - Low air emissions after MACT - Improved operations / processes - Co-generation to increase efficiency - Environmental savings through: * Less landfill emissions * Less fossil fuel combustion * No need to separate all materials * Simpler collection Millrath 14

8 Millrath 15 U.S. Emissions of Dioxins/Furans Air emissions: dioxins/furans in grams TEQ Source WTE facilities 8,877 1, Coal-fired power plants Medical Waste Incineration 2, Barrel Backyard Burning Total U.S. 13,998 3,225 - Millrath 16 WTERT Council Founded by Earth Engineering Center at Columbia University and Integrated Waste Services Association Strives to advance the materials and energy recovery of post-consumer products and, in particular, to improve WTE processes Brings together academia, industry, and involved organizations and agencies

9 Millrath 17 Research at WTERT / EEC Corrosion of WTE combustion systems Beneficial use of WTE ash Improving anaerobic digestion Assessment of environmental performance and health impact Evaluating public perception Education Millrath 18 Conclusions MSW should be considered fuel for energy generation For the next 20 years, current system of production/consumption will renew MSW New technologies are developing but have not proven themselves yet Environmental performance improved WTERT Council can help making a case

10 Millrath 19 Thank You Professor Nickolas J. Themelis, EEC/WTERT Maria Zannes, IWSA/WTERT 10