Alternative Thermal Treatment Technologies: Energy Math and Myth

Transcription

1 Alternative Thermal Treatment Technologies: Energy Math and Myth Jon Powell, P.E. Innovative Waste Consulting Services, LLC Presented at SWANA FL 2013 Summer Conference Sarasota, Florida July 29, 2013 Co-Authors: Pradeep Jain, Ph.D., P.E. Timothy Townsend, Ph.D., P.E. 1 of 17

2 Motivation and Outline Basics of Three Thermal Technologies City of Cleveland Escambia County, FL Life Cycle Analysis RFI for Alt. MSW Processing Example of LCA Application Nearly all responses were for alternative thermal treatment RFIQ for MSW WTE 46 Responses 14 Gasification 2 of 17

3 MSW Typical Composition Non-Combustibles (Metal, Glass, Misc.) 17% Landfilling (100%) Combustibles 83% Nonbiodegradable Organics (Plastics, Textiles, Rubber, and Leather) 21% Thermal Treatment (83%) Biodegradable Organics 62% Yard Trimmings 13% Food Scraps, 14% Wood 6% Biological Treatment (62%) Paper and Paperboard 29% 3 of 17

4 Energy Content Energy Content (MJ/kg) Energy Content (BTU/lb) Wood Plastic Paper Food Waste Mixed MSW Coal Ethanol Methanol 0 Fuel 4 of 17

5 Feedstock MSW Processing Pre-Processing Drying Separation Size Reduction Thermal Treatment Technology Gasification Pyrolysis Hydrothermal Carbonization Initial Product(s) Syngas Oil Char Final Products Electricity Petrochemicals Energy Other or Fuels Uses 5 of 17

6 Which is the Right Technology? 6 of 17

7 Life Cycle Analysis (or Assessment) Start Finish Product or Process Byproducts Co-products Exchanges (Material, Emissions, Energy) 7 of 17

8 How Can We Use LCA In Practice? Long-term Impacts Planning or Decision Tool Goal Setting Technology Evaluation 8 of 17

9 Large, Manipulable Data Sets + Powerful Computing Software Really Cool LCA Tools LCA Tools for MSW Have Evolved Substantially 9 of 17

10 Waste Characteristics Waste Processes End Products 10 of 17

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12 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 0.00E E E E E E E+06 Example Features 80% Recycling Participation 90% Recycling Participation Perturbation Analysis Change an element of analysis to see cascading impacts 12 of 17

13 An Example Consider One Ton of MSW Landfill Gas-to-Elect ricity VS Conventional WTE VS Gasification to Fuel Information based on draft EREF Report Using Municipal Solid Waste as a Biofuel Feedstock, July Aziz, Barlaz, DeCarolis, and Pressley (NC State) and Yenne (Maverick Biofuels) 13 of 17

14 Consider Net GWP and Net Energy Global Warming Potential LFGTE WTE Gasification to Fuel Information based on draft EREF Report Using Municipal Solid Waste as a Biofuel Feedstock, July Aziz, Barlaz, DeCarolis, and Pressley (NC State) and Yenne (Maverick Biofuels) Negative denotes a net energy consumption Negative denotes a relative decrease in CO 2 emissions Net Energy Production LFGTE WTE Gasification to Fuel 14 of 17

15 Copenhagen, Denmark (June 2013) Construction of new facility that will convert human potential energy into kinetic energy 21 of 23

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17 Engineering Researc h Addressing the challenges of safe and sustainable waste and materials management elearnin g Apps Jon T. Powell, PE Founder and Lead Developer Jon T. Powell, PE Principal and Co-Owner jpowell@iwcs.biz O: X-4 WasteUniversity.com Launching Late August of 17