Technologies for Waste-to-Energy

Waste to Energy technologies

Thermal technologies Non-thermal technologies

Incineration Anaerobic digestion

Gasification Fermentation

Plasma arc gasification

Pyrolysis
Technology 1 : Anaerobic digestion
 Feed use: organic material such as food waste, agricultural waste
 Estimated to produce 365kWh of electricity per ton organic waste
 Use microorganisms to destroy biodegradable content
 Convert organic polymers into methane and nutrient
 Temperature 50-75°C for thermophilic digestion
 Product: Biogas use for electricity, heating, transportation
 By-product: fertilizer
 Advantage & Disadvantage
Anaerobic digestion
Advantage
• Reduce the greenhouse
gases from the atmosphere
• Worthy replacement of fossil
fuels.
• Reduce quantity of sludge for
disposal / reuse
Disadvantage
• Lower energy density
• Solids difficult to handle
• High water content
• Competing uses as high value
food stuff
• Commercial Issues
• Biomass feedstock,
availability, & cost
• Suitable sites
Technology 2 : Incineration process
 Feed use: MSW such as food waste, paper, plastic
 produce 750kWh of electricity per ton of MSW
 Thermal technologies
 Temperature 850°C for combustion process
 heat produce -> steam -> energy (electricity and heat)
 By-product: bottom ash – treat by baghouse
 Advantage & Disadvantage
Incineration Process
Advantage Disadvantage

• Simple to operate • Air pollution

• Waste volume reduction • Ash must be landfilled and
(95%-96%) may be hazardous
• Destruction of combustible • High capital and operation
toxins cost
• Destruction of pathogenically • Encourages waste production
contaminated material
• Produces energy
• Eliminates problem of
leachate that produces by
landfill
Comparison between Anaerobic digestion and
Incineration
Anaerobic digestion Incineration

Feedstock Organic only Municipal Solid Waste

(MSW)
Electricity produce 48% 70%

Energy potential 1 ton livestock waste = 1 ton MSW = ±750 kWh

±356kWh
Temperature needed 55°C - 75°C 850°C

Reaction process Slow process Fast

Operating cost High capital and operating Relatively lower capital and
cost operating cost