Completing the Value Chain for Plastic Recyclers in Nigeria: An Integration of Renewable Solar and Conventional Gas Energy Sources for Fuel Production

Abstract

Abstract It is of no new update that plastic recycling has taken another dimension in advanced countries all around the world. This is owing to the enormous plastic wastes being produced amounting to about 9 billion tonnes since the first production and the immerse technological advancements which can be seen in pelletizing plants, pyrolysis plants and 3D printers of today. However, here in Nigeria, the case of large plastic waste generation cannot be over emphasized, as efforts in recycling has being hampered consequently from low power generation of the National grid, high energy cost (fuel and electricity), polymer waste selectivity and even low capital resource from most parts of the country. Hence, this paper looks at the development of a solar-vacuumed actuated pyrolysis plant integrated with gas combustion energy supply which will employ the use of concentrated solar energy as the primary energy source for pyrolysis reaction for fuel production and use the flee gas from the reaction as an alternative energy source. A process flow configuration (PFD) involving the reactor, solar lenses, vacuum pump, solar panel, inline components and the condenser is set up to perform the thermal gasification and condensation of waste plastics in the reactor. Computationally, the finite element analysis (FEA) was done to see the thermodynamic effects inside and outside the reactor for effective fuel production. The idea is to ascertain that the inside temperature of the reactor which was initiated by solar thermal energy is enough to attain the boiling point of about 400°C of most plastic polymers but in vaccum conditions. When accomplished, this will complete the value chain of plastic recycling, eliminate plastic waste selectivity in terms of colour and type, sanitize the environment and create jobs for future entrepreneurs in Nigeria.