Waste-to-Energy Conversion
The management/treatment of Solid Wastes (SW) by thermal pyrolysis / gasification technology is increasingly viewed as the best suitable and economically viable approach for the management of wastes such as:
- Residential Waste (RW)
- Commercial Waste (CW)
- Industrial Waste (IW)
- Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), which can be a mixture of these wastes
Various types of thermal processes using pyrolysis / gasification technology such as but not restricted to a Plasma Arc Gasification process are commercially attractive. The various types of thermal processes based upon pyrolysis/gasification technology are: Pyrolysis, Pyrolysis/Gasification, Conventional Gasification, and Plasma Arc Gasification. These thermal gasification processes are carried out in an oxygen deficient atmosphere. One additional thermal process exists based upon combustion technology (an atmosphere of excess oxygen) and is known as Mass Burn (Incineration). A key product from these thermal gasification technologies is the conversion of MSW into a Syngas which is predominantly Carbon monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen (H2) which can be converted to energy (steam and/or electricity), other gases, fuels and/or chemicals.
Our population is still growing and we are producing more garbage, even with the recycling efforts in full operation. We have come to the ‘place in time’ that the momentum of "technology" can help “protect human health and welfare” and thusly, the environment, by creating an infrastructure design, creation and building of sustainable MSW processes that can turn our waste problem into useful green energy for the betterment of all.
