Overview
This project aims to identify technical and scientific challenges with the use of refuse-derived fuel (RDF)-derived syngas in high-temperature industrial processes, and to overcoming the challenges, which are largely around scale, resource availability, and impacts of various syngas impurities on industrial processes.
While the use of RDF is well established in cement kilns and calciners, owing to the capacity of cement clinker to adsorb the ash, they are not yet used in the manufacture of lime, alumina or iron/steel owing to the adverse impacts of the inorganics to the products. However, recent developments in gasification technology offer the potential to manage the inorganics by retaining them in the ash.
In addition, while it is known that significant quantities are available, is also necessary to provide greater understanding of supply chains in the regional hubs of interest to HILT CRC.
Project Details
There are opportunities for an innovative pathway to low-cost, industrial-grade hydrogen-rich syngas for HILT Core partners, by gasification of refuse-derived fuel, which is low-cost feedstock with low net intensity of CO2. This opportunity has arisen due to a confluence of synergistic effects, notably:
- The opportunity to significantly increase the use of RDF in these processes above the current limits by converting it to a syngas
- The recent development to pilot-scale of several emerging gasification technologies with strong potential to utilise RDF, which can be low-cost or even cost-negative because it avoids the current option of the high-cost landfill disposal route
- Access to a local partner with a proven record in recovering RDF at a scale and cost relevant to high-temperature industrial processes as a commercial business
- The compatibility of heavy industry as an appropriate user of syngas as a fuel, which is a challenging fuel for many conventional users to harness
Research Areas
Blending of alternative low-carbon fuels for current high temperature processes
Outcomes
The expected project outcomes and deliverables include:
- Better understanding of the potential scale, cost and net-CO2 emissions of RDF to contribute to the low-carbon transition for HILT partners
- Engagement of partners with potential to deliver commercial solutions
- A clear understanding of the syngas impurities that arise from RDF gasification, and how technology selection can manage these risks for CRC partners
- A clear path forward for demonstrating RDF gasification in CRC industrial processes
- More potential pathways for CRC partners to decarbonise their processes, decreasing the sole reliance on the development of green H2 supply chains
- Good understanding of the research needs and opportunities to accelerate the implementation of RDF as an industrial fuel