Gasification of Organic Waste Streams

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Category: Energy

The Waste-To-Energy Limited gasification technology is designed to convert solid wastes, including hazardous wastes such as sewage sludge and hospital waste.

Biomass fuels such as firewood and agriculture-generated residues and wastes are organic – i.e. they contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, along with some percentage of moisture. Using the WTEL process, most biomass materials can be converted into a gaseous fuel known as “syngas”, which consists of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen.

Gasification is a well-established technology used for the conversion of biomass materials into thermal energy, but before WTEL it always required the biomass to be transported to a large central facility. The process involves the partial combustion of the biomass in an oxygen-reduced environment and high temperatures. Non-combustibles and inorganics, such as silica, calcium and metals remaining after gasification are extracted as ash. The process of generating energy from waste, and leaving zero residues, consists of four steps:

•Drying of Fuel: increasing the energy potential of the feedstock. WTEL’s modular units have a proprietary dryer attached to the front end to efficiently pulverize and dry the feedstock.

•Gasification of Feedstock.  This takes place in a very low-oxygen environment that operates at a very high temperature, converting the organic materials in the feedstock to a low btu gas, and efficiently discharging approximately 10% inorganic ash.  A low-btu gas is produced from the reactor for scrubbing and conversion to electricity. It is comprised of primarily CH4 (methane); CO2 (Carbon dioxide) ;  H2 (Hydrogen); and a trace amount of NOx (nitrous oxides).  Since we receive disposal fees from the waste producers the economics are based upon this fact more so than on the value of the power produced.  However, the co-manufacture of hig-btu methane from adjacent anaerobic digesters will enrich the gas, making it possible to obtain far higher power output.

 

•Power generation. The blended gases are used to feed a high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) system, and would supply energy to cogeneration partners such as greenhouses and food processors.

•Encapsulation: extrusion and conversion of ash into exterior use hardscaping and ornamental uses.