High-Temperature Steam Gasification of Agricultural and MSW and Conversion to Energy System 11/23/2011 TAG meeting

INTRODUCTION Chapter 1.

Background  Increasing MSW Generation Rates  Disadvantage of the Air gasification  Partial combustor and partial gasifier  Lower temperature gasifier produces low-quality syngas that contains undesirable char, tar and soot  Harmful emissions due to the air-breathing combustion

Objective  Define the critical parameters affecting product yields  Develop optimal conditions for thermal-chemical conversions  Develop method for the cost-effective production of hydrogen fuel Agricultural Wastes MSW High Temperature Steam Gasification

Team Members  PI  H. A.(Skip) Ingley,PE, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida. - Tel  Jacob N. Chung, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida. - Tel  Members Name Atish Shah Graduate student Billy Allen Samuel Mammo Stephen Belser Uisung Lee Andrew Hatcher Undergraduate student Thomas Lunden

MSW CHARACTERIZATION Chapter 1.

MSW Characterization  Total MSW generation by material Total MSW generation by material before recycling, 2009 [data from EPA]

MSW samples  Feedstock composition MaterialComposition Paper Corrugated boxes Newspaper Office type paper 22.8% 6.5% 4.5% Food scrap Dog food Additional water (moisture content compensation) 5.3% 11.7% Woodsawdust7.8% Yard TrimmingGrass, Leaves, Brush trimming16.5% Plastics (1)PET (2)HDPE (3)PVC (4)LDPE (5)PP (6)PS 2.4% 3.6% 0.8% 4.3% 3.8% 1.7% Rubber and leather 3.7% Textiles 6.3% Total100.0% MSW sample

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION Chapter 3.

Previous system  Supply the high temperature steam via combustion of hydrogen and oxygen  Batch type

Experimental Setup  Schematic

Experimental Equipment

Steam Generator / Superheater Steam Generator Superheater Pump Controller Donated by Quantera Energy

Current Steam Generator Configuration Pump Controller Transformer Superheater Steam Generator

Current Gasifier Configuration  Gasifier

Proposed Configuration Superheater Ceramic Torch

Data Analysis  Data Acquisition  Thermocouples  Pressure gauges  Gas chromatograph (H 2, CO, CO 2, CH 4, H 2 O) SRI Gas Chromatograph 8610-C

Simulations  Steam flow in the gasifier

CURRENT STATUS Chapter 4.

Status to Date  MSW characterization  Collected and mixed MSW based on the typical MSW composition  Steam generator and Superheater Status  Electrical connections done / Ready to use  Water reservoir has been ordered  can perform the preliminary runs within a couple of weeks  Gasifier Status  Connectors between steam generator and gasifier were ordered  Meeting has been held with Rafferty Tools to develop design for ceramic connection to gasifier  Simulation  Steam propagation was simulated with FLUENT. Ceramic steam connection will be redesigned for better steam distribution

Current Issues  Feeder location / design  Air-tight requirement  High-temperature resistant  Need to control the feeding rate at 1 kg/hr  Grinding feedstock  Powder form of feedstock required  Grinder in Dr.Townsend’s Lab is not working  Setting up GC  GC or MS ?

Tasks to Complete  Proximate and Ultimate analysis for MSW  After grinding MSW fine, send samples to Keystone Material Testing Inc.  Complete installation of equipment  Schedule EH&S inspection  Preliminary run  Check the steam generator : temp. and mass flow rate with respect to time  Check the temperature profile inside of the gasifier after connecting the steam generator and gasifier  Perform the experiment with feedstock material