Plasma pyrolysis technology offers an innovative solution for managing municipal solid waste by converting organic waste into valuable synthesis gas and vitrified slag at high temperatures in an oxygen-starved environment. This process overcomes limitations of traditional waste disposal methods, such as incineration, by significantly reducing harmful emissions and ensuring high efficiency in waste conversion. While facing challenges such as high operational costs and the need for standardization, plasma pyrolysis stands out for its potential in safe waste disposal and energy recovery.

1. Plasma Pyrolysis Technology
PRESENTED BY
SABARINATH C D

2. 2
INTRODUCTION
PLASMA PYROLYSIS TECHNOLOGY
ADVANTAGES
APPLICATIONS
CONTROLLING OF PLASMA PYROLYSIS SYSTEM
COMPARISON OF PLASMA GASIFICATION WITH OTHER METHODS AND SOME TEST
RESULTS
CASE STUDY OF PLASMA PYROLYSIS PLANT
LIMITATIONS
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

3. INTRODUCTION
3
▰ The increasing industrialization, urbanization and
changes in the pattern of life give rise to generation of
increasing quantities of wastes.
▰ Increases threats to the environment.
▰ Every year, about 55 million tonnes of municipal solid
waste (MSW) and 38 billion litres of sewage are
generated in the urban areas of India.
▰ Waste generation in India is expected to increase in the
future.
▰ Waste management is an important issue in both
developed and developing countries nowadays . Pic source:internet
Pic: medical waste management
Pic: Muncipal solid waste management

4. ▰ As the general trend is to limit landfill sites, the disposal alternatives left for
organic waste will be incineration and recycling.
▰ Incineration may utilize the energy content of organic waste but is associated with
the generation of SO2, NOx and other hazardous emissions.
▰ The problems that occurred in the earlier recycling technologies based on
pyrolysis and gasification are such as low gas productivity and the wide spectrum
of products.
▰ These problems are difficult to overcome due to only limited control of the product
composition in pyrolysis and gasification processes.
4

5. Plasma pyrolysis technology
▰ Plasma is a state of matter in which an ionized
gaseous substance becomes highly electrically
conductive to the point that long-range electric and
magnetic fields dominate the behaviour of the matter.[
▰ Pyrolysis The word is coined from the Greek-
derived elements pyro "fire" and lysis "separating".
▰ It is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated
temperatures in an inert atmosphere.
5 Pic source:internet
Pics :examples of plasma
lightning
Sun surface

6. ▰ This is proven technology, offers an efficient,
all-in-one solution to the broken and confusing
municipal solid waste problem .
▰ It converts organic content of waste streams
into valuable synthesis gas & inorganic content
into vitrified slag like glassy material at higher
temperature & in oxygen starved environment
by thermal plasma.
▰ Also known as plasma arc technology, plasma
gasification.
6
Reactions involved in plasma
pyrolysis for production of syn gas

7. PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM
7
pic source:www.westinghouse plasma.com

8. COMPONENTS OF PLASMA
GASIFICATION SYSTEM
The main components of the whole plasma gasification system are as given
below:
▰ 1. Waste feeding system
▰ 2. Plasma Gasifier
▰ 3. Plasma generating devices
▰ 4. Yields and bi-products of plasma arc technology
▰ 5. Syngas cleaning facilities
8

9. WASTE FEEDING SYSTEM
▰ The feedstock for plasma waste treatment is most often
municipal solid waste, organic waste, or both.
▰ Also include biomedical waste and hazardous materials.
9
pic source:www.westinghouse plasma.com
pic : examples feedstockes

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PLASMA GENERATING
DEVICES
▰ A strong electric current under high voltage passes between the two electrodes as an electric arc.
▰ The waste is heated, melted and finally vaporized.
▰ Complex molecules are separated into individual atoms.
Pic:plasma torches
Source:wikipedia

11. ▰ Types of plasma torches used are
▰ DC Plasma Torches
▰ RF Plasma Torches
▰ AC Plasma Torches
▰ Small torches –Argon
▰ Larger torches – Nitrogen
▰ Electrodes-copper, tungsten, hafnium, zirconium, along with various
other alloys
11

12. PLASMA GASIFIER
▰ Gasifier/Reactors can be constructed with
different materials, which in turn decide the
life of operation.
▰ Plasma furnace is a vertical refractory lined
vessel into which the contaminated waste
material is introduced near the top.
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Pic:plasma gasifier
pic source:www.westinghouse plasma.com

13. 5.SYNGAS CLEANING
▰ For the removal of HCN, SO2, H2S and residual HCl and HF from syngas an
alkaline scrubber can be used
▰ This leads to formation of HCl and Na2S solution
▰ Remove pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter,
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) vapours from the
synthesis gas.
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14. YIELDS OF PLASMA ARC
TECHNOLOGY
▰ Syngas
Pure highly calorific synthetic gas
consists predominantly of carbon
monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2).
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Pic :Application of Syngas
pic source:www.plasticstoday.com

15. ▰ Vitrified slag
The inorganic part of waste stream
i.e. glass, soil, sand etc. are being converted
into vitrified slag like glassy material.
15
Fig :Vitrified slag
Pic source:internet

16. FACTORS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE OF
PLASMA ARC TECHNOLOGY
▰ Moisture Content
▰ Residence time
▰ Gasifying agent waste ratio
▰ Equivalence Ratio
▰ Reaction temperature
▰ Pressure
16

17. • Syngas used to generate" green electricity“.
• Slag can be used for road aggregate and building materials.
• Does not produce hazardous bottom ash and fly ash
• Very little maintenance and unlike traditional power plants..
• Avoid the production of dioxins and furans.
• It provides a complete solution for the safe disposal of medical waste.
• High temperature and UV radiation present in the plasma kill bacteria
completely.
• In addition, organic mass to gas conversion is more than 99% and it
does not require segregation of chlorinated hydrocarbons.17
Advantages

18. Applications
▰ Space Programs
▰ Remediation of Radioactive Waste
▰ Animal Waste, Agricultural Waste, Paper and Pulp Industry Waste
▰ Slag is used to road construction etc
▰ Municipal Solid Waste mangement
▰ Automobile Tyres, Coal, Sludge Glass waste and
Ceramicwaste,Hazardous fly ash destruction.
18

19. Controlling of
Plasma Pyrolysis System
▰ Plasma Pyrolysis System incorporates “CASS”
(Complete Automated Safety System) that ensures an
operating environment, which exceeds any safety
norms.
▰ The Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) or Safety
Instrumented functions (SIF) are the systems
responsible for the operating safety and ensuring the
emergency stop within the limits considered as safe,
whenever the operation exceeds such limits.
▰ Eg: High reactor temperature initiates action to open
cooling media valve.
19
Pic
source:www.automationforum.com
Fig: Typical layers of protection in a
modern chemical plant

20. ▰ It is easy to maintain the arc in an oxygen-free environment.
▰ The plasma pyrolysis system can have instant start and shut
down.
▰ It is possible to add features like interlocks and automation that
make the system user friendly.
20

21. COMPARISON OF PLASMA
GASIFICATION WITH OTHER
METHODS AND SOME TEST
RESULTS
21

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PLASMA GASIFICATION INCINERATION
Temperature 1500 °C-5000 ° Temperature 850 °C-1200 °C
Pressure, atm 1-45 Pressure, atm 1
Reducing environment Oxidizing environment
Emissions substantially lower than those
resulting from incineration
Far greater emissions of GHG and other
pollutants than with thermal gasification
system
Lower levels of CO, NOx, Tars. Other
pollutants are vitrified in slag.
PM, Tar, SOx , NOx, Dioxin,Furans, Fly
ash, heavy metal volatilization
COMPARISON OF PLASMA GASIFICATION AND
INCINERATION

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Occurs in the absence or near absence of
oxygen, prohibiting combustion.
Excess air is induced to ensure complete
combustion
Gases resulting from degradation of
organics are collected and used for
production of various forms of energy
and/or industrial chemicals
All potential energy converted to heat.
Products of degradation largely
converted to inert (non-hazardous) glass-
like slag of a volume 6% to 15% of the
original solids volume.
Combustion results in ash (as much as
30% of original solids volume) that must
often be treated as hazardous waste.

24. ▰ Based on studies done by
Dr.Gary C Young
24
COMPARISON OF NET ENERGY
PRODUCTION IN DIFFERENT
METHODS OF WASTE
MANAGEMENT
FIG:comparison of net energy production in different
methods of waste management

25. Emissions – a comparison with CPCB
standards
▰ From study of Plasma
pyrolysis of medical
waste S. K. Nema and
K. S. Ganeshprasad
Facilitation Centre for
Industrial Plasma
Technologies, India
25
Gas CPCB
concentration limit
(ppm)
Concentration obtained
at FCIPT (ppm)
CO 100 40–85
NOx 450 7–25
SO2 50 1–20
HCl 50 –
Table . Emissions – a comparison with CPCB
standards

26. Toxicity test on vitrified
slag
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Heavy metals Permissible
concentration
(mg/l)
Measured
concentration
(mg/l)
Arsenic
5.0 <0.1
Barium 100.0 0.47
Cadmium 1.0 <0.1
Chromium 5.0 <0.1
Lead 5.0 <0.1
Mercury 0.2 <0.1
Silver 5.0 <0.1Based on studies done by Dr.Gary C Young

27. Case study of
plasma pyrolysis
plant
27

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MIHAMA AND MIKATA,UTASHINAI CITY,
JAPAN
▰ A 165 ton per day plant in Utashinai City, and a 28 ton per day
plant in the twin cities of Mihama and Mikata
▰ Was one of the first plasma gasification facilities worldwide.
▰ It now processes a mixture of auto shredder residue and
municipal solid waste.
▰ The primary concerns at Ecovalley were an improperly sized
gasifier , a low quality refractor, and excessive particulate
carryover which led to cease its operation for short time
▰ The new gasifiers have all taken into account these issues
and plants without these problems
▰ It is successful and still operate to this day

29. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
▰ The economics of plasma gasification facility is very appropriate via multiple income
streams although it is complex.
▰ Electricity is produced as output.
▰ Liquid fuels, hydrogen and effective syngas.
▰ Slag and sulfur for sale.
▰ Cost estimation of a typical plant is given as a feedstock of 3000 tons of MSW per day
with cost over 400 million $ producing about 120 MW of electricity.
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30. LIMITATIONS
▰ The lack of standards by national and international organization
▰ Initial cost and return of investigation
▰ Operational costs are high relative to that of incineration.
▰ Wet feed stock results in less syngas production and higher energy consumption
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31. CONCLUSION
▰ Plasma pyrolysis is in the forefront of modern waste treatment.
▰ Plasma pyrolysis process fulfils all the technical requirements to treat hazardous waste
safely.
▰ The plasma pyrolysis system can have instant start and shut down. It is possible to add
features like interlocks and automation that make the system user friendly.
▰ The plasma pyrolysis technology overcomes almost all the drawbacks of the existing waste-
disposal technologies.
▰ It provides a complete solution for the safe disposal of medical waste.
▰ In addition, organic mass to gas conversion is more than 99% and it does not require
segregation of chlorinated hydrocarbons.
▰ The gases obtained after the pyrolysis are rich in energy content and can be used to recover
energy.31

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REFERENCES
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PlasmaTechnology.”International Journal of Engineering Computational Research
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▰ Carpinlioglu, MeldaOzdinc, and AytacSanlisoy . (2018). "Performance assessment of plasma
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▰ Abushgair, K., Ahmad, H., &Karkar, F. (2016). Waste to Energy Technologies-Further Look into
Plasma Gasification Implementation in Al-Ekaider Landfill, Jordan. International Journal of
Applied Environmental Sciences, 11(6), 1415-1425

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