Cogeneration in a solid-wastes power-station: a case-study

Nowadays, natural gas is viewed as the solution to the problem of energy supply Afor Latin America, Europe and North America for the next few decades; Brazil is Aincreasingly becoming dependent upon the Bolivian natural-gas supply many Aindustries and some entrepreneurs are deciding to construct industrial Acogeneration systems and new thermal power-stations burning natural gas because Aof its low environmental impact and attractive price. However, natural gas is a finite resource: this will cause, in the future, an Aincrease of its unit price. This paper details questions involved in the energy Ageneration and presents solid-waste burning as a possible alternative fuel for Athe future, especially in the context of cogeneration practice in which the Athermal and electric energy are used primarily for the industries located in an industrial district. Two cogeneration schemes are proposed for the Aburning of municipal solid wastes, associated or not with natural gas, and Atheir technical and economic feasibilities are examined. (c) 1999 Elsevier AScience Ltd. All rights reserved.