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ACHEIVING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH SOLID WASTE?

ACHEIVING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH SOLID WASTE? . POLICY DESCRIPTION. Ensuring our energy independence by converting forms of solid waste into valuable sources of oil, while at the same time having a positive impact on the environment. .

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ACHEIVING ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH SOLID WASTE?

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  1. ACHEIVING ENERGY INDEPENDENCETHROUGH SOLID WASTE?

  2. POLICY DESCRIPTION • Ensuring our energy independence by converting forms of solid waste into valuable sources of oil, while at the same time having a positive impact on the environment.

  3. 1) Finding an alternative source of oil in order to reduce the effects of a 25% reduction of oil imports. 2) Finding this source without adversely impacting the environment. 3) Finding a procedure which is cost efficient and technologically feasible. 4) Receiving approval from affected infrastructures (i.e. petroleum companies and governmental agencies). Problems to be Addressed

  4. 1) In the somewhat near future this could be a potential for an alternative source of oil. However, If we were to lose 25% of or oil imports tomorrow this would not be a viable alternative. 2) Not only would this process move us closer to energy independence but it would also have a positive effect on the environment and health of the general population. 3) This new technology is not only supported by local, state and federal agencies but is also supported by oil companies. 4) The process of turning solid waste into a viable source of oil is affordable and technologically feasible. CONCLUSIONS

  5. Definitions • Solid Waste: Non-liquid, non-soluble materials ranging from municipal garbage to industrial wastes that contain complex and sometimes hazardous substances. Solid wastes also include sewage sludge, agricultural refuse, demolition wastes, and mining residues. Technically, solid waste also refers to liquids and gases in containers. 1 • Biomass: The total mass of living matter within a given unit of environmental area. or Plant material, vegetation, or agricultural waste used as a fuel or energy source. 2

  6. Definitions (2) • Municipal Solid Waste:Common garbage or trash generated by industries, businesses, institutions, and homes. • Feedstock: The raw materials being supplied, or fed into a manufacturing process to make a valuable product. • Hydrocarbon: Any class of compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon. • Organic Material: Compounds made with Carbon. • British Thermal Unit (BTU): The quantity of heat required to raise the temp of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit

  7. History and Background Of SOLID WASTE

  8. PRE-CITY Prior to densely populated urban centers people’s waste consisted of mainly organic materials which they burned, used as fertilizers or as feed for livestock. Some early communities were unable to use their waste. These communities would create a garbage pile and when it became an issue they would simply move. The Early City The problem of what to do with waste presented itself as people started moving into cities. Due to the risk to health and safety, dumping of waste in streets or yards had to be discontinued. The citizens of urban centers started to dump the waste in the countryside. Early History of Solid Waste

  9. CURRENTLY . . . • Dumping practices of old still exist. However, since space to dump is limited landfills have become the modern dumping mechanism. • As of 1999 61% of US solid waste was disposed of in landfills. • The waste that is disposed of today consist of materials that our ancestors could not have dreamed of ( i.e. cleaning solutions, fertilizers and paint). These materials pose serious risk to public health and safety as they contaminate our water sources. • Because the space for landfills is limited, the prices for disposal of waste have increased. • New technologies and recycling could mitigate current landfill problems.

  10. Municipal Solid Waste

  11. What is Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)? MSW includes things like. . . Grass clippings, newspapers, paints, batteries, furniture, appliances (basically anything people consider “garbage”)

  12. HOW MUCH MSW DO WE CREATE? • As of 1999 the U.S. (businesses and residents) produced over 230 million tons of MSW. • This statistic breaks down to 4.6 pounds of waste per day per person. • This figure is almost double that of the 1960 figures (2.6 pounds per day per person).

  13. 1) Source Reduction Alternation of use, design or manufacturing of a product (i.e. double sided copying) Most preferred strategy 2) Recycling Certain items (i.e. glass and paper) are sorted and then resold. Controls the amount of waste that enters the waste stream 3) Composting Decomposes organic waste with microorganisms . 4) Combustion Although combustion of MSW can form a source of energy the air emissions create environmental risk 5) Landfills Governed by RCRA Regulated primarily by state/local governments Although there are fewer landfills remaining, the capacity of landfills have been maintained. HOW IS MSW CURRENTLY DEALT WITH?

  14. Waste to Energy Plants • WTE plants dispose of MSW and create electricity in the process • 1998 figures suggest that 17% of the U.S.’s MSW was burned for this purpose. • These facilities can reduce MSW by 90%, however the emissions from these plants have negative environmental impacts. As a result of these impacts these facilities are strictly regulated by the EPA.

  15. HOW DO WE TURN WASTE IN TO OIL? THERMO-DEPOLYMERIZATION PROCESS (TDP)

  16. What is TDP? “TDP copies the geological and geothermal processes of nature. The technology emulates what occurs daily in the earth’s subduction zones, but uses an accelerated process combining water, temperature and pressure in a totally contained environment. The Thermo-Depolymerization and Chemical Reforming Process converts hydrocarbon and organic materials into clean fuels and specialty chemicals.”

  17. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TDP (1)

  18. Who is Responsible for TDP (2) • TDP was invented by an Illinois microbiologist by the name of Baskis. • He developed the TDP by improving upon other waste-reforming technologies. • He sold the patents to CWT in 1996 and in 1999 the first prototype was built in PA.

  19. HOW DOES TDP WORK (1)? 1st: The feedstock (waste) is fed into a hopper. 2nd: The waste goes to the mixing tank where it is mixed with water to form a slurry.

  20. HOW DOES TDP WORK (2) 3rd: The slurry is placed under pressure and heated in the TDP. • During the 1st stage the slurry is place under 750 psi of pressure at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. During the second stage the pressure is reduced to 25 to 50 psi and the temperature is raised to 1,000 degrees. • This rapid depressurization separates 90% of the slurry’s water. The water is then sent back up through the pipes to the beginning to heat the incoming stream. • At this state the minerals from the waste settle and are sent to storage and are latter used for fertilizer

  21. HOW DOES TDP WORK (3) 4th: The rest of the slurry is sent into a reactor where it is heated to break a part its molecular chains. 6th: The oil, gas and water are separated in vertical distillation columns (Similar to a refiner). • Water is separated from the oils and carbon • The gas produced is used on-site to heat the process

  22. HOW DOES TDP WORK (4) • Depending on the feedstock the TDP process can be altered in order to produce certain specialty chemicals (i.e. fatty acids for soap) • Different waste requires different heating and cooking times but anything (except nuclear waste) can be used for feedstock.

  23. HOW DOES TDP WORK (5)?

  24. Food Industry Crop residuals, poultry plant waste, slaughterhouse waste Petroleum, Coal, Shale & Tar Sand industries Processes waste from bottom of tanks, heavy crude oil, coal and shale and tar sands Paper and Pulping Eliminates the “black liquor” problem Plastics Converts PVC, HDPE and mixed plastics Tires and Rubber Tire industries waste includes: scraps, oil, plastics, wood and steel Hazardous Waste Instead of incineration the harmful materials are destroyed through TDP Medical Infectious Waste Kills bacteria, viruses and other pathogens MSW Take the nonvaluable recyclables and processes them What Type of Waste Can the TDP Process?

  25. What is produced (1)? • Hydrocarbon Oils: • Typical elements of the oil produced consists of Cyclohexane (i.e paint remover), Methylethyl Benzene (i.e. rubber and waxes), Toluene (i.e. solvent for manufacturing of explosives). And Cyclopropane. The oil can be broken down into these separate elements • It is a high value crude oil product which refiners, fuel blenders and boiler operations are potential markets. • Gas • Fuel gas (methane, propane and butane) with sufficient BTU levels to operate turbines or boilers in order to create electricity or steam.

  26. What is produced (2)? • Solid/Minerals • Minerals produced are valuable fertilizers for the agriculture industry • Fatty Acid Oils • These will be obtained from agriculture and forestry feedstock • They can be used for such things as soap, lubricants and rubber products • Solid/Carbon • Used as a filter or fuel source

  27. What is Produced (3) TDP Produced Oil Premium

  28. FYI -- Production Capabilities • If all of the agricultural waste, in the US, was processed by TDP, the production output would be the equivalent of 4 billion barrels of oil/year ! • US OIL IMPORTS = 4.2 BARRELS (2001)

  29. DOLLAR and CENTS

  30. Dollar and Cents (1) • The estimated cost of the 1st commercial TDP site is $15 million dollars. • The operational cost are minimal because • 1) It is a closed system so no environmental clean up cost • 2) The process creates its own gas to power the operation. • Keep in mind that the end product is marketable.

  31. Dollar and Cents (2)****EPA and DOE Grants**** • EPA awarded a grant of $5 million for the first commercial scale site. • Department of Energy awarded a $7 million grant for the site

  32. FYI- Oil Production Costs • According to the inventor of TDP, Oil could be produced at $8-$12/Barrel.

  33. ENVIRONMENTAL BONUSES

  34. Environmental Bonuses (1) • Water is the only waste from the system (discharged into the city sewage). • Energy efficiency is 85% (for every 100 Btus in the feedstock the process only uses 15 to run) • Does not use combustion therefore the process does not emit harmful pollutants such as dioxins.

  35. Environmental Bonuses (2) • Reduces the need to dispose of harmful materials. • Helps reduce the problems associated with landfills. • TDP can be used to clean coal prior to combustion. It does this by reducing sulfur content and eliminating mercury. Also, Methane and Propane will be extracted from the coal. • By recycling waste TDP reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.

  36. This new technology will work together with the petroleum infrastructure CTW will need petroleum companies to refine the oil TDP produces. Transportation of the oil would be handled by the existing petroleum industries. Currently there are discussions taking place with petroleum companies for joint ventures “The TDP bridges the gap between the petroleum industry and the renewable energy sector by providing a new source of clean, high quality oils that will supplement dwindling oil reserves.” Effects on the Petroleum Infrastructure

  37. Permitting • For the purposes of permitting the plants are not treated as waste treatment facilities rather they are treated as manufacturers. • Since no combustion takes place inside the plant there is no pollution. Because of this the plants receive a solid waste permit waiver.

  38. U.S. PETROLEUM FLOW

  39. TDP PLANTS • There is currently one pilot plant operating in Philadelphia. • This facility currently processes agricultural waste. • The first commercial scale plant is currently under construction.

  40. Butterball Turkey PlantCarthage Missouri: 1st Commercial Scale Plant.

  41. HOW DID IT ALLCOME ABOUT (1)? • ConAgra and Changing World Technologies teamed up and formed Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC (RES) • RES was formed in order to process agricultural waste and low-value streams. • RES holds the patent for the agriculture TDP process.

  42. How Did It All Come About (2)? • With the waste disposal problem, at facilities like the Butterball Turkey Plant, this seemed like a good venture for ConAgra. • The cost and health risks associated with disposal of animal waste can become a huge risk for a food company. • Most food processing plants take the waste and use it as feed for the livestock. This can cause such things as mad cow disease and foot and mouth disease. • As you may remember, last year ConAgra had a major nationwide recall on some of its beef.

  43. BACKGROUND • ConAgra’s Butterball Turkey plant in Carthage Missouri is the first commercial TDP facility. • Construction started on July 28, 2001. • It was projected to open in the Fall of 2002. • The project has not yet been completed. • The new projection is that it will open in late April of 2003. • Everyday that the plant is not in operation it is costing ConAgra a considerable amount of money.

  44. INPUT Fats Bones Feathers Cartilage OUTPUT Oil Very high grade oil: TDP-40 is what the company is calling it. The 40 stands indicates the weight of the oil. Gases High Quality Fertilizers Specialty Chemicals INPUT AND OUTPUT FROM THE BUTTERBALL TURKEY PLANT

  45. End Product Distribution • 75% Oil • 15% Fuel-Gas • 10% Carbon and Minerals

  46. Quantity of End Product • Simple Mathematics • The Butterball Turkey Plant produces 200 tons of waste a day. • 75% of that can be converted into oil = 150 tons • First, take 150 x 2000 pounds = 300,000 lbs • Next, take 300,000/7 (lbs per gal of oil) = 42,857.14 • Then, take 42,857.14/42 (Gal per Barrel) = 1020.41 Barrels/day • Finally take 1020.41 x 365 = 372,449.65 barrels/yr

  47. What if we lose 25% of our Oil imports? • The U.S. imports approximately 11.5 million barrels of oil a day. • 25% of 11.5 million is 2,876,712 barrels/day • 2,876,712 x 365 = 1,003,750,000 barrels/year • 1,050,000,000/372,449.65 (plants production/yr)=2,819 • That means that we would need approximately 2,819 plants with as much output as the Butterball Turkey plant to cover the 25% reduction

  48. Future Plant Sites 1) Fernley Nevada 2) Enterprise Alabama 3) Athens Georgia 4) Longmount Colorado RES has started negotiations for a 200 ton/day plant in Italy. The Philadelphia pilot plant has recently been approved to process tires, plastics, sludges and MSW. EPA/DOE grants have been given for the Alabama and Nevada sites totaling $7 million. THE FUTRUE OF TDP

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