Talk-Polywell.org

http://www.controleng.com/article/CA666 ... id=2902681

video:

http://www.s4energysolutions.com/

These guys have been trying to raise capital for this project for a long time. I remember in the late 90's going to a presentation by a guy trying to raise funds for this.

This seems like the perfect waste management technology if coupled with cheap energy - like Polywell.

Has it proven economical anywhere? Wiki says there are a couple of existing plants in Asia and Europe, none in the U.S.

We have a standard incinerator here in Huntsville, AL - all it does is cost twice as much to dispose of your trash if you sign up with the waste companies contracted with them. Well, it also releases dioxins and produces toxic ash that has to be buried. Looks like this new technology solves those problems, which is a plus.

It may be possible to mine garbage dumps if the energy is cheap enough.

MSimon wrote:It may be possible to mine garbage dumps if the energy is cheap enough.

The reason they have to work at such high temps is lower temps puts a lot of dioxins in the exhaust stream. Problem with the high temps is it tends to put a lot of heavy metals into the exhaust stream. Without expensive scrubbing tech, both modes are toxic to the environment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_depolymerization

A competing waste to energy project that recieved some press a few years ago. Apparently they could not quite make a profit, and suffered from some odiferous complications.


Dan Tibbets

D Tibbets wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_depolymerization

A competing waste to energy project that recieved some press a few years ago. Apparently they could not quite make a profit, and suffered from some odiferous complications.


Dan Tibbets

Thermal depolymerization would probably be economic if coupled with waste heat from fission reactors, or even fossil fuel fired plants, for that matter. It would reduce their operating costs considerably, allowing all of the gas generated to be sold, instead of used for production.

It's a shame they blew their shot by placing it so close to a residential area and relying on a 1-source waste supply.

Some people don't like the smell of burning turkeys at night.

This reminds me of a prototype technology that was shown on "Beyond Tomorrow" a while back. Boston area IIRC.

IntLibber wrote:

MSimon wrote:It may be possible to mine garbage dumps if the energy is cheap enough.

The reason they have to work at such high temps is lower temps puts a lot of dioxins in the exhaust stream. Problem with the high temps is it tends to put a lot of heavy metals into the exhaust stream. Without expensive scrubbing tech, both modes are toxic to the environment.

Metals in the exhaust stream sounds like a great opportunity to refine by selective condensation/ plating.