An analysis and assessment of energy production potential from municipal wastes in Erbil city, Iraq

This thesis presents an analysis and assessment of energy production potential from municipal wastes in Erbil City, Iraq. An evaluation was conducted to determine the viability of the potential energy that would be recovered based on the characteristics by pre-processing the combustible components of MSW and using them as a fuel in a properly designed combustion reactor and thermoelectric plant to generate electricity through steam turbine process. Solid waste sampling and laboratory analysis were carried out according to the random sampling method based on American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards to determine the rate of the waste compositions, ultimate and proximate analysis, and chemical formula of the Erbil MSW. The results show that the energy content is 8.87MJ/kg and the organic matter such as mixed food waste 69.54% of waste, followed by wood 6.83%, plastic 6.28%, paper 5.98%, metals 2.1%, glass 2.8%, Rubber 0.8%, Yard waste 4.2% and textile 1.45%. For a certain applied and highly efficient technology, a single municipal solid waste mass burning to an electricity plant for the total municipal solid waste potential has been selected as a suggestion model of the Erbil City. The energy potential based on 75% operating loading factor annual consuming of MSW estimated to be 80〖*10〗^3 ton gives approximately 197.1〖*10〗^3 MWh annual of electrical power to the grid. This technology for conversion of MSW into power generation would not only be beneficial to meet the power demand but also reduce the environmental pollution to certain extent. The aim of this thesis is to analysis the waste composition and energy content and to select appropriate combustion plant covers of the plant set-up analysis, thermodynamic cycle assessment and environmental impact assessment as well as optimum operating conditions of process equipment in Erbil City.