Thermodynamic Analysis of Plasma Gasification of Agricultural Waste

Abstract

Poultry farms and livestock complexes contribute a significant portion of agricultural waste (AW), mostly in the form of bird droppings and manure. The ecology suffers when a significant volume of such garbage is used in an unreasonable manner. Agriculture waste may be used to generate energy gas thanks to modern technology. The production of energy gas, mostly composed of synthesis gas (CO + H2), may be intensified by plasma processing of waste from the agro-industrial complex, and the gas productivity of a plasma gasifier can be increased by 150–200 times in comparison to biogas generators. Thermodynamic modelling of the AW plasma processing process is the focus of this study. Using the all-purpose thermodynamic calculations programme TERRA, the process of plasma processing of waste was analysed thermodynamically. TSC refers to manure, which is animal waste, in this work. Cow dung with a 30% moisture level is utilised as dry mixed manure for research. Thermodynamic calculations revealed that the high-calorific combustible gas generated by plasma gasification and AW pyrolysis had synthesis gas yields of 65.2 and 68.5%, respectively. No hazardous elements were found at the same time. The plasma gasifier will efficiently convert many kinds of AW into high-calorie energy gas, mostly composed of neutral slag and synthesis gas. A technical framework for the AW plasma processing method has been created. Depending on the AW's composition, the proposed plasma plant that executes this technique may produce up to 1.7 m3 of dry energy gas from 1 kilogramme. Its calorific value will fluctuate from 8500 to 9300 MJ/Nm3 concurrently. The energy gas will have the following composition, in volume percent: H2 − 35-39, CO − 29–31, CO2 − 4-6, N2 − 10-14, and H2O − 13–18. Such a gas may serve as the working fluid for a new breed of very efficient electric generators, including solid oxide fuel cells, or it can be utilised as a raw material for the synthesis of synthetic motor fuels like methanol and dimethyl ether.