Currently, the traditional
magnesium oxide production process is
facing exceptional challenges arising from carbon emission restrictions
and environmental protection. Waste bischofite pyrolysis has attracted
much attention as a promising technology to address these challenges.
Nonetheless, this process has primarily been demonstrated on a laboratory
scale, with limited studies on an industrial scale. A comprehensive
exergy analysis was conducted for the entire process and individual
subunits within the pyrolysis process to identify potential areas
for process enhancement. A FORTRAN subroutine based on empirical correlations
of pyrolysis product yields was developed considering the impact of
decomposition reactions on the simulation. Furthermore, the optimization
of energy and exergy efficiency of the system was discussed in terms
of the carbon dioxide emission factor, equivalence ratio, and pyrolysis
temperature. The results show that the primary energy bottleneck lies
in the combustion phase. In addition, the optimal energy and exergy
efficiency conditions are a carbon dioxide emission factor of 5.3,
an equivalent ratio of 1.15, and a pyrolysis temperature of 1100 °C.
In comparison to the pilot-scale conditions, the energy efficiency
and exergy efficiency increase by 2.55 and 3.61%, respectively. At
this time, the MgO yield is 100%, and the HCl concentration is above
9.33%.