Proprietary plasma gasification process converts municipal solid waste to synthetic gas for engines driving electrical cogeneration plants and other applications FOXBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, USA - January 3, 2007 - Invensys Process Systems has been selected by Plasco Energy Group to supply a mesh network-based Foxboro I/A Series distributed control system (DCS) to be used in Plasco's proprietary modular Plasma Gasification Process (PGP). The Foxboro DCS will provide process and facility control in the Plasco PGP, a non-incineration thermal decomposition process, which breaks down municipal solid waste (MSW) into simple components such as hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide.
The sealed, highly efficient process uses heat from plasma arc generators and - without emissions - produces synthetic fuel gases, steam, and an inert solid slag byproduct, which can be used as light aggregate for concrete, roadway paving and in various industrial products. The I/A Series systems will control the PGP converters and gas quality management modules, enabling the process to produce a consistent quality, environmentally friendly synthetic gas. This gas can fuel engines for direct generation of electricity. Exhaust heat from the engines, along with steam from the PGP process itself, can also drive steam turbines in a combined-cycle electrical generation plant, for which Foxboro controls will also be utilized.
Typically, nearly all of the electricity produced in such a system is available for local use or sale into the distribution grid, with only a small portion required to operate the process. The scalable Plasco PGP energy recovery solution can help businesses and municipalities consume thousands of tons of solid waste annually. The Plasco PGP process design and Foxboro control systems are modular, allowing the combined-cycle generation plant to be expanded incrementally to suit MSW disposal and power needs.
About Plasco Energy Group Inc. Plasco Energy Group, Inc (Plasco) was formed from two companies, RCL Plasma, Inc. and Plasco Energy Corp. The two companies employed RCL's patented Plasma Gasification Process (PGP) to treat waste or condition certain fuels, including coal gasification. Plasco is a private Canadian high-technology firm federally incorporated in 2005.
It has invented, developed and patented processes using plasma arc technology for the environmentally sound conversion of waste to heat and energy-rich gas and the cost effective generation of electricity. Plasco has a demonstration facility in Castelgalli, Spain, in conjunction with its environmental management partner HERA Holding of Spain.
About Invensys
Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys' automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world's largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. The Invensys Group is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.