Investigation of sewage sludge treatment using air plasma assisted gasification.
This study presents an experimental investigation of downdraft gasification process coupled with a secondary thermal plasma reactor in order to perform experimental investigations of sewage sludge gasification, and compare process parameters running the system with and without the secondary thermal plasma reactor. The experimental investigation were performed with non-pelletized mixture of dried sewage sludge and wood pellets. To estimate the process performance, the composition of the producer gas, tars, particle matter, producer gas and char yield were measured at the exit of the gasification and plasma reactor. The research revealed the distribution of selected metals and chlorine in the process products and examined a possible formation of hexachlorobenzene. It determined that the plasma assisted processing of gaseous products changes the composition of the tars and the producer gas, mostly by destruction of hydrocarbon species, such as methane, acetylene, ethane or propane. Plasma processing of the producer gas reduces their calorific value but increases the gas yield and the total produced energy amount. The presented technology demonstrated capability both for applying to reduce the accumulation of the sewage sludge and production of substitute gas for drying of sewage sludge and electrical power.
Laboratory of Combustion Processes, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Str. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: Nerijus.Striugas@lei.lt.
Nerijus
N
Striūgas
Plasma Processing Laboratory, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Str. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Vitas
V
Valinčius
Laboratory of Heat Equipment Research and Testing, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Str. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Nerijus
N
Pedišius
Nuclear Engineering Laboratory, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Str. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Robertas
R
Poškas
Laboratory of Combustion Processes, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos Str. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Kęstutis
K
Zakarauskas
D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D003890:Desiccation; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004560:Electricity; D005740:Gases; D012722:Sewage; D013638:Tars
D005740:Gases; D012722:Sewage; D013638:Tars
Air plasma; Chlorine emissions; Downdraft gasification; Process performance; Sewage sludge