Design and operation of a fixed-bed pyrolysis-gasification-combustion pilot plant for rural solid waste disposal

This paper is to explore the use of rural solid waste (RSW) for pyrolysis-gasification-combustion in pilot plant scale aiming at sustainable management of rural waste in remote areas. Based on the experimental data obtained during pilot scale operation, the temperature in the furnace needs to be kept at least at 600 C through analyzing the pyrolysis weight loss of the main combustibles in the RSW. Besides, the effects of the air supply method and ventilation rate on the pilot plant performance were explored. Results indicate that the active air supply method positively contributes to the performance of the pilot plant. The plant processed 10 t RSW/d, producing 12.82 g/ Nm(3) of tar with 1.75 % of ash. This study confirms the feasibility of the pilot plant for RSW disposal and provides theoretical support for the optimization of pilot plant operation.

Automated summary

This paper explores the use of rural solid waste for pyrolysis-gasification-combustion in a pilot plant scale, aiming to achieve sustainable management of waste in remote rural areas. Based on experimental data from pilot scale operation, it is found that the furnace temperature needs to be maintained at least at 600°C by analyzing the pyrolysis weight loss of the main combustibles in the waste. Furthermore, the effects of air supply method and ventilation rate on the performance of the pilot plant were studied. Results show that the active air supply method positively contributes to the performance of the pilot plant.