Optimization of a combined heat and power system based gasification of municipal solid waste of Urmia University student dormitories via ANOVA and taguchi approaches

Municipal solid waste (MSW) of Urmia University student dormitories was utilized to trigger a co-generation system. The combined heat and power system consisted of a gasifier, a micro gas turbine, an organic Rankine cycle, a heat exchanger, and a domestic heat recovery. The system performance was validated by comparing the results with experimental results available in the literature. Air, steam, and oxygen were considered as different gasification mediums. Hydrogen content in the case of the steam medium was higher at all gasification temperatures and low moisture contents. However, hydrogen content of the system based oxygen medium was higher at high moisture contents. The system performances from power generation and hot water flow rate viewpoints were assessed versus the MSW flow rate, gasification temperature, pressure ratio, and turbine inlet temperature. Taguchi approach was employed to optimize the generated power in air, steam, and oxygen medium cases. The optimum conditions were the same for all cases. The optimum powers were 281.1 kW, 279.4 kW, and 266.9 kW for the system based steam, air, and oxygen gasifying agents, respectively. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study utilized municipal solid waste from Urmia University student dormitories to establish a co-generation system, whose performance was validated and optimal power was obtained through power generation optimization.