DrACO2 - Modeling and development of the decarbonization of a waste incineration plant by flue gas treatment with CO2 capture

In the context of climate change, the social importance and demand for sustainable use and conservation of raw materials, a reduction of pollutants and increased recycling are continuously increasing. In this context, waste incineration plants will become increasingly important in the future. Constantly accumulating, partly biogenic residual materials and waste enable continuous and regenerative operation. By combining with other recycling plants, waste incineration plants are facing additional requirements, so that a new generation of plants with higher performance levels will emerge. In this context, it is important to comply with the legal regulations regarding emissions and to contribute to climate protection and a cross-sectoral circular economy.

This can be achieved with optimized flue gas cleaning in conjunction with CO₂ separation. In combination with an electrolysis plant, CCU technologies can sustainably produce carbon-containing secondary raw materials from the CO₂. Since the systems of combustion, flue gas cleaning and CO₂ capture inevitably influence each other, they must be investigated and optimized as an integrated system.

Against this background, the project "Flue gas treatment of a Gen5 waste incineration plant" investigates the optimization of flue gas cleaning as well as the investigation of CO₂ separation in waste incineration. For this purpose, a pilot plant for waste incineration with corresponding flue gas cleaning will be extended by a plant for CO₂ separation and pilot plant tests will be carried out. In parallel, the processes of flue gas cleaning and CO₂ separation will be modeled physico-chemically in order to create a digital image. This can be used in the long term to carry out simulations for analysis, optimization and planning and to support plant operators in the design and investigation of such integrated systems.