Contribution to a low-carbon society from improving exergy of waste-to-energy system by upgrading utilization of waste

Fujii, Minoru; Dou, Yusheng; Sun, Lu; Ohnishi, Satoshi; Maki, Seiya; Dong, Huijuan; Dong, Liang; Chandran, Remi

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.06.038

Cited by 26 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…For example, WtE plants play a prominent role in progressing toward a circular economy, as they prevent landfill and generate energy. A recent study has emphasized that by upgrading WtE processes and resource, LCA would help in selecting a cost-effective option to improve exergy efficiency (Fujii et al, 2019). Previous studies have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of this treatment technology from an economic perspective, confirming the importance of thermal treatments in an integrated waste management cycle.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing waste management systems to meet circular economy goals: The Italian case

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2021

Sustainable Production and Consumption

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Waste management capacity plays a prominent role in complying with circular economy goals, such as reducing municipal waste disposal by landfilling to 10%. We first analyze the imbalance in municipal solid waste management across Italy by estimating the quantities of waste to be treated using technologies different from those currently in use. Subsequently, we estimate the impact that a system compliant with circular economy goals would have on the cost of waste management. Our empirical analyses are based on an econometric method. The results suggest that Italy could reduce the use of landfill by 11.5%, resulting in a 13% reduction in mechanical-biological treatment. The waste-to-energy capacity would rise by 4.6% compared to the current situation, while the organic fraction treatment capacity would increase by 8.3%. Besides the positive impact on the environment, the potential annual savings on the cost of waste management could reach 0.07%, or 0.27% when the phase corresponding to treatment and disposal is considered. We provide insights into the design of more efficient national waste management plans using a novel approach based on best performers.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing waste management systems to meet circular economy goals: The Italian case

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2021

Sustainable Production and Consumption

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“…These measures, at least in the short-medium term, encourage alternative systems such as WTE. In addition, incentive regulation should make WTE economically more convenient [33,34]. We also advise national coordination between the local and central levels of government to determine the waste treatment capacity of unsorted waste in the various areas of individual countries [35].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Market Structure of Urban Waste Treatment and Disposal: Empirical Evidence from the Italian Industry

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2021

Sustainability

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In light of the organizational dynamics of services of economic interest, the regulation of municipal solid waste management is a critical issue to deal with so as to achieve sustainability goals in the coming decades. The European circular economy targets limit the share of municipal waste in landfills to a maximum of 10% by 2035. Consequently, waste-to-energy plants may temporarily become the primary option for residual unsorted waste. The municipal waste management chain comprises two consequential stages: collection and transport, and the treatment and disposal stage, which characterizes as an oligopolistic market structure. After defining the relevant market and calculating market concentration measures, we analyze market power in the treatment and disposal of non-recyclable mixed waste, also known as residual waste. Our analyses are based on empirical data using well-known market concentration indices such as the Herfindahl–Hirschman index and concentration ratios. We report the results of three different market concentration scenarios based on alternative geographic and product market definitions. Considering only waste-to-energy as a product market, we present a situation of moderate concentration, typically involving the attention of competition authorities. On the contrary, considering both options as a single product market, no relevant evidence emerges due to the significant share of waste sent to landfills in 2019, i.e., 20.1% of the total municipal solid waste generated in Italy. Implications for future studies consist of new detailed information on the municipal waste treatment market structure in one of the leading European countries that may prompt comparative studies. Policy implications are derived from the possibility of taking cues from this paper to envisage appropriate regulatory models for an evolving sector in which market spaces are increasing.

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“…Eq.17 provides proper insight of the exergy content of the municipal solid waste and validates Eq.18. (19) In equation ( 19), R is the constant of the gases; A is the mass element percentage in ash; n is the number of oxides in the ash; xi is the molar ratio and exi is the standard chemical exergy of the components in the ash. In the analysis of exergy, the exergy of steam is calculated at each point.…”

Section: Exergy Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the presented configuration, the thermal efficiency of the steam recovery unit was 95% and the waste incineration unit contributed the most in the exergy destruction term. Fuji, Dou, Sun et al [19] optimized the rate of waste utilization to enhance the exergy efficiency of waste to energy cycle. By comparing the MSW with NG (natural gas), the results declared that using waste at true places will grow the CO2 emission diminution impacts by more than two times.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exergy-Economic-Environment Optimization of the Waste-to-Energy Power Plant Using Multi-Objective Particle-Swarm Optimization (MOPSO)

2021

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This paper brings together the benefits of the results of exergy, exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental analysis, and optimization for a waste-to-energy power plant. Initially, exergoeconomic balances for each stream were calculated. For validating the current simulations, the actual data of the Amsterdam waste-to-energy power plant in working conditions were examined. Moreover, the behaviors of the influential parameters on the objective functions were evaluated. In order to perform multi-objective optimization, the Multi-Objective Particle-Swarm Optimization algorithm is implemented. To obtain optimum operating conditions, 14 design parameters, and 3 objective functions are considered, while the total cost rate, total exergy efficiency of the cycle, and environmental impacts are the objective functions. Finally, the TOPSIS decision-making method determined optimum-operating conditions. The results of exergy analysis indicated that the most exergy destruction belonged to the incinerator unit at 66%. Instead, the pumps contributed the least in this field, (approximately 1%). Because of the optimization process, the total exergy efficiency of the power plant increased from 30.89% to 38.9% while the total cost rate was 5188.05 USD/hour. By comparison between the obtained results from the optimization procedure, introducing optimum working condition has caused an increase in exergy efficiency and reduced exergy destruction for components.

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Contribution to a low-carbon society from improving exergy of waste-to-energy system by upgrading utilization of waste

Cited by 26 publications

References 22 publications

Designing waste management systems to meet circular economy goals: The Italian case

Designing waste management systems to meet circular economy goals: The Italian case

Market Structure of Urban Waste Treatment and Disposal: Empirical Evidence from the Italian Industry

Exergy-Economic-Environment Optimization of the Waste-to-Energy Power Plant Using Multi-Objective Particle-Swarm Optimization (MOPSO)

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