Evaluation study of the conversion of an industrial

waste incineration to oxy-combustion process

operation: Energy and environmental assessment,
numerical modelling, and economic viability analysis
The SEED1 program (industrial track)
www.imt-atlantique.fr/seed
PhD topic open for applications until January 31st , 2024

1 Definition 1
1.1 Domain and scientific/technical context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Scientific/technical challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 Considered methods, targeted results and impacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.4 Environment (partners, places, specific tools and hardware) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.5 Interdisciplinarity aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2 Partners and study periods 3

2.1 Supervisors and study periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 Hosting organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2.1 IMT Atlantique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2.2 Séché Environnement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1 Definition
1.1 Domain and scientific/technical context
When reuse, recycling or material recovery is not possible, incineration is the technical
solution for recovering energy from waste, combining the production of both electricity
and heat. Fortunately, the health and environmental impact of the incineration fumes is
drastically reduced thanks to particulate and gaseous treatment process ensuring a pollutant
emission limit align with regulations. However, there is no regulatory limit for carbon
dioxide (CO2) emission from waste incineration, despite its well-established impact on the
climate. This is due to the low content of CO2 around 8% from flue gas, limiting the
development of CO2 capture technology in this industry.
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Co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement no. 101126644
1.2 Scientific/technical challenges
In the Oxy-combustion process, furnaces receive a synthetic air mixture consisting ex-
clusively of oxygen, enhanced with CO2. This leads to a significant decrease in harmful
pollutant emissions such as NOx while producing supercharged fumes with a high CO2 con-
tent (around 90%), making the process more attractive for CO2 capture and recovery. The
oxy-combustion also reduces the energy consumption required for the thermal treatment of
waste by eliminating the nitrogen ballast provided by the combustion air.
The objective of this thesis is to investigate, using a combined approach of numerical
modelling and techno-economic analysis, the conversion of a conventional existing inciner-
ation plant to oxy-combustion functionality in order to improve energy performance and
reduce environmental impact. The scope of the thesis includes therefore the entire pro-
cess modelling, the air filtration stage (separation of nitrogen and oxygen from the air)
to supply the furnace, and the various possible scenarios for the capture and valorisation
of the recovered biogenic CO2. The analyse will consider both technical and economic
perspectives.

1.3 Considered methods, targeted results and impacts

The overarching goal is to minimize the environmental impact of waste incineration through
a decarbonization strategy. This involves addressing scientific and technical barriers by
enhancing the understanding of the thermochemical conversion reactions taking place in
the furnace. This also involves studying the various operating parameters derived from the
plant modelling like the influence of converting the furnace to oxy-combustion on pollutant
emissions, and on the available energy for recovery. In addition to handling the fumes with
a high CO2 content of 90%, another concern is to maintain the temperature control in order
to mitigate potential consequences on waste treatment capacity and chemical nature.
Furthermore, to input and/or validate the numerical model, measurement campaigns
will be conducted on the existing plant, supplementing the available operational data, to
accurately quantify particulate and gaseous emissions at various points in the plant.

1.4 Environment (partners, places, specific tools and hardware)

The methodology implemented is based on a dynamic simulation of the process scale using
a modelling tool, with the aim of developing a digital twin of the plant. The software
considered for this study is ASPEN Plus (Advanced System for Process Engineering). The
Trédi Salaise 3 incineration plant (Séché Environnement group), located south of Lyon, is
envisaged as the case study. Thus, all the data required for the plant’s modelling will be
provided by the partner Trédi and collected by the PhD student during visits to the plant.

1.5 Interdisciplinarity aspects

The topic requires an interdisciplinary approach combining both process engineering and
energetics, with a technical focus on modelling and understanding the oxy-combustion pro-
cess in connection with energy recovery and pollutant treatment. Additionally, an economic
analysis is essential to assess the feasibility of the proposed solutions. A monitoring will
be conducted on the evolving energy market and regulations, with a specific emphasis on
CO2, distinguishing between fossil and biogenic CO2 in terms of utilization prospects. This

2
economic dimension may be explored during a research stay abroad in collaboration with
a competent partner.

1.6 References
• Rosa M. Cuéllar Franca, Adisa Azapagic, Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Carbon
Capture, Storage, and Utilization, Editor(s): Martin A. Abraham, Encyclopedia of
Sustainable Technologies, Elsevier, 2017, 447-459, ISBN 9780128047927, https://
doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10123-X

• Paulina Wienchol, Andrzej Szlęk, Mario Ditaranto, Waste-to-energy technology in-

tegrated with carbon capture – Challenges and opportunities, Energy, Volume 198,
2020, 117352, ISSN 0360-5442, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117352

• Giorgio Vilardi, Nicola Verdone, Exergy analysis of municipal solid waste incinera-
tion processes: The use of O2-enriched air and the oxy-combustion process, Energy,
Volume 239, Part B, 2022, 122147, ISSN 0360-5442, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
energy.2021.122147

• Emmanuel Adah, Aurélie Joubert, Marc Henry, Sylvain Durécu, Laurence Le Coq,
Optimization of Nanoparticle Collection by a Pilot-Scale Spray Scrubber Operated
Under Waste Incineration Conditions: Using Box–Behnken Design, Waste and Biomass
Valorization, 2023, 1-20. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:257797079

2 Partners and study periods

2.1 Supervisors and study periods
• IMT Atlantique: Assoc. Prof. Aurélie Joubert and Prof. Laurence Le Coq, IMT
Atlantique, Nantes, France
The PhD student will stay 2 years at Prof. Le Coq’s lab.

• Industrial partner: _Dr. Marc Henry, Séché R&D, Saint Vulbas, France
The PhD student will stay 9 months at Dr. Henry’s lab.

• International partner(s): The PhD student will stay 3 months at a European

academic partner working on energy economics.

2.2 Hosting organizations

2.2.1 IMT Atlantique
IMT Atlantique, internationally recognized for the quality of its research, is a leading
French technological university under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Digital
Technology. IMT Atlantique maintains privileged relationships with major national and
international industrial partners, as well as with a dense network of SMEs, start-ups, and
innovation networks. With 290 permanent staff, 2,200 students, including 300 doctoral
students, IMT Atlantique produces 1,000 publications each year and raises 18€ million in
research funds.

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2.2.2 Séché Environnement
Séché Environnement is an important industrial player in waste management, including
the handling of the most complex and hazardous waste, as well as environmental services,
particularly in cases of environmental emergencies. With expertise in creating circular
economy loops, decarbonisation, and hazard control, the group has been contributing to
the ecological transition of industries and regions, as well as the protection of ecosystems, for
nearly 40 years. As a French family-owned industrial group, Séché Environnement deploys
cutting-edge technologies developed by its R&D in different worldwide regions, with over
120 facilities in 15 countries, including around fifty industrial sites in France.
During their stay at the Séché Environnement the PhD student will probably be hosted
at its research Center located in the east of Lyon and at the Trédi Salaise site located south
of Lyon.