Waste to Energy Key Features

 Pyrolysis and Gasification - complete combustion (90%

reduction in waste volume)
 High efficiency of energy recovery without auxiliary fuel
 Wide range of materials can be used as fuel (industrial,
waste, human waste, animal remains)
 Manage low quality wastes (high in moisture)
 Easy operation with complete automation system OR
jobs for local residents
 Community friendly system (low odor & low emissions)
 Pyrolysis

 Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition of condensed organic substances

by heating
 It is a special case of thermolysis related to the chemical process of
charring, and is most commonly used for organic materials
 Occurs spontaneously at high temperatures
 Produces gas and liquid products and leaves a solid residue richer in
carbon content
 Pyrolysis is heavily used in the chemical industry, for example, to produce
charcoal, activated carbon, methanol and other chemicals

Tars
H2 CH4

Fuel (wastes) Char

 Gasification Process

A limited amount of oxygen or air is introduced into the reactor to allow the
organic material to be "burned" to produce carbon monoxide and energy,
which drives a second reaction that converts further organic material to
hydrogen and additional carbon dioxide.

H2O H2

Char CO
O2
CO2
 hydroelectric Waste to
Energy Source Solar Cell Wind Power
power Energy

USD/kWh 0.571 0.085 0.056 0.057

* Source: Korean Waste to Energy Development Plan, 2008

* Present Exchange Rate : KRW 1,255 = USD 1

• CO2 emission restriction Ocean

disposal restriction
Waste-to-Energy
(London Dumping Convention)
by Gasification Tech.
• Landfill / Incineration restriction
 Biomass Energy Plants: Reducing the impact of Fossil Fuels

In nature, the carbon cycle is a closed loop, and With the use of new sources of carbon,
global CO2 has been in balance for > 10,000 years global CO2 is out of balance
380
Atmospheric CO2

360 During the disappearance of the last

ice age, atmospheric CO2 increased
340
by ~100ppm, now fossil fuels have
320 added another ~100ppm
300

280
260
1000

1050

1100

1150

1200

1250

1300

1350

1400

1450

1500

1550

1600

1650

1700

1750

1800

1850

1900

1950

2000
Stable for 10,000 yrs Global CO2 is in balance New sources of CO2

Biomass Energy Plant

Atmospheric Atmospheric
CO2 CO2
Biomass Energy could
Plant Growth, replace 10-15% of energy
Sustainable Forest, Waste & derived from fossil fuels
Agriculture Energy

Human
Consumption

Fossil Fuels,
Old Growth Forest
 What is Gasification?

Incineration Gasification
Heat and
Waste Waste Syngas
Emissions

High Temperature Controlled Temperature

+ +
Excess Oxygen Controlled Oxygen
= Complete Combustion = “Solids-to-Gas” Conversion

Ash Ash
Incineration is the burning (combustion) of solid fuel to produce heat energy.
Gasification is the temperature controlled conversion of hydrocarbons in solid fuels into
a gaseous form, syngas, which contains most of the energy potential of the original fuel
and can drive a variety of energy generating applications.
Gasification Process

Gasification facility overview

 Functional Diagram

INERT FLUE GAS

M
TT FUEL

LS BY-PASS
VALVE
TT
pre-drying
Pyrolysis
Partial oxidation
(gasification) Cold air-intake
Reduction
TT

TT QT TT TT TT QT FT
FT

Controller

RECYCLING OF
INERT FLUE GAS
Biomass Energy Plant - Pyrolysis/Gasification
 Biomass Energy Plant : Advantages

Energy Emission Economical Incineration

Cleanliness Range
Generation Gas Efficiency
Standard before
Low efficient Unhygienic Installation & Selected
environmental
energy generated. standards were treatment operation. municipal
reinforced
Incineration heat calls for maintenance waste
Existing utilization rate :  Additional civil petition cost is high
Plant facility required
Under 70% (fouling & Life Span Ash:
(Exp. increased)
(If environmental leakage) :10~15years Over 10%
standard is
reinforced,
operation is
not possible)

Alternative

Satisfying  Installation:
Highly efficient reinforced With waste 70% of existing Municipal/
energy generated compressing plant
domestic & industrial
Incineration heat unit, problems  Operation:
European waste
Biomass utilization rate : such as fouling 70% of existing
emission level
Energy plant
85~90% Additional and leakage Ash :
Plant (Supplementary
can be solved. Within 3%
fuel not required)
facility (Turning into
 Life Span :
not necessary fuel)
More than 20yrs
Biomass Syngas electricity production

Steam Turbine

Electricity
Steam
Generator

50℃ Compressed Air

600℃

Bag Filter Stack

Syngas

Boiler
Gas Turbine

Syngas Cooler &

Gasification Ash Separation Power
Output

Electricity
 Emission gas comparison

Source: Fossils fuels Guidance 95;13, Combustion plant.