Modeling low temperature plasma gasification of municipal solid waste

Plasma gasification requires high energy input and temperature, hindering adoption for commercial applications. In this study, a model of low-temperature plasma gasification is investigated to convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into syngas. The model was employed at reactor temperatures of 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 degrees C to assess effects on syngas composition and system performance with air as the plasma medium. At plasma temperatures of 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 degrees C, the model generated syngas lower heating values of 5.41, 6.02, and 6.45 MJ/Nm(3), respectively, with energy inputs of 2,358, 2,775, and 3,245 kW per kg/s of MSW, respectively, and plasma gasification efficiencies of 49.6, 49.2, and 48.9%, respectively. In comparison to conventional non-plasma air gasification of MSW, syngas generated from low-temperature plasma gasification contained higher concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, resulting in higher heating value of the syngas. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.