THERMAL SCIENCE
International Scientific Journal
Find this paper on
THERMODYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM MODELING OF THE THERMAL PLASMA GASIFICATION PROCESS USING ASPEN PLUS
ABSTRACT
Aspen Plus has become one of the most widely used process modeling and simulation tools in both academia and industry. Studies conducted with the Aspen Plus simulator have been widely applied to various technologies and feedstocks. This paper summarizes the advances and highlights the importance of Aspen Plus in the development of thermodynamic equilibrium models for the plasma gasification process and modeling approaches, presents the modeling of thermodynamic equilibrium systems using the Aspen Plus simulator, and reviews the models developed in the literature, focusing on non-stoichiometric equilibrium models. The literature review highlights the innovations in recently developed models and the impact of key operating parameters such as temperature, equivalence ratio, gasification medium selection, plasma power, and steam-to-feedstock ratio on gasification process performance.
KEYWORDS
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2025-12-14
PAPER REVISED: 2026-02-15
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2026-02-23
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 2026-03-07
DOI REFERENCE: https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI251218028A
CITATION EXPORT: view in browser or download as text file
REFERENCES
[1] Okati, A., et al., Optimizing the Operating Conditions for Hydrogen-Rich Syngas Production in a Plasma Co-Gasification Process of Municipal Solid Waste and Coal Using Aspen Plus, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 47 (2022), 63, pp. 26891-26900
[2] Mazzoni, L., et al., A Comparison of Energy Recovery from MSW Through Plasma Gasification and Entrained Flow Gasification, Energy Procedia, 142 (2017), Dec., pp. 3480-3485
[3] Tavares, R., et al., A Theoretical Study on Municipal Solid Waste Plasma Gasification, Waste Manag., 90 (2019), May, pp. 37-45
[4] ***, The Renewable Energy Directive, https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-directive-targets-and-rules/renewable-energy-directive_en
[5] timeline-for-renewable-energy-in-the-eu
[6] Shayan, E., et al., Hydrogen Production from Biomass Gasification; A Theoretical Comparison of Using Different Gasification Agents, Energy Convers. Manag., 159 (2018), Mar., pp. 30-41
[7] Favas, J., et al., Hydrogen Production Using Plasma Gasification with Steam Injection, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 42 (2017), 16, pp. 10997-11005
[8] Okati, A., et al., Parametric Studies Over a Plasma Co-Gasification Process of Biomass and Coal Through a Restricted Model in Aspen Plus, Fuel, 331 (2023), Part 2, 125952
[9] Sikarwar, V. S., et al., Progress in Waste Utilization via Thermal Plasma, Prog. Energy Combust. Sci., 81 (2020), 100873
[10] Minutillo, M., et al., Modelling and Performance Analysis of an Integrated Plasma Gasification Combined Cycle (IPGCC) Power Plant, Energy Convers. Manag., 50 (2009), 11, pp. 2837-2842
[11] Janajreh, I., et al., Plasma Gasification Process: Modeling, Simulation and Comparison with Conventional Air Gasification, Energy Convers. Manag., 65 (2013), Jan., pp. 801-809
[12] Ajorloo, M., et al., Recent Advances in Thermodynamic Analysis of Biomass Gasification: A Review on Numerical Modelling and Simulation, J. Energy Inst., 102 (2022), Jan., pp. 395-419
[13] Ferreira, S., et al., A Holistic Review on Biomass Gasification Modified Equilibrium Models, Energies, 12 (2019), 1, pp. 1-31
[14] Safarian, S., et al., A Review of Biomass Gasification Modelling, Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 110 (2019), Dec., pp. 378-391
[15] Ramos, A., et al., Numerical Approaches and Comprehensive Models for Gasification Process: A Review, Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 110 (2019), Dec., pp. 188-206
[16] Oliveira, M., et al., A Review on Plasma Gasification of Solid Residues: Recent Advances and Developments, Energies, 15 (2022), 4, pp. 1-21
[17] Kushwah, A., et al., Modelling Approaches for Biomass Gasifiers: A Comprehensive Overview, Sci. Total Environ., 834 (2022), 155243
[18] Mutlu, O. C., Zeng, T., Challenges and Opportunities of Modeling Biomass Gasification in Aspen Plus: A Review, Chem. Eng. Technol., 43 (2020), 9, pp. 1674-1689
[19] Haydary, J., Chemical Process Design and Simulation: Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS Applications, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, USA, 2019
[20] Okati, A., et al., Numerical Modeling of Plasma Gasification Process of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Wastes, Energy Reports, 7 (2021), May, pp. 270-285
[21] Mazzoni, L., Janajreh, I., Plasma Gasification of Municipal Solid Waste with Variable Content of Plastic Solid Waste for Enhanced Energy Recovery, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 42 (2017), 30, pp. 19446-19457
[22] Hu, Y., et al., A Multi-Stage Co-Gasification System of Biomass and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) for High Quality Syngas Production, Energy, 221 (2021), 119639
[23] Tungalag, A., et al., Yield Prediction of MSW Gasification Including Minor Species Through ASPEN Plus Simulation, Energy, 198 (2020), 117296
[24] Chen, H., et al., Performance Assessment of a Novel Medical-Waste-to-Energy Design Based on Plasma Gasification and Integrated with a Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Plant, Energy, 245 (2022), 123156
[25] Milic, J., et al., The Socio-Economic Impact Timeline in Serbia for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Sci. Total Environ., 688 (2019), Oct., pp. 486-493
[26] Zhang, Q., et al., Performance Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Gasification with Steam in a Plasma Gasification Melting Reactor, Appl. Energy, 98 (2012), Oct., pp. 219-229
[27] Sharma, A. K., Equilibrium Modeling of Global Reduction Reactions for a Downdraft (Biomass) Gasifier, Energy Convers. Manag., 49 (2008), 4, pp. 832-842
[28] Pan, P., et al., Design and Evaluation of a Conceptual Waste-to-Energy Approach Integrating Plasma Waste Gasification with Coal-Fired Power Generation, Energy, 238 (2022), 121947
[29] Basu, P., Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction: Practical Design and Theory, 2nd ed., Elsevier, London, UK, 2013
© 2026 Society of Thermal Engineers of Serbia. Published by the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International licence


