Innovative valorization of waste tire by integrating pyrolysis with steam Rankine cycle, multi-generation, and desalination : novel process design, simulation and comprehensive analysis

Abstract

Waste tire pyrolysis has gained attention as a promising solution for the sustainable management of discarded tires, yet existing designs often overlook efficient exhaust gas treatment and waste heat recovery. To fill this gap, this study designed and simulated an integrated process using Aspen Plus combining waste tire pyrolysis with combined cooling, heat, and power, a Steam Rankine Cycle (SRC), desalination, and monoethanolamine (MEA)-based carbon capture system. The results indicate that the energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of the process are 48.76% and 51.5%, respectively. The techno-economic analysis suggests that government agencies should provide subsidies of at least 38.43 $/ton of waste to achieve positive net present value. Additionally, it is possible to increase the selling price of pyrolysis oil to 0.488 $/kg or reduce the purchase price of waste tires or hydrogen to 0.077 $/kg, 1.591$/kg, respectively, for the proposed process to achieve positive returns within 20 years. These findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed system to enhance both the energy utilization and economic viability of waste tire pyrolysis.