Integrated Optimization Framework for a RF-ICP Plasma-Based System for Solid Waste Treatment

Waste management remains a major challenge worldwide, as rapidly expanding urban populations put greater pressure on traditional disposal methods such as landfilling and incineration. Plasma-based waste treatment offers an innovative, sustainable waste-to-energy solution capable of converting a wide range of waste types. Although plasma technologies provide significant environmental benefits, such as greatly reducing waste volume and emissions compared to conventional approaches, their widespread adoption faces notable economic hurdles. Primary among these is high operational cost due to system inefficiencies. These costs mainly arise from energy losses within the plasma torch, energy consumed during plasma torch tuning with the plasma reactor, and power inefficiencies when processing unsuitable waste loads. These issues not only increase costs but also impact process stability, which can influence stakeholder support and the technology’s commercial potential. Optimizing the process through simulation presents an effective approach to overcoming this inefficiency. However, relying solely on these advanced tools can be time-consuming and requires substantial domain expertise, creating a bottleneck in design and optimization. This paper introduces a new integrated platform combining COMSOL Multiphysics v6.2, Ansys Fluent 2024 R1, and Aspen Plus v12.1 to address these challenges. Using a genetic algorithm, the platform automates the complex task of designing an optimal plasma torch, optimizes it for peak performance, and dynamically adjusts plasma conditions. This intelligent optimization system aims to maximize energy output and process efficiency, directly tackling key cost-related issues.