Hot char-catalytic reforming of volatiles from MSW pyrolysis

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 191; pp. 111 - 124
• Main Authors: Wang, Na, Chen, Dezhen, Arena, Umberto, He, Pinjing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Hot char; MSW pyrolysis; Reforming; Syngas; Volatile; MSW pyrolysis; Hot char; Reforming; Volatile; Syngas
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.01.051

[Display omitted] •Volatile from MSW pyrolysis is reformed with hot char from the same pyrolysis process.•The yields of syngas increase evidently with H2 being the main contributor and the major component of the syngas.•Pyrolysis oil becomes light and its composition distribution is narrowed.•The HHV, volatile elements and alkali metals contents in the char decrease.•The emissions including SO2, NO, NO2 and HCN changed after reforming process. Volatile products obtained from pyrolysis of municipal solid waste (MSW), including syngas and pyrolysis oil, were forced to contact the hot char from the same pyrolysis process at 500–600°C in a fixed bed reactor to be reformed. The yields and properties of syngas, char and pyrolysis liquid were investigated; and the energy re-distribution among the products due to char reforming was quantified. The preliminary investigation at lab scale showed that hot char-catalytic reforming of the volatiles leads to an increase in the dry syngas yield from 0.25 to 0.37Nm3kg−1MSW at 550°C. Accordingly, the carbon conversion ratio into syngas increases from 29.6% to 35.0%; and the MSW chemical energy transferred into syngas increased from 41.8% to 47.4%. The yield of pyrolysis liquid products, including pyrolysis oil and water, decreased from 27.3 to 16.5 wt%, and the molecular weight of the oil becoming lighter. Approximately 60% of the water vapour contained in the volatiles converted into syngas. After reforming, the concentrations of SO2 and HCN in the syngas decreases, while those of NO and NO2 increase. The char concentrations of N, H, C and alkali metal species decreased and its higher heating value decreased too.