Operations of a Stratified Downdraft Gasifier On MSW for Development of a Waste to Energy Process

Southern Research is developing a small-scale MSW and biomass conversion process based on gasification to produce renewable power and liquid fuels.  At the heart of the process is a simple, low cost gasifier that has been proven in several installations worldwide as scales of 1 to 50 tons/day and that can convert minimally processed feeds to syngas containing low concentrations of tar, particulates, and other contaminants.  Southern is targeting development of the process at 3 scales: 1 to 3 tons per day for US DoD forward operating bases and other small generator, 10 to 50 tons/day for US DoD fixed installations, other institutional generators, and municipal landfills, and a 100 tons/day microrefinery for producing liquid fuels.  This presentation will focus on the operations of a stratified downdraft gasifier on minimally prepared synthetic MSW.