Generación de Energía a partir de Residuos Sólidos Urbanos. Estrategias Termodinámicas para Optimizar el Desempeño de Centrales Térmicas

Abstract

In this study, thermodynamic strategies are determined for the energy conversion of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) in incineration plants under sub-stoichiometric conditions. Energy generation from MSW is an alternative to mitigate the environmental impacts derived by their final disposal, being the production rate of MSW in Medellin city (Colombia) of about 1800 ton/day. The analysis is conducted by means of a thermochemical equilibrium model of the gasification process, where the effect of moisture content and fuel-air equivalence ratio on the thermochemical process is studied. The energy potential of MSW from the city is between 28 and 44 MWe. The thermodynamic strategies for energy recovery from MSW in incineration plants at sub-stoichiometric conditions, under auto-thermal regimens and avoiding ash fusion, establish that the process must be carried out with a fuel-air equivalence ratio between 1.5 and 3.3, regardless of the moisture content of the MSW.