Title:
Environmental Benefits with Used Railway Sleepers Fuelling Xylowatt's Notar Gasification Technology
Author(s):
Damon, J.P., Bacq, A., Berger, B., Dubois, P., Bourgois, F., Jeanmart, H.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
With a share of about 40 to 50%, wooden sleepers are widely used across Europe on railways. Beside wood benefits on this application (CO2 storage, technical advantages, etc..), wooden sleepers also have a negative impact on the environment because of the preservative treatment that contains carcinogenic compounds. Classified as hazardous waste when removed, the valorization of the 0.5 to 1 million tons per year is under incineration directive. The lack of environmental effective solution and the geographical dispersion of the stocks opened the way for gasification process. XYLOWATT's NOTAR® gasification technology showed its ability to handle this type of contaminated material. This paper details the experiments based on measurements of exhaust gas emissions on a pilot unit of 100kW LHV 100% fueled with used railway sleepers. Specific design of the reactor leads to high temperatures and allows destruction of the major part of organic compounds. High metallic compounds levels are managed through the temperature drop in the reduction zone as well as passing through the gas conditioning unit, preventing the release to the environment. Comparison of air emissions with incineration emission value limits demonstrated the effectiveness and environmental benefits when used railway sleepers are valorized with XYLOWATT's NOTAR® gasification process.
Keywords:
emissions, engine, gasification, heavy metals, measurement, waste
Topic:
R&D on Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Gasification for power, CHP and polygeneration
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2BV.2.9
Pages:
1026 - 1032
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-2BV.2.9
Price:
FREE
