ANALYSIS AND SIMULATION OF WASTE-TO-ENERGY CONVERSION PLANT

Abstract

The present study pertains to the analysis and simulation of "Waste to Energy Conversion Plant", being commissioned at Ludhiana, Punjab. The proposed plant utilizes the emerging concept of anaerobic digestion which is the prime concern of the present study. Operating principle of Biogas Induced Mixing Arrangement, BIMA, has been understood and explained in detail. Data available at the plant site, and with the Punjab Energy Development Agency, PEDA, and the Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, MNES, has been extensively used for the material and energy balances and design calculations of the "Waste to Energy Conversion Plant". The objective of the present investigation is to analyse the various equipments /units involved in the proposed site and to design them with the data available from the literature. Non-linear algebraic equations involved in modeling of the effluent treatment plant have been solved using MATLAB for the simulation purpose. Simulation results are presented and it_ is suggested to-validate these results with the proposed plant data. The designs of the various equipments/units involved in the wastewater treatment plant have been done using C++ language, and the results obtained have been validated with the actual equipments/units designs in the proposed plant. Computational work has been done for making a graphic user interface for the process design of Double Pipe Heat Exchanger using VISUAL BASIC. Attempt has been made to develop user-friendly software. Attempt has also been made to propose the design of conventional CSTR type digester for the anaerobic digestion of cow manure. Comparison in terms of auxiliary energy consumption and net energy generation from the plant has been made between the highly commercialized and patented technology like BIMA, and the conventional CSTR design. It may be concluded from the calculations that the same amount of energy can be generated from the conventional CSTR design and use of highly commercialized technology like BIMA, which involves sophisticated design and high instrumentation cost should be avoided.