The key parts of this project that make converting waste into diesel possible are the catalyst -- which contains silicon, aluminum and sodium -- and the turbine, which spins at 3,000 rpm.

The turbine, unlike most pumps and mixers, is designed to handle all liquids, solids and vapor and do so at a relatively high temperature for rotating machinery, Goff said. Most pumps and mixers handle only liquids or a mix of liquid and solids while compressors handle vapors, but this turbine reactor is a pump, a mixer and a reactor that can work well with all matter, he said.

The turbine "concept and overall design are unique," Cosper noted.

Meeting U.S. EPA requirements

Unlike combustion or gasification technologies that require extremely high temperatures -- and large amounts of power -- to break down waste, this project would operate at relatively moderate temperatures, Cosper said. That means less power resources would need to be put into the project.

Another benefit of the lower temperature, Cosper said, is avoiding undesirable chemical reactions that can occur at higher temperatures and produce toxic chemicals.

4 Comments

1. 1. JamesDavis 07:51 AM 1/9/10

   How come this is the first time we have heard about using garbage on a large scale for creating energy to turn turbines instead of large amounts of food crops to turn to gasoline? America has enough garbage that it can burn and turn a million turbines for ever. I am sure it is easier and cheaper to cap the poisionous smoke coming from burning garbage than it is to cap the poisionous smoke coming from coal, oil, and natural gas. America, and especially West Virginia, needs to get its head out of its ass and start looking deeper into bruning garbage to trun turbines to create electricity and stop using coal, oil, and natural gas. The handful of jobs lost from coal and natural gas reduction can be replaced double or triple by burning garbage.

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2. 2. lakota2012 10:22 AM 1/9/10

   Since the U.S. military is the world's largest consumer of energy which includes many types of finite fossil fuels, turning solid waste into diesel, is a step in the right direction and solves two problems in a win/win situation.
   

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3. 3. jgrosay 08:37 AM 1/14/10

   The old technology of Burt-McCollum sleeve-valve engine can accomplish the task of silent, long-lasting, fuel saving and multi-fuel capacity engines for military vehicles, this technology also allows air cooling,that has less breakdowns in environments such as deserts or ice fields. Problem: it is more expensive, heavier and difficult to produce. You can have info on Aircraft Engine Historical Society

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4. 4. )jim(999 01:34 PM 2/1/10

   If good engineering is employed converting trash into oil can be a very good new industry. About 20% of human energy needs could be met from using trash to make oil rather than using landfill disposal for trash. Its not rocket science but it does require good engineering never used to dispose of waste matter. There are many benefits to the environment and economy that can be developed by applying good engineering to the problems trash generates.

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