(91g) On-Site Electricity Generation Using Trashology's Pur-Gen Technology

Current waste management practices are one-dimensional and follow a singular approach regardless of waste stream composition, geographical location, and source-residential, commercial, or industrial. Traditional waste management for municipal solid waste disposal in a landfill is logistically inefficient, has limited capacity, and releases biogas and leachates. Long-term, this approach is not sustainable and detrimental to the environment.

Trashology is a waste-to-energy company currently focused on converting solid waste to electricity on-site at the point of generation providing electricity behind-the-meter in a distributed manner. With applications for the military operating in remote locations and commercial/industrial entities seeking to attain ESG goals, reduce waste disposal costs, and reduce utility costs, Trashology’s goal is to eliminate the negative impacts associated with solid waste disposal. Trashology’s technology consists of 3 main components – Solid Waste Preprocessing, Gasification, and Electricity Generation – and is controlled by a fully automated PLC that operates with minimal human intervention. The gasifier can process 2-4 tons/day of solid waste in a patented air-blown downdraft gasifier to produce syngas that is suitable for combustion in a genset for electricity generation. The major issue surrounding solid waste gasification has been tar production and management. The use of a bubble column to remove tar from the syngas has been demonstrated and shown to be highly effective.

The major factors influencing where on-site waste-to-energy makes logical and economic sense, the function of each component with a focus on its impact on syngas quality and clean-up, results from major demonstrations with real solid waste from Fort Jackson (Columbia, SC) and simulated waste per Army Corps of Engineers formulation requirements, emissions profile, fate of pollutants, process simulations and economics, and process development beyond electricity will be presented.