PLASMA ARC TECHNOLOGY IN WASTE MANAGEMENT

SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted by

SUBHA TR
(18016192)

To
the Board of Technical Education, Kerala
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
award of Diplomain Civil Engineering.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

MALABAR POLYTECHNIC CAMPUS
CHERPULASSERY
AUGUST 2020
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
MALABAR POLYTECHNIC CAMPUS,
CHERPULASSERY

CERTIFICATE

Certified that this report entitled ' Plasma Arc Technology in Waste Management ' is the
report of seminar presented by Subha TR, (18016192) during year 2020-21 in partial
fulfillmentof the requirements for the award of the Diploma in Civil Engineering of the
Board of Technical Education, Kerala.

LECTURE Head of the Department

Dept. of Civil Engineering Dept. of Civil Engineering

.
Internal Examiner External Examiner
Seminar Report 2020-21 Plasma Arc Technology in Waste Management

AKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I wish to thank the omnipotent God for his blessings.

I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to our honorable Principle

Mr. Muhammed Sirajudheen A, Malabar Polytechnic Campus, Cherpulassery for his

motivation and for his motivation and for creating an inspiring atmosphere in the college by
providing state of art facilities for seminar presentation.

Our sincere thanks to Mrs. Sunaina K, Head of section, Department of Civil

Engineering, for her whole hearted support in completion of the seminar presentation.

I am highly indebted to my guide. Mr. Anoop K, Lecture, Department of Civil

Engineering, for his valuable support and guidance throughout the seminar presentation.

I also take the opportunity to thank my Parent, Friends and loved one who has
contributed well through the proper guidance and encouragement towards the completion of
the seminar presentation.

Last but not least, I would like to thanks The Teaching & Non-Teaching Staffs of
Civil Engineering Department, and to thank one and all who have helped us during the
seminar.

SUBHA TR

Department of Civil engineering Page i

 ABSTRACT
Conventional waste treatment methods certainly do not solve problems, because the. harmful
residues such as ash, dust, gases left behind can not be filtered off even with the usage of
innovative technologies. The solution is a modern and clean technology using plasma for all
kinds of trash. Plasma arc technology is a waste treatment technology that uses high electrical
energy and high temperature. The plasma is not applied to the waste directly, but used as a
source of very high temperature for the waste nearby which is therefore heated rapidly. By
raising the waste to very high temperatures, organic components are broken down into
simpler atoms/molecules and inorganic components are melted into a glassy slag. If
conducted in an atmosphere containing oxygen, the organic components will burn to produce
CO2 and water. If carried out in the absence of oxygen, the process is referred to as ‘plasma
gasification’ and will produce a combustible gas, made up mainly of carbon monoxide (CO)
and hydrogen which can be cooled and treated for use in other equipment. It takes very little
time to dispose the waste materials. This technology can be used for generating electricity.
The gaseous by- product of called syngas has high calorific value. Other byproducts of the
process have varying applications in civil engineering.
 CONTENT
TITLE PAGE NO
ACKNOWLEDGMENT i

ABSTRACT ii

CONTENT iii

LIST OF FIGURES iv

1.INTRODUCTION 1

2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2

3. BACKGROUND 6

4. APPLICATION IN WASTE MANAGEMENT 7

5. PLASMA 8

6. PRINCIPLE 9

7. COMPONENTS OF PLASMA GASIFICATION SYSTEM 10

8. PLASMA GASIFICATION 12

9. PROCESS 13

10. ECONOMIC COSTS AND BENIFITS 15

11. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERNS 16

12. ADVANTAGES 17

13. DISADVANTAGES 18

14. CONCLUSION 19

REFERENCES 20
 LIST OF FIGURES
TITLE PAGE NO
FIG 01: PLASMA GASIFIER 12

FIG 02: PROCESS DIAGRAM 14

Seminar Report 2020-21 Plasma Arc Technology in Waste Management

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Plasma arc gasification (PAG), waste-treatment technology that uses a combination of

electricity and high temperatures to turn municipal waste (garbage or trash) into usable by-
products without combustion (burning). Although the technology is sometimes confused with
incinerating or burning trash, plasma gasification does not combust the waste as incinerators
do. Instead, it converts the organic waste into a gas that still contains all its chemical and heat
energy and converts the inorganic waste into an inert vitrified glass called slag. The process
can reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills and generate electricity.

Department of Civil engineering Page 1

 CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW

Shane Morrin et al. (2012) Gasification of solid waste for energy has significant potential given
an abundant feed supply and strong policy drivers. Nonetheless, significant ambiguities in the
knowledge base are apparent. Consequently this study investigates Sulphur mechanisms within a
novel two stage fluid bed-plasma gasification process. This paper includes a detailed review of
gasification and plasma fundamentals in relation to the specific process, along with insight on
MSW based feedstock properties and Sulphur pollutant therein. As a first step to understanding
Sulphur partitioning and speciation within the process, thermodynamic modelling of the fluid
bed stage has been performed. Preliminary findings, supported by plant experience, indicate the
prominence of solid phase Sulphur species (as opposed to H2S) – Na and K based species in
particular. Work is underway to further investigate and validate this.

Patel Munna Lal et al. (2012) The Municipal Solid Waste Management is a challenge to the
Environmental Engineers, City Planners and Local Administration. Day to day increase in its
quantity, complex in composition and scarcity in land availability for the landfill is making it
more difficult. A disposal process, that can get rid of almost any kind of waste at a fraction of the
cost of today's disposal techniques, eliminate existing landfills, and produce an excess of clean
energy is called Plasma Gasification Process (PGP). Almost any material can be broken down
with this technology, eliminating the time-consuming, tedious and costly process of waste
sorting.(Nuclear waste is an exception due to its indestructible isotopes.) Utilization of plasma
gasification (Pourali, M. 2010) in waste to energy is one of the novel applications that were
introduced several decades ago. In plasma arc gasifies the organic waste materials are gasified to
generate a syngas which can be used to produce energy through reciprocating engine generators,
gas turbines and boilers. The in-organic waste materials (Blees Tom, 2008) are vitrified which is
reusable metal. The goal of this study is to describe the basics of this technology, review the
challenges and to create opportunities for its implementation in waste to energy applications and
provide a roadmap to eliminate current roadblocks for developing such projects. The PGP holds
a very good prospect of adoption for Municipal Solid Waste Management, as it is a process
which is very efficient (Evans Steve D, 2009), at diverting waste away from landfill, and thus
scores highly among waste disposal engineers who are constantly seeking to comply with
regulations to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill. This might be proven as
Environmentally Safe and Sustainable Solution for Municipal Solid Waste Management in the
State of Madhya Pradesh, India.

E Gomez et al. (2009) This review describes the current status of waste treatment using thermal
plasma technology. A comprehensive analysis of the available scientific and technical literature
on waste plasma treatment is presented, including the treatment of a variety of hazardous wastes,
such as residues from municipal solid waste incineration, slag and dust from steel production,
asbestos-containing wastes, health care wastes and organic liquid wastes. The principles of
thermal plasma generation and the technologies available are outlined, together with potential
applications for plasma vitrified products. There have been continued advances in the application
of plasma technology for waste treatment, and this is now a viable alternative to other potential
treatment/disposal options. Regulatory, economic and socio-political drivers are promoting
adoption of advanced thermal conversion techniques such as thermal plasma technology and
these are expected to become increasingly commercially viable in the future.
A Sanlisoy et al. (2017) In this paper a brief review on plasma gasification as a new technology
for solid waste disposal is presented. Plasma gasification systems can handle not only biomass
but also harmful wastes which can be completely converted into outputs having considerable
amounts of useful energy content. There are a variety of plasma gasification systems which have
different design and operation characteristics with the utilization of a great range of fuels. The
operation and performance evaluation of a plasma gasification system in turn is specified by the
required outputs. There is a need for a common approach as a function of fuel, system and
process characteristics. Furthermore thermodynamic analysis of plasma gasification process is
still one of the current research topics due to the missing general theoretical treatment and
terminology compatible for all of the systems. A critical analysis on the available literature in
this respect provides a solid contribution to the state of art. An experimental research on the
design and performance of a plasma gasification system “MCw gasifier” is on site to fill the
determined major gaps of the literature which are outlined in this paper.

Rahul Baidya et al. (2016) Energy recovery from waste is an effective aspect of waste
management practices. Numbers of technologies are available and being utilized but waste
composition and characteristics plays an important role as a deciding factor for the sustainability
of waste to energy technology. Numbers of countries are also looking for disposing hazardous
waste in an environmentally sound way with possible energy recovery from the disposing
process. Plasma gasification is the new area of interest among researcher, being highly
advantageous in many aspects from the other conventional available technologies. The plasma
technology can handle all kind of waste with zero by-products and can wither to emission norms
effectively. The developing countries with huge population like India are highly in need of a
waste treatment process in which mixed waste can be processed with high energy generating
possibility. The objective of the study is to review the available literature related to plasma
gasification for treatment and disposal of various type of waste. The study shows the potential of
plasma gasification as a solution for disposal of multiple waste stream and energy recovery from
it. Number of studies is available but a review specific to plasma gasification potential as a waste
management methodology and emphasizing on developing countries issues is unavailable in
literature.
 CHAPTER 3
BACKGROUND

Plasma-arc technology was developed and employed in the metallurgy industry during the late
1800s to provide extremely high temperatures. During the early 1900s, plasma heaters
were used in the chemical industry to manufacture acetylene from natural gas. Plasma-arc
heaters received renewed attention when the United States NASA Space programs, during the
early 1960s, evaluated and selected plasma-arc heating technology for simulating and
recreating the extreme high heat of re-entry into the earth’s dense atmosphere encountered
by spacecraft from orbit. Subsequently, small-scale plasma heater processes were built and
tested during the 1970s. Large-scale industrial plants were built and commissioned
during 1980s. Since then, various companies like Pyrolysis Systems Inc., Canada,
Siemens, Germany, Plasma Energy Applied Technology Inc., USA, Plasma pole, France,
etc. are active in the development of plasma systems using plasma-arc technology.
 CHAPTER 4
APPLICATION IN WASTE MANAGEMENT

Plasma arc gasification is a waste treatment technology that uses high electrical energy and
high temperature created by an electrical arc gasifier. The arc breaks down waste
primarily into elemental gas and solid waste (slag), in a device called a plasma
converter. The process has been intended to be a net generator of electricity,
depending upon the composition of input wastes, and to reduce the volumes of waste being
sent to landfill sites. The waste is broken down to create gas, solid and liquid residues. The
gases can then be combusted in a secondary process. The pyrolysis process thermally
degrades waste in the absence of air (and oxygen). Gasification is a process in which materials
are exposed to some oxygen, but not enough to allow combustion to occur. Temperatures
are usually above 750 °C. In some systems the pyrolysis phase is followed by a second
gasification stage, in order that more of the energy carrying gases are liberated from the
waste.
 CHAPTER 5
PLASMA

Plasma is the fourth state of matter (the other three states being solid, liquid and gas). It is an
ionized gas that exists in nature, for example, 2 during lightning. Much of the universe
exits in plasma state. The sun, stars and interstellar matter are plasma manifestations. The
gas in the upper parts of the ionosphere (say, above 400km altitude) is completely ionized. On
cosmological scales, plasma is entirely dominating the universe, with safe estimates
giving that at least 99% of all matter is in the plasma state. Plasmas are electrically
.conductive. These consist of freely moving charged particles, i.e., electrons and ions
along with neutrals – all at different temperatures. Plasma densities vary widely from 103
to 1033 charged particles/m3 while the corresponding temperatures vary from 102
Kelvin to 108 Kelvin. Plasma (generally combinations of oxygen and nitrogen) is produced
when a high voltage direct current is applied across separated electrodes and the
voltage raised until the gas becomes conducting (‘ionizes’) and arcs between the electrodes.
In the case of lightning, this converts the applied electrical energy to high temperature
heat (>10,000 °C) local to the electrodes and the path between them.
 CHAPTER 6
PRINCIPLE

Relatively high voltage, high current electricity is passed between two electrodes,
spaced apart, creating an electrical arc. Inert gas under pressure is passed through the arc into
a sealed container of waste material, reaching temperatures as high as 13,900 °C in
the arc column. The temperature a few feet from the torch can be as high as 2,760-4,427 °C.
At these temperatures, most types of waste are broken into basic elemental components in
a gaseous form, and complex molecules are separated into individual atoms. Use of plasma
arcs (from electrical input) as part of waste disposal/destruction has been in use for many years.
By raising the waste to very high temperatures, such as 3000-4000 °C for example, organic
components are broken down into simpler atoms/molecules and inorganics are melted
into a glassy slag. If conducted in an atmosphere containing oxygen (or air), the
organic components will burn to produce CO2 and water. If carried out in the
absence of oxygen, the process is referred to as ‘plasma gasification’ and will produce a
combustible gas, made up mainly of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen which can be
cooled and treated for use in other equipment. Some metals, always including mercury
but also others (cadmium, lead, for example), will be evaporated at the high temperatures
and will leave with the exit gas stream from which they will need to be
condensed/removed. Precursors to dioxins/ furnace will be destroyed at the high
operating temperatures, though care is necessary to avoid them reforming as the gas stream
is cooled. In the latest systems the temperature level has been reduced to optimize
power use, which gives favorable conditions for volume reduction of ash (as an inert
glassy slag for beneficial use) and destruction of toxic components in flue gases.
 CHAPTER 7
COMPONENTS OF PLASMA GASIFICATION SYSTEM

The design of plasma gasification plant is not standardized and varies companies engaged in
their manufacture custom build the facility as per customers’ specifications. However,
following are some of the essential parts of any such facility.

TRITURATION AND CONVEYOR SECTION

This section comprises a grinder or crusher for breaking the trash in to manageable size for
handling by conveyor, which pushes it to the plasma furnace.

PLASMA TORCH
Plasma for the system is produced by using a device called plasma torch or plasmatrons.
The plasma torch can produce extremely high temperatures that cannot be otherwise
created except through nuclear fusion/fission. By passing a DC current between the
cathode and the anode of the plasma arc torch and simultaneously passing of air in
the annular space of the torch, an extremely high-temperature environment is created
ranging in temperature from 5,000 °C to 10,000 °C. Depending on the primary source, which
can be direct current, alternating current at mains frequency, or at radio frequency, they are
known as dc, ac or rf torches. A conventional dc plasma torch consists of a tungsten rod
cathode and a water-cooled copper anode, shaped in the form of a nozzle. The two electrodes
are separated by an insulator, which also has an inlet for plasma gas. When a gas is
introduced in the electrode gap and a dc arc is established between the electrodes, the
arc is pushed through the nozzle resulting in a high temperature, high velocity flame. The
body of the torch consists of cooling chambers for cathode and anode. The torch is
supplied with water and power through water-cooled cables which are in turn coupled
to the main power supply and water headers.
PYROLYSIS CHAMBER
It is an air-locked chamber with one or more plasma torches. It allows the garbage in but
prevents hot gases from escaping in to the atmosphere. The chamber is lined with heat-
resistant refractory material. Towards the bottom side of the camber is drainage system for slag.
It also incorporates a water-cooling system. Towards the top of the chamber is the exit
vent for the gases.

GAS REFORMER AND HEAT EXCHANGER

The reformer reforms hydrocarbon fuel into a reformate gas such as hydrogen-rich gas known as
synthesis gas (syngas) or producer gas. In the heat exchanger, the hot gases heat water to
produce steam turbine coupled to a generator to produce electricity.

GAS CLEANUP FILTER

As the gases produced by pyrolysis mainly comprise carbon monoxide (25 percent),
hydrogen and hydrocarbons (15 percent) and carbon dioxide and nitrogen (60 percent),
the next step is to ‘clean’ the syngas or producer gas. It is done using gas cleanup filter.
Thereafter, the gas is burned in internal combustion (IC) engine generator sets or turbines to
produce electricity.
 CHAPTER 8
PLASMA GASIFICATION

Plasma gasification is an extreme thermal process using plasma which converts organic matter
into a syngas (synthesis gas) which is primarily made up of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A
plasma torch powered by an electric arc is used to ionize gas and catalyze organic matter into
syngas, with slag

remaining as a byproduct. It is used commercially as a form of waste treatment and has been
tested for the gasification of refuse-derived fuel, biomass, industrial waste, hazardous waste, and
solid hydrocarbons, such as coal, oil sands, pet coke and oil shale.

FigNo.1:PlasmaGasifier
 CHAPTER 9
PROCESS

In the PAG process an electrical arc gasifier passes a very high voltage electrical current through
two electrodes, creating an arc between them. Inert gas, which is under high pressure, then passes
through the electrical arc into a sealed container (called a plasma converter) of waste materials.
Temperatures in the arc column can reach more than 14,000 °C (25,000 °F), which is hotter than
the surface of the Sun. Exposed to such temperatures, most waste is transformed into gas
consisting of basic elements, while complex molecules are torn apart into individual atoms.

BY PRODUCTS OF PLASMA GASIFICATION

• Syngas, which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Waste materials,

including plastics, contain high amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and the
conversion rate of those materials into syngas can exceed 99 percent. Before the syngas
can be used for power, it must be cleansed of harmful materials such as hydrogen
chloride. Once cleaned, the syngas can be burned like natural gas, with a portion going to
power the plasma arc gasification plant and the remainder being sold to utility companies,
which also use it primarily for producing electricity.
• Slag, which is a solid residue resembling obsidian, can be cleaned of contaminants,
including heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium, and processed into bricks and
synthetic gravel.
• Residual heat, which emanates from the process and can be used to produce steam for
electrical generation.

The composition of the waste stream can affect the effectiveness of the gasification procedure.
Garbage that is high in inorganic materials, such as metals and construction waste, will yield less
syngas, which is the most-valuable by-product, and more slag. For that reason, it may be
worthwhile in certain settings to presort the waste stream. If waste can be shredded before it
enters the gasification chamber, the efficiency of the PAG is improved.
Fig No.2: Process diagram
 CHAPTER 10
ECONOMIC COST AND BENEFITS

PAG appears to offer significant potential for reducing landfill waste and converting garbage
into useful products. However, its costs and uncertain environmental impacts have complicated
efforts to build PAG facilities. Burying garbage in landfills remains relatively inexpensive
compared with using PAG to reduce the solid waste that resides there. (A 2007 study of landfills
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, noted that the cost to municipalities was $35 per ton for waste
burial, compared with $170 per ton for PAG processing.)

Small facilities operate in several countries to dispose of hazardous materials such as chemical
weapons and incinerator ash. Among the most-notable experimental facilities are the plants at
Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University in Tainan City, which processes 3–5 metric tons
(3.3–5.5 short tons) of waste per day, and Utashinai, Japan, which processes 150 metric tons
(165 short tons) per day. Several large-scale facilities have been proposed in the United States
and other countries; however, the development of larger, municipal-level facilities have not
progressed past the pilot stage. Even if large-scale facilities are not constructed, advocates say
the technology can be particularly cost-effective for handling medical and refinery waste and
construction materials, because they command high disposal fees for the operator and produce
high levels of heat that can be used to produce electricity.
 CHAPTER 11
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

Plasma arc technology has also drawn some questions from environmentalists because of
contaminants that could be left in the by-products. They contend that syngas produced, if burned
for energy without proper treatment, could emit toxic acids, dioxin, and other pollutants, and the
slag could retain high levels of mercury and other hazardous materials that can create challenges
for solid-waste disposal. Environmentalists also worry that people may become complacent
about municipal recycling and reducing the waste stream if they believe the waste can be
recycled.
 CHAPTER 12
ADVANTAGES

The main advantages of plasma torch technologies for waste treatment are:

• Preventing hazardous waste from reaching landfills

• Some processes are designed to recover fly ash, bottom ash, and most other particulates,
for 95% or better diversion from landfills, and no harmful emissions of toxic waste
• Potential production of vitrified slag which could be used as construction material
• Processing of biomass waste into combustible syngas for electric power and thermal
energy
• Production of value-added products (metals) from slag

• Safe means to destroy both medical and many other hazardous wastes.

• Gasification with starved combustion and rapid quenching of syngas from elevated
temperatures can avoid the production of dioxins and furans that are common to
incinerators
• Air emissions can be cleaner than landfills and similar to that of incinerators.
 CHAPTER 13
DISADVANTAGES

Main disadvantages of plasma torch technologies for waste treatment are:

• Large initial investment costs relative to that of alternatives, including landfill and
incineration.
• Operational costs are high relative to that of incineration.

• Little or even negative net energy production.

• Wet feed stock results in less syngas production and higher energy consumption.

• Frequent maintenance and limited plant availability.

 CHAPTER 14
CONCLUSION

Plasma-based systems have been widely used for destruction of hazardous wastes. However, its
high net energy input (i.e. high operating cost) and high capital costs have made it
uneconomic for more general wastes. Recently, this has begun to change as designs have
been developed and optimised by suppliers keen to take advantage of the perceived
environmental credentials, compact footprint and potential for high conversion efficiency
when the ‘syngas’ is used with downstream power generation equipment. Products are now
being offered with net electrical output and claimed low capital and operating costs.
 REFERENCES
1.Shane Morrin, Paola Lettieri, Chris Chapman, Luca Mazzei, (2012), “Two stage fluid bed
plasma gasification process for solid waste valorisation, journal of Waste management,
Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, 32(4), 678-684”.

2.Patel Munna Lal, Chauhan Janardan Singh, (2012), “Plasma gasification a sustainable
solution for the management of municipal solid waste, International Journal of Environmental
Sciences, 3(1) 306”.

3.E Gomez, D Amutha Rani, CR Cheeseman, D Deegan, M Wise, AR Boccaccini, (2009),

“Thermal plasma technology for the treatment of waste, Journal of hazardous materials
DepartmentofMaterials, Imperial College London, 161 (2-3), 614626”.

4.A Sanlisoy, MO Carpinlioglu. (2017), “A review on Plasma gasification for solid waste
disposal, International journal of hydrogen energy, University of Gaziantep Faculty of
Engineering, Turkey, 42 (2), 1361-1365”.

5.Rahul Baidya, Sadhan Kumar Ghosh, (2016), “Utilization of discarded waste in a

composting plant for energy recovery by plasma gasification- a proposed method, Journal of
Solid Waste Technology & Management, Vol. 42 Issue 1, p794-805. 12p”.