Semiautomated Control System of Microwave Plasma Torch for Waste-to-Energy Treatment

Abstract

Integrating microwave plasma torches (MWPTs) into waste-to-energy systems offers a promising approach to address the challenges of municipal solid waste (MSW) management while enabling efficient energy recovery. However, designing an effective control system for MWPTs is complex and not widely available in current markets. This article presents a novel control system based on a programmable logic controller (PLC), specifically developed to semiautomate the operation of atmospheric MWPT. The system uses a proportional-integral–derivative (PID) control algorithm to precisely regulate the gas flow and plasma conditions, while MODBUS communication technology ensures smooth interaction between components. By addressing key challenges such as unstable plasma ignition and maintaining operational reliability, the proposed system reduces manual intervention, enhances operator safety, and improves scalability for MWPT applications. This work advances the understanding and implementation of automated control in MWPT-based systems, contributing significantly to sustainable waste-to-energy solutions. The proposed solution reduces manual intervention, improves operator safety, and increases the scalability of MWPT applications by addressing important issues such as unstable plasma ignition and maintaining operational reliability. This work contributes significantly to sustainable waste-to-energy solutions by enhancing our understanding and ability to use automated control in MWPT-based systems.