Medical waste treatment and electricity generation using pyrolyzer-rankine cycle for specialty hospitals in Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract

Acquisition, treatment, and final disposal of health-care waste is a vital public concern. Improper disposal has heightened this concern as it could lead to a widened risk of transmission of agents associated with blood-borne diseases. One of the ways to address these concerns is waste disposal and waste-to-energy plant. This facility is envisioned not only to manage hazardous wastes from hospitals with the least emissions of toxic substances and greenhouse gases but also to generate electricity. This study investigated the feasibility of developing waste disposal and waste-to-energy plant which involved: the selection of hospital type and location, waste composition, energy conversion, and power plant technology, and financial viability of the plant. The sampling design process identified the hospitals to be surveyed. The criteria include proximity of the hospitals, number of beds, and type of hospitals. A survey of waste generation across the specialty hospitals was then conducted and determined the type of waste, the quantity of the wastes produced, the percentage by weight, bulk density, and composition of the wastes. A selection was done to determine the energy conversion technology. The electric power plant technology was then selected knowing the characterization of the synthetic gas. The average waste generation was found to be 579 kg waste per day which has 29,062 kJ/kg calorific value. The study shows that electricity could be generated from this waste by utilizing a Pyrolyzer - Rankine Cycle power plant and is viable with a payback period of 5 years, and a Benefit-to-Cost ratio of 4. A business plan and enabling environment for the establishment of the Pyrolyzer – Rankine Cycle power plant is recommended to be studied.