Thermodynamic analysis of a food waste plasma gasification-based multigeneration system with dehumidification and carbon capture

The amount of food waste generated annually has increased due to rapid urbanization. Food waste that is not effectively treated not only pollutes the environment but also endangers human health indirectly. To realize the resource treatment of food waste, a novel combined cooling, heating, power, and dehumidification system based on food waste plasma gasification (PG) is proposed. First, the PG and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) models are validated, and then energy analysis and exergy analysis of the hybrid system are conducted. Finally, the influence of crucial parameters on energy output and efficiency is analyzed. It was found that the net electrical, thermal, and exergy efficiencies of the hybrid system were 54.60%, 84.22%, and 51.15%, respectively, under the designed conditions. The moisture removal rate, humidity efficiency, and CO2 removal rate of the hybrid system were 20.16 g/kg, 93.66%, and 97.17%, respectively. The largest part of the exergy destruction was that of the plasma gasifier that accounted for approximately 35.45% of the total exergy destruction related to the plasma torch's high power consumption. This system could efficiently and cleanly convert food waste into energy and could provide a new method for the efficient utilization of food waste.