Substantiation of expedience of application of high-temperature utilization of used tires for liquefied methane production

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation is to substantiate by means of numerical simulation the expedience of high-temperature utilization of used tires with subsequent methanation of fuel gases and separation of multicomponent hydrocarbon mixtures to drain the liquefied methane. Design/methodology/approach: The investigation was carried out by means of numerical simulation. In mathematical description of gas processes relations of thermodynamics and heat and mass transfer were used. To determine the coefficients of thermal and physical parameters of working bodies the Peng-Robinson equation of state was used through the computer program REFPROP. The system of equations is represented as the interrelations between the functional elements according to the principle "output from the element A – input into the element B". Its solution was obtained by the method of successive approximations, namely by the Newton-Raphson iteration method. Using this method we have determined the values of temperature, pressure, mass flow rate and mass content of the hydrocarbon gas mixture components in each reference cross-section of the power facility. Findings: As a result of numerical simulation, it is determined that when the multicomponent hydrocarbon mixtures are separated, three flows of energy resources may be obtained: with a high mass content of methane of 91.5% and 83.4%, which may be used as motor fuel, and a gas flow suitable for maintaining the process of waste gasification. However, to remove heat in the condenser of the rectification column, it is necessary to use expensive liquid nitrogen. The cost of methane production may be reduced if the condenser is removed from the rectification column. However, such approach reduces the overall yield of commercial products almost in four times and significantly reduces the methane with the third product (molar percentage of 35%). Research limitations/implications: The investigation was carried out for the material of used tires without a metal frame. Practical implications: The implementation of the technology of high-temperature recycling of used tires gives the opportunity to use the generated synthetic gas to maintain the process of utilization, and gives the opportunity to produce liquefied methane, suitable for storage. Originality/value: The main problem of high-temperature recycling of tires is the emission of toxic gas to the atmosphere. It is proposed to allocate methane energy resource from this gas. For the first time an attempt was made to justify the expedience of the technology of high-temperature utilization of tires for liquefied methane production.