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Purdue Makes Trash To Electricity Generator

Posted by kdawson on from the mister-fusion dept.

musicon writes "A group of scientists at Purdue University have created a portable refinery that efficiently converts food, paper, and plastic trash into electricity. The machine, designed for the U.S. military, would allow soldiers in the field to convert waste into power. It could also have widespread civilian applications in the future. Researchers tested the first tactical biorefinery prototype in November and found that it produced approximately 90 percent more energy than it consumed."

6 of 250 comments (clear)

  1. Incredible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    So this takes WASTE and turns it into USABLE ELECTRICITY!!?!?! If true, this shit could save the planet a lot of pain. No panacea, but a darn good start.

    1. Re:Incredible by dangitman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      As opposed to the 2-stroke engine in smaller, cheaper generators?

      In don't know, quite possibly. The point is that smaller generators are generally more polluting and less efficient. Being a diesel, and using waste-generated fuel, it probably generates more particulate pollution than your 2-stroke, but saves some fossil fuel and gets rid of some waste.

      But in general, small generators suck, which is why they are only used for emergency and other limited applications.

      No, for that, you'll have a centralized power plant outside the local dump, with all the pollution controls of any other power plant.

      But you'd probably do better by recycling the waste to create other materials, and using sources such as solar and wind for electricity generation. Electricity is not our only demand, materials are also needed. Better to re-use those solid materials when possible than to simply burn it for energy.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    2. Re:Incredible by budgenator · · Score: 2, Interesting

      sure Series 71 810 ftlbs @ 1200 rpm 290 hp governed at 2100 rpm (supercharged & turbocharged/aftercooled), that's some serious power. Detroit Diesel 2-Cycle Engine has video and sound clips of the various engines. Hummm a 2-71 would give you about 80 HP and one interesting and very chopper.

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  2. In this house we obey the laws of thermodynamics! by teletype · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Ok, wait... It produces 90% more energy than it consumes? I didn't RTFA yet, so I'm sure in there, they state that it produces 90% more energy than it takes to run the thing.

    Is this statement predicated on the assumption that the matter being 'converted' to energy does not count toward the amount of energy consumed? Otherwise it's an outright impossibility, no?

  3. Re:Dual Purpose by jimicus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    IIRC emissions is a big problem. You're not quite sure what's going in, so minimising the amount of pollution you chuck out is not easy.

  4. WWII era Wood Gas Generators by rohar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    There were a fairly large number of motor vehicles converted to wood gas during oil shortages in and after WWII.
    FEMA wrote a book in 1989 on how to build your own. I think they had the foresight to realize that the U.S. military will eventually commandeer the available oil supplies again and we can try and figure out how to get to work burning garbage and the trees out of the backyard.
    /* This is not a Hummer. */