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Optimization of solar-powered waste-to-energy systems for agricultural food waste reduction
1 Engineering Management Program, University of Lincoln - Lincoln, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.
2 Department of Agricultural Science, Florida A&M University, FL., USA.
3 Mechanical Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Research Article
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2023, 10(01), 1105–1114.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2023.10.1.0665
Publication history:
Received on 09 September 2023; revised on 16 October 2023; accepted on 18 October 2023
Abstract:
This study presents the design and optimization of a solar-powered waste-to-energy (WTE) system aimed at reducing agricultural food waste and generating renewable energy for rural agricultural applications. The system integrates solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with an anaerobic digester, biogas generator, and battery storage to convert organic agricultural waste into biogas and electricity. The solar panels demonstrated an energy conversion efficiency of 62-64%, contributing to the overall energy needs of the waste-to-energy process. The anaerobic digester achieved biogas yields of up to 70 m³/ton from corn residues, with a methane content of 65%. The biogas generator converted this biogas into electricity with an efficiency that increased from 70% to 74% as the biogas input increased. The system reduced operational costs by over 87% compared to traditional diesel-powered systems, primarily due to the elimination of fuel costs. Additionally, the system was able to reduce agricultural waste by more than 85% and decrease CO₂ emissions by 60%, demonstrating its significant environmental benefits. Heat recovery from the biogas generator further increased system efficiency, recovering up to 70 kWh of heat for agricultural processes. The system also generated excess solar energy, allowing for potential energy storage or future expansion. This study provides a scalable and cost-effective solution to both waste management and energy generation in rural agriculture, promoting sustainability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Keywords:
Solar-powered waste-to-energy; Agricultural waste reduction; Biogas production; Renewable energy efficiency; Sustainable rural agriculture
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Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0
