Utilization of Gasification System for RDF

Utilization of Gasification System

The gasification system is the latest among the various forms of waste-to-energy processes. It is also considered as the most innovative and the most eco-friendly. It involves the use of heat and controlled environments to transform solid waste into synthetic gas or syngas. Syngas is then gathered in electric generators that transform it into electricity. The waste is effectively transformed into feedstock and the feedstock is transformed into energy. The process also results to very minimal carbon emissions because of the oxygen limiters that control the amount of oxygen permitted to interact with the feedstock during the entire process. These limiters also serve as barriers that prevent greenhouse gases from escaping into the atmosphere. The newest kind of gasification system is the revolutionary Refuse Derived Fuel technology.

Dumping waste on landfill is still one of the most typical methods of disposal for municipal solid wastes. Approximately 75% of collected municipal solid waste in the Philippines is being disposed in dumpsites. Imminent exhaustion of available space for dumping wastes and opposition against developing new waste disposal ways are creating crisis in waste management control. An approach including the practice of waste minimization and recycling is needed to increase the service of existing waste disposal site. A better alternative is clearly needed. Refuse Derived Fuel technology can utterly annihilate waste while at the same time generate green electricity.

Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) is a known to many as an alternative fuel produced from the combustibles in municipal solid wastes which are composed of waste plastic and other materials such as textiles, wood, soil, etc. Energy recovery as RDF is a preferred choice for utilizing plastic wastes when their potential recycling as raw material for product manufacturing is not possible because their physical properties have been damaged during long exposure to sunlight. For RDF utilization, gasification technology has been applied to the production of energy from solid wastes. This thermo-chemical process converts solid carbon based material into a combustible gaseous product containing CO2, CO, H2, CH4 and other trace gases. The producer gas can be used for heating, lighting and power generation.

Lately, a lot of research shows the application in the gasification of plastic wastes together with biomass. Fluidized and fixed bed steam gasification is one proven possible way of converting wastes and RDF into fuel gases but the direct gasification with the use of vertical fixed bed gasification system and air as gasifying agent is commonly used in developing countries. The advantage of simple operation and low operating cost is one of the good points even though low efficiency and diluted gas with relatively low heating value are their major drawback. Simple mechanical separation using trammel screen was used to separate plastic wastes and transforming them into RDF by a screw compactor. Utilization of solid waste from dumpsite by using simple and low-cost technology applicable to developing countries is a must.