Towards Waste-to-Energy-and-Materials Processes with Advanced Thermochemical Combustion Intelligence in the Circular Economy

Abstract

Waste-to-energy processes remain essential to ensure the safe and irreversible removal of materials and substances that are (or have become) unsuitable for reuse or recycling, and hence, to keep intended cycles of materials in the circular economy clean. In this paper, the behavior of inorganic compounds in waste-to-energy combustion processes are discussed from a multi-disciplinary perspective, against a background of ever tightening emission limits and targets of increasing energy efficiency and materials recovery. This leads to the observation that, due to the typical complexity of thermally treated waste, the intelligence of combustion control systems used in state-of-the-art waste-to-energy plants needs to be expanded to better control the behavior of inorganic compounds that typically end up in waste furnaces. This paper further explains how this goal can be achieved by developing (experimentally validated) predictive numerical models that are engineering-based and/or data-driven. Additionally, the significant economic potential of advanced thermochemical intelligence towards inorganic compounds in waste-to-energy combustion control systems is estimated on the basis of typical operational figures.

Review of Hot Topics in the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems Conference in 2022

“…De Greef et al [26] authored a comprehensive review paper delving into the behavior of inorganic compounds within waste-to-energy combustion processes. Their review adopted a multidisciplinary perspective, taking into account both the waste-to-energy and biocircular economy approaches.…”

A review of the thermochemistries of biomass gasification and utilisation of gas products

“…There are several excellent reviews 27,65,70,75,[125][126][127][128][129][130] and experimental research published on the various catalysts used in biomass gasication. 126,[131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141][142] Biomass gasication catalysts are considered successful if they can lower the required activation energy for gasication reactions to achieve high carbon conversions that positively inuence the gasication process. Broadly speaking, biomass gasication catalysts are classied into primary and secondary (downstream) catalysts based on their roles along the conversion process depicted in Fig.…”

Model of Residence Time Distribution, Degree of Mixing and Degree of Dispersion in the Biomass Transport Process on Various Grate Systems

“…These are combustible substances contained in slag and ash. The results of the process are mainly neutralization, a significant reduction of the initial weight and volume of waste, as well as energy recovery [8][9][10].…”

“…In flow type chemical reactors, such as combustors, the residence time is somewhat of a random parameter. The residence time is related to the type of mass flow [8][9][10]. Two opposing cases can be defined, the so-called ideal mass flow models:…”