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Conversion Technologies

Conversion Technologies. Agenda Item 16 & 17 September 22, 2004 Judy Friedman Fernando Berton Rob Williams Keith Weitz Susan Collins. What we will cover today. Agenda Items 16 & 17 Staff/Contractor Presentations Board Q&A Public Testimony Discussion and Direction Next Steps.

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Conversion Technologies

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  1. Conversion Technologies Agenda Item 16 & 17 September 22, 2004 Judy Friedman Fernando Berton Rob Williams Keith Weitz Susan Collins

  2. What we will cover today • Agenda Items 16 & 17 • Staff/Contractor Presentations • Board Q&A • Public Testimony • Discussion and Direction • Next Steps

  3. CT-Background Historical Context for CT Exploration • 2 Forums Initiated Research • December 1999 – Santa Barbara • May 2001 - Sacramento • Local Government and Developer Interest • Strategic Plan Development • Zero Waste Goal • Energy Crisis

  4. Per-capita waste generation and disposal in California with associated waste diversion rate Source; Williams et. al., (2003)

  5. Board Policy Adoption - Resolution 2002-177

  6. AB 2770-Technical Evaluation • Define and describe each conversion technology • Evaluate technical performance characteristics, feedstocks, emissions, and residues • Identify the cleanest, least polluting technologies

  7. AB 2770 - Lifecycle & Market Impact Assessment • Describe and evaluate the life-cycle environmental and public health impacts of each conversion technology • Compare to other solid waste management practices • Describe and evaluate the impacts on the recycling and composting markets

  8. AB 2770 Implementation • RFP/IAA Process • Public Input/workshops • Comments (verbal and written) • Response to Comments • Peer Review • Listserve

  9. CT Major Categories Thermochemical Processes • Pyrolysis • Typically indirectly heated, without oxygen • 750o F to 1500o F • Gasification • Typically uses air or oxygen, can use steam, hydrogen and other • Uses less air/oxygen than for incineration • Typically above 1300o F

  10. Incinerators vs. CT • Differences with Incineration: • Volume of output gases about 65% less per ton of feedstock • Primary product is fuel/synthetic gas • Provides opportunity for gas cleanup • Air pollution control for exhaust gases • Incinerators have no intermediate gas cleanup • Air pollution control on exhaust gases only • Requires addition of excess oxygen/air

  11. CT Major Categories Anaerobic Biochemical Processes • Anaerobic Digestion • Bacteria break down feedstock • No oxygen • Fermentation • Also anaerobic process • Cellulosic materials require hydrolysis prior to fermentation • Conversion by yeast and bacteria, may use recombinant organisms

  12. Feedstocks • Primarily organic material currently landfilled • Thermochemical could convert all organic material being landfilled • Biochemical could convert only biodegradable fraction

  13. Pretreatment Requirements • All CTs require pretreatment step • Remove recyclables • Ferrous, non-ferrous metals and glass could reduce efficiency of high temp. systems • Non-biodegradable materials could upset anaerobic systems • California law and Board policy would require up-front recycling.

  14. Operating Facilities Pyrolysis/Gasification • Operating in Japan and Europe • 20 pyrolysis facilities • 39 gasification facilities • Installed capacity > 2.5 million TPY = Approximately 8% of total organic material landfilled in California

  15. Facility Problems Pyrolysis Facility – Germany • Serious accident to due plug of waste • Escaping pyrolytic gases • Plant personnel hospitalized • Reason for accident • Poor feedstock preparation • Accepting large items such as mattresses • Learning experience • Japanese companies using similar process successfully

  16. Facility Problems Gasification Facility – Australia • Char gasification component • Financial problems • Parent company ceased funding

  17. Operating Facilities Biochemical • Predominantly anaerobic digestion in Europe • Installed capacity in 2000 = 1.1 million TPY • Installed capacity in 2004 = 2.8 million TPY • 250% increase!!!

  18. Anaerobic Digestion

  19. CT Environmental Impacts • All CTs will require environmental controls • MSW combustion emissions have improved • CTs can offer improvements relative to combustion systems

  20. Emission Reductions for Combustion of MSW Source; US EPA (2002). Same total tonnage of MSW

  21. Emission Data for Various Thermochemical Facilities/Technologies- Gas Burned for Heat and Power -(mg/Nm3 unless noted) Other use of synthesis gas may have lower emissions

  22. Thermochemical Systems Residues • Liquids/condensates can be created which require treatment before disposal (Standard methods) • Scrubber solutions from some Air Pollution Control Devices (Standard methods) • Solid residues (process and feedstock dependent) • May have commercial use subject to toxicity– otherwise need disposal

  23. Biochemical Process Air Emissions-Use of Biogas- CARB Recommended BACT emissions for Biogas Fueled reciprocating engines US EPA has measured Dioxin emissions in LFG Flare and Engine exhaust concentrations up to 0.1 ng TEQ/N m3

  24. Biochemical Process Air Emissions-Use of Ethanol- • Ethanol produced from MSW used as oxygenate in vehicle fuel subject to same emission requirements as ethanol from other sources

  25. Biochemical Process Liquid Residues • Liquid effluent from AD can be used as fertilizer- subject to toxicity, otherwise will require additional treatment before disposal • Spent solution from Acid Hydrolysis must be neutralized before disposal

  26. Biochemical Process Solid Residues • Feedstock Dependent - Large amount of solid residue compared to thermochemical conversion • Depending on amount of up-front sorting, there may be opportunity for plastics, other organics, glass, and metals recovery • Undigested/unfermented biomass solids can be composted, used as thermochemical feedstock, or landfilled

  27. Findings • Thermochemical and Biochemical conversion systems are successfully operating on MSW • Market and Policy Driven • Europe – Public Health and GHG Reduction Goals • EU Landfill directive: Biodegradable Waste <35% of 1995 amount (by weight) by 2015 • High Prices paid for Renewable Electricity • Carbon Trading Market • High Tipping Fees - Limited Landfill Capacity • Japan – ‘Island Nation’ and GHG Reduction Goals • Very limited Landfill Capacity • Limited Domestic Energy Resources

  28. Findings • Thermochemical Systems compared to Biochemical Systems • Higher Temperatures and Faster Reaction Rates • Larger Capacity or Smaller ‘Footprint’ • In general, best suited for dryer feedstocks, but can accept nearly all biomass and plastics (sorting is preferred) • Wider range of possible Products • Usually less solid residue

  29. Findings • Biochemical Systems Compared to Thermochemical Systems • Lower Temperatures and Slower Reaction Rates • Large Capacity Requires large facility • Best suited for higher moisture feedstocks • Cannot degrade Plastics and a portion of the biomass (lignin) • Sorting of the Feedstock is highly desirable • More solid residue, but can be composted or dried and used for thermochemical feedstock • Exclusion from transformation category and allowance of full diversion credit provides economic incentive for AD over other CTs

  30. Fractions of Total Mass and Energy of Components in the California Landfill Stream Source; Williams et. al., (2003)

  31. Findings • Development of CTs will lead to more source separation or enhanced sorting • Expected to improve recovery rates of glass and metals for recycling

  32. Recommendations • The definition provided in AB 2770 for gasification should be revised to provide a more scientifically correct description of the gasification process. • Consider whether technology specific definitions are needed in statute • Improved definitions, if needed, are given in the report.

  33. Recommendations (contd.) • Continue to investigate CTs in more detail • Need more complete emissions data of existing facilities. • More specific detail on commercial status. • Assess social and economic costs of all waste management alternatives.

  34. Recommendations (contd.) • Sponsor pilot scale demonstration facilities within California • Include a number of different technologies • Steering Committee of Stakeholders • Detailed analysis of systems • Open dissemination of results Goal is to develop verifiable and credible information

  35. Recommendations (contd.) • Explore development of ‘Eco-Park’ concept (complete stream recycling facilities) • Investigate biorefinery concepts

  36. Recommendations (contd.) Improve the characterization of MSW in order better predict the behavior of conversion systems. • Physical and Chemical Properties • Proximate, ultimate, and other elemental analysis including ash, metals, and toxic cogeners • Higher heating values (HHV) • Structural carbohydrate analyses (cellulose/hemicellulose/lignin) for cellulosic components • Protein/carbohydrate/fats for typical food and other wastes

  37. Recommendations (contd.) To encourage CT development and reduce landfilling • Explore financing mechanisms • Co-location with existing waste handling facilities

  38. Other Reports CADDET – August 1998 • Advanced thermal CTs will meet current emission standards • Could meet tighter limits • Lower emissions than mass burn technology • Waste sorting for more homogeneous feedstock • Lower gas flow • Improved producer gas combustion

  39. Other Reports CADDET • Prior to 1990 – Facilities used unsorted MSW • Abandoned due to technical problems • Proved that CTs required homogeneous feedstock • Pre-sorting/size reduction imperative to remove recyclables • Presence of recycling programs may improve economics • Reducing pre-treatment requirements • Potential benefits of thermal CTs • Lower environmental impacts • Higher conversion efficiencies • Greater compatibility with recycling

  40. Other Reports Alternative Waste Management Technologies and Practices Inquiry – April 2000 • No one technology is suitable for all waste streams • Each technology can form part of an IWM system • Pyrolysis/Gasification can operate at smaller or modular scale. • Fermentation would have limited air/water emissions.

  41. LCA/MIA

  42. AB 2770 - Lifecycle & Market Impact Assessment • Describe and evaluate the life-cycle environmental and public health impacts of each conversion technology • Compare to other solid waste management practices • Describe and evaluate the impacts on the recycling and composting markets • Analysis based on hypothetical scenarios in S.F. Bay Area and L.A. Basin • Growth Scenarios established

  43. Board Q&A

  44. Public Testimony

  45. Summary of Contractor Recommendations

  46. CT Report to Legislature • Definitions of CTs evaluated • Description of lifecycle/public health impacts • Description of technical performance • Feedstocks, Emissions, Residues • I.D. cleanest, least polluting CT • Description of market impacts • Recycling • Composting

  47. CT Report to Legislature • Separate definitions for “thermochemical” and “biochemical” conversion • Include discussion on diversion credit • Additional studies to address data gaps • Address comments beyond scopes of work • Contractor recommendations

  48. Next Steps • October 1 workshop • Proposed Nov. Discussion Item

  49. Questions/Conclusion

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