http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJMET 216 editor@iaeme.com International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJM ) ET Volume 10, Issue 11, November 2019, pp. 216-231, Article ID: IJM _1 11_020 ET 0_ Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJMET?Volume=10&Issue=11 ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359 © IAEME Publication EVALUATION OF PYROLYSIS OIL FROM PLASTIC AND SOLID WASTE BIOMASS Maroa Semakula, Prof Freddie Inambao School of Mechanical Engineering University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9922-5434 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4777-7197 ABSTRACT The main aim of this work was to design, fabricate and evaluate the performance of a small-scale solid waste pyrolysis waste converter reactor. The system s main ’ components were the furnace housing assembly, the reactor assembly, the piping system, the heat exchanger assembly (cooling condenser) and the collection system. The entire system is stainless steel due to its stability at high temperatures, with the reactor holding a capacity of 440.48 kg/weight of waste solids. After design and fabrication, the reactor equipment was subjected to extensive practical performance testing each waste plastic and other solid biomass feedstock three times. The furnace and reactor temperature were controlled at 200 ℃ to 700 ℃ depending on the feedstock for 2 hrs at a constant rate increase of 20 ℃. The results obtained with the equipment showed a functional experimental conversion efficiency of 83.6 %, waste reduction efficiency of 86.6 %, and an oil recovery level of 845 ml/kg of waste. Keywords: Waste converter reactor, Heat exchanger, Practical performance, Reactor temperature Cite this Article: Maroa Semakula, Freddie Inambao, Evaluation of Pyrolysis Oil from Plastic and Solid Waste Biomass. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology 10(11), 2019, pp. 216-231. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJMET?Volume=10&Issue=11 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Due to the increase in energy consumption of fossil fuels as shown in Figure 1 [1], and the continued depletion of natural energy sources in recent years, the research community has focused on energy usage with the objective of improving efficiency and co-combustion and developing renewable energy sources which this research and work is focused on. One such source is waste biomass such as plastic waste, waste tyres, wood and other solid waste which can produce fuel as a result of pyrolysis.