Energetic valorization of waste tires

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Abstract

Significant high levels of available waste tires in Brazil, which reached approximately 473 thousand tons in 2015, offer an attractive potential for their use as fuel in advanced thermal conversion processes. Technologies for energetic valorization of waste tires were reviewed and two alternatives based on updraft gasification in a modified reactor design were proposed. First of all, a large-scale updraft gasifier on IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) was considered for the gasification of the derived fuel from waste tires, capable to produce between 10.8 and 16.1 MJ of electric energy per kg of derived fuel from waste tires fed to the reactor. The second alternative considered a small-scale updraft gasifier feeding an internal combustion engine, coupled to an electricity generator for the production of up to 8.2 MJ of electric energy per kg of derived fuel from waste tires fed to the reactor. Implementation of these technologies will allow energetic valorization of waste tires in Brazil, solving their disposal problems, creating jobs, reducing negative disposal environmental impacts in landfills, and increasing distributed generation of electricity.

Introduction

Environmental concerns, oil price instability, economical and geopolitical issues motivate the development of new energy generation technologies. Sustainable use of energy resources is necessary for the proper management of the planet’s natural resources and reduction of environmental pollution. Thus, obtainment of renewable fuels is an issue among current challenges. This should be done at affordable costs with economically feasible applications, in order to reduce pollutant emissions, including NOx, CO2, particulate matter (PM), and CxHy.

Tire disposal is a worldwide problem, aggravated along with growing vehicle fleets. Tires must be properly disposed to reduce their impact on the environment; however, disposal occurs through incineration most of the time, which is the fastest and easiest discarding procedure. Tire incineration produces a large number of emissions, including a broad set of hydrocarbons, and halogen-chlorinated compounds (chlorinated methanes, dioxins, and PCBs -polychlorinated biphenyl) [1]. This also produces pyrolytic oil, which contains toxic chemicals and heavy metal compounds capable of causing adverse health effects.

Studies stated that water pollution caused by runoff derived from tire fires can last up to 100 years [2]. In addition, toxic incineration exhausts from waste tires are far more mutagenic than from well-designed and properly operated coal-fired plants emissions [3].

Disposal of tires in landfills is environmentally harmful, since they tend to return to the surface and break layer covers, damaging the land settlement in the long term and their rehabilitation [3].

Estimates regarding the number of waste tires annually generated in Brazil range between 17 and 20 million units, 6 million only in the state of São Paulo state; the number of accumulated units within inappropriate deposits is estimated to be at least 100 million [4]. According to CEMPRE [5]- Business Commitment for Recycling, non-passive tire recovery has negative value, i.e., waste tires carry costs for new tire dealers who eventually pay for residue disposal.

Concerns related to contamination associated with tire disposal led to the search for reuse technologies of discarded tires. Thus, energetic valorization of tires began along with the introduction of their use as a raw material in building construction, in asphalt surfacing processing, and in the footwear industry, among other applications [6].

Section snippets

Tire production and waste tire disposal

The estimate growth for the worldwide tires demand, about 4.3 percent per year, reached 2.9 billion units in 2017, while waste tire disposal in 2015 reached nearly 1 billion units [7].

According to the Brazilian Pneumatic Industry Association [3], production of tires in 2014 by the Brazilian industry totaled 70.8 million units, which was a small reduction compared to 2013, a year in which the historical record was achieved by the sector. In addition, 12.4 million units were exported in 2013, a

Disposal routes for waste tires

Incorrect disposal of waste tires can lead to rainwater accumulation, creating favorable conditions for propagation of disease-carrying pests. Auto-ignition of large tire piles is also possible, polluting groundwater and air. When disposed in a landfill, lighter-end gases are released during the decomposition process. Such gases can build up within the tire interior, gradually forcing it to “float” to the surface. This affects the landfill design integrity, and some tires might not remain

Final considerations

The main route for waste tire disposal in Brazil is its use in the cement industry as secundary fuel, and a low percentage in the rubber modified asphalt production. This study proposed two alternatives for energetic valorization of waste tires based on updraft gasification in a modified reactor design, due to the advantage of the gasification process. The first alternative considers a large-scale updraft gasifier with a modified design in IGCC for the gasification, capable to produce between

Acknowledgments

Financial support of this research is acknowledged to CNPq (Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development) through projects 165937/2015-7 and 403366/2015-1.

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