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| Science & Technology | |
| Turning weeds and trash into gasoline | |
| 2011-07-19 | |
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| Posted by: |
| #10 Fuel spent in hauling trash and tipping fees are not inconsiderable. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2011-07-19 21:37 |
| #9 With this tech, we can finally move one step closer to interstellar generation ships when we'll finally be able to "throw them into the mass converter." |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-07-19 21:27 |
| #8 Barbara, I don't know, but I suspect there is little nor no energy gain. The inputs and outs are money in the form of garbage disposal fees and cheap coal (electricity). The output is expensive liquid fuel. So as long as it makes money, the energy balance is immaterial. |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-07-19 20:54 |
| #7 Yes, thermal depolymerization. Different song, same dance. |
| Posted by: My two cents 2011-07-19 19:54 |
| #6 Damn, maybe I can recoup my lost investment in the turkey guts to good sweet ethel with some cash in this group. |
| Posted by: S 2011-07-19 19:13 |
| #5 This technology has been coming along slowly but steadily. A company plans to begin a demo plant near Palm Beach late this year. If it works right, it will take about 60 tons/day of waste, generate about 20 MW and reduce the waste to about 3 tons each day, of which more than half would be commercially sold. Unfortunately, we are probably at least 5 years away from having a 'winner' technology-wise. Still, it would be a great thing. |
| Posted by: Lord Garth 2011-07-19 19:01 |
| #4 "by plasma torches" Does that not take more energy than it generates, EP? |
| Posted by: Barbara 2011-07-19 16:19 |
| #3 Similar article: Turning garbage into gas Appropriately tweaked, the destruction of organic materials (including paper and plastics) by plasma torches produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen called syngas. That, in turn, can be burned to generate electricity (or fuel). |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-07-19 16:17 |
| #2 I tried, it asked for username and password. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-07-19 16:07 |
| #1 Would love to read the article---but you need a user account to view it. |
| Posted by: abu Chuck al Ameriki 2011-07-19 13:25 |