Waste-to-energy characterization and modeling: A case study at the us naval academy

This study focused on the potential for energy recovery of the low-food waste stream via gasification on a college campus. Waste was sampled using standard sampling protocols from several locations in both academic and residential buildings. Each sample was analyzed qualitatively (categorically) and quantitatively (proximate/ultimate analysis). Relative to average US domestic municipal solid waste (MSW), these waste samples contained higher levels of paper and plastic, comparable food waste, and lower levels of other components. Overall, the waste had lower moisture content and higher energy content than average domestic US MSW. Fuel lean combustion was simulated with excess air and suggested campus waste would produce higher reactor temperatures than average, domestic MSW. The potential for gasification to a producer gas was simulated using a chemical equilibrium approach. Cold gas efficiencies of 85% followed by electric power generation with typical efficiency would result in the potential offset of 2.5% of institutional electricity use, but a combined heat and power approach could also offset a substantial amount of the thermal energy requirements of the institution. A simplified three-component surrogate waste sample was proposed; analysis of two candidate mixtures showed overall good representation of actual campus waste and can facilitate future experimental efforts.