Abstract

BARRERA ZAPATA, Rolando  and  CARDONA GIRALDO, Julián Andrés. Simulation of a WtE (Waste to Energy) plant for the recovery of energy from municipal solid waste in the Valle de Aburra. Rev. ion [online]. 2022, vol.35, n.2, pp.71-81.  Epub Apr 25, 2023. ISSN 0120-100X.  https://doi.org/10.18273/revion.v35n2-2022006.

A model to simulate a combustion plant for the energy recovery of urban solid waste under the WtE (Waste to Energy) concept, using the Aspen Plus software is presented. The model was validated by comparing data from the simulated process and data available in the literature. It was found that regardless of the simulated operating conditions, the model results agree with reported data in terms of thermal power, electrical power, mechanical efficiency, and composition (kg/h) of the plant outlet gases, showing deviations < 12% with respect to WtE plants operating under simulated conditions. This allows us to conclude that the model is suitable for estimating mass and energy flows, as well as the electrical power generated in the WtE process, and that it is useful as an analysis tool for preliminary studies in such kind of plants. The model, once validated, was used to evaluate different municipal solid waste management scenarios in the Valle de Aburrá, allowing the estimation of important energy data for the evaluation or comparison of strategies related to waste management in urban areas and under different operating conditions.

Keywords : Energy use; Aspen Plus; Mains combustion; Waste incineration; Municipal solid waste; Process simulation.

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