Gasification in the filtration combustion mode for disposal of medical waste with heat generation

Abstract

The gasification of medical waste (MW) in a counterflow updraft gasifier with a partial recycle of the generator gas to the combustion zone is considered as applied for MW disposal with a heat generation. The temperature regimes and material flows are assessed for a typical model MW composition with a humidity varied from 0 to 40 wt.%. A procedure for control of the process for varied MW composition is proposed. For a given MW composition and flowrate, the combustion temperature can be controlled to prescribed value 900°C via control of the flowrates of air and and recycled generator gas. Throughout the studied humidity range the generator gas is combustible and can provide heat generation on the aftercombustion stage. The method promises an efficient and energy sustainable MW disposal.