Co-firing of Wastes Derived Syngas in Power Generation Boiler - The Choice of Gasification Technology

The paper deals with waste gasification as a technology allowing co-firing of large quantities of biodegradable wastes in power boiler. In contrast to common landfilling and direct co-firing, gasification of wastes presents a number of advantages. Problematic species included in original feedstocks can be partly safely incinerated in the furnace and partly retain in the gasification residues. The choice of gasification technology determines whether these residues could be further used in the construction industry or should nevertheless be landfilled but benefiting from significantly reduced volume with respect to original waste. Similarly, the choice of gasification technology determines the quality of product gas in terms of its composition and yield. On one hand, the higher the calorific value of product gas, less modification of an existing boiler is needed but the investment costs for gasifier are high. On the other hand large furnaces of coal boilers allow integration of relatively simple gasifiers generating low quality product gas which still will undergo complete burnout. Little effect on boiler operation in terms of long term phenomena like fouling or corrosion is expected to be associated with co-firing of low calorific gas in standard coal power boilers. Moreover, combustion characteristics in the furnace can even benefit from the co-firing of biodegradable wastes due to an enhanced reburning effect.JRC.F.2-Cleaner energie