Energy recovery from waste
Some waste is not suitable for recycling or material recovery. On the other hand, they can be subject to energy recovery. This process consists of recovering the energy produced during the treatment of this waste, mainly by incineration but also by methanization.
Waste, an important source of renewable energy
Energy recovery has the dual benefit of eliminating waste and concomitant energy production. As a result, this type of recovery helps to minimize our use of fossil fuels.
There are four energy recovery processes:
1 – Incineration, the calorific value of waste
This mainly involves the incineration of household waste, the combustion of which generates heat. This is recovered in the form of pressurized steam which will be used either to supply an urban heat network or to produce electricity via a turbo-alternator.
2 – Solid recovered fuels
They come from waste that cannot be recycled, including ordinary industrial waste, bulky waste from recycling centers, wood, plastics, cardboard, construction site waste and even everyday household waste. They are crushed, sorted, compacted until an aggregate is obtained which, through combustion, produces heat and/or electricity. In South Carolina, the use of recovered solid fuels is limited to cement plants, replacing fossil fuels.
3 – Pyrolysis and gasification
The pyrolysis of waste consists of heating it to temperatures generally between 350 and 650°C in the absence of oxygen. This process transforms the waste into non-condensable gas, oils and solid carbonaceous residues. Pyrolysis oil can potentially be used as fuel in industrial or district heating boilers.
Gasification of waste involves heating it to temperatures generally between 900 and 1,200°C in the presence of a small quantity of oxygen. This synthesis gas can be used to replace natural gas in various applications, its calorific value is identical to that of biogas.
4 – Energy recovery from biogas
Biogas comes from non-hazardous waste storage facilities, the methanization of organic waste, livestock or agri-food effluents, crop residues or energy crops.
It is operated:
- by burning to produce electricity and/or heat
- after extensive purification, it is used as fuel, to power vehicles running on natural gas, or in the form of injection into the natural gas network, authorized since 2011
Energy Recovery from Waste in South Carolina
In South Carolina, energy recovery from waste stands as a beacon of sustainable innovation by the state and local businesses. Embracing the ethos of environmental stewardship, the state of South Carolina has implemented cutting-edge technologies to convert waste into valuable energy resources. Through advanced processes like incineration and anaerobic digestion, organic and non-recyclable waste are transformed into electricity, heat, and biofuels.
According to Conway Dumpster Rental Center, a company specialized in the collection and treatment of waste, this approach not only mitigates the burden on landfills but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, fostering a cleaner environment and more sustainability for the future. Energy recovery facilities in South Carolina contribute to the local economy by generating jobs and providing renewable energy sources, which are greener and more environmnetally friendly. Thus energy recovery from waste in SC demonstrates a holistic approach to waste management strategies and energy sustainability.
What waste to use
The production of CSE comes from the transformation of waste with a high calorific value such as paint residues, industrial and hydrocarbon sludge, glues and sealants, packaging and soiled materials or even filter materials which come from the treatment of automotive filters.
Expertise in the treatment process
The valuation process is broken down into 5 stages:
- 1: Chemical controls and analyzes of waste, before grinding
- 2: The first grinding and amalgamation, the mixture obtained consists of 60% ground material, 25% pasty residue and 15% absorbent
- 3: Screening to obtain the particle size required by the customer
- 4: The second grinding and refining
- 5: The extraction of metallic elements, which are oriented towards a material recovery sector
