25 April 2012
Morristown, New Jersey based waste to energy developer, Covanta Energy (NYSE: CVA), has completed commercial testing of the ‘first-of-its-kind’ modular gasification technology that it plans to offer to its clients.
The company said that the technology has demonstrated the ability to gasify unprocessed post-recycled municipal solid waste (MSW) in a commercial environment, while reducing emissions and increasing energy efficiency.
According to Covanta its gasification unit has been processing 350 tons (317 tonnes) per day of post-recycled MSW and has demonstrated reliability of over 95% availability.
To gasify the MSW – which does not require pre-treatment – the system subjects it to high temperatures and reduced air in the gasification platform, where it undergoes a chemical reaction that creates a synthesis gas, or syngas.
The syngas is then combusted and processed through an established energy recovery system, followed by a state-of-the-art emissions control system.
The company said that the commercial demonstration paves the way for the company to offer a new 300 ton (272 tonne) per day modular system, called CLEERGASTM (Covanta Low Emissions Energy Recovery Gasification), to its clients.
“This new gasification technology is truly exciting. Communities interested in emerging technologies can now partner with Covanta’s industry leading team to assure successful project execution,” explained Anthony J. Orlando, Covanta’s president and chief executive officer.
“Completing this commercial demonstration was a major step in developing new facilities capable of gasifying unprocessed post-recycled municipal waste,” added John Klett, executive vice president and chief technology officer.
The company said that its research and development efforts will focus on continuing to improve the syngas quality created in the gasification process.
“One day, we anticipate this syngas will be utilised as a fuel in a combined cycle facility and potentially, in the production of liquid fuel,” Klett concluded.