Modelling of municipal solid waste use for steam generation for industrial and hospitality sector
Date
2025
Authors
Omare, J. W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
The cumulative demand for steam in the hospitality and industrial sectors has led to rising financial and environmental costs due to the prevalent use of biomass for steam generation. This challenge has intensified by issues such as resource depletion, competition for land with food crops, and the bulky nature of biomass, which complicates energy management. Previous attempts to use Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as an alternative fuel for steam generation have yielded inconclusive results, underscoring the need for further research to establish its feasibility as a replacement for biomass. This study modeled the use of MSW for steam generation in industrial and hospitality sectors. The main objective of this study was to model transport and treatment processes in MSW steam generation. Secondary data was collected from three zones in Nairobi, an industry setup and a hotel, each characterized by different energy & waste profiles stemming from varied commercial and social activities. The data collected was analyzed using a developed model incorporating governing equations for calorific value calculations, transport, treatment, and the Levelized Cost of Steam (LCOS). Under three scenarios, the calorific values of MSW and biomass (Eucalyptus globulus) were analyzed, revealing that MSW possessed a superior energy density at 23.80 MJ/kg compared to biomass at 17.34–17.43 MJ/kg. Proximate analysis of Nairobi’s MSW highlighted organic waste dominates at 65.4% of the total waste and moisture content was reduced from 19.03% to 15% via drying to enhance combustion efficiency. Also, transportation costs were modeled for two collection points, emphasizing distance-driven variations. The techno-economic framework computed the LCOS by integrating capital and operational expenditures, as well as transport and treatment costs. Results demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of MSW, with LCOS values of 1.48–1.49 Ksh/kg and 2.24–2.32 Ksh/kg for the two companies analyzed respectively. This shows 25–26% reduction over biomass. Scenario analyses confirmed MSW’s resilience to cost escalations, as it maintained lower costs than biomass. Although costs varied non-linearly with transportation and drying, the processes added more operational annually, but the overall LCOS remained economically viable, compared to biomass. MSW reduced feedstock demand by 27% and storage requirements, thereby aligning with Kenya’s waste management and renewable energy goals. The proposed model offered a replicable framework for optimizing MSW utilization in steam generation, emphasizing localized waste characterization and policy cost incentives. Recommendations include advancing waste-to-energy conversion studies, spatial transport optimization, and the integration of social economic factors in future models. These findings supported the adoption of MSW to mitigate production costs, reduce deforestation, and foster sustainable urban energy transitions.
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Full - text thesis
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Citation
Omare, J. W. (2025). Modelling of municipal solid waste use for steam generation for industrial and hospitality sector [Strathmore University]. http://hdl.handle.net/11071/15972