DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSIONOFARL'SWASTE STREAMS TO ENERGY

Abstract

Oil sludge is a complex mixture of water, solids, heavy hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals that remains in storage tanks and facilities. Its composition varies based on the origin of the oil, refinery processes, and the equipment and reagents used. Presently, ARL employs incineration and bioremediation for oil sludge treatment, but both methods have disadvantages. Incineration leads to harmful emissions, while bioremediation is time-consuming. Additionally, neither of these process produces a useful product. On the other hand, gasification of oil sludge for hydrogen production offers an environmentally friendly alternative as it utilizes waste instead of non-renewable sources like natural gas. In our proposed design, the initial step involves converting oil sludge into syngas through a gasification process. Various reactors facilitate partial oxidation, thermal cracking, reduction, and char gasification. Air and superheated steam serve as gasifying and oxidation agents. Afterwards, a cyclone separator is utilized to remove ash from the syngas. Subsequently, hydrogen is recovered via steam reforming and shift reactions. This proposed methodology of hydrogen production from oil sludge gasification has been deemed feasible from both environmental and economic perspectives. Economic analysis and equipment design confirm its viability and ability to produce hydrogen. Moreover, the project aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Responsible Consumption and Production.