Project Synopsis
Providing troubleshooting and process design improvement recommendations to a technology services company operating a demonstration scale Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) reactor experiencing heating and vacuum system issues within their MSW conversion unit.
Project Summary
The client, a technology services company, contracted Process Engineering Associates, LLC (PROCESS) to provide process engineering support to develop Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) reactor heating and vacuum system improvements for an MSW conversion unit.
The plant currently operates a demonstration plant that converts MSW into usable homogenized biomass material, recovered mixed plastics, etc. The process consists of a heated rotary batch reactor, vacuum pumps, and water/condensate tanks. PROCESS was tasked with providing engineering support to improve heating of the rotary reactor and performance of the vacuum system. The reactor internals were prone to severe process side fouling and the vacuum pumps currently condense a significant amount of vapor evolved from the reactor which reduces the level of vacuum.
PROCESS performed a site visit to discuss operations with the technology provider’s personnel, perform a visual inspection of the equipment and layout, and witness the operations of the equipment. After discussion with operations and review of the information provided by the client, the following recommendations were presented to the client:
- Replace existing internals to reduce the effects of fouling
- Install a preheater to heat the water that is added to the MSW in the reactor. This will reduce the batch cycle time and aids in water penetrating the cellulose fibers
- Install a condenser upstream of the vacuum pumps to reduce the water vapor and heat load on the vacuum pumps.
Project deliverables submitted to the client consisted of:
- Project design basis
- Process technical alternatives evaluation
- Preliminary process flow diagram including supporting mass and energy balance data
- Simulation file outputs and calculations
- Equipment duty specifications.
Industry Type
Alternative Municipal Waste Processing
Utilized Skills
- Process troubleshooting
- Process Improvements Alternative Evaluations
- Process Equipment Design.