Waste-to-Energy in Thailand:

Technology, and Policy Perspective

Komsilp Wangyao
JGSEE-KMUTT
 Outline
• Overview of waste management
• Waste to Energy Technologies
– Thermal treatment
– Biological treatment
– Physical treatment
• Policy perspective
 Solid Waste (SW)
/Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
• SW means any garbage, refuse, sludge and other
discarded materials, resulting from industrial,
commercial, mining and agricultural operations, and
from community activities
• MSW—more commonly known as trash or garbage—
consists of everyday items we use and then throw away,
such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture,
clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances,
paint, and batteries. This comes from our homes,
schools, hospitals, and businesses.
3
 Sources of Solid Waste
• Residential area
• Market and
Restaurant
• Commercial and
Department Store
• Institutional area
• Industrial area
• Agricultural area

4
Municipal solid
waste
generation for
selected large
cities in Asia

5 2002
Source: World Bank, 1999; UNDP,
 Waste Management
Waste management is the collection, transport,
processing, recycling or disposing , managing
and monitoring of waste materials. The term
usually relates to materials produced by human
activity, and is generally undertaken to reduce
their effect on health, the environment or
aesthetics. Waste management is also carried
out to recover resources from it.

6
 Waste management concepts
• Waste hierarchy - extracts the maximum practical benefits
from products and to generate the minimum amount of
waste.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a strategy designed
to promote the integration of all costs associated with
products throughout their life cycle (including end-of-life
disposal costs) into the market price of the product.
• Polluter pays principle (PPP) is a principle where the polluting
party pays for the impact caused to the environment. With
respect to waste management, this generally refers to the
requirement for a waste generator to pay for appropriate
disposal of the waste.
7
 Hierarchy in Solid Waste Management

1. Waste Avoidance Most desirable

2. Waste Minimization - CT
3. Waste Reuse/Recycling
4. Waste Treatment
5. Waste Disposal Least desirable
http://www.icsa.ie/reuse-and-recycle

The more you control , the less you will get

Note: Complete avoidance of solid waste generation is not possible in

real world. Not all wastes are technically and economically
feasible to be recycled or treated . Therefore, final disposal is still
required as an essential part of the management at the end of integrated
solid waste management system.
8
Evolution of Waste Management concept

Mcdougall et al. (2009) Integrated solid waste management: A life cycle inventory
9
Structures of Municipal Solid Waste Stream
Western Countries Prolonged emission of
CH4
Plastic
resource Metals (Incineration)

Waste Mechanical Separation

Collection Landfill LFG recovery
+Aerobic Treatment
Separation after collection
MBT(Mechanical-Biological Treatment) Incomplete reduction of organics
“Mechanical Separation” should be applicable to waste with low water content.
Paper, Metals, Glass, Plastic
Japan resource
Combustibles
Substantial reduction of organics

Waste Source
Collection Incineration Landfill
Separation
Few CH4 emission
Separation before collection Uncombustibles

“Incineration” has been selected due to sanitation of waste with high water content.

Asian Countries resource

Organics is still valuable
resource

Waste Collection Landfill

“resource” includes organic materials with high water contents for composting.

Waste management can reduce organic carbon flow into landfill

10
Source: M. Yamada, 2009
 Waste situation in Asia
• In Asia, on an annual basis, approx. 4 billion tonnes of
solid waste are generated and MSW amounts to
790 million tonnes.

• About USD25 billions are spent for solid waste

management in urban areas

• On average 50% of residents lack collection services in

urban areas of low and middle income countries

Shabbir, 2009
 MSW management in Asia
• Municipal solid waste composition varies broadly due
climatic and cultural variations (about 50% is
biodegradable)
• Systems for collection, transportation and disposal are
similar
• Involvement of formal (public and private organizations)
and informal sector, NGOs and community based
organizations , etc.
• Industrial waste (hazardous and non hazardous waste)
enters the MSW stream
• Disposal of waste electric and electronic equipment
(WEEE) to landfill Shabbir, 2009
Key Features of Integrated Waste
Management (IWM) concept
 An overall approach
 Uses a range of collection and treatment
methods
 Handles all materials in the waste stream
 Environmental effective
 Economical affordable
 Socially acceptable

Source: Chart Chiemchaisri, KU

 Anticipated Solid Waste Management
Condition in the Future

1. More stringent regulation

2. Increasing public opposition against facility siting
3. Increasing cost of waste transportation
IWM could help reducing the cost
4. Centralization of waste management facilities
Economically driven

Source: Chart Chiemchaisri, KU

 Facing Problems in SWM

1. Limited allocated budget for solid waste management

2. Lack of co-operation between local authorities
3. Lack of skill personnel in waste management practice
4. Ineffective waste recycling program/regulations
5. Opposition against waste disposal facilities from
public/communities
6. Lack of public awareness/participation

Source: Chart Chiemchaisri, KU

 Waste is not waste
• Waste is a misplaced resource
• Waste residues can be converted into
reusable/new materials, energy, and other
products with value
• Natural resources are limited and depleted
• Mitigation of waste management problems
• Waste can be potential sources for resource
recovery
17
• Waste to Energy Quote

The old practice of waste disposal has been to dump

in open landfills, which results in garbage in and
garbage remains.

The goal for the new millennium must be garbage in

and energy out in an environmentally acceptable
manner.

(Gupta, 2004)

18
Source: http://www.e-renewables.com
 Thermal Treatment of MSW
• Incineration (energy recovery through
complete oxidation): mass burn and RDF
• Pyrolysis
• Gasification
• Plasma arc (advanced thermal conversion)

20
Overall Review of MSW Thermal
Treatment Technologies

21
 Incineration of Solid Wastes

Incineration is a thermal processing used for

reducing volume of solid wastes and recovering
energy. In the process, solid wastes are
converted into gaseous, liquid and solid
conversion products under high temperature
(800-1,000°C), with the concurrent or
subsequent release of heat energy.

22
 Terms

burn : to produce flames and heat

combustion : a chemical process in which

substances combine with the oxygen in the air to
produce heat and light

incinerate : to burn something until it is

completely destroyed

A S Hornby : Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary Sixth edition

23
 Change of requirements to
incineration disposal technology
Functions and roles widely required in incineration
treatment have changed in response to the needs of the
times…
1950~
Appropriate treatment for sanitation Basic matter

Weight reduction→ 1/10

Weight/volume reduction
Volume reduction→ 1/20
1980~
Reduction of environment impacts HCl, Dioxins, NOx…

2000~
Recycling and resource recovery Energy from waste
Thermal recovery

24
 Example of configuration of typical fully-
continuous stoker-type incinerator

25
 Mechanism of incineration and
important technical factors in incineration
Example of stoker type Incinerator with a ash melting furnace

Secondary air Flue gas + Fly ash

Gaseous Complete
combustion combustion
Drying/Pyrolysis

Ash melting
furnace

Slag
Air for drying
Bottom ash
Primary
combustion air
Post
combustion air
“3 Ts” : Temperature
Time •••• residence time
Turbulence •••• adequate mixing and stirring
Furthermore,
Technical innovations, including improvement of the secondary combustion air
injection method, advanced control using artificial intelligence, etc. 27
 Potential and limitations of incineration
technologies

Potential
- Energy recovery from organic wastes
- Small footprint
- Only long-term solution for large cities/municipalities
- Volume and weight reduced (approx. 90% vol. and 75%
wt reduction)
- Cost can be offset by heat recovery/ sale of energy
Limitations
- High investment and operating cost
- Strong opposition from the public/stakeholders
- Skilled operators are required
28
Source: Chart Chiemchaisri, KU
 Phuket Incinerator (700 TPD)

• waste input = 650 TPD

• Electricity generation capacity = 12 MW
29
 Incinerator

• Moving grate system

• Rotary kiln system
• Fluidized bed system

Rotary kiln Fluidized bed Moving grate incineration30

 Incineration – Moving Grate
Tuas South Incineration Plant,
Singapore (MSW) Pros
• Over 900 plants
• Over 10 major suppliers
• adequate tender competition
• Larger unit capacity
• less land requirement
• Relatively robust for mixed MSW
treatment
• No requirement of pre-treatment

Cons
Latest Development • Excess air requirement  higher flue gas
• Over 90% of MSW incineration plants using moving volume
grate technology • High ash production
• Largest plant: 4,300 tpd mixed MSW in Singapore
• Largest unit : 920 tpd mixed MSW in Netherlands
• Over 100 new plants since 2003

31
 Incineration – Fluidized Bed
Latest Development
• Mainly for homogenous waste treatment e.g.,
sewage sludge and industrial wastes
• Only 2% of mixed MSW incineration plants using
this technology
• Largest plant: 200 tpd mixed MSW in Japan
• Largest unit: 82.5 tpd mixed MSW in Japan
• A few new MSW plants since 2003, but in small
scale
Pros
• More intense heat and mass transfer
• Minimal mechanical moveable parts  less
wearing and lower relevant O&M costs
Cons
• Limited track record for mixed MSW application
• Smaller unit capacity  larger land requirement
• Requirement of pre-treatment
• Less robust for mixed MSW treatment

32
 Incineration – Rotary Kiln
Latest Development
• Mainly for industrial and hazardous waste
treatment, rare for mixed MSW
• Generally, combine rotary kiln and moving grate
• Largest plant: 900 tpd mixed MSW in Taiwan
• Largest unit: 300 tpd mixed MSW in Taiwan
• No reported new plant since 2003
Pros
• Long retention time  favorable to treat
hazardous waste
• Flexible in feedstock e.g., solid and liquid wastes
Cons
• Limited track record for mixed MSW
application/ a supplier key retreated from
market
• High O&M costs due to technical problems
encountered for mixed MSW treatment such as
erosion of the refractory materials, plastics
deposition and clinkering
• Smaller unit capacity  larger land requirement
• Less robust for mixed MSW treatment
 Energy recovery
• Hot water boiler
• Low pressure steam
boiler
• High pressure steam
boiler
• Electricity
• Co-generation

34
 Gasification
• Partial oxidation process using air, pure
oxygen, oxygen enriched air, hydrogen, or
steam
• Produces electricity, fuels (methane,
hydrogen, ethanol, synthetic diesel), and
chemical products
• Temperature > 700oC
• More flexible than incineration, more
technologically complex than incineration or
pyrolysis, more public acceptance

35
http://msw.cecs.ucf.edu
Flexibility of Gasification

36
http://msw.cecs.ucf.edu
 Gasification
Latest Development
• ~90 plants worldwide
• Largest plant: 405 tpd mixed MSW in Japan
• Largest unit: 150 tpd mixed MSW in Japan
• Over 20 new plants since 2003, but in small-
scale
Pros
• Limited air requirement  less volume of flue
gas for treatment
• Potentially higher flexibility in energy recovery
Cons
• Limited track record for mixed MSW
application/ a key supplier retreated from
market
• Concern for operation failure (e.g. unpleasant
experience in Germany)
• Smaller unit capacity  larger land
requirement
• Less robust for mixed MSW treatment
• Requirement of pre-treatment 37
 Pyrolysis
• Thermal degradation of carbonaceous materials
• Lower temperature than gasification (750 – 1500oF)
• Absence or limited oxygen
• Products are pyrolitic oils and gas, solid char
• Distribution of products depends on temperature
• Pyrolysis oil used for (after appropriate post-
treatment): liquid fuels, chemicals, adhesives, and
other products.
• A number of processes directly combust pyrolysis
gases, oils, and char
38
http://msw.cecs.ucf.edu
Pyrolysis

Latest Development
• ~30 pyrolysis plants
• Largest plant: 160
tpd mixed MSW in
Japan
• Largest unit: 80 tpd
mixed MSW in
Japan
• Less than 10 new
plants since 2003

39
• Plasma Arc

 Temperatures 4,000°C to over

7,000 ° C

 Hazardous & toxic compounds

broken down to elemental
constituents by high temperatures

 Organic materials are converted to

fuel gases The Plama Arc Plant at Mihama-
Mikata, Japan converts unprocessed
MSW and WWTP sludge to fuel gas.
 Residual materials (inorganics,
heavy metals, etc.) immobilized
in a rock-like vitrified mass
which is highly resistant to leaching 40
 Comparison among Incineration,
Gasification, Plasma Gasification & Pyrolysis

Criteria Moving grate Gasification Pyrolysis

Environmental Factors
Flue gas volume High Medium Low
Ash production High High Medium
Engineering Factors
Flexibility Good Poor Poor
Track Record/Operation Experience Longest Limited Limited/Rare
Reliability - Treatment capacity Largest Medium to small Small
No. of key supplier Many Limited Rare
Land requirement Low Medium Large
Capital and O&M cost Low High High

41
Biological Treatment Process

42
 Biodegradable waste
• Biodegradable waste is a type of waste which can be
broken down, in a reasonable amount of time, into its
base compounds by micro-organisms and other living
things.
• Biodegradable waste can be commonly found in
municipal solid waste (sometimes called biodegradable
municipal waste, or BMW) as green waste, food
waste, paper waste, and biodegradable plastics. Other
biodegradable wastes include human waste, manure,
sewage, and slaughterhouse waste. In the absence of
oxygen, much of this waste will decay to methane by
anaerobic digestion.

43
 Type of biological treatment process
• Aerobic Composting
– Need more space and time consuming
– More energy & manpower required
– O&M problems
– Odor problems, high moisture content of waste
• Anaerobic Digestion
– Higher net power generation
– Lesser plant area required for a continues operation
– Greater volume reduction in MSW
– Organic stabilization and pathogen reduction
Bio-methanization may be the attractive alternative in Asian
countries where higher organic fraction exist
44
Source: Visu, 2006
 Anaerobic Digestion of Solid Wastes
The biodegradation of organic wastes by microorganisms
under anaerobic conditions in anaerobic digester will give
final products as biogas (mixture of methane and carbon
dioxide) and anaerobic sludge.

Technology options:
- One-stage anaerobic digestion system
Wet process 10-15% TS
Dry process 20-40% TS
- Two-stage anaerobic digestion system
- Batch system

45
 System Components of a AD Plant

Source: Kaltschmitt, 2012 46

DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THE GROWTH OF ANAEROBIC
DIGESTION OF ORGANIC WASTE

• Introduction of biowaste collection

• Incentives for production of renewable energy
• Sustainable plants ‘win’ more municipal waste procurements
• Advantages of AD
– Economically very attractive
– No excess wastewater for dry systems: partial stream
digestion
– More waste can be treated on the same surface area
– Reduction of odors
– Hygienization: important for food waste
– High flexibility

47
 Potential and limitations of AD technologies
Potential
- Recovery of energy from solid wastes
- Simple operation and maintenance (compared to
incineration)
- Utilization of organic residue as compost

Limitations
- High investment cost (for large scale AD)
- Difficulties in preparation of feedstock (poor upstream
management)

48
 How is biogas produced?

Biogas occurs widely in nature. Biogas

forms wherever organic material accrues
under exclusion of oxygen (called
anaerobic digestion), e.g. in bogs, on the
bottom of lakes or in ruminants’ stomachs.
The organic matter is almost entirely
converted into biogas in these conditions.
The actual process by which biogas forms
involves the complex interaction of various
microorganisms and takes place in
basically four separate phases

Overall Biochemical Reaction:

Organic material → CO2 + CH4 + H2 + NH3 + H2S
49
 End product = Biogas
Composition: • The energy content of the biogas is
50 – 75 % methane (CH4) directly dependent on the methane
25 – 45 % carbon dioxide (CO2) content.
2 – 7 % water (H20) • The higher the content of substances
< 2 % oxygen (O2) such as fats and starch that are easy
< 2 % nitrogen (N2) to break down in the fermented mass,
< 1 % ammonia (NH3)
< 1 % hydrogen sulphide (H2S) the greater the gas yield.
• One cubic meter (m3) of methane has
an energy content of about ten
kilowatt hours (9.97 kWh).
• If the biogas contains 60 % methane,
then the energy value of one cubic
meter of biogas is about six kilowatt
hours. In this case, the heating value
of one cubic meter of biogas is
roughly 0.6 liters of heating oil. 50
 Energy equivalents

• 1 Watt = 1 joule second-1

• 1 Wh = 1 x 3600 joules (J)
• 1 kWh = 3600000 J
• 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ
• 22 MJ (1m3 biogas) = 22/3.6 kWh = 6.1
kWh
• Electrical conversion efficiency = 35%
• Therefore 1m3 biogas = 2.14 kWh (elec)
51
To get a good combustible gas, the “raw” biogas is
cooled, drained, dried and cleaned from H2S because of
its corrosive effect. The obtained gas can be either
applied directly or upgraded to natural gas standard –
biomethane (98 % methane).
Biogas:
• Production of electricity and heat (cogeneration)
• Production of electricity alone
• Production of heat alone
Upgraded biogas (biomethane):
• Injection in the gas grid
• Transportation fuel
• High tech process energy
• Raw material for the chemical industry 52
Biogas yield and methane content of various substrates

Source: Handreichung Biogas, FNR, 2006; Energiepflanzen, KTBL, 2006 53

 Gas Formation Rate and Biogas Yield

Source: Kaltschmitt, 2012 54

 Anaerobic Degradation Influencing Factors

• Humid environment Bacteria work and multiply only if the water content exceeds
50 %
• Absence of oxygen Bacteria are strictly anaerobic
• Absence of light Light acts as an inhibitor
• Temperature Bacteria live between 0 and >70 °C, typical fermenting
temperatures are 30 to 45 °C
• Residence time Crucial factor for the gas yield, typically 25 to 35 days
• pH value Adjusts to about 7.5 (slightly alkaline)
• Inhibitors Antibiotics, disinfectants, heavy metals
• Substrates Concentration, type and composition, ingredients and
additives
• Loading rate (in average) 3 to 5 kg oDM/ (m³ d)
• Continuous feeding
• Nutrients (trace elements C:N:P:S ≈ 500:15:5:3)
• Specific surface area of the substrates
• Removal of end products => degassing

Source: Kaltschmitt, 2012 55

 Classification of Anaerobic Processes
o Process specific
•Temperature dependency (e.g. mesophilic, thermophilic)
•Stage dependency (e.g. single-stage mixed digestion; phase
separation in hydrolysis and methanation (e.g. multi-stage
operation with the same or different temperatures))
•Type of the substrate (e.g. "wet" fermentation with dry
matter contents < 15 %, "dry" fermentation with dry matter
content > 15 %, percolation process)
•Operation (i.e. continuous/discontinuous fermentation)
o Hydraulic conditions
•Reactor type (i.e. fully mixed reactor, plug flow reactor)
•Substrate feeding (i.e. continuous/discontinuous dosing)

Source: Kaltschmitt, 2012 56

 Single Stage
• The four anaerobic digestion steps take place in
one reactor, i.e. they are not separated in time or
in space.
• These types of plants have the advantages of
being simple and easy to operate and they
require low investment cost.
• On the other hand, the biogas output is lower in
comparison to multi stage fermentation.
• The retention time on this type of fermentation
oscillates between the 14 and 28 days depending
on the feed and operating temperature.

Source: Verma, 2002 57

 Multi Stage
• In multi stage fermentation, two or more reactors are
utilized to make the anaerobic digestion.
• The idea of utilizing several reactors is to separate in
space and time the hydrolysis and methanogenesis
phases, with the intention of increasing the biogas
yield and making it safer to operate.
• The retention time in multi stage fermentation is
approximately seven days, three days for the
methanogenesis and between two and four days in
the hydrolysis phase.

58
 Batch
• In batch fermentation, the reactor is loaded once and
discharged until the end of the anaerobic process takes
place.
• Because of its simplicity and portability, batch reactors are a
good option for treating biowaste in countries where
landfilling is the most common waste management method
utilized.
• Batch reactors function similar to a landfill, but at higher
temperatures and with continuous leachate recirculation,
the biogas yield is between 50 and 100 percent higher than in
landfills (Vandevivere et al., 1999).
• Another advantage of batch fermentation is the possibility to
recover recyclables and other materials after the anaerobic
fermentation is completed. 59
• The concrete reactor with integrated heating system is loaded with
biowaste and closed, starting the anaerobic degradation.
• During the decomposition, high organic content leachate is produced.
• The leachate is stored, heated and continuously redistributed in the
reactor to increase the biogas yield.
• The waste is kept in the reactor from 20 to 40 days, until the biogas
production stops or drops (Vandevivere et al., 1999).
• The treated waste is then utilized to produce compost. 60
 Differentiation Wet and Dry
Fermentation
• Wet fermentation
– DM-content of the substrates does not exceed 15 %
– Pumpable substrates or mixtures
– Usually continuous processes

• Dry fermentation
– DM content exceeds 15 % (DM contents of 35 % or
more can occur
– Stackable substrates or mixtures
– Usually discontinuous processes
61
 Advantages and disadvantages of
different systems
One Stage System Two-stage system Continuous system
Advantages Simple, low-tech, Process stability, Could treat large
cheap, smaller reliable process, amount of waste
heat requirement higher biogas
yield,
Disadvantages Clogging, need Higher cost of Low process
bulking agent, risk investment, efficiency, poor
of explosion complex biogas yield
during emptying a operation,
reactor, poor expensive waste
biogas yield handling
equipment

62
 Pros and Cons of Dry Fermentation
• Solid, stackable biomass can be fermented unlimitedly without
the necessity for mixing or maintaining pumpability
• Significantly lower process energy consumption than for wet
fermentation
• The achievable gas yields for agricultural products are much
lower with dry than with wet fermentation due to biological
reasons
• To guarantee a uniform temperature within the biomass to be
fermented is difficult
• To allow for a high degree of biomass degradation a very long
residence time within the reactor is needed – and such a long
residence time cannot be achieved due to economic reasons
• In general, the quality of biogas produced by dry or wet
fermentation is comparable 63
Delivery of Organic Waste

64
Bio-Waste Treatment

65
Examples for Substrate Feeding

66
 Mixing Options
• Passive mixing due to thermal convection
• Active mixing
– Mechanical mixing systems
• Reel agitator
• Paddle agitator
– Propeller agitators
• Submersible motor propeller agitator
• Tube screw pump
– Hydraulic circulation
• Circulation pump
– Circulation by biogas
• Active systems (gas injection)
• Passive systems (pressure balance) 67
Source: Kaltschmitt, 2012
 68
Source: Kaltschmitt, 2012
 Removing of Solids from the Reactor

69
Source: Kaltschmitt, 2012
Fermenter Heating

70
Example for Fermentation Residue
Storage

71
Fermentation Residue Utilization

72
Example for a Biogas Desulfurizer

73
Biogas Storage

74
Waste to energy and fertilizer project
(Rayong, Thailand)

75
76
77
78
79
Community technology : Sam Chung
Supanburi

80
Small scale AD from food waste used in slaughter house :
Muang Klang Municipality

81
 Landfill Gas (LFG)

– Come from anaerobic degradation comprise of CH4 ~ 50%,

CO2 ~ 45% and NMOCs ~ 5%
– Moves from areas of high pressure to low pressure
– Problems: odor, explosion hazards, vegetative stress,
groundwater contamination with VOCs
82
Why we have to control the emissions?

Air dispersion modeling (Casella, 2008)

84
 Prediction of LFG Generation
33,000
31,900
30,800

Is it possible to collect
29,700
28,600
27,500
LFG Flow at 5 0% Methane (m 3/hr)

26,400

LFG about 80% ???

25,300
24,200
23,100
22,000
20,900
19,800
18,700
17,600
16,500
15,400
14,300
13,200
12,100
11,000
9,900
8,800
7,700
6,600
5,500
4,400
3,300
2,200
1,100
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

LFG Generation Estimated Recovery

The high level of rapidly degradable organic carbon in the waste

stream combined with the high moisture content in the waste
body in tropical landfills can stimulate the anaerobic degradation
and produce more LFG in a shorter time after the wastes have
been deposited. 85
LFG recovery and utilization system

Source: USEPA, 2011

 Active LFG Collection System
System that includes a prime mover that creates a vacuum on the landfill

Horizontal collector

Vertical well
most common method of
gas collection
 Moisture content
distribution in
Thai landfill sites
measured by
Possibility of leachate recirculation in the real SEA landfill??? Electrical
Resistivity
Tomography
(ERT)

Example of
vertical
extraction
well - lesson
learn in Thai
landfill

89
Typical Horizontal Collector Arrangements
Installation of LFG collector

91
Gas Wellhead and Piping (typical)
• Built-in gas flow
metering
• Gas temp. gauge
• PVC flow control valve
• Quick-connect gas
pressure
• Gas sampling port
• Flex hose

Type of valve: butterfly, gate and

LFG manifold unit
PVC Header pipe
 Landfill Gas Utilization
Heat value of LFG 400-600 Btu/ft3
Purification is needed
Remove H2O, CO2 and H2S
Incineration
Medium-Btu Gas
Power generation
Upgrade to High-Btu Gas
95
 LFG Processing
• To employ most of the LFG utilization
• Technologies described before, the LFG needs to
be processed, at least to some extent.
• The primary form of treatment of the LFG is to
remove some portion of the water vapor from
the saturated LFG.
• Reducing the moisture content of the LFG and the
number of trace constituents and particulates
reduces the corrosive nature of the LFG,
 LFG Processing (con’t)
• Moisture Removal
• Particulate Removal
• Trace Gas Removal
• Carbon Dioxide Stripping
LFG utilization in the landfill
30 KW

55 KW

250 KW

98
Leachate treatment by using LFG

99
LFGTE 1 MW at Kampaengsan Landfill

100
 LFGTE Project at Rachathewa LF

101
LFG Treatment System

102
Example of CDM-LFGTE Project: Kamphaeng Saen East Project

103
Kamphaeng Saen East Landfill Site Layout

104
 LFG Utilisation Process

Waste arrives on site Installation of LFG collection wells Collected LFG transported via carrier
pipes to generation compound

Excess LFG enters flares LFG enters pre-treatment plant

LFG sent to gas engines for Generated electricity

electricity generation sent to local grid
105
Plant Layout

106
Pre-Treatment CDM Instruments

107
 Flares CDM Instruments
Flare Stack No.1

Flare Stack No.2

Flare Stack No.3

108
Engines CDM Instruments

109
Physical Treatment
Refuse derived fuel, RDF

111
 Definition of RDF
• RDF is combustible or, in other word, high calorific
fraction recovered from MSW. There are other terms
used for MSW derived fuel such as Recovered Fuel
(REF), Packaging Derived Fuel (PDF), Paper and
Plastic Fraction (PPF) and Process Engineered Fuel
(PEF) (UNEP, 2005; Gendebien et al., 2003).
• RDF is a shredded fuel derived from MSW which
metal, glass and other inorganic materials have been
removed and has particle size 95 weight % passes
through a 2-in square mesh screen (ASTM, 2006).
112
 Why RDF?
• MSW composition is varied from different sources,
seasons and living behaviors.
• Raw MSW has high moisture content, low calorific
value, wide range of particle size distribution and
high ash content.
• The main advantages of RDF are higher calorific value
which also remains fairly constant, more uniformity
of physical and chemical composition, ease of
storage, handling and transportation, lower pollutant
emissions and reduction of excess air requirement
during combustion.

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 Refuse Derived Fuel: RDF

• RDF involves the mechanical processing

to recover recyclable materials
and to produce a combustible product.

• RDF can be processed to half the calorific value of coal.

• RDF can be co-fired with other fuels in a variety of industrial boilers.

• Weaknesses
– High investment
– high electrical power consumption and maintenance
 Classification of RDF
ASTM standards E856-83 (2006)
• RDF-1: Wastes used in as discarded form;
• RDF-2: Wastes processed to coarse particle size with or without ferrous
metal separation such that 95% by weight passes through a 6 in square
mesh screen, namely Coarse RDF ;
• RDF-3: Wastes processed to separate glass, metal and inorganic
materials, shredded such that 95 % by weight passes 2 in square mesh
screen, namely Fluff RDF;
• RDF-4: Combustible wastes processed into powder form, 95 weight %
passes through a 10 mesh screen (0.035 in square), namely Powder RDF;
• RDF-5: Combustible wastes densified (compressed) into the form of
pellets, slugs, cubettes or briquettes, namely Densified RDF;
• RDF-6: Combustible wastes processed into liquid fuels, namely RDF slurry;
• RDF-7: Combustible wastes processed into gaseous fuels, namely RDF
syngas

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RDF Production Process

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 Standard quality of RDF

Parameters Finland a Italy UK

Calorific Value (MJ/kg) 13-16 15 18.7
Moisture content %w 25-35 25 max 7-28b
Ash content %w 5-10 20 12
Sulfur %w 0.1-0.2 0.6 0.1-0.5
Chlorine %w 0.3-1.0 0.9 0.3-1.2

a Restriction for household wastes Biomass HV ~13-18 MJ/kg

b 7-28 for densified-RDF and 28 for coarse-RDF

Source: Modified from Gendebien et al. (2003) 117

118
Mechanical Biological Waste Treatment

Solid Waste Management Programme

for Phitsanulok by GTZ

119
MBT Process

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 soil
RDF bio-filter conditioner
Ton
8804 4345 1226
kcal/kg kcal/kg kcal/kg
High As and Al

Fresh waste After 9 months

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Modified from ERC, Naresuan University,
2006
Policy Perspective
Thailand’s Energy Situation

Source: www.dede.go.th
Thailand’s energy situation in 2011

Source: www.dede.go.th
Renewable Energy Plan & Policy

Source: www.dede.go.th
Alternative Energy Development Plan
(AEDP : 2012-2021)
Source: www.dede.go.th
Source: www.dede.go.th
Source: www.dede.go.th
 Measures for RE Promotion
• BOI- Investment Incentives
• Technical support
• Investment Grant
• Energy Conservation Promotion Fund
(ENCON Fund)
• Adder
• CDM

Source: www.dede.go.th
Thank you for your attention

130