How-to, Tips and Articles: Alter NRG - We Can Transform Coal & Other Solid Waste Into a Clean Synthesis Gas

Friday, October 18, 2019

Alter NRG - We Can Transform Coal & Other Solid Waste Into a Clean Synthesis Gas

Plasma Torches

Plasma torches are sophisticated devices but their purpose is simple – they are high temperature heating devices.

Alter NRG, Westinghouse Plasma Torches, electrodes, highly efficient, high temperature, 80 to 2,400 kWAt the most rudimentary level, plasma is just very high temperature thermal energy. In nature, plasma is produced by lightning when it superheats the air around a lightning bolt converting the air to plasma with a temperature of about 20,000 °C. Because plasma behaves differently than the three common states of matter; solid, liquid and gas, plasma is sometimes referred to as the fourth state of matter.

Plasma torches provide a clean source of heat that can improve efficiencies and improve environmental performance in many different industrial applications. Alter NRG gasifier utilizes Plasma Torches to create high temperatures within its gasifiers.

Benefits & Advantages

Optimize Gate Fee (tipping fee) Revenue and Energy Output Revenue

Unlike the typical incineration technology which can process only MSW and similar feedstocks, Alter NRG gasifier can process almost any feedstock including both solids and liquids. Plus it can process a blend of feedstocks. Project owners can optimize their revenue streams by determining the correct mix of feedstocks based on calorific value and gate fee.

As long as there is some flexibility built into the feedstock handling systems, plasma gasification facility owners can change feedstocks over the life of the plant to take advantage of feedstocks with higher gate fees.

In many markets, plasma gasification, especially in combination with gas turbines and/or reciprocating engines, qualifies for green energy incentives. In the UK, Air Products will receive two Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for every MWh produced at the Tees Valley facility.

Reduce Start-up and Operational Risk

Alter NRG is installing its fourth generation gasifier at Air Products’ Tees Valley project. The issues normally associated with the operation of first generation technology have been experienced and solved. Most of Alter NRG’s direct competitors have not yet installed their offering into their first commercial facility. Alter NRG’s experience during the commissioning and operations at previous installations, like the Hitachi Metals EcoValley plant in Japan, will result in a shorter commissioning period and higher availability for customers during the first years of operation.

Alter NRG will continue to gain commissioning and operational expertise at the Tees Valley facility and other future plants become operational.

Reduce Permitting Time and Expense

Alter NRG Plasma Gasification Solution, in a combined cycle or reciprocating engine application, will meet all the requirements of the EU’s Waste Incineration Directive, as evidenced by Air Products’ receipt of an environmental permit from the UK government’s Environment Agency. Plus, the technology qualifies as Advanced Thermal Treatment (ATT) and thus receives preferential treatment over non-ATT technologies like incineration.

Superior Environmental Performance

Click here to learn more about Alter NRG’s Plasma Gasification Solution and its environmental performance.

Environmental Benefits

The superior environmental performance and benefits of a plasma gasification facility include:

Lower emissions
Beneficial use of byproducts and a reduction in the amount of material that ultimately must be landfilled
Lower greenhouse gas footprint

Lower Emissions

A plasma gasification combined cycle power plant or reciprocating engine plant is completely different than an incineration plant from an emissions perspective. Where incineration technology burns MSW to create energy, Alter NRG Plasma Gasifier uses extreme heat from its Plasma Torches, to break down the MSW to its molecular constituents including hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the two building blocks of syngas.

In a combined cycle or reciprocating engine application, syngas from a Alter NRG Plasma Gasifier is cleaned up to a specification similar to natural gas. It is this clean syngas that is burned in a gas turbine or reciprocating engine to make power. Emissions from this sort of plant will be similar to a natural gas fired power plant.

Syngas, after clean-up can meet the following specifications,

Lower Greenhouse Gas Footprint

Scientific Certification Systems (“SCS”), an independent consultancy, produced a report in 2010 that compared the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of a plasma gasification combined cycle power plant with the emissions from a state of the art incineration facility and a landfill with energy capture facility.

In their report SCS states:

“The results of this analysis show that the Plasma Gasification Combined Cycle (“PGCC”) system provides the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of the evaluated systems for waste disposal. The SCS study also concluded that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions were almost equivalent to the state of the art natural gas combined cycle power plant.

Reduced emissions, reduced amounts of solid wastes that need to be landfilled and reduced greenhouse emissions – plasma gasification has better environmental performance in all areas.”

Beneficial Byproducts vs. Bottom Ash and Flyash

Alter NRG Plasma Gasification facility produces vitrified slag as a byproduct that is inert and safe to use as aggregate or for use in other applications. Slag will not contaminate soil or drinking water. Slag from the Mihama Mikata plant has been tested against several standards including JLT-46, NEN-7341 and TCLP analysis. These tests were conducted by two independent laboratories Shimadzu Techno-Research Inc. and ALS Laboratory Group. The results show that the Mihama-Mikata slag components are below the test detection limits and the slag is considered non-leaching. On the right is a chart showing some of the results from the JLT-46 tests.

One hundred percent of the slag from the Mihama Mikata plant is used as aggregate for concrete products.

In a Alter NRG Plasma Gasifier, particulate is removed from the syngas downstream from the gasifier. However, the particulate can be recycled back into the gasifier for destruction (and also for further energy recovery) and therefore does not become a byproduct that requires disposal.

Instead of slag, incineration plants produce bottom ash and flyash. The flyash requires special disposal and in many jurisdictions is considered hazardous waste.

Assuming that particulate is recycled back into the gasifier, less than 2% of the material introduced needs to be sent to landfill. In comparison, about 20% to 30% of the waste processed in an incinerator must be sent to landfill.

Comparisons

Alter NRG Plasma Gasification Solution will increase revenues, decrease operational risks and provide superior environmental performance versus other technologies. We are the only company with commercial reference facilities.