معلومات المقرر

Textile Waste Management

Abstract

The world produces, 100 billion pieces of clothing annually, resulting in 92 million tons of apparel wastes, which is a major environmental and economic problem. To solve this problem, artificial intelligence ,proposes ten different possibilities, each of which, has two ways to solve it, either an academic solution, or problem solving solution. It is suitable for all people, not just academics, and the second solution was selected in this study.

Textile waste constitutes a significant fraction of municipal solid waste sent to landfill or incinerated. The sorting of textile waste using near-infrared spectroscopy, optical sorting and artificial intelligence enables its separation based on composition, color and quality. The mechanical recycling of textiles regenerates fibers with the same or different applications from those of the original fabrics. Fibers have been used for using in different end uses. Chemical recycling depolymerizes waste textiles using chemicals to produce monomers for new textiles or other materials, while biological recycling uses enzymes and microorganisms for this purpose instead of chemicals. Thermal recycling recovers energy and fuels from textile waste through pyrolysis, gasification and hydrothermal liquefaction. These innovations may have the drawbacks of high cost and scalability.                                                                                                                            

Keywords: collection; innovations; municipal solid waste; sorting; recycling; policy; textile waste                                                     

   Power of Artificial Intelligence in the Textile Industry

Artificial intelligent (AI) is increasingly being used in textile waste management to optimize processes such as sorting , recycling, and reducing waste. Ai –powered system s can analyze data to improve efficiency in recycling plants by sorting textile based on materials composition ,color, and condition. Additionally AI can help predict demand and optimize production ,reducing overproduction and waste in the textile industry. Certainly here are a few additional ways AI is making an impact in textile waste management:                                                                                                                              

Design optimizations-1

2-Smart recycling facilities

3-Cirular economy solution

4-Regulatory compliance

5-Data –driven decision making

6-Collaborative innovation

Nowadays apparel industries face ever-increasing global competition and unpredictable variations in demand. These pressures force manufacturers to consistently improve the efficiency of their manufacturing process to produce the finished product within the most reasonable timeline and the lowest cost of production. However, under a complex and fuzzy manufacturing environment, optimal, and consistent solutions are difficult to obtain. Consequently, in response to the need for new methods, a significant (steadily increasing) number of initiatives have sought to explore and optimize the use of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in a range of industrial applications. This article demonstrates that research is still limited on AI application in the apparel industry by examining and analyzing the limitations of research challenges and previous studies. This article also addresses the problems facing the implementation of AI technologies in the apparel industry.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 In this work, we look at recent developments in the lecturers  on the issue of efficiency and productivity. First, we were looking for new ideas. How are companies trying to improve their efficiency? Then, we were trying to see if there was a relationship between a companies" (x) efficiency and cost saving (a) and increased revenue . Of course, intuitively, we would all hypothesize that there must be some relationship between efficiency and reduction of cost of manufacturing and ultimately increased revenue. Further, we would all probably hypothesize that the slope of the function describing that relationship must be significantly higher than zero. Nevertheless, we tried to document the connection so that companies can believe it and give it more attention. Theoretical relationships are one of the weakest ways to try to persuade CEOs of the existence of anything. Show them the numbers, only then they will agree. This paper is an attempt to persuade a readymade garments manufacturing unit to increase efficiency to cut cost and increase revenue, we show that there is a direct causal relation to efficiency and revenue earnings.                                                                                                   

The recent stats suggest that AI’s integration into the global fashion market is expected to reach 4.4 billion USD by 2027.    As AI helps tackle industry challenges like accuracy and precision, such growth reflects the sector’s profound impact on AI. This part discusses the recent developments in AI-integrated textiles and their impact on the textile industry.                                                                                                    

 Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Textiles Quality Control & Detection  Historically, spotting defects in textiles relied on the human eye, often leading to inconsistencies. With AI, defects can be identified more accurately, and the reasons behind these defects can also be analyzed, leading to more effective preventive measures. Currently, the process is expensive, and even after multiple checks, there’s a lack of accuracy because of human error                                                                                               

Considering these inaccuracies, many companies are researching incorporating AI in their processes. One example is Inv Performance Materials LLC’s application, US20220254005A1, for the automated inspection of yarn packages, which focuses on reducing the work needed and improving efficiency.                                                                     

1-The inspection includes generating an optical image for a textile package, selecting a first classification and a second classification, and adjusting a parameter of a yarn manufacturing process.                             Find the market potential of AI in textiles and gain a competitive advantage. Just click the button below to request a feasibility report per your requirements                                                                                                                                                 

. Smart Production Planning-2  

The textile industry’s dynamic nature requires flexible and efficient production planning. AI can forecast demand, optimize supply chain operations, and ensure just-in-time production, dramatically reducing waste and costs. Another example is Taiwanese startup FrontierCool Inc.’s recent application, US20220292810A1, which can change fabric categorization in the coming years. They can do this by helping the manufacturers identify the fabric details with the help of images. This will eventually lead to a better selection of fabric and reduce production waste to a large extent                                                                  .            

. 3-Customization and personalization

As the demand for personalized garments rises, AI assists designers by analyzing trends and consumer preferences and providing suggestions for designs that align with market needs                                                       .              

Shimmy Technologies Group Inc., a US startup, developed an interesting invention, US20220122483A1, that addresses the inefficiencies in conventional apparel design-to-manufacture workflows.  It introduces adaptive apparel design and apparel information architecture, which streamline the process, capture institutional knowledge, and enhance communication between design teams and manufacturing vendors.                                                                                                                                             

This can be a revolutionary invention as it caters to one of the biggest issues in the textile industry, i.e., customization.                                         

The above inventions clearly show that AI has the power to change the textile industry for the better. Below is a list of some of the benefits AI brings to this industry                                                                                                                               

Advantages of using AI solutions in Textile

. a-Streamlined Production Efficiency

The AI-driven automation streamlines textile manufacturing processes. Machines equipped with AI can optimize production schedules, monitor equipment health, and reduce downtime through predictive maintenance. This results in increased productivity and reduced operational costs.                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                . Customization and Personalization - b

AI algorithms enable textile manufacturers to cater to individual customer preferences. From design and color choices to sizing and fit, AI-driven customization allows for creating personalized textiles and fashion items, meeting the demands of today’s discerning consumers.        

                                     . c-Sustainable Practices and Waste Reduction

AI can contribute significantly to sustainability efforts in the textile industry. By optimizing production processes, minimizing defects, and reducing energy consumption, AI technologies help reduce environmental impact and lower resource usage.                                                                                                       

                                                    . d- Textile Recycling Advancements

AI-powered sorting systems are being used to separate textiles for recycling efficiently. This technology facilitates the recycling of old textiles into new products, contributing to circular economy practices.                                                          

                                                          . e-Design and Innovation Boost

AI aids designers in generating creative ideas, exploring new materials, and predicting fashion trends. This accelerates the design and innovation cycle, keeping textile companies competitive.                                                                                              

                                                            . Supply Chain Optimization - f

AI is enhancing transparency and efficiency throughout the textile supply chain. From raw material procurement to distribution, AI-powered systems provide real-time insights, ensuring smooth operations. Such optimization can further lead to substantial cost savings.                                                                                                                   

  g-Insights into Customer Behavior and Market Trends                                                                                                           

AI can analyze vast amounts of consumer data to provide valuable insights into market trends and consumer preferences. This helps textile businesses make informed decisions regarding product development and marketing strategies                                                            

AI further expedites various stages of the textile production lifecycle, allowing companies to bring new products to market more quickly and respond rapidly to changing consumer demands.                                        

TEXTILE WASTE MANAGEMENT

The last few years have seen significant development in the fashion industry, where free trade agreements between various countries has made it easy for brands to manufacture their products in countries where labor is cheap, and transport it all across the world. This has led to the phenomenon of ‘fast fashion’, which has significantly contributed to rising consumerism.                                                                                         

Consumerism driven by falling prices and disposable clothing are creating more waste with every passing year. Large quantities of oil and water, two natural and non-renewable resources that are becoming scarce are used to produce synthetic fibres. Toxic chemicals are used to dye clothes to their desired colour, which is also a water intensive operation. In 2015 alone, 98 million tonnes of oil was consumed to produce synthetic fibres. If we consider jeans, it takes as much as 10,000 liters of water to grow enough cotton for a pair of jeans and other chemicals in abundance to achieve the typical faded appearance.  After so many harmful procedures, the average number of times a garment is worn before it ceases to be used has decreased by 36% compared to 15 years ago, while the production has doubled during this period. As per NYtimes, H&M- the Swedish retail giant, currently has a buildup of staggering USD 4.3 Bn of unsold inventory across the world, which is comparable to the total raw material and finished textiles of USD 5.3 Bn imported by India during FY18. Worse, around 80 to 100 billion garments that are not used even once are sent to landfills globally every year.                                                                                                              

These trends are the typical indicators of the increasing phenomenon of ‘fast fashion’. While there are people who repurpose their clothes, the number is still negligible. The awareness of, the adverse effects of the textile industry and the concept of upcycling is however still at a nascent stage. While the awareness of plastic waste has gained momentum, the adverse effects of textile waste largely goes unnoticed.                                  

  What is up cycling ?

When we hear the term “best out of waste”, one example that comes to our mind is a patched blanket or a carry bag made out of old saree which our grandmothers fondly made by conserving resources. ‘Up cycling.       

Textile waste, is mindful consumption the only way ahead?                       

is a term that refers to the same principle of conservation where a discarded material is turned into a higher quality/higher value product, while at the same time increasing the longevity of the material.                      

The author(Dwij) is trying to address the problem of textile waste          “with a mission to promote circular products made from up   cycled post-consumer garments and post-industrial garment waste that would otherwise end up in landfill. One of the major objectives of him is to increase the awareness of ill effects of textile waste, and the need for up cycling. The focus on hygiene remains a top priority to ensure that the customer views an up cycled product at par with a virgin product. Dwij currently makes a product range that includes utility bags, shopping bags, handbags, and other accessory products targeted for an environmentally conscious consumer. Dwij has a special focus on jeans since it is a versatile fabric, highly popular, durable and extremely sturdy. Further, as mentioned above, the environmental costs of manufacturing of jeans in immense. Most people discard jeans because they fade off or the size no longer fits. The properties of jeans gives a very good opportunity to up cycle into other value added items that increases the lifespan of the fabric.                                                                                             

Dwij has an inhouse manufacturing set up, while they also engage women who work from home. Dwij aspires to adopt zero waste practices. As a zero waste initiative, dwij also makes jewellery from the cut- outs of its own manufacturing waste. Since its inception, Dwij has upcycled more than 3,500 pairs of jeans, 1200m of post industrial fabric & 800m of post industrial kurti fabric.                                                    What can be done by you as a consumer? 

Textile waste, is mindful consumption the only way ahead?

The rising and largely unaware phenomenon of textile dumping has reached such magnanimous volumes that leads us to the point that textile collection and old textile treatment is not a solution. Dwij believes that incremental changes to individual lifestyle can lead to a sustainable future..                                                                                                                      

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s time that we practice it too. The solution is to change our consumerism behavior.                           Check your closet before buying new garments, repair your old ones and re-use, prefer quality over quantity, and simply “don’t buy too much”. Clothes for special occasions or meant for single use may also be borrowed.                                                                                                                

Awareness needs to be created about the importance of conservation through up cycling of everyday items at home. We also need to realize that once thorough washing procedures are followed, up cycled products are also as hygienic as a new product..                                                                

Together we can easily fight fast fashion and transform the world through sustainable living.                                          

Conclusion                                                                                                             

Amidst these benefits, it’s crucial to address the challenges, such as the potential loss of traditional jobs and the need for strong ethical guidelines to prevent the misuse of AI technology                                                                                                            

While AI’s implementation in creative industries like textiles has always been controversial, it’s essential to approach these innovations carefully, weighing their benefits against potential challenges                                                                                         

As we explore the trends shaping the textile industry, we’ve identified five significant shifts, in addition to AI, that will undoubtedly redefine the textile world in 2024.    Fill in the form below and download the complete report.                                                                                                          

mechanical recycling of textiles

 

Mechanical recycling is a physical process that breaks down textile waste into fibers without using chemicals, producing recycled materials for new applications.

 

The mechanical recycling process:

 

The process converts pre- and post-consumer textile waste into reusable fibers through a series of mechanical steps. 

 

1.   Collection and sorting:

Textiles are collected and then sorted manually or with the help of automated AI-driven technology. Sorting categorizes materials by type (e.g., cotton, polyester), color, and condition.

Preparation:

 Hard accessories like buttons, zippers, and rivets are removed, often by manual cutting. Automated cutters are also used to cut textiles into smaller pieces, or clippings, to prepare them for the next stage.

2.   Shredding:

The textile clippings are fed into a shredding machine with rotating blades that break the fabric down into smaller fragments or granules. The size of the final product depends on the equipment and its settings.

3.  Tearing/Garnetting:

The shredded pieces are passed through a tearing machine, or garnett, which uses multiple drums with steel pins to pull the material apart. This disentangles the fragments and separates them into individual fibers.

4.  Alignment and spinning:

 The recovered fibers are aligned through a process called carding. Because the tearing process inevitably shortens the fiber length, the resulting recycled fibers are often blended with virgin fibers to improve their performance before being re-spun into new yarn. 

Applications and outputs

 

Mechanically recycled textiles are used to produce a variety of new materials, in both "closed-loop" (textile-to-textile) and "open-loop" (textile-to-other-product) applications.

 

Open-loop applications (downcycling):

 

• Nonwovens: The largest application for mechanically recycled textiles, where recycled fibers are converted into matted fiber webs through needle-punching, hydroentanglement, or thermal bonding. Uses include insulation (for buildings and cars), padding, and furniture filling.
• Wiping rags: Textiles are cut into large panels and repurposed as industrial cleaning cloths, an application dominated by cotton-rich materials.
• Composite materials: Recycled fibers are mixed with binding agents to create composite panels, bricks, or furniture components. 

Closed-loop applications (textile-to-textile recycling):

• Yarn spinning: If the recycled fibers are long enough, they can be blended with virgin fibers and spun into new yarn for making new clothing. 

Advantages and disadvantages

 

Mechanical recycling is the most established and widely used textile recycling method, but it comes with limitations. 

 

Advantages:

 

• Lower cost and energy: Compared to chemical recycling, mechanical recycling is a more cost-effective and low-energy process.
• Water-efficient: The process is largely waterless, reducing the use of resources.
• Mature technology: The technology is well-developed and scalable for processing large volumes of waste.
• Reduced reliance on virgin fibers: It helps to conserve virgin materials and reduce textile waste in landfills. 

Disadvantages:

 

• Degraded fiber quality: The aggressive mechanical process shortens and weakens fibers, often reducing their quality with each recycling cycle. This leads to "downcycling," where the recycled material is of a lower grade than the original.
• Incompatibility with blends: Mechanical methods cannot separate different fibers in blended fabrics, resulting in a low-quality mixed-fiber output. The presence of elastane can also complicate the process.
• Relies on virgin fibers: Due to the degraded quality, recycled fibers often need to be mixed with virgin fibers to produce new yarn with sufficient strength and durability.
• Sorting challenges: Complex sorting requirements and the difficulty of processing blended fabrics are key technical hurdles.

Factors affecting the mechanical recycling of textiles include material properties and composition, processing parameters, and collection and pre-treatment challenges.

 Key factors include the fiber type and blend, which influence quality and processing, and the textile structure, such as density and weave, that affects how easily fibers are separated. Contaminants, poor sorting, and limitations in infrastructure are also major challenges, along with eco-design principles that often make textiles harder to recycle. 

Material and structural factors

• Fiber type and blend: The type of fiber (e.g., cotton, polyester) and whether it's a blend with other materials significantly impacts the recycling process. Blends are more difficult to recycle due to differences in fiber properties.
• Textile structure: Looser structures with lower twist and longer floats experience less fiber length loss. The direction of feed into the recycling machine also affects fiber length.
• Fiber damage: Damage from wear accelerates the shortening of fibers during processing, while wear that only opens the structure has less of a negative effect. 

Processing and operational factors

• Mechanical stress: Minimizing mechanical stress during shredding and tearing is crucial to prevent excessive fiber shortening.
• Lubricant treatment: Using lubricants can decrease inter-fiber friction, which mitigates fiber shortening and reduces melting in thermoplastic fibers like polyester, as well as requires less heat.
• Opening degree: The effectiveness of fiber separation can be measured by air permeability, with greater opening leading to better results and less fiber loss. 

Collection and pre-treatment factors

• Sorting and contaminants: Insufficiently sorted waste, including contaminants like labels, food residues, and non-plastic materials, severely hinders the process and reduces the quality of the recycled fiber.
• Material identification: The lack of accurate or legible labels makes precise material identification for specific applications difficult.
• Infrastructure: A lack of local, industrial-scale infrastructure for collection, sorting, and processing limits effective implementation.
• Eco-design: Many products are not designed with recyclability in mind, creating barriers at the end-of-life stage. 
• Example :
• Find out the optimum opening level for ,CGC-machine having the following factors:

Turning Waste into Value

 

 

Mechanical recycling of textile waste involves physically processing discarded textiles into fibers that can be spun into new yarns and fabrics. This method typically includes sorting by material and color, removing non-textile components, shredding the fabric into smaller pieces, disentangling and aligning the fibers using a carding process, and then spinning them into new yarn. However, mechanical recycling results in shorter fibers, reducing the quality of the recycled material, and is best suited for mono-fiber textiles, with significant challenges posed by blended fabrics containing materials like elastane. 

Process Steps

1.  Collection and Sorting: Textile waste is collected, and then sorted by material type and color to remove impurities. Non-textile components such as zippers, buttons, and stitching are also removed. 

2.  Shredding: The sorted textiles are then shredded into smaller pieces. 

3.  Fiberizing/Garnetting: The shredded material is processed to open up and disentangle the fibers. 

4.  Carding: The fibers are passed through a carding machine, which uses metal pins to further break the fibers and align them in a parallel fashion. 

5.  Spinning: The aligned fibers are spun into new yarn. 

6.  Fabric Production: The new yarn is then used to create new fabrics through weaving or knitting. 

Limitations and Challenges

• Fiber Degradation: 

The mechanical process breaks down the fibers, making them shorter and weaker, which reduces their performance in new textiles. 

• Blending Issues: 

Mechanical recycling is most effective with mono-fiber materials, such as 100% cotton. Blended fabrics, common in post-consumer waste, are problematic because they require pure feedstock, and the mixture of different fiber types complicates the process. 

• Lower Quality: 

Recycled fibers from mechanical recycling are often blended with virgin fibers to achieve desired quality and durability. 

• Material Purity: 

Blends with materials like elastane (spandex) can pose significant challenges for mechanical recycling processes. 

Applications

• Due to the reduced quality and strength, mechanically recycled fibers are often used in applications that do not require high-performance textiles. 
• These include items like furniture stuffing, insulation materials, and low-grade textile products. 
• While less common, there are efforts to increase the amount of mechanically recycled cotton used in new products, such as denim. 

Methods of converting food waste to electricity

1. Introduction

2. Importance of Food Waste Management

2.1. Environmental Impact

2.2. Economic Benefits

3. Current Methods of Food Waste Disposal

3.1. Landfilling

3.2. Incineration

4. Biochemical Processes

4.1. Anaerobic Digestion

4.2. Fermentation

5. Thermochemical Processes

5.1. Gasification

5.2. Pyrolysis

6. Electrochemical Processes

6.1. Microbial Fuel Cells

6.2. Bioelectrochemical Systems

7. Technological Innovations

7.1. Hybrid Systems

7.2. Integration with Renewable Energy Sources

8. Challenges and Future Directions

8.1. Efficiency Improvements

8.2. Scaling Up Technologies

9. Conclusion

 

Methods of converting food waste to electricity

1. Introduction

In this chapter, the discussion on the most recent developments in methods of converting food waste to electricity is carried out. It is extensively discussed why there has been an increasing interest in converting food waste to electricity in recent years and the very large potential for food waste to contribute to electricity production. The current and near future outlook of food waste generation is comprehensively discussed and the most significant legislation regarding the management of food waste in effect in the U.K. is presented. Post-production methods of treating food waste in the U.K. are presented. It is established that considerable portions of some of these treated food waste could be profitably converted to electricity. The principal biological methods of converting food waste to energy are presented and it is shown that the developed methods can effectively convert the treated food waste to electricity. The chapter, however, ends on the note that while offering solutions to a significant waste management problem, converting food waste to electricity cannot offer a definitive solution to this problem.

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Y Chen, L Pinegar, J Immonen, KM Powell - Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023 - Elsevier. Conversion of food waste to renewable energy: A techno-economic and environmental assessment. sciencedirect.com
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The Relationship between Food Waste and Electricity Production

1. Introduction

1.1. Background and Significance

2. Food Waste as a Source of Energy

2.1. Biogas Production from Food Waste

3. Conversion Efficiency

3.1. Factors Affecting Efficiency

4. Case Studies

4.1. Examples of Food Waste-to-Energy Projects

5. Environmental Impact

5.1. Benefits and Challenges

6. Policy and Regulation

6.1. Government Initiatives and Incentives

7. Future Prospects and Innovations

7.1. Emerging Technologies

8. Conclusion

 

The Relationship between Food Waste and Electricity Production

1. Introduction

Food waste is any product intended for consumption but discarded before it is consumed. The vast amount of food waste, followed by the expenses for its disposal, gives rise to the ideas of using it for producing energy. For that, it is necessary to build the installation where it will naturally start to rot, and in this process, methane will be produced. The so-called anaerobic digestion process is the cause of the methane needed for producing electricity or other forms of energy by the decomposition of organic waste. Hence, the unclear conceptual framework concerning food waste and its handling and disposal, as well as the number of reasons and measures directly related to food waste, are just a few of the numerous reasons that initiated the idea to make an analysis of the relationship between food waste and exploitation for producing electricity.

The general objective is to outline the possibility of producing electricity from food waste. Two specific objectives are derived from the general objective, as follows: 1) to point out the composition of household food waste; 2) to demonstrate the possibility of the exploitation of food waste for electricity production. To achieve these goals, the following methods were used in the framework of the research: deductive, within which an extensive study of the theory concerning various forms, as well as the treatment method of food waste, was carried out; special attention in the research was given to such food waste management that was due to its multiple implications with the term 'food' itself; comparative: most of the problems treated in the research required the comparison of various parameters relating to residual or food waste. To demonstrate their differentiated existence frame, the term 'food' at first includes, aside from raw or unprocessed products, the processed, cooked, or prepared products.

1.1. Background and Significance

Background: The number of organizations in correction, such as restaurants, hotels, and food stands, is increasing every day. The total amount of food waste has soared in Taiwan, so the purpose of this study is to discuss how food waste can be used and provide an alternative energy source. The use of food waste poses a threat to environmental health and safety. The degradation of food waste is discharged into the soil and sewerage, causing the generation of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4. Organic or uncontrolled food waste, which is not treated, will produce more CO2 and CH4 compared to other types of waste. This is the main cause of the increase in greenhouse gases. This study provides an integrated and environmentally friendly method for alternative food waste energy. Analysis of models, technologies, systems, and economic considerations for the conversion of food waste into electricity and heat are provided for reference for related facilities. Current disposal methods of food waste in Taiwan are mainly landfills, incineration, composting, and recycling. Among them, 7% of the local people recycle edible parts and dispose of the other parts, and only 11% of the public know or carry out methane collection. The meaning of food waste does not collect visible and valuable residual materials, and there is a lack of management technology, low added value, and limited processing with a single treatment method. At the same time, there are not many places and no legal regulations or punishment regulations to deal with organic waste, causing issues with recycling and resources of food waste in Taiwan. Currently, there are two ways to handle food waste in Taiwan: incineration and composting. However, these two methods produce a lot of greenhouse gases. Food waste has a rich organic matter content, high caloric value, and recyclable benefits, so it can be used as an alternative energy source. The waste generated by the waste industry can be transformed from waste into treasure, which is called a circular economy, a way to use resources most efficiently. At present, most of the laboratories in universities are isolated from each other and cannot be widely popularized and applied, so the deviation of the theoretical value and the actual operation needs to be corrected at any time through industrial waste. In the joint management group, the continuous and single conversion rate transformation technology of domestic food waste is introduced. The resources of food waste are treated. The heat produced can only be provided by individual homes, stores, farms, or factories. However, due to the growing prosperity of Taiwan, this kind of small plant is limited. Publishing a large amount of trash or investing a small amount of money is not enough. This is a serious lack of funds and a strong need. When there are many companies, they need a lot of heat. This is a large amount of energy and a significant number of places that are affected. The price of utilities in many places will be issued soon. Regardless of the cost of electricity, use the collected heat produced. The initial investment cost of a 10-ton food waste electricity plant can reach 800 million Yuan. In the future, it is essential to develop a more efficient economic model to attract the wealthy to integrate heat and electricity supply systems for large companies. The purpose of this study is to integrate electricity and heat supply and convert domestic food waste into electricity, so that the benefit use environment is more energy-efficient and energy-saving. At the same time, the alternative transformation of food waste is a challenging business. This is an ineffective management method that needs to be restricted.

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Evaluation of the Performance of Burning Chamber in Waste-to-Energy Plants

 

Adel EL-Hadidy

elhadidyadel@yahoo.com

Abstract:

In recent years, both the textile and food industries have been scrutinized for producing substantial amounts of waste. This study briefly highlights the two waste streams' generation processes and treatment alternatives, while reviews on novel treatment approaches are conducted for each waste type separately. Waste-to-energy is a vital part of reducing emissions and converting waste into valuable energy in a sustainable way. It is possible to use the Box & Hunter method to create a mathematical model linking the amount of waste in the burning chamber and the burning temperature.                                

                                                                                                       

The rest of article is structured as follows. Section 1 builds an introduction of waste to energy concept. Section 2 Section applies the model in a case study. Section 3 gives suggestions to optimize the comprehensive benefits of incineration power plant. Section 4 concludes this study and points out its limitations. Our research will shed light on, a theoretical framework verbalizes a complex incineration process and characterizes the way that complex issues fit together.                                                                                                                

In this investigation, factorial design of Box and Hunter has been used to study the individual and interacting effects of X1=Municipal composition (kg), X2= Furnace time(min), and X3=burning temperature(⁰C) , on Y=Calorific value(MJ/kg h) ,which considered a tool to evaluate mass burning through the converting of waste to electricity process.                                                                                                

It was found that ,the coefficient of correlation between results of theoretical model and experimental results is perfect positive leaner correlation(r=1).Also hypnosis testing results shows rejection of H₀ and accepting H₁.                                                                                                           

 1. Introduction:

Textile industry is the second largest source of pollution after oil industry. The world produces 92 million tons of textile waste every year. Worldwide, 75% of textile waste is landfilled, while 25% is recycled or reused. The previous problems require scientific solution to solve them, and this is the heart of this study. Waste-to-energy plants are an adequate solution to the problem of municipal solid waste accumulation and offer simultaneous prevention of alternative fuel production. Currently, the total annual generation of solid waste (MSW) is over 2.01 billion tons, with an average annual growth rate of 2.0%. It is expected that by 2050, the annual production of MSW will reach a staggering 3.4 billion tons. Waste management and disposal such as recycling, landfilling, and incineration are very important for livability, health, and safety of the urban environment. Global fashion retailers might send almost 92 million tons of textile waste to the landfills by 2030, depending on business as usual (BAU). Moreover, the global clothing production has doubled compared to 20 years ago. These two indicators of textile waste and clothing production are interlinked as they are mainly responsible for the global catastrophic flood damage of the climate betrayal.Fig.1 shows the concept of waste management .                                                                       

Fig.1 Waste management

1.1. Furnace operation

Burning is a very effective method of reducing the volume and weight of solid waste, though it is a source of greenhouse gas emissions. In modern incinerators the waste is burned inside a properly designed furnace under very carefully controlled conditions. The combustible portion of the waste combines with oxygen, releasing mostly carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat. Incineration can reduce the volume of uncompact waste by more than 90 percent, leaving an inert residue of ash, glass, metal, and other solid materials called bottom ash.                 

1.2. Energy Recovery from the combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW):                                                                                       

Energy recovery from waste is the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into usable heat, electricity, or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolization, anaerobic digestion and landfill gas recovery. This process is often called waste to energy. Waste-to-energy plants burn municipal solid waste (MSW), often called garbage or trash, to produce steam in a boiler, and the steam is used to power an electric generator turbine.                                  Generating electricity in a mass-burn waste-to-energy plant is a following steps:                                                                                                    

  1. Waste is dumped from garbage trucks into a large pit.  

  2. A giant claw on a crane grabs waste and dumps it into a   combustion chamber.                                                                                   

  3. The waste (fuel) is burned, releasing heat.

  4. The heat turns water into steam in a boiler (Fig.2 shows the waste to energy plant).

 

Fig.2, an Indicator Relevant Waste to Energy (WtE) is described.

2. Experimental part:

2.1. Introduction to Waste-to-Energy Technology

 

Waste-to-energy technology involves generating energy from waste and conserving natural resources by diverting non-renewable waste from landfills. This energy can supply electricity, heat, or an alternative fuel source. Waste-to-energy technology is categorized as a renewable technology, as the fuels produced are derived from waste or a combination of waste and other non-renewable energy sources. The waste material used as fuel can vary widely, including municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and agricultural waste, as well as hazardous or toxic waste. The primary form of waste conversion is incineration, either mass burn or refuse-derived fuel. Incineration is the electromechanical process of converting combustible waste into ash, flue gas, and heat through complete combustion. The excess energy is usually used for power generation. The flue gas treatment system is a critical component of waste-to-energy technology, responsible for controlling air quality. Today, some energy generation plants are adopting advanced waste-to-energy conversion processes that integrate innovative processes, including gasification, plasma, supercritical water oxidation, and high-temperature molten-salt technology.                                                                                                             

Burning chambers for space and surface applications were studied for more than 30 years. All this time, the high released heat temperature and burning chamber construction peculiarities determine its hazardous radiation, especially when venting. Traditional U factors as well as thermogasdynamic approach parameters (filling time, steam traces completion moment, sound and combustion fronts pressure waves velocity) are proposed to evaluate chamber release effect to improve the safety of people and launch vehicles. The typical ground test for summary evaluation of rocket chambers' technical condition is a chamber firing under one tenth of nominal thrust. The principal performance indicators are the chamber internal cycled pressure, temperature, and media spectroscopic composition. Evaluation parameters are the combustion noise time distance, flame unity, power, and acoustic; soot and combustible components capture; number and intensity of steam traces – for ground constructions and equipment checks. Preliminary hazard prediction using ground tests of the vented rocket chamber contains a number of deficiencies. Flow parameters scaling alongside various operation modes absence reduces the reliability of the obtained results.                                                                      

2.2. Materials and method

The experiments were performed on the prototype medical waste incinerator installed at private hospital, near El-Mansoura. The incinerator has a nominal destruction capacity of 100 kg/day, and is operated under intermittent mode.                                                                

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), more commonly known as trash or garbage, consists of everyday items that are used and then thrown away, such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint, batteries and medical wastes. These come from households, schools, hospitals, and businesses.                                                                                                             

3. Results:

3.1. Factorial Design Example:

Suppose that we wish to improve the yield of a combustion (incineration) chamber operation. The two inputs (factors) that are considered important to the operation are Municipal waste(X₁), (X₂) Furnace Temp while (X3) burning time. We want to ascertain the relative importance of each of these factors on response (Y).                     

Table I coded and actual levels X₁, X₂, and X₃

            While responses were:

Y=Calorific value (MJ/kg).

                                                                    

Table II Experimental Matrix

 

3.2. Case study Results:

Experimental results were shown in Table (III).

Table III

 

By making use of Box and Henter, method the following mathematical equations were found:

Y= 9.4 +1.3 X1+0.4X2+0.4X3……. (1)

Y= 9.4 +1.3 X1+0.4X2+0.4X3+0.056 X1X2X3….(2)  

It was found that coefficient of correlation(r) between Y_th & Y_exp reach unity, i.e. perfect positive linear correlation                 (3)

3.3. Testing within hypnosis

Depth 'scales' often assess physiological, behavioral or perception (subjective) changes. Scales can vary from 2 levels (in hypnosis, not in hypnosis), through to a highly complex 50 levels. The most commonly used ones tend to be the basic three levels (light, medium, and deep).    Where:

t= (X1 –X2) /√ (α₁²/n₁+ α₂²/n₂)…. (4)

x ₁=9.356 , α_{1 =1.525 , x2=9.04 ,} α_{2=1.060 ,then}

_{t= 0.511, while t tabled at n1+n2-2=1.120}

It means reject H₀ (No correlation) and accept H_{1(exist correlation) (5)}

_{3.4. Correlation coefficient:}

1.     The correlation coefficient is a statistical measure of the strength of a linear relationship between two variables. Its values can range from -1 to 1. A correlation coefficient of -1 describes a perfect negative, or inverse, correlation, with values in one series rising as those in the other decline, and vice versa.                                                   Where:                                                                                                              

2.     r= (n∑ Ypre. Yexp -∑Pre. ∑Yexp)/ √ (n∑ Pre² –(∑pre²) ∑ Yexp² - (∑ Yexp²))….(6) ,  

3.        r=1.023 …..(7)         

A non-significant result doesn’t necessarily mean no correlation exist, but the evidence in your sample isn’t strong enough to claim one statistically.                                                                                                             

3.5) Optimum operation conditions for burning chamber is:

Box-Behnken Design, BBD for the response surface methodology, RSM, is specially designed to fit a second-order model, which is the primary interest in most RSM studies. To fit a second-order regression model (quadratic model), the BBD only needs three levels for each factor (X1,X2, X3), rather than five levels in CCD. The BBD set a mid-level between the original low- and high-level of the factors, avoiding the extreme axial (star) points as in the CCD. Moreover, the BBD uses face points, often more practical, rather than the corner points in CCD. The addition of the mid-level point allows the efficient estimation of the coefficients of a second-order model. The BBD is almost rotatable as the CCD. Moreover, often, the BBD requires a smaller number of experimental runs. It was found that optimum operation conditions are as follows:                                                                                                     

X1= 2000 kg/day,      (8)      

X2=1100 (^oC)….  (9)

X3=60 min………. (10)

Previous studies indicated that 2.2 ton/day of the wastes that are burned per day produce 1200 MWh, and the proposed mathematical model indicated that the maximum value is achieved by burning two ton per day, which means generating electrical energy. 1090.9 MWh       It was found that if the calorimeter value reached 7800(MJ/kg), combustion would not require additional fuel. The proposed mathematical model indicated that the ideal value is only 3000(MJ/kg). Therefore, mixing the previous wastes with food waste that produces methane reduces the amount of fuel needed for combustion, (The calorific value of mixed waste ranges from 7,500 to 11,000(kJ/kg), calorific value refers to the heating power of the waste. Waste can be incinerated without the need for additional fuel when it has a caloric value of 14.4 MJ/kg or higher).                                                                           

 In our study, an effective experimental design was employed for the optimization and estimation of robustness. The proposed Factorial design method was found to be accurate, precise, specific, rapid and simple for the separation and simultaneous determination of waste weight (kg/day), Burning temperature (⁰C), and Burning time (min). Additionally, method validation was carried out by correlation coefficient between experimental & predicted results and hypnosis testing methods.                                                                                       

Conclusion

It is undoubtful that the twenty-first century will be devastating if the issues about efficient energy and water utilization, pollution control and waste management are not addressed appropriately. Worldwide, the problem of waste accumulation is reaching threatening proportions. Landfill options are showing more and more weaknesses and are becoming extremely expensive. They are not an efficient solution.                                                                                                                  

 The proposed method can be successfully applied to control burning chamber performance with the goal of reducing waste volume. Thus, to assess the incineration power plant performance, the theoretical model has been given.                                                                                         

References:

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[2] lW. Jangsawang B. Fungtammasan, S. Kerdsuwan : Effects of operating parameters on the combustion of medical waste in a controlled air incinerator, Energy Conversion and Management December 2005                                                                                                              

 

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