GTRI.ppt-1 Plasma Technology Opportunities for a Sustainable Future

GTRI.ppt-2 Objective Present an initiative to produce sustainable energy from waste materials

GTRI.ppt-3 Methodology Use plasma arc technologies to destroy wastes (biomass, solid waste, hazardous materials) Generate fuel gases including hydrogen and carbon monoxide Use fuel cells to produce energy in the form of heat and electricity

GTRI.ppt-4 What is PLASMA? “Fourth State” of matter Ionized gas at high temperature capable of conducting electrical current Lightning is an example from nature

GTRI.ppt-5 Characteristics of Plasma Arc Technology Plasma acts as a resistive heating element which cannot melt and fail Temperatures 4,000 ° C to over 7,000 ° C Torch power levels from 100kW to 200 MW produce high energy densities (up to 100 MW/m3) Torch operates with most gases-not a combustion process Elimination of requirement for combustion air – Reduces gas volume requiring treatment – Reduces potential for formation of complex organics (I.e., dioxins and furans)

GTRI.ppt-6 Ideally suited for waste treatment Hazardous & toxic compounds broken down to elemental constituents by high temperatures Organic materials Pyrolyzed or volatilized May be converted to fuel gases Amenable to conventional off-gas treatment Residual materials (radionuclides, heavy metals, etc.) immobilized in a rock-like vitrified mass which is highly resistant to leaching

GTRI.ppt-7 Plasma torch in operation

GTRI.ppt-8 Plasma Gasification of MSW Steam Negligible Gas Heating Value Output Electricity Input = 4.30 PLASMA GASIFIER MSW 1 Ton–9.39Mbtu 33% Moisture Electricity 0.56MWHr–1.90MBtu Losses 1.77 MBtu Based on data from Resorption Canada, Ltd (Summarized and converted to English units) Product Gas Heating Value = 8.16 MBTU Gas Heat Energy 1.05MBtu 30,300 SCF

GTRI.ppt-9 Solid Residue: 50 tons/day Sell:Aggregate Metals Bricks Other Fuel Gases: 3x10 7 Btu = 10.6 MW Net 6.5 MW 376 tons/day MSW) Plasma Arc Torch 4.1 MW An Ultimate Solution to MSW? Coke/Limestone

GTRI.ppt-10 Experimental Results The gases measured were H 2, O 2, N 2, CH 4, and CO. CompoundsTest 1 ( with no moisture) Test 2 ( with moisture) Sample 2 (30 min) Sample 3 (50 min) Sample 6 (110 min) Sample 3 (30 min) Sample 4 (50 min) CO16.95%18.56%21.65%17.42%21.39% CO20.22%0.24%0.28%0.44%0.53% CH41.72%2.94%3.91%2.06%1.86% H28.36%12.10%18.31%10.10%16.31% H2O0.16%0.23%0.35%0.37%0.60% N260.84%54.74%49.80%47.59%50.52% O27.17%7.37%5.42%8.57%8.64% C6H60.25% 0.13% unidentified4.33%3.56%0.03%13.33%0.02% total95.67%96.44%99.97%86.67%99.98% In addition to benzene, small amounts of methane and benzene and trace amounts of toluene, styrene, ethyl benzene, methyl-ethyl benzene, and benzonitrile were found in the DCM samples. The high concentrations of O2 and N2 are due to air leaking into the system prior to the sample point. PRODUCT GAS DISTRIBUTION

GTRI.ppt-11 Cobb County Plasma Arc Waste Processing System

GTRI.ppt-12 Next Steps Assembly of the Cobb County Plasma Arc Waste Processing System Optimization testing for integration with fuel cells Testing of biomass, MSW and other feedstock Hydrogen capture and optimization