Potential of refuse derived fuel production from Bangkok municipal solid waste | |
| Author | Jidapa Nithikul |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-07-60 |
| Subject(s) | Refuse and refuse disposal--Thailand--Bangkok Refuse as fuel--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Global warming is one of the most critical environmental problems that humankind is facing. Kyoto protocol aims to reduce green house gas emission, lessen dependency on fossil fuel and encourage the use of renewable energy. It also enhances the collaboration between developed and developing country to use clean development mechanism (CDM). Meanwhile, municipal solid waste management in Bangkok is marked as one of five serious environmental problems in Thailand. In this regard, production and utilization of refuse derived fuel (RDF) can positively contribute to both global and local environment. However, currently, there is no RDF production plant in Thailand due to lack of information for decision makers and investors. Therefore, this study aims to provide information about RDF users, characteristics, production process and driving mechanisms. Three main potential RDF users were investigated namely, cement industries, power producers and industrial boilers. Field data collection and laboratory analysis were conducted to find out RDF characteristics and compared with users’ requirement. The result illustrates that cement industries have positive opinion and are ready to use RDF at 40% substitution (energy basis) which is about 2.7 Mt of RDF/y. Whereas power producers and industrial boilers, which have bigger potential RDF market size (more than 12.2 Mt of RDF/y), are not ready to use RDF. However, potential RDF production in Thailand is around 2.46 Mt/y. Therefore, RDF receiving capacity of cement industries is sufficient to manage RDF from the whole country. Although, power producers and industrial boilers are not ready to use RDF at present, their barriers are pointed out and possible solving strategies are provided for RDF utilization in the future. Appropriate RDF production process consists of manual sorting, magnetic separation, bag breaking/homogenization, screening with the opening of 40 mm, air drying, shredding and palletizing. This process can produce RDF that has average lower heating value (LHV) around 19.6 MJ/kg at 12% moisture content. Chlorine and sulfur contents are 0.6% and 0.2% respectively. Heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb do not exceed European RDF standard. The RDF consists of more than 40% plastic, 30% yard waste, less than 10% paper, 10% food waste and 10% noncombustible fraction. Cost of RDF production to get required characteristics mentioned earlier is also provided for decision makers and investors. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Visvanathan, C. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Chongrak Polprasert;Dutta, Animesh |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | HM Queen Thailand |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |