Sounds impossible? Not so according to Mike Hart, owner of Sierra Energy. He has been experimenting for several years trying to convert food waste into useable biogas without any involvement of combustion. And now he has developed a machine which can convert any waste product like food waste, e-waste or others into syngas or synthetic gas, which is composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The device, a waste gasifier the size of a shower stall, is an advanced version of a blast furnace. The syngas can be used for the production of electricity or ethanol and diesel fuel.
To check whether this device can be used on a commercial level, the United States Army has placed an order for it. Since ethanol is one of the best forms of alternative fuel, if this machine does what its owner claims, then it means a huge boast in the economy. The production of ethanol is mostly dependent upon soybean and corn which has raised the food’s consumer prices. This worry would also be elevated if the waste gasifier becomes a commercial success.
According to Mr. Hart, the FastOx gasifier is ideal for any system. If the product becomes commercial, then garbage will turn into a commodity. The problem right now is that the machine consumes a lot of oil and that is what the Army is trying to correct.
It has been estimated that with the help of this gasifier, electricity will be produced by the end of this year and tested in Calif’s Monterey County training base camp. It would further be used for the production of fuel in 2014.
Mr. Hart theorized that if US states start using the FastOx gasifier for the conversion of waste into clean fuels, they can easily manage all their oil consumption needs and also export excess fuel. The best part about this advanced machine is that it produces fuel on site, meaning there are no transportation charges. It can be inserted in the place where there is waste and used. This does two things in one go; it resolves the issue of high piling garbage and also produces fuel in the process.
Many consultants and technicians, who have seen this machine state that it does work. John Conger, the acting deputy under secretary of defense for installations and the environment, agreed saying that the device could work in case of a blackout. He also said that the system is cost effective.
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