Journal Simulation and Laboratory V9 N26 3
Journal Simulation and Laboratory V9 N26 3
Journal Simulation and Laboratory V9 N26 3
Abstract Resumen
Waste tires, composed of rubber, have caused negative Los neumáticos de desecho, compuestos por caucho, han causado
environmental problems. There have been problems regarding an problemas ambientales negativos, se han registrado problemáticas
increase in the accumulation of tires in different sectors, together respecto a un aumento en la acumulación de llantas en diferentes
with the fact that waste management methods are obsolete. These sectores aunado a que los métodos de gestión de los residuos son
problems have awakened interest in their study and thermal obsoletos. Estos problemas han sido tan evidentes que han
degradation. Tires composed of rubber represent a material with an despertado el interés para su estudio y la degradación térmica de
important potential for recycling and utilization, together with the estos mismos. Las llantas compuestas por caucho representan ser un
conversion of these wastes into energy, value-added products or for material con un potencial importante para el reciclaje y su
the improvement of raw materials. The technique used to carry out aprovechamiento, aunado a la conversión de estos desechos en
thermal degradation is called pyrolysis and consists of heating the energía, productos de valor agregado o para la mejora de materias
organic matter in the absence of oxygen at a specified rate or heating primas. La técnica por la cual se lleva a cabo esta degradación
rate, up to a maximum temperature known as pyrolysis temperature, térmica se denomina pirólisis y consiste en calentar la materia
and maintaining it there for a specified time. The products of orgánica en ausencia de oxígeno a una velocidad especificada o tasa
pyrolysis correspond to: liquid, condensable gases and solid char or de calentamiento, hasta una temperatura máxima conocida como
ash; for its part, the condensable gas can be further decomposed into temperatura de pirólisis, y mantenerla allí durante un tiempo
non-condensable gases (〖CO, CO2, H2 and CH4), liquid and char. especificado. Los productos de la pirólisis corresponden a: líquido,
This work aims to contribute with the design and simulation of the gases condensables y carbón sólidos o ceniza; por su parte, el gas
condensation cycle of the gases obtained from pyrolysis. condensable puede descomponerse aún más en gases no
Particularly, for the condensation of these gases, the ASPEN HYSYS condensables (𝐶𝑂, 𝐶𝑂2 , 𝐻2 𝑦 𝐶𝐻4), líquido y carbón. Este trabajo
process simulator was used, where the adaptation of a shell and tube tiene como objetivo contribuir con el diseño y simulación del ciclo
heat exchanger allowed to carry out the condensation. The feed de condensación de los gases obtenidos de la pirólisis.
containing these gases comes from tests in a pyrolytic reactor with Particularmente, para la condensación de estos gases, se emplea el
favorable results. As a result of this condensation and the operating simulador de procesos de ASPEN HYSYS en donde se realiza la
conditions, it is observed that, for a range between 80 and 90 °C, the adaptación de un intercambiador de calor de tubo y coraza que
condensation of gases such as i-Butene and Propylene is favored. permitirá llevar a cabo la condensación. La alimentación que
This study aims to take up existing research in this area and make a contiene a estos gases es proveniente de pruebas en un reactor
proposal for the condensation of pyrolysis gases, generating an idea pirolítico con resultados favorables. Resultado de esta condensación
of the feasibility and recovery of tire waste with a circular economy y de las condiciones de operación se observa que, para un rango entre
approach. 80 y 90 °C, se favorece la condensación de gases como lo son el 𝑖 −
𝐵𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑜 y el 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑜. Este estudio pretende retomar las
investigaciones existentes en este rubro y realizar una propuesta para
la condensación de los gases de pirólisis, generando una idea de la
viabilidad y la valorización de residuos de llantas con un enfoque de
economía circular.
Recycling, Waste, Tires, Pyrolysis, Condensation Reciclaje, Residuos, Llantas, Pirólisis, Condensación
Citation: MORENO-ARIAS, Claudio Alberto, CHAMARRAVÍ-GUERRA, Oscar and LOPÉZ-MAZA, Fernando de Jesús.
Simulation of gas condensation process from pyrolysis of used tires. Journal Simulation and Laboratory. 2022, 9-26: 18-30
© ECORFAN-Bolivia www.ecorfan.org/bolivia
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Article Journal Simulation and Laboratory
June 2022 Vol.9 No.26 18-30
By the end of the 2030s, the weight of The oil contains high value-added and
scrap tires will be up to 1200 million tons commercially valuable components such as
annually [9], [10]. Currently, this particular benzene, toluene, xylenes and limonene. For this
process proves to be a promising way for the process, variables and operating conditions are
transformation of waste organic matter, such as defined and from this the experimental stage can
tires consisting mainly of rubber, into fuel by be developed.
thermal degradation in the absence of oxygen in
a temperature range from 300 to 800 °C. The feed to the ASPEN HYSYS model has
been characterized as a mixture of gases coming
The present research article will focus on from the pyrolysis reactor, in its experimental
the valorization of tire waste with a circular stage, with a composition taken from a gas
economy approach, particularly on the design chromatography carried out previously [6].
and simulation of the tire pyrolysis gas
condensation process to obtain crude oil for 1.2 Experimental design
liquid fuels. The input variables for the pyrolytic
gas condensation process will be identified and Tires go through a pretreatment where the main
the simulation model that allows the objective is the size reduction of the samples into
condensation of these gases from the pyrolysis smaller pieces, up to dimensions close to 4 x 4
reactor will be developed. cm, these are the starting point of the pyrolysis
process. Subsequently, the samples enter a
1. Materials and Methods reactor that has been adapted with recycled and
reused material as illustrated below:
1.1 Description of the process
According to Acosta and Castro, among These gases together with their
the variables that most influence the pyrolysis corresponding mole fraction are entered as the
process are the type of biomass to be fed into the feed components through the shell and tube heat
reactor, in this case tires, the time-temperature exchanger tubes. In addition, the cooling liquid
profile and the atmospheric pressure, the latter of choice is water which enters the shell side of
two being the most important, together with the the heat exchanger with a mole fraction of 1. In
particle size and moisture level. As for the time- the ASPEN HYSYS simulator they are
temperature profile, it refers to the heating rate, categorized at 1 atm pressure as follows:
the maximum temperature and the residence
time [17]. Having said that, by correctly Formula Simulation Name Molar Fraction
managing the process variables mentioned 𝐻2 Hydrogen 0.08
above, it is possible to optimize or, if necessary, 𝐶𝐻4 Methane 0.203
𝐶𝑂 𝐶𝑂 0.045
maximize the fraction of the desired product.
𝐶𝑂2 𝐶𝑂2 0.058
𝐶2 𝐻4 Ethylene 0.092
1.3.1 Feed gas composition 𝐶2 𝐻6 Ethane 0.066
𝐻2 𝑆 𝐻2 𝑆 0.009
To determine the composition of feed gas, which 𝐶3 𝐻6 Propene 0.065
is a gaseous mixture, a gas chromatography is 𝐶4 𝐻8 i-Butene 0.318
used to separate the different volatile compounds Others Others 0.064
of a gaseous sample in this case. This technique
Table 2 Chemical compounds present in the feed to the
achieves the separation of these compounds with
simulation in ASPEN HYSYS
the passage of a sample through a stationary Source: Own Elaboration
phase with help of a mobile phase; in addition, it
allows to know both the absence or presence of Likewise, in the experimental stage, the
a compound, as well as the amount of individual corresponding temperature gases (hot fluid), as
components present in a sample through the well as for the water (cold fluid) were measured;
calibration curves of each standard, likewise it The mass flow of gas feed and the volume flow
has a great capacity for separation of both of water before entering the pump that feeds the
thermally stable and volatile organic and heat exchanger were measured as well; in
inorganic compounds [16]. addition, it is important to highlight the process
is carried out at 1 atm of pressure. These
The composition of the feed gas, the conditions are listed below:
chemical compounds in (% mol) of the synthesis
gas from the tire rubber pyrolysis process at Fluids
different temperatures resulting from the Parameters Water Pyrolysis gases
samples selected for chromatographic analysis Inlet temperature (°C) 16 268
𝑘𝑔 ----- 1
performed previously [6] are: Mass flow rate ( )
ℎ
𝐿 16.39 -----
Flow rate ( )
Process temperature (°c) 𝑚𝑖𝑛
Components 400 450 500
𝐻2 8 9.1 11.6 Table 3 Feed parameters to the process at 1 atm pressure
𝐶𝐻4 20.3 21.8 27.5 obtained from the experimental stage
𝐶𝑂 4.5 2.7 3.1 Source: Own Elaboration
𝐶𝑂2 5.8 5.2 4.6
𝐶2 𝐻4 9.2 9.9 9.1 The above mentioned compositions and
𝐶2 𝐻6 6.6 8.6 10.6
feed parameters are the starting point of the
𝐻2 𝑆 0.9 1.3 1
𝐶3 𝐻6 6.5 6.3 5.7 simulation performed in ASPEN HYSYS and
𝐶4 𝐻8 31.8 27.2 19 will allow the process to be carried out.
Others 6.4 7.9 7.8
1.3.2 Properties
Table 1 Chemical compounds in (%mol) of the synthesis
gas from the tire rubber pyrolysis process at different The equation-of-state models provide an
temperature
accurate description of the thermodynamic
Source: LEONARDI, Chiara. Development of an
innovative pyrolysis plant for the production of secondary properties of the high temperature conditions for
raw materials. Dottorato di ricerca in chimica .Università the pyrolysis gases coming from the reactor, for
di Bologna. 2015 *Diferentes tipos de neumáticos the hot side entering through the heat exchanger
tubes.
ISSN: 2410-3462 MORENO-ARIAS, Claudio Alberto, CHAMARRAVÍ-GUERRA, Oscar
ECORFAN® All rights reserved and LOPÉZ-MAZA, Fernando de Jesús. Simulation of gas condensation
process from pyrolysis of used tires. Journal Simulation and Laboratory.
2022
23
Article Journal Simulation and Laboratory
June 2022 Vol.9 No.26 18-30
Water pump
Parameters Specifications
Inlet temperature (°C) 16
𝐿
Inlet flow rate ( ) 16.39
𝑚𝑖𝑛
With the above, the mole fractions of the It is possible to observe the cooling that the
components of the hot fluid leaving the heat pyrolysis gas mixture undergoes from its feed at
exchanger are listed, all of them in vapor phase: 268 °C to its exit from the heat exchanger at -
31.65 °C. In addition to the above, the water
Formula Simulation Name Molar Fraction undergoes a slight heating from its exit from the
𝐻2 Hydrogen 0.0855 pump and entrance to the heat exchanger on the
𝐶𝐻4 Methane 0.2169 shell side, with a temperature of -32.74 °C until
𝐶𝑂 𝐶𝑂 0.0481
it exits at -32.51 °C.
𝐶𝑂2 𝐶𝑂2 0.0620
𝐶2 𝐻4 Ethylene 0.0983
𝐶2 𝐻6 Ethane 0.0705
𝐻2 𝑆 𝐻2 𝑆 0.0096
𝐶3 𝐻6 Propene 0.0694
𝐶4 𝐻8 i-Butene 0.3397
Again, the heat exchanger operates Table 12 Heat exchanger results using R-717 refrigerant
countercurrent, on the shell side the coolant is provided by ASPEN HYSYS
Source: Own Elaboration
fed by the pump and the pyrolysis gas mixture
enters through the tubes. Table 12 lists the results
In addition, there is a slight pressure drop
of the simulation of this equipment. It is possible
on the hot fluid side, through the heat exchanger
to observe that the outlet temperature of the hot
tubes, this along the 500 mm of the length of this
stream is -31.65 °C. This, according to the phase
equipment. Starting with a pressure of 101.325
change temperatures shown in Table 4, would
kPa and exiting at a pressure of 101.322 kPa.
favor the formation of condensate in this process
This can be observed graphically as shown
stream.
below:
In addition to the above, the temperature
profile is illustrated when using the coolant, it is
possible to observe the decrease in the
temperature of the hot stream, in red, and a slight
increase for the cold stream, in blue, along the
length of the shell and tube heat exchanger.
Figure 15 Film coefficients of both fluids 2.3 Proposal for the condensation cycle design
Source: Own Elaboration
On the other hand, a new proposal is made for
On the other hand, to determine the the design of the condensation cycle where the
condensate formation, the following graph pump and the heat exchanger of the
shows the tube length of 500 mm versus the experimental stage simulated in the previous
steam fraction. It is also possible to determine section using water as cooling liquid are reused.
that, at an approximate length of 444 mm there
is a decrease in the vapor fraction, i.e., there is In this particular case, a cooler and a
condensate formation for this same shell and separator are added to the process, as illustrated
tube heat exchanger with the use of refrigerant in the following process diagram:
R-717. The above for the composition of the gas
mixture taken from the literature and listed in
Table 2.
3. Conclusions