Process for converting plastic waste into power

US5369947A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC · DE

Inventors

• Hans-Ulrich Dummersdorf · Leverkusen, DE
• Helmut Waldmann · Leverkusen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 13, 1993
• Grant date: Dec 6, 1994
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/143
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The plastic waste is reacted in a plasma reactor 3 under reducing conditions in a plasma containing substoichiometric oxygen at temperatures above 1200.degree. C. to form a plasma pyrolysis gas consisting of low molecular weight carbon fragments which is then cooled to temperatures below 1500.degree. C. The cooled plasma pyrolysis gas is then delivered in compressed form as a fuel of high calorific value and high temperature to a gas turbine 10 for generating power. The waste heat of this gas turbine is used to generate steam which is fed into a steam turbine 12 for generating more power. The process is suitable for plastic waste of any composition and leads to complete conversion into a gas of high calorific value so that a high exergetic efficiency level is achieved.