Analysis of the regional potential and prospects for converting MSW into hydrogen based on TPPs (using the example of the Ural federal district)

The need to increase the level of municipal solid waste (MSW) utilization, combined with an increased focus on low-carbon energy, leads to an increase in interest in technologies for producing hydrogen from MSW, not only at the industrial level, but also at the state level. The availability of free space and excess generation capacity makes thermal power plants (TPPs) the most suitable objects for introducing such installations. The aim of the study is to analyse the potential and prospects for converting MSW to hydrogen based on TPPs using the example of the Ural Federal District. During the study, an assessment was carried out of the potential volume of hydrogen production and use of MSW, the parameters of a thermal power plant were calculated that could serve as a basis for introducing an MSW hydrogen installation. The expected change in technical and economic indicators of a thermal plant was analyzed, and recommendations were made on the choice of a site. Thus, under the conditions of the Ural Federal District, total hydrogen production can range from 11 to 31 tons per hour. At the same time, production of hydrogen will require water vapor ranging from 63 to 137 tons per hour and cooling water ranging from 32 to 7,233 tons per hourAnd it will lead to a decrease in electric power from 58 MW to 125 MW (while maintaining the load on steam-generating equipment constant), an increase in conventional fuel consumption from 6 tons per hour to 12 tons (with an increase in load on the steam generator), and an increase of 18 MW thermal capacity of thermal plants to 84 MW when disposing of waste heat generated by the MSW (hydrogen) installation. The expected margin profit change will vary from -32 thousand rubles per hour with a decrease in turbine power and utilization of hydrogen waste heat, or from +29 to -21 thousand rubles with an increase in steam generation unit fuel consumption and use of hydrogen production waste heat.

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