Abstract
Pyrolysis is the thermo-chemical conversion of carbonaceous feedstock in the absence of oxygen to produce bio-fuel (bio-oil, bio-char and syn-gas). Bio-fuel production from municipal green waste (MGW) through the pyrolysis process has attracted considerable attention recently in the renewable energy sector because it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to energy security. This study analyses properties of MGW feedstock available in Rockhampton city of Central Queensland, Australia, and presents an experimental investigation of producing bio-fuel from that MGW through the pyrolysis process using a short sealed rotary furnace. It was found from the experiment that about 19.97% bio-oil, 40.83% bio-char and 29.77% syn-gas can be produced from the MGW. Then, a four-stage steady state simulation model is developed for pyrolysis process performance simulation using Aspen Plus software. In the first stage, the moisture content of the MGW feed is reduced. In the second stage, the MGW is decomposed according to its elemental constituents. In the third stage, condensate material is separated and, finally, the pyrolysis reactions are modelled using the Gibbs free energy minimisation approach. The MGW’s ultimate and proximate analysis data were used in the Aspen Plus simulation as input parameters. The model is validated with experimentally measured data. A good agreement between simulation and experimental results was found. More specifically, the variation of modelling and experimental elemental compositions of the MGW was found to be 7.3% for carbon, 15.82% for hydrogen, 7.04% for nitrogen and 5.56% for sulphur. The validated model is used to optimise the biofuel production from the MGW as a function of operating variables such as temperature, moisture content, particle size and process heat air–fuel ratio. The modelling and optimisation results are presented, analysed and discussed.
Highlights
Utilisation of biomass in conventional energy generation is obtaining a great deal of attention due to environmental considerations and the growing requirements for energy globally [1]
The municipal green waste (MGW) pyrolysis test results indicate that the percentages by weight of charcoal, non-condensable gas and pyrolysis oil are 48.4%, 31.7% and 19.9%, respectively
Pyrolysis of MGW was investigated both experimentally and numerically. It was found from the experimental investigation that approximately 19.972% bio-oil, 40.83% bio-char and
Summary
Utilisation of biomass in conventional energy generation is obtaining a great deal of attention due to environmental considerations and the growing requirements for energy globally [1]. About 12% of the world’s total primary energy consumption is provided by biomass [2]. Biomass is recognised as a renewable supply for energy production and is richly available around the world [3]. The use of biomass feedstock to produce liquid fuel is associated with some problems due to restricted supply and low energy concentrations [4]. When seeking an alternative source of energy, the potential environmental benefits and disadvantages of the biofuel generation processes should be considered [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
