High-Temperature Steam Gasification of Agricultural and MSW and Conversion to Energy System 02/21/2012 TAG meeting

INTRODUCTION

Background  Increasing MSW Generation Rates  Disadvantage of Partial Oxygen Gasification or Incineration  Lower temperature gasifier produces low-quality syngas that contains undesirable char, tar and soot  Harmful emissions due to the air-breathing combustion

Objective  Define the critical parameters affecting product yields  Develop optimal conditions for thermal-chemical conversions  Develop cost-effective method for the production of hydrogen fuel Agricultural Wastes MSW High Temperature Steam Gasification

Team Members  PI  Skip Ingley, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida. - Tel  Jacob N. Chung, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida. - Tel  Members Name Atish Shah Graduate student Billy Allen Samuel Mammo Stephen Belser Uisung Lee Andrew Hatcher Undergraduate student Thomas Lunden

Team Members  Hinkley Center Project Manager Tim Vinson  TAG Members  Tim Townsend, Professor, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida  John Anderson, CEO Quantera Energy Resourse, Inc.  Brent Wainwright, Principal, Green Team Ventures, LLC  John Kuhn, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida

MSW CHARACTERIZATION

MSW Characterization  Typical MSW composition by material Total MSW composition by material before recycling, 2009 [data from EPA]

MSW samples  Experimental Feedstock Composition MaterialComposition Paper Corrugated boxes Newspaper Office type paper 22.8% 6.5% 4.5% Food scrap Dog food Additional water (moisture content compensation) 5.3% 11.7% Woodsawdust7.8% Yard TrimmingGrass, Leaves, Brush trimming16.5% Plastics (1)PET (2)HDPE (3)PVC (4)LDPE (5)PP (6)PS 2.4% 3.6% 0.8% 4.3% 3.8% 1.7% Rubber and leather 3.7% Textiles 6.3% Total100.0% MSW sample

Proximate and Ultimate Analysis Keystone Materials Testing, Inc.

EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEM DESIGN

Previous system  Supply the high temperature steam via combustion of hydrogen and oxygen  Batch type

Current Experimental Setup  Schematic

Steam Generator / Superheater Steam Generator Superheater PumpControler

Gasifier & Cooler Condensate Collector Syngas Cooler Exhaust Sampling Gasifier Steam Injector

Gasifier & Cooler Steam Injector Ceramic Honeycomb Condensate Collector Feedstock

Steam Injector

FLUENT Simulation  Steam injection profile Velocity Temperature improvement scheme

Feeder Ball Valve Argon Purging Gas Inlet/Outlet Piston

Heating Tape  Preheater for the feedstock Electric Heating Tape

Experimental Equipment Steam generator Superheater Gasifier Feeder Syngas Cooler Argon Cylinder Gas Sampling Exhaust Condensate Collector

Steam Injector and Base Module

Ceramic Honeycomb Discs

SIMULATION RESULTS

Equilibrium Model exist C (s) ? 3 independent reactions Predicted syngas composition : CO, CO 2, CH 4, H 2, N 2 and H 2 O 2 independent reactions yes. 7 species no. 6 species C (s) + CO 2 ↔ 2CO C (s) + H 2 O ↔ H 2 + CO C (s) + 2H 2 ↔ CH 4 CH 4 + H 2 O ↔ CO + 3H 2 CO + H 2 O ↔ CO 2 + H 2 Setup the Global Gasification Reaction Assume there would be C (s)

Equilibrium Model Solve equations with numerical method Equilibrium Constant Solve equations with numerical method Equilibrium Constant yes End no

Results  Gas composition

Result

CURRENT ISSUES

Current Issues  Conduct Steam Temperature Tests and Measure Temperature Profiles in Gasifier  Finalize Arrangements for Syngas Sampling  Steam to Biomass Ratio Tests with Woody Biomass  Conduct Gasification Runs with MSW, MSW Components and Farm Wastes

Questions andDiscussion ?