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Dakar² · Feb 7, 2007, 03:52 PM

http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2007a/0...adischBio.html

Scientists develop portable generator that turns trash into electricity

group of scientists 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 and could 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, said Jerry Warner, founder of Defense Life Sciences LLC, a private company working with Purdue researchers on the project. He said the results were better than expected.

The machine produces a very small amount of its own waste, Warner said, mostly in the form of ash that the Environmental Protection Agency has designated as "benign," or non-hazardous. Any leftover materials from the bioreactor are put into the gasifier, which has to be emptied every two to three days.

"It's about enough to fill a regular sized trash bag, and it represents about a 30-to-1 volume reduction," Warner said.

::maroma:: · Feb 7, 2007, 04:00 PM

Wow, it produces 90% more energy than consumed? Thats pretty damn good for converting what otherwise would be rotting in landfills.

I hope this thing takes off. Would be great for everyone to have a small one in their homes, creating your own energy from your waste, cheaply.

Dakar² · Feb 7, 2007, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

Wow, it produces 90% more energy than consumed? Thats pretty damn good for converting what otherwise would be rotting in landfills.

That was actually one of my first thoughts. Could we actually start reducing landfills with this thing?

Doofy · Feb 7, 2007, 04:09 PM

Future: "My house runs on snailmail spam!"

Sweet. Hope this thing takes off.

ghporter · Feb 7, 2007, 04:10 PM

Not at all like "Mr. Fusion," but a good start. Using our waste to do something more than just take up space is a Good Thing in a lot of ways. And let me fill you folks in on "producing electricity in the field." The typical machine the Air Force uses in the field (not an airfield, but out in the boonies like the Army lives) is the size of a small trailer. It uses a "gas turbine" to turn its generator, but that makes it sound a lot cooler than it really is, and it is a "multifuel" device in that it can run on diesel, gasoline or jet fuel, but you have to adjust it properly when you change fuels or it'll blow out. Badly. It's loud, ugly, loud, unreliable and loud. And it stinks. Creating electricity through converting wastes into alcohol and propane/methane would be GREAT!!!

Gossamer · Feb 7, 2007, 04:19 PM

In the town where I live they take all burnable garbage and shred it and feed it into the powerplant to help produce electricity. Definitely not Mr. Fusion, but it helps.

Dakar² · Feb 7, 2007, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Not at all like "Mr. Fusion,"

Not at all? They both run on garbage.

Peder Rice · Feb 7, 2007, 04:26 PM

And giant trash-to-electricity plants are most likely MUCH more efficient than this "little guy", so we probably wouldn't even want to promote future home-friendly waste disposal. It would be better to just build more trash incinerators.

Gossamer · Feb 7, 2007, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Not at all? They both run on garbage.

Well in that case fusion is so easy Even a Caveman Could Do It®

::maroma:: · Feb 7, 2007, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

Well in that case fusion is so easy Even a Caveman Could Do It®

How dare you!

Dakar² · Feb 7, 2007, 04:38 PM

Now I've lost my appetite.

ghporter · Feb 7, 2007, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Not at all? They both run on garbage.

They gave the impression in BTTF that Mr. Fusion converted ANYTHING into energy - Doc poured an old beer in, and then dropped the can in too. If we could go for direct conversion, we'd have it all-we could dig up old landfills and just dump the crap into the hopper-bingo! almost free power.

Dakar² · Feb 7, 2007, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

They gave the impression in BTTF that Mr. Fusion converted ANYTHING into energy - Doc poured an old beer in, and then dropped the can in too. If we could go for direct conversion, we'd have it all-we could dig up old landfills and just dump the crap into the hopper-bingo! almost free power.

I think you're being a little too specific here. Is there some other famous movie technology this resembles you'd prefer?

::maroma:: · Feb 7, 2007, 04:47 PM

Can this thing power a time machine? I think not.

Dakar² · Feb 7, 2007, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

Can this thing power a time machine? I think not.

Give me proof it can't.

::maroma:: · Feb 7, 2007, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Give me proof it can't.

Touché

Gossamer · Feb 7, 2007, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by ::maroma::

Can this thing power a time machine? I think not.

You don't think a Mr. Fusion can produce the required 1.21 jiggawatts?

Dakar² · Feb 7, 2007, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

1.21 jiggawatts?

Jigga what?

gumby5647 · Feb 9, 2007, 01:04 PM

you're not thinking 4th dimensionally!!

besson3c · Feb 9, 2007, 01:37 PM

Mr. Fusion is different because it worked with a Flex Capacitor.

sek929 · Feb 9, 2007, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Mr. Fusion is different because it worked with a Flux Capacitor.

Fixed™

Dakar² · Feb 9, 2007, 02:14 PM

I suspect he did it wrong on purpose.

sek929 · Feb 9, 2007, 02:18 PM

I suspect you're a jerk...

Sorry, it's Friday and I get a little antsy before I start drinking

Dakar² · Feb 9, 2007, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

I suspect you're a jerk...

Way to go, Sherlock Holmes.

sek929 · Feb 9, 2007, 02:20 PM

Heh, BTW, awesome sig Dak.

Dakar² · Feb 9, 2007, 02:21 PM

Thanks, Se.

Big Mac · Feb 9, 2007, 02:52 PM

Agreed.

It sounds like cool technology. Hopefully we'll see consumer applications of it within a decade.

olePigeon · Feb 9, 2007, 03:08 PM

There's an equally cool machine from Aqua Sciences that extracts moisture from air, they're called "air wells." The concept isn't new, but these guys have done a superb job at refining the process. They have several machines that can extract up to 1,200 gallons of water per day, depending on humidity and moisture content.

Often, deserts are humid, but dry. You could place several of these machines in areas like in Iraq and reduce the cost of getting water to where it's needed. They can reduce the cost by nearly 90%.

nonhuman · Feb 9, 2007, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

There's an equally cool machine from Aqua Sciences that extracts moisture from air, they're called "air wells." The concept isn't new, but these guys have done a superb job at refining the process. They have several machines that can extract up to 1,200 gallons of water per day, depending on humidity and moisture content.

Often, deserts are humid, but dry. You could place several of these machines in areas like in Iraq and reduce the cost of getting water to where it's needed. They can reduce the cost by nearly 90%.

I assume it's something other than a big condenser?

G Barnett · Feb 9, 2007, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

There's an equally cool machine from Aqua Sciences that extracts moisture from air, they're called "air wells." The concept isn't new, but these guys have done a superb job at refining the process. They have several machines that can extract up to 1,200 gallons of water per day, depending on humidity and moisture content.

Often, deserts are humid, but dry. You could place several of these machines in areas like in Iraq and reduce the cost of getting water to where it's needed. They can reduce the cost by nearly 90%.

Great. Once you get started with the moisture farming, it's only a short step to a couple vagabond droids showing up at your doorstep, your nephew running off with the old hermit in the hills and stormtroopers reducing you to charred bones.

olePigeon · Feb 9, 2007, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

I assume it's something other than a big condenser?

A condenser takes in water vapor and turns it back into water. It is not very efficient and it certainly doesn't work very well (if at all) on air where water density is in parts per billion. Certainly not be able to produce almost a gallon of water every minute.

This device can take in the ambient air moisture and turn it into water. I would imagine there's a condenser in there as part of the process after the water has been extracted.

Aqua Sciences, Inc.

nonhuman · Feb 9, 2007, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

A condenser takes in water vapor and turns it back into water. It is not very efficient and it certainly doesn't work very well (if at all) on air where water density is in parts per billion. Certainly not be able to produce almost a gallon of water every minute.

This device can take in the ambient air moisture and turn it into water. I would imagine there's a condenser in there as part of the process after the water has been extracted.

They need to start making those commercially. It would be awesome in the summer: dehumidify your home and cut your water bill.