Valuable End-Products Created that can be Recycled
Valuable end-products created from plasma gasification
PEAT's environmentally benign PTDR waste-to-energy technology produces the following three end-products from processing waste feedstocks:
- A clean synthetic gas ("syngas") that is a valuable source of alternative energy (Approximate heat value: 8 to 10 MJ/Nm3 (225 MMBTU/SCF);
- An inert vitrified glass that has excellent applications in the construction industry, including:
- Concrete Aggregate
- Road Bed/fill
- Recovered metal alloys
All feedstock is 100% waste diversion, which totally eliminates the need for landfill disposal and/or further processing.
There are a number of applications for the plasma gasification syngas. For example, it can be utilized as fuel source to produce electric power (e.g. in a simplified steam-cycle configuration consisting of a conventional boiler/steam generator with steam turbine) or in a gas engine, configured to accept lower heat value gas or for a PTDR-1000 system, that produces larger quantities of plasma gasification synthesis gas, the gas can be used in a gas turbine; both in simple cycle and in combined cycle operations.
The use of lower heat value plasma gasification syngas as a fuel source for gas engines has been successfully demonstrated with syngases generated from various feedstocks, including the gasification of biomass. Other applications for the utilization of the plasma gasification syngas are as follows: separation of hydrogen from the syngas using state-of-the-art Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technologies, which can provide an excellent source of hydrogen for use with fuel cells; using the syngas as a feedstock for the production of liquid fuels such as ethanol.
While studies have shown plasma gasification syngas to be as clean (perhaps cleaner burning) than natural gas, its heat value per unit (i.e. cubic foot) is lower therefore requiring a larger quantity of plasma gasification syngas to generate the same thermal output. The use of plasma gasification syngas for the production of energy has been successfully proven as viable and cost-effective. Today, syngas from a wide range of sources (including waste-to-energy) has been successfully employed to generate electricity utilizing gas turbine combined cycle systems as well as gas engines. As the cost of natural gas fluctuates the economic benefits associated with the use of waste-to-energy generated plasma gasification syngas will become much more valuable.
Vitrified Glass Product and metal alloys:
Due to differences in density, inorganic waste, which is liquefied, is easily separated into two layers: a metal and a glassy silicate layer. The metal layer can contain relatively pure amounts of iron, copper and aluminum. The glassy product can be used in a variety of commercial applications including concrete aggregate, insulation, roadbed construction, and even in decorative tiles.
The composition of the end-products varies with the composition of the waste being processed. For example, processing medical waste, with a relatively high percentage of paper and plastic (organics), will produce meaningful levels of plasma gasification syngas, and a lesser amount of recoverable metal and glass product. Conversely, processing industrial waste, such as ash from an incinerator or batteries will produce lower amounts of plasma gasification syngas and relatively more vitrified product (containing metal oxides) and, depending on the nature of the reducing environment in the reactor, recovered metal alloys.
Applications for the glassy product include roadbed/fill construction and concrete aggregate. It has been used as a blast media, and PEAT is working with selected partners in the construction and infrastructure industries who already sell or utilize similar products.
Any reclaimed valuable metal could be sold to metal dealers and processors. Metal Alloy is bought and sold based on a commodity-based pricing system.