Waste-to-energy

Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste, or the processing of waste into a fuel source. WtE is a form of energy recovery. Most WtE processes generate electricity and/or heat directly through combustion, or produce a combustible fuel commodity, such as methane, methanol, ethanol or synthetic fuels. History The first incinerator or "Destructor" was built in Nottingham, UK, in 1874 by Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. to the design of Alfred Fryer. The first US incinerator was built in 1885 on Governors Island in New York, New York. The first waste incinerator in Denmark was built in 1903 in Frederiksberg. The first facility in the Czech Republic was built in 1905 in Brno. Gasification and pyrolysis processes have been known and used for centuries and for coal as early as the 18th century.... Development technologies for processing [res

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Towards Advanced Active Façades: Analysis of façade requirements and development of an innovative construction system

Angela Clua Longas, Sophie Lufkin

In Switzerland, as in many European countries, new energy directives focus on decreasing the carbon footprint of buildings by promoting passive and active energy strategies. Among the latter, Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), which function both as envelope materials and electricity producers, are rapidly becoming more performant. However, their potential remains largely unrealised due to diverse barriers. Architects, in particular, tend to avoid integrating BIPV in their designs because of their limited expressive qualities. In reaction, this on-going research aims at developing design strategies for low-carbon façades while addressing BIPV expressive issues, with the goal of bridging the gap between technology and designers. Within this overall framework, the paper presents the Advanced Active Façade (AAF) concept, which results from analysing the evolution of façade requirements and solutions over time. The AAF simultaneously aims at achieving low embodied energy by benefiting from passive low-carbon design strategies, and generating energy by integrating BIPV technology. The paper introduces the core phase of the research, which consists in the development of the AAF Construction System and AAF Design Strategies. The output of the research will provide architects with a construction system and assessed design strategies to optimize the design process of BIPV façades.

2017

An Approach for the Time-Dependent Thermoeconomic Modeling and Optimization of Energy System Synthesis, Design and Operation (Part II : Reliability and Availability)

Daniel Favrat

Details of the reliability and availability aspects of the thermoeconomic methodology presented in Part I (Olsommer et al., 1999) are given here in Part II of our series of two articles. These system details cannot be forgotten, particularly if the superconfiguration envisioned offers the choice of several technologies for the same function (redundancy) or if there are guarantees of availability which must be met. An original method, which is an extension of the event space method, is presented here for automating the reliability and/or availability calculations of a repairable system chosen from a flexible structure of equipment in active and/or passive redundancy, connected in series and/or parallel. This methodology permits a more realistic evaluation of performance, flows and costs at both the structural (synthesis-design) and operational levels and leads, thus, to more rational decisions on system synthesis, design and operation. Results for the application of this methodology to a waste incineration cogeneration facility with a gas turbine topping cycle are given in Part I (Olsommer et al., 1999).

1999

Optimal Process Design of Hydrothermal SNG Production from Waste Biomass

Martin Gassner, François Maréchal, Frédéric Vogel

Hydrothermal gasification of biomass in supercritical water is one of the rare pathways that potentially allows for a complete conversion of wet waste biomass into Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG). This paper summarises an extensive process design study and discusses some key aspects of the process integration and, in particular, the influence of the feedstock on the optimal process design and its performances. It thereby demonstrates that the process design and performance is not only influenced by available technology, catalyst deactivation issues and scale, but also the characteristics of the processed substrate.

2010

ENV-304: Treatment and valorization of water and waste

Les systèmes eaux et déchets en Suisse: du traitement end-of-pipe à la fermeture des cycles. Principes de l'adduction, de l'évacuation et du traitement des eaux. Bases du dimensionnement des ouvrages, réseaux et stations d'épuration. Gestion, traitement et valorisation des déchets urbains. Visites.

ChE-410: Catalysis for emission control and energy processes

The course is an introduction to heterogeneous catalysis for environmental protection and energy production. It focusses on catalytic exhaust gas cleaning as well as catalytic systems relevant for gaseous and liquid fuel production. The course ends with two days of experimental exercises at PSI.

PHYS-106(b): General physics : thermodynamics

Le but du cours de Physique générale est de donner à l'étudiant les notions de base nécessaires à la compréhension des phénomènes physiques. L'objectif est atteint lorsque l'étudiant est capable de prévoir quantitativement les conséquences de ces phénomènes avec des outils théoriques appropriés

Incineration

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of substances contained in waste materials. Industrial plants for waste incineration are commonly referred to as waste-to-ener

Waste management

Waste management or waste disposal includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment, and d

Municipal solid waste

Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the United States and rubbish in Britain, is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" ca