There are a number of perceptions within the marketplace regarding plasma-arc treatment and plasma-arc gasification processes. Last week, this blog addressed its ability to process a wider range of feedstocks that other thermal treatment technologies.

This week we look to address the claim/perception regarding a smaller physical footprint with regards to plasma-arc gasification waste-to-energy systems.

Plasma-arc gasification reactors do not require moving grates and the smaller volume of gases generated means that the plasma-arc gasification reactors can accommodate the required minimum residence times in a smaller volume. Further, the smaller gas production and reducing environment within the plasma-arc gasification reactor does facilitate smaller sized air pollution control systems. However, due to existing scale of the plasma-arc gasification waste-to-energy technology, large scale application of the plasma-arc gasification process when dealing with municipal solid waste for example could require numerous process trains and thus potentially negate this advantage.