An innovative inverse solution method for exergy analysis of waste-to-energy power plants to calculate waste chemical composition

The main objective of this article is to present a novel method for comprehensive and accurate exergy analysis of waste-to-energy power plants. In all previous studies conducted in this field, the average numerical value of waste analysis over a specific time period has been used. However, using this value leads to errors in exergy analysis data. In this study, an inverse solution method is initially employed to calculate the chemical composition, mass flow rate of fuel, and air. The measurement of the fuel flow rate is also averaged over the calculation time period, introducing errors into the calculations. By calculating the waste mass flow rate using the inverse method, the possibility of introducing such errors into the calculations is eliminated. After calculating the waste composition, waste and fresh air mass flow rates, a precise and reliable exergy analysis is provided for the entire controlled volume of the waste-to-energy power plant. The method includes 8 degradation terms and 10 loss terms. The inefficiency factors presented in this article represent the most comprehensive inefficiency factors in waste-to-energy power plants. The applied method is implemented for the Aradkuh power plant, and the results demonstrate that the gasifier is the main exergy destruction factor with the highest exergy losses. The calculated exergy efficiency for the power plant is determined to be 1.13%.