Performance analysis of aplas medical waste plasma gasification process

• In view of the growing volume of hospital/medical/infectious waste worldwide, particularly in developing countries experiencing both population booming and an improvement of healthcare system, technologies that can achieve a significant reduction of waste volume are gaining the attentions of related industries. Up to now, medical waste incinerators are still the most commonly used treatment; however, they have been identified as a large contributor of dioxins and mercury, facing intensive pressure from regulatory bodies and organizations to comply with the strict emission standards. Plasma gasification is considered as a viable solution with obvious advantages in preventing dioxin and furan formation, as well as realizing the efficient utilization of both energy and materials, compared to traditional technologies. Aplas, an innovational company committed to the development and industrial applications of plasma technologies, is developing a new plasma gasification technology with 20t/d capacity for environmentally friendly treatment of medical waste for Nantong, China. In this paper, the Aplas gasification process is briefly introduced. Then, by implementing the simulation, the energetic assessment and mass balance of the 20t/d gasification process is presented. The produced syngas from the gasifier can be either combusted directly to generate steam for steam boiler, or be used for other applications in downstream after a cleaning system. The economic feasibility of the 20t/d plasma gasification process is further determined in terms of the potential revenue streams and costs.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Boilers

Combustors

Developing countries

Engines

Gasification

Hazardous materials

Hazards

Heat treatment

Industrial waste treatment

Organic pollutants

Waste treatment

Economic feasibilities

Emission standard

Gasification process

Health-care system

Performance analysis

Plasma gasification

Plasma technology

Potential revenue

Plasma applications

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)