Application of aspen plus for municipal solid waste plasma gasification simulation: case study of Jatibarang Landfill in Semarang Indonesia

Abstract

The objective of this study is to apply the plasma gasification technology for MSW treatment. The gasification model used Gibbs free energy minimization approach using the Lagrange multiplier method. This model was simulated using the Aspen Plus software. The feedstock of plasma gasification was the MSW in Jatibarang landfill. To verify the model, RDF of Minutillo et al., 2009 was tested. Simulation and modeling of plasma gasification was carried out by air, 60% air mixture and steam 40%, air mixture 40% and steam 60%, as plasma gas, respectively. For 1 kg MSW per second yields hydrogen in mole fraction of 32.64%, 36.74%, 38.51%, while for CO was 31.25%, 26.75%, and 23.35%. The efficiency was 45%, 34% and 38% respectively. Efficiency and the highest of carbon monoxide produced were achieved when only air was used as the plasma gas. The addition of steam as the plasma gas increases hydrogen production but reduces carbon monoxide production. The greater the amount of vapor, the more hydrogen is produced.