Thermo‐Economic Analysis of a Novel Power System Including Medical‐Waste Plasma Gasification, SOFC, Biomass‐Fired Power Generation, and CCS

Abstract

For environmentally friendly treatment and efficient utilization of medical waste, a coupling of medical‐waste‐based plasma gasification, fuel‐cell power generation, and biomass power is implemented, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) unit is integrated to achieve low carbon emissions. The clean syngas obtained from the plasma gasification of medical waste is first utilized by the fuel cell and drives a gas turbine to produce power after supplementary combustion. The exhaust gas is used to heat the feed stream of the biomass power station. CCS unit is heated by exhaust gases and the extracted steam from the biomass power station, and the thermal energy of the pressurized carbon dioxide is recovered. Thermodynamic and economic analyses are conducted to examine the project's performance based on a 1.00 kg s−1 plasma gasifier and a 34 MW biomass power station. The analysis indicates that medical‐waste‐generation energy and exergy efficiency reaches 35.10% and 33.58%. CO2 of 59.84 kilotons can be fixed and sequestered yearly. The initial investment in the project can be recovered in 5.95 years, with a net present value of 44.72 M$. It is shown in the conclusions that the project is advantageous and beneficial in medical‐waste utilization.