IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v68y2014icp377-384.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

System development and self-sustainability analysis for upgrading human waste to power

Author

Listed:
  • Liu, Ming
  • Woudstra, T.
  • Promes, E.J.O.
  • Restrepo, S.Y.G.
  • Aravind, P.V.

Abstract

This paper presents a system to upgrade faecal matter in an environmentally friendly way by the deployment of plasma gasification and SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells). The entire system chain, including a dryer, a microwave-assisted plasma gasifier, a gas processing system and an SOFC system, is studied to evaluate system performance and self-sustainability. The effects of gas processing approach, moisture content and oxidant-to-fuel ratio on system self-sustainability are studied in detail. The results show that the variables aforementioned strongly affect system performance. It is recommended to deploy the approach of adding air, a mild moisture content (30% by weight) and an intermediate oxidant to fuel ratio (1.05 kg kg−1) to achieve enhanced system performance under the conditions studied.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Ming & Woudstra, T. & Promes, E.J.O. & Restrepo, S.Y.G. & Aravind, P.V., 2014. "System development and self-sustainability analysis for upgrading human waste to power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 377-384.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:68:y:2014:i:c:p:377-384
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.005
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544214002588
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.005?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, M.J. & Huang, Y.F. & Chiueh, P.T. & Kuan, W.H. & Lo, S.L., 2012. "Microwave-induced torrefaction of rice husk and sugarcane residues," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 177-184.
    2. Lupa, Christopher J. & Wylie, Steve R. & Shaw, Andrew & Al-Shamma'a, Ahmed & Sweetman, Andrew J. & Herbert, Ben M.J., 2013. "Gas evolution and syngas heating value from advanced thermal treatment of waste using microwave-induced plasma," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1065-1072.
    3. Hong, Yong C. & Lee, Sang J. & Shin, Dong H. & Kim, Ye J. & Lee, Bong J. & Cho, Seong Y. & Chang, Han S., 2012. "Syngas production from gasification of brown coal in a microwave torch plasma," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 36-40.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alvaro Fernandes & Joerg Brabandt & Oliver Posdziech & Ali Saadabadi & Mayra Recalde & Liyuan Fan & Eva O. Promes & Ming Liu & Theo Woudstra & Purushothaman Vellayan Aravind, 2018. "Design, Construction, and Testing of a Gasifier-Specific Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Patel, H.C. & Tabish, A.N. & Comelli, F. & Aravind, P.V., 2015. "Oxidation of H2, CO and syngas mixtures on ceria and nickel pattern anodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 912-920.
    3. Recalde, Mayra & Woudstra, Theo & Aravind, P.V., 2018. "Renewed sanitation technology: A highly efficient faecal-sludge gasification–solid oxide fuel cell power plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 515-529.
    4. Bhattacharya, Madhuchhanda & Basak, Tanmay, 2016. "A review on the susceptor assisted microwave processing of materials," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 306-338.
    5. Baldinelli, Arianna & Barelli, Linda & Bidini, Gianni, 2015. "Performance characterization and modelling of syngas-fed SOFCs (solid oxide fuel cells) varying fuel composition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 2070-2084.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shie, Je-Lueng & Chen, Li-Xun & Lin, Kae-Long & Chang, Ching-Yuan, 2014. "Plasmatron gasification of biomass lignocellulosic waste materials derived from municipal solid waste," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 82-89.
    2. Vecten, S. & Wilkinson, M. & Martin, A. & Dexter, A. & Bimbo, N. & Dawson, R. & Herbert, B., 2020. "Experimental study of steam and carbon dioxide microwave plasma for advanced thermal treatment application," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    3. Yek, Peter Nai Yuh & Cheng, Yoke Wang & Liew, Rock Keey & Wan Mahari, Wan Adibah & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Peng, Wanxi & Park, Young-Kwon & Sonne, Christian & Kong, Sieng Huat & Tabatabaei, 2021. "Progress in the torrefaction technology for upgrading oil palm wastes to energy-dense biochar: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Elhambakhsh, Abbas & Van Duc Long, Nguyen & Lamichhane, Pradeep & Hessel, Volker, 2023. "Recent progress and future directions in plasma-assisted biomass conversion to hydrogen," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    5. Batidzirai, B. & Mignot, A.P.R. & Schakel, W.B. & Junginger, H.M. & Faaij, A.P.C., 2013. "Biomass torrefaction technology: Techno-economic status and future prospects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 196-214.
    6. Owen Sedej & Eric Mbonimpa & Trevor Sleight & Jeremy Slagley, 2022. "Application of Machine Learning to Predict the Performance of an EMIPG Reactor Using Data from Numerical Simulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Andrius Tamošiūnas & Ajmia Chouchène & Pranas Valatkevičius & Dovilė Gimžauskaitė & Mindaugas Aikas & Rolandas Uscila & Makrem Ghorbel & Mejdi Jeguirim, 2017. "The Potential of Thermal Plasma Gasification of Olive Pomace Charcoal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, May.
    8. Li, Yan & Feng, Yanhui & Zhang, Xinxin & Wu, Chuansong, 2014. "Energy propagation in plasma arc welding with keyhole tracking," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1044-1056.
    9. Motasemi, F. & Afzal, Muhammad T., 2013. "A review on the microwave-assisted pyrolysis technique," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 317-330.
    10. Zhang, Jingxin & Kan, Xiang & Shen, Ye & Loh, Kai-Chee & Wang, Chi-Hwa & Dai, Yanjun & Tong, Yen Wah, 2018. "A hybrid biological and thermal waste-to-energy system with heat energy recovery and utilization for solid organic waste treatment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 214-222.
    11. Bhattacharya, Madhuchhanda & Basak, Tanmay, 2013. "A theoretical study on the use of microwaves in reducing energy consumption for an endothermic reaction: Role of metal coated bounding surface," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 278-294.
    12. Jorge Miguel Carneiro Ribeiro & Radu Godina & João Carlos de Oliveira Matias & Leonel Jorge Ribeiro Nunes, 2018. "Future Perspectives of Biomass Torrefaction: Review of the Current State-Of-The-Art and Research Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    13. Tungalag, Azjargal & Lee, BongJu & Yadav, Manoj & Akande, Olugbenga, 2020. "Yield prediction of MSW gasification including minor species through ASPEN plus simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    14. Esteban Valdez & Lope G. Tabil & Edmund Mupondwa & Duncan Cree & Hadi Moazed, 2021. "Microwave Torrefaction of Oat Hull: Effect of Temperature and Residence Time," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-15, July.
    15. Siddique, Istiaq Jamil & Salema, Arshad Adam & Antunes, Elsa & Vinu, Ravikrishnan, 2022. "Technical challenges in scaling up the microwave technology for biomass processing," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    16. Piotr Piersa & Hilal Unyay & Szymon Szufa & Wiktoria Lewandowska & Remigiusz Modrzewski & Radosław Ślężak & Stanisław Ledakowicz, 2022. "An Extensive Review and Comparison of Modern Biomass Torrefaction Reactors vs. Biomass Pyrolysis—Part 1," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-34, March.
    17. Li, Jian & Tao, Junyu & Yan, Beibei & Jiao, Liguo & Chen, Guanyi & Hu, Jianli, 2021. "Review of microwave-based treatments of biomass gasification tar," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    18. Alok Dhaundiyal & Laszlo Toth, 2021. "Modelling of a Torrefaction Process Using Thermal Model Object," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, April.
    19. Lars Zigan, 2018. "Overview of Electric Field Applications in Energy and Process Engineering," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-33, May.
    20. Ramos, Ana & Rouboa, Abel, 2022. "Life cycle thinking of plasma gasification as a waste-to-energy tool: Review on environmental, economic and social aspects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:68:y:2014:i:c:p:377-384. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.