Chemical Engineering November 2010 - 8

Setting a New Standard
in Seal-Less Pumps
Bookshelf
Municipal Solid Waste to Energy
Conversion Processes: Economic,
Technical and Renewable Comparisons.
By Gary C. Young. John Wiley and Sons,
Inc. 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030.
Web: wiley.com. 2010. 384 pages.
$89.95.
Reviewed by Tom McGowan,
TMTS Associates Inc.
Atlanta, Ga.
T
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his book on converting municipal solid waste (MSW)
to energy focuses on new developments in the area,
with an emphasis on plasma gasification and combustion
processes, as well as the use of gasification to produce
power, fuels and chemicals.
The early chapters cover waste-to-energy (WTE) power
production and the production of liquid fuels, and provide
an economic analysis of multiple-plant configurations and
size. Such analysis is the author's strong suit, with much of
the material related to case studies of various WTE plants.
Chapter 4 offers good insight into scaling factors, showing
that plants of more than 500-ton/d capacity exhibit progressively
better economics. Chapter 6 covers issues related
to the cost evaluation of MSW collection and transfer.
The Chapter 8 discussion of a Japanese facility contains
a somewhat flawed analysis, in my opinion. For instance,
the facility has no net power to export at 60% of capacity,
due to plasma torch and auxiliary power use, and despite
the author's assumption of 100% capacity, these parasitic
power losses will remain.
Chapter 9 is particularly strong, however, and offers a
detailed look at the makeup of MSW, as well as heating
values, ultimate analysis and other items required when
engineering these plants. It also helps readers understand
the requirements for associated air-pollution control.
Chapter 10 details processes for handling ammonia, liquid
fuels and hydrogen, and the vitrification of ash, while chapter
11 reviews commercial gasifier reactors and plasma-arc
gasifiers, as well as associated gas cleanup and gas-turbine
internal-combustion engines that run on clean gas.
My own experience with WTE and power production
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8 ChemiCal engineering www.Che.Com noVemBer 2010
from waste fuels is in line with the analyses provided in
this book: Viability hinges on high power buy-back rates,
high population density and high local landfill-tipping fees.
For example, the case study presented in Chapter 2 shows
that a $56.17/ton tipping fee is required to break even at
a $0.043/kWh power buy-back rate. This tipping fee is at
the upper end of the range. It is also high compared to the
$35/ton benchmark tipping fee used in the book, which is
reasonable for many locations. Meanwhile, government
incentives, grants and renewable energy credits - or lack
thereof - can make or break a project.
Perhaps the most important item addressed by the book
is the question of " Why plasma? " since WTE plants can combust
MSW without using ultra-high-temperature plasma.
The author's view is that plasma produces a vitrified ash
product, which he claims can be sold for $15/ton for road
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Chemical Engineering November 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering November 2010
