Municipal solid waste (MSW) is characterized by complex composition, low calorific value and high moisture content. Using a single treatment technology is costly and difficult to achieve optimal results. A poly-generation system that integrates classified waste pyrolysis and incineration is proposed, producing fuel, electricity, and steam. The system has been designed and optimized to find the optimal feed ratio and process model. However, the economic performance of the poly-generation system is still unclear. In this work, a techno-economic analysis (TEA) was conducted to evaluate the economic feasibility of the proposed MSW treatment poly-generation system. The annual electricity generated by the poly-generation system is 104.13 GWh. The annual steam generated is 4.91 kt, and the average annual diesel produced is 1.60 kt. The TEA results showed that the total capital investment of the system was 602.07 M¥, and the annual operating cost was 40.63 M¥. The net present value was 93.01 M¥, which is a positive value. The internal rate of return was 10.28 %, which is higher than the benchmark rate of return, indicating that the system is economically feasible. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the internal rate of return was extremely sensitive to fixed capital investment, price of electricity, product yield, and government subsidy. The TEA analysis of poly-generation system provides a fundamental theoretical basis for the feasibility of classified MSW treatment and offers valuable insights for policy makers and investors in the waste management field. Considering the complexity of the waste, future research can be carried out from the environmental aspect, combining both economic and environmental objectives for multi-objective optimization and conducting comprehensive evaluation of the industrial practicability of the poly-generation system.
Keywords: Incineration; Municipal solid waste; Poly-generation system; Pyrolysis; Techno-economic analysis.
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