This research investigates the energy, financial and environmental performance of an innovative integrated gasification fuel cell combined cycle fuelled by municipal solid waste that includes hydrogen storage and electrolysis. The suitability for fuel cells to run on synthesis gas coming from the gasification of waste is determined by the sensitivity of the fuel cell to run on contaminated fuel. Out of the available fuel cell technologies solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), because of their ceramic construction and high operating temperatures, are best suited for syngas operation. Their high operating temperature ( > 650°C) and the presence of nickel at the anode means that it is possible to reform hydrocarbons to provide further hydrogen. A major contaminant to be considered in gasification systems is tar which can foul pipework and cause substantial performance losses to the plant. Experimental research on the effects of tar on a SOFC at varying concentrations and operating conditions show; that some carbon deposition serves to improve the performance of the fuel cell by reducing the ohmic resistance, and there is a tendency for the tar to reform which improves overall performance. These improvements are seen at moderate tar concentrations but at higher concentrations carbon deposition causes substantial performance degradation. Numerical simulations representing all aspects of the proposed system have been developed to understand the energy performance of the system as a whole as well as the financial and environmental benefits. Taking into account variations in the waste composition, and the wholesale electricity price the proposed system, scaled to process 100,000 tonnes of waste per year (40,000 removed for recycling), has a simple payback period of 7.2 years whilst providing CO2 savings of 13%. Over the year the proposed system will provide enough electricity to supply more than 23,000 homes and enough heat for more than 5,800 homes (supplying 25% of the electrically supplied homes).

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Reynaldo Palacios Bereche / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Energia, 2016. / No Brasil o setor de saneamento ainda apresenta um déficit significativo no tratamento de resíduos e esgotos. Segundo Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Limpeza Pública e Resíduos Especiais, no ano 2014 foram coletados no Brasil uma quantidade de 195.233 t/dia de resíduos, representando uma geração per capita de 1,062 kg/habitante/dia. Deste total, apenas 58,4% tem destinação adequada, sendo depositado em aterros sanitários, estes números tornam a gestão dos resíduos um problema nacional. Dentre as rotas tecnológicas para o aproveitamento a gaseificação de resíduos, que possibilita a produção de um gás combustível ou gás de síntese, se apresenta como uma tecnologia com múltiplas vantagens. Entretanto, a avaliação do seu potencial energético e econômico é dificultado pela experiência operacional limitada e dados disponíveis incompletos. Assim, a presente proposta teve como objetivo realizar um estudo da geração de energia elétrica a partir de resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) aplicado à cidade de Santo André, Brasil utilizando três tecnologias que desenvolveram o processo de gaseificação de resíduos e que vem operado comercialmente há alguns anos, e que apresentam informação que esta disponível ao público. Estas tecnologias são TPS Termiska Processer AB, Carbogas e Energos. Foram avaliados aspectos específicos de cada tecnologia como: tipo de reator e caraterísticas do combustível, para determinar a linha de produção de CDR (combustível derivado de resíduos) aplicada para cada tecnologia. Assim como os sistemas de limpeza do gás de síntese. A avaliação energética das tecnologias foi realizada utilizando como sistemas de aproveitamento energético, para a produção de energia elétrica, motores de combustão interna e ciclo Rankine simples. A tecnologia que apresentou melhores resultados na análise energética foi a tecnologia Carbogas, atingindo eficiências de 30 % com a configuração usando motores de combustão interna e 25,5 % com a configuração usando ciclo Rankine simples. Foi desenvolvida uma análise econômica baseada na informação disponível, os resultados mostraram que a tecnologia Carbogas obteve custos de produção do MWh menores. Deste modo, os valores atingidos foram de 222,9 (R$/MWh) com a configuração usando motores de combustão interna e 244,7 (R$/MWh) com a configuração usando ciclo Rankine simples. / The sanitation sector in Brazil has a significant deficit in the treatment of waste and sewage. According to Brazilian Association of public cleaning and special waste companies, in 2014 were collected 195.233 t/day of waste in Brazil, representing a per capita generation of 1,062 kg/habit/day. Only 58,4 % of this total has proper disposal, being deposited in landfills, these figures make the waste management a national problem. Among the technological routes for the use of MSW, gasification of waste to produce electricity, presentan interesting technology with numerous advantages. However, evaluation of his energy and economic potential is hampered by the limited operational experience and incomplete available data. Thus, this proposal aims to conduct a study of electricity generation frommunicipal solid waste (MSW) in Santo André, Brasil using three technologies which presented waste gasification process and have operated commercially for a few years, and some data are available. These technologies are TPS Termiska Processer AB, Carbogas and Energos. Were evaluated specific aspects of each technology as: type of reactor and fuel characteristics, to determine the RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) production line applied for each technology. As synthesis gas cleaning system. Energy analysis was performed using as energy recovery systems, for the production of electricity, an internal combustion engine and the simple Rankine cycle. Who present better results in energy analysis was Carbogas technology, achieving efficiencies of 30 % with setting using internal combustion engines and 25,5 % with setting using simple Rankine cycle. An economic analysis was developed based on the information available, results showed that Carbogas technology got smaller MWh production cost. Thus, achieved values were 222.9 (R$/MWh) with setting using internal combustion engines and 244.7 (R$/MWh) with setting using simple Rankine cycle.