Energy Recovery from Scrap Tires: A Sustainable Option for Small Islands like Puerto Rico

Abstract

Puerto Rico generates and disposes nearly five million/year scrap tires (ST), of which 4.2% is recycled and 80% is exported. The Island has one of the world highest electrical service tariff ($0.28 kWh), because of its dependency on fossil fuels for power generation. The Government has not considered ST for electricity production, despite more than 13,000 ST are generated daily, and paradoxically exported for that purpose. Theoretically, if ST recycling increases to 10% and assuming that the caloric value of ST be 33 MJ/kg, it was estimated that scrap tires processed with pyrolysis can supply annually about 379 MWh, a potential value that shall not be unnoticed. This paper is a literature review to describe the legal, technical, and economic framework for the viability of ST for power generation in Puerto Rico using pyrolysis, the most recommended process for ST energy recovery. Data of ST from Puerto Rico was used to model the potential of ST for pyrolytic energy conversion. The herein article is intended to invite other insular countries and territories, to join efforts with the academic and scientific community, and with the energy generation sector, to validate ST as a sustainable option for energy generation.

Environmental potential analysis of co-processing waste in cement kilns

“…The same results have been investigated by the authors of [10]. The economy of Puerto Rico is shrinking in its prespent recession.…”

An Overview of the Utilization of Common Waste as an Alternative Fuel in the Cement Industry

“…Calorific value (MJ/kg) [37] 35.50 [51] 37.10 [52] 31.00 [53] 31.40 [54] 31.80 [1] 27.00 [55] 31.40 [56] 31.88 [9] 29.71 amount of waste tire ash produced after incineration is around 7%. In addition, another possible reason is due to the composition of waste tire ash, as shown in Table 2.…”

The ‘Human Sphere’ and the Figure of 8 as the Enabler of Circular Economy in Developing Countries: A Case Study

“…However, energy recovery is not very profitable when analysing the ELT's life cycle. The energy needed for production is 87-115 Mj/kg, while the combustion process only recovers around 35-42 Mj/kg (Duggirala, 2009;Singh et al, 2009;Bajus & Olahová, 2011;Sienkiewicz et al, 2012;Laboy-Nieves, 2014). While energy recovery remains one of the most popular ELT management methods, material recycling is a better approach regarding energy (as less energy is obtained from combustion processes than is required for the manufacturing of a tire) (Sienkiewicz et al, 2012).…”