A Study of the Production and Combustion Characteristics of Pyrolytic Oil from Sewage Sludge Using the Taguchi Method

Guan-Bang Chen, Jia-Wen Li, Hsien-Tsung Lin, Fang-Hsien Wu and Yei-Chin Chao
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Guan-Bang Chen: Research Center for Energy Technology and Strategy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Jia-Wen Li: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Hsien-Tsung Lin: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Fang-Hsien Wu: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Yei-Chin Chao: Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Sewage sludge is a common form of municipal solid waste, and can be utilized as a renewable energy source. This study examines the effects of different key operational parameters on sewage sludge pyrolysis process for pyrolytic oil production using the Taguchi method. The digested sewage sludge was provided by the urban wastewater treatment plant of Tainan, Taiwan. The experimental results indicate that the maximum pyrolytic oil yield, 10.19% (18.4% on dry ash free (daf) basis) by weight achieved, is obtained under the operation conditions of 450 °C pyrolytic temperature, residence time of 60 min, 10 °C/min heating rate, and 700 mL/min nitrogen flow rate. According to the experimental results, the order of sensitivity of the parameters that affect the yield of sludge pyrolytic oil is the nitrogen flow rate, pyrolytic temperature, heating rate and residence time. The pyrolysis and oxidation reactions of sludge pyrolytic oil are also investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The combustion performance parameters, such as the ignition temperature, burnout temperature, flammability index and combustion characteristics index are calculated and compared with those of heavy fuel oil. For the blend of sludge pyrolytic oil with heavy fuel oil, a synergistic effect occurs and the results show that sludge pyrolytic oil significantly enhances the ignition and combustion of heavy fuel oil.

Keywords: sewage sludge; pyrolytic oil; Taguchi method; thermogravimetric analysis; synergistic effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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