Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char Characterization
This research delves into the co-pyrolysis of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and oil shale (OS), utilizing a 50% weight ratio for each component. The study employs a fixed-bed reactor, augmented by electrical kiln heating, to conduct the co-pyrolysis process. A significant aspect of this research is the...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Hasan J. Al-Abedi Joseph D. Smith Haider Al-Rubaye Paul C. Ani Caleb Moellenhoff Tyler McLeland Katarina Zagorac |
| author_facet | Hasan J. Al-Abedi Joseph D. Smith Haider Al-Rubaye Paul C. Ani Caleb Moellenhoff Tyler McLeland Katarina Zagorac |
| author_sort | Hasan J. Al-Abedi |
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| description | This research delves into the co-pyrolysis of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and oil shale (OS), utilizing a 50% weight ratio for each component. The study employs a fixed-bed reactor, augmented by electrical kiln heating, to conduct the co-pyrolysis process. A significant aspect of this research is the use of Aspen Plus software for process simulation, with the simulated results undergoing validation through experimental data. A commendable correlation was observed between the experimental outcomes and the model predictions, underscoring the reliability of the simulation approach. The investigation reveals distinct product yields from the pyrolysis of 100% RDF and 100% OS. Specifically, the pyrolysis of pure RDF yielded 45.26% gas, 20.67% oil, and 34.07% char by weight. In contrast, the pyrolysis of pure OS resulted in 14.51% gas, 8.32% liquid, and a significant 77.61% char by weight. The co-pyrolysis of RDF and OS in a 50% blend altered the product distribution to 31.98% gas, 12.58% liquid, and 55.09% char by weight. Furthermore, the Aspen Plus simulation model aligned closely with these findings, predicting yields of 31.40% gas, 11.9% oil, and 56.6% char by weight for the RDF-OS blend. This study not only elucidates the co-pyrolysis behavior of RDF and OS but also contributes valuable insights into the potential of these materials to address the pressing issue of plastic waste management and energy resource utilization. The findings underscore the efficacy of RDF and OS co-pyrolysis as a viable strategy for enhancing the value extraction from waste and underutilized energy resources, presenting a promising avenue for environmental and energy sustainability. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-3994 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fuels |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a02ea4909eb4a8d81f561a3af0856d22025-08-20T02:20:57ZengMDPI AGFuels2673-39942025-05-01623810.3390/fuels6020038Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char CharacterizationHasan J. Al-Abedi0Joseph D. Smith1Haider Al-Rubaye2Paul C. Ani3Caleb Moellenhoff4Tyler McLeland5Katarina Zagorac6Linda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USALinda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USALinda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USALinda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USALinda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USALinda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USALinda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USAThis research delves into the co-pyrolysis of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and oil shale (OS), utilizing a 50% weight ratio for each component. The study employs a fixed-bed reactor, augmented by electrical kiln heating, to conduct the co-pyrolysis process. A significant aspect of this research is the use of Aspen Plus software for process simulation, with the simulated results undergoing validation through experimental data. A commendable correlation was observed between the experimental outcomes and the model predictions, underscoring the reliability of the simulation approach. The investigation reveals distinct product yields from the pyrolysis of 100% RDF and 100% OS. Specifically, the pyrolysis of pure RDF yielded 45.26% gas, 20.67% oil, and 34.07% char by weight. In contrast, the pyrolysis of pure OS resulted in 14.51% gas, 8.32% liquid, and a significant 77.61% char by weight. The co-pyrolysis of RDF and OS in a 50% blend altered the product distribution to 31.98% gas, 12.58% liquid, and 55.09% char by weight. Furthermore, the Aspen Plus simulation model aligned closely with these findings, predicting yields of 31.40% gas, 11.9% oil, and 56.6% char by weight for the RDF-OS blend. This study not only elucidates the co-pyrolysis behavior of RDF and OS but also contributes valuable insights into the potential of these materials to address the pressing issue of plastic waste management and energy resource utilization. The findings underscore the efficacy of RDF and OS co-pyrolysis as a viable strategy for enhancing the value extraction from waste and underutilized energy resources, presenting a promising avenue for environmental and energy sustainability.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3994/6/2/38co-pyrolysisRDFoil shalesustainable energyAspen simulation |
| spellingShingle | Hasan J. Al-Abedi Joseph D. Smith Haider Al-Rubaye Paul C. Ani Caleb Moellenhoff Tyler McLeland Katarina Zagorac Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char Characterization Fuels co-pyrolysis RDF oil shale sustainable energy Aspen simulation |
| title | Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char Characterization |
| title_full | Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char Characterization |
| title_fullStr | Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char Characterization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char Characterization |
| title_short | Experimental and Aspen Simulation Study of the Co-Pyrolysis of Refuse-Derived Fuel and Oil Shale: Product Yields and Char Characterization |
| title_sort | experimental and aspen simulation study of the co pyrolysis of refuse derived fuel and oil shale product yields and char characterization |
| topic | co-pyrolysis RDF oil shale sustainable energy Aspen simulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-3994/6/2/38 |
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