PLASMA ARC GASIFICATION

"Sometimes hard rock mining can give the environment a bit of excess acid, in the form of acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage can happen when air and water mingle with various minerals such as iron sulfide (also known as pyrite or Fool’s Gold), creating sulfuric acid. The acid then dissolves other metals and can contaminate drinking water, disrupt the growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals, and even corrode parts of infrastructures such as bridges.
But as our recent research shows, , much like the antacid you take for indigestion after a big meal. Not only that, but it can even reduce acids that have built up in soils." ....
Phosphate is an important nutrient for plants and is a key ingredient in most fertilizers. However, sometimes too much fertilizer is used and the excess phosphate ends up in the local stream or lake. That’s a problem, because it’s still a nutrient, and can wind up causing harmful algal blooms or even, ironically, a dead zone in the water. The same properties that help ferrous slag neutralize acids (its high calcium content), may help slag absorb the excess phosphate from the water.

"David Robau tours the country promoting a system that sounds too good to be true: It devours municipal garbage, recycles metals, blasts toxic contaminants and produces electricity and usable byproducts — all with drastic reductions in emissions.

Mr. Robau, an environmental scientist for the Air Force, has been promoting a method that was developed with the Air Force to dispose of garbage with neither the harmful byproducts of conventional incineration nor the environmental impact of transporting and burying waste. It is one of several innovative techniques that the United States military has been researching to provide alternatives to the open-pit burns that some veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars say have made them ill."

"Achieving vaporization of materials through combustion, plasma gasification can process common household trash, biomedical waste, toxic and chemical waste, plastic, and even batteries or electronic components that cannot be broken down and recycled by other means. ....

The technology is not foreign to the US military. The US Navy already operates a Plasma Arc Waste Destruction System onboard Ford-class aircraft carriers, and the US Air Force has run a plasma power plant since 2010 at Hurlburt Field, Florida."

"The and ever-increasing zeal of humankind to get more acculturate in an urban environment has put more pressure on the available natural resources throughout the world. These resources have accumulated in nature, going through different processes and syntheses in millions of years. Human beings compete with wildlife to get a more massive chunk and convert these available raw resources to suitable usage. It has led to the growing interaction between humans and animals, which are vectors of disease, viruses, and bacteria that were unknown to society to date. Humanity has exploited the animals residing in their natural habitat in the wild and dismantled their habitats, making humans more vulnerable to zoonotic diseases."

https://www.scsengineers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Clark-Rogoff_Economic_Feasibility_of_a_Plasma_Arc_Gasification_Plant_Marion_Iowa.pdf

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/technical-documentation/user-notes/2020-03.html

https://sacramento.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=17&clip_id=1526&meta_id=147973

method resource description operation parameters efficiency reference

steam reforming natural gas, methane, and light hydrocarbons (propane, butane, pentane, and light and heavy naphtha) It includes the catalytic conversion of resources, syngas generation, water–gas shift, and methanation and gas cleaning. Endothermic reaction 74%–85% (13, 26, 28, 29)
Catalytic conversion
High temperature, pressures up to 3.5 MPa
Steam/carbon ratio = 3.5
partial oxidation of hydrocarbons hydrocarbons (methane, heavy oil, and coal) Syngas production, ammonia synthesis, etc. can be done by the partial oxidation process. It is carried out at relatively high temperatures and elevated pressures. Exothermic reaction 60%–75% (13, 27, 30−32)
–950 °C for the catalytic process
–1150–1315 °C for noncatalytic process
–5.5–6 MPa of pressure
pyrolysis biomass Thermochemical conversion of biomass to bio-oil, biocrude, and noncondensable gases such as CO2, CO, H2, and light hydrocarbon gases. –300–650 °C for catalytic process 35%–50% (27, 28, 33, 34)
Lower heating rate and varied feedstock
gasification carbonaceous resources include coal, biomass, and petroleum At high temperatures in the presence of an oxidizing agent, the carbonaceous precursor is converted to syngas that consists of H2 and CO. Endothermic/exothermic reaction 30%–40% (27, 35−39)
Temperature range from 500 to 1300 °C
sub-/supercritical water gasification biomass SCWG converts lignocellulosic biomass into gases above 374 °C and 22.1 MPa. Catalytic SCWG is carried out at 400 °C, while noncatalytic SCWG at 600 °C - (40−47)
Subcritical/near-critical water is carried out at a temperature between 150 °C and 374 °C. Both processes are suitable for wet biomass to convert into H2-rich gas products. Varied residence time, feedstock, and biomass-to-water mass ratio
plasma arc decomposition hydrocarbons Thermal plasma and nonthermal (gliding) plasma is used to decompose hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen. According to a variety of different plasmas and operational conditions, products can show a distribution of results. In thermal plasma, the temperature ranges from 10 000 K to 100 000 K, there is high current (30 A–30 KA), and low voltage (10–100 V) - (48−52)
In nonthermal plasma, electrons have greater temperatures than the gas components (2200–2500 K)
biophotolysis water Photosynthetic microorganisms (cynobacteria and algae) that enable water splitting are used to reduce protons to hydrogen. Anaerobic conditions 10%–11% (27, 53, 54)

Ferredoxin, reduced ferrodoxin, and reverse hydrogenase are important media
biological water–gas shift reaction CO as a carbon source The process is catalyzed by photoheterotrophic bacteria (Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rubrivivax gelatinosus) and carried out at ambient temperature and pressure. Ambient temperature and pressure 100% (near-stoichiometric amount) (54, 55)

Dark media
fermentation carbohydrate-rich materials (glucose, sucrose, starch, etc.) It is divided into three types as dark fermentation, photofermentation, and a combination of dark and photofermentation. Organic wastes are decomposed and converted to hydrogen via microorganisms with or without light being present. The citric acid cycle for photofermentation –60%–80% for dark fermentation (27, 56−60)

Two enzymes, nitrogenase and hydrogenase, are used for the catalytic action in photofermentation –0.1% for photofermentation
In dark fermentation, an acetate-mediated pathway is used for H2 production
solar photovoltaic power sunlight Sunlight is converted to electricity by a combination of an electrolyzer and a photovoltaic cell. Theoretically, a minimum of 1.23 V should be supplied to decompose water to hydrogen 30% (26, 61−67)

wind power wind By using wind energy, water can be electrolyzed, and carbon-neutral hydrogen is generated. Conventional electrolysis system (alkaline electrolysis or AES) is used - (20, 68−70)

hydropower water To produce hydrogen, hydroelectric energy is used for power. Conventional AES system is used - (20, 26, 71, 72)

electrolysis water Water electrolysis system consisting of movement of electrons. Examples of the technologies are alkaline, polymer membrane, and solid oxide electrolyzers. Conventional AES system is used 60%–80% (20, 27, 73−75)

In an AES, 4.49 kWh/m3 of power is required to produce pure hydrogen
aAbbreviations: Supercritical water gasification (SCWG) and alkaline electrolysis systems (AESs).

What is the difference between gasification, Plasma gasification, and Plasma Arc Gasification?

Gasification converts fossil fuel or organic fuel based materials into carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.

Plasma Gasification converts municipal waste (MSW) to a usable synthesis gas (syngas). It is the production of this syngas which makes gasification so different from general gasification.

Plasma Arc gasification has the plasma torch(es) powered by an electric arc which ionizes gas and catalyze organic matter into syngas, with slag (raw materials; including chemicals like hydrogen and ammonia) remaining as a byproduct.

"Plasma = The Fourth State of Matter"

PLASMA = Electrons having enough energy to Atoms leaving _____________________
What is Plasma?

Plasma, in relation to blood, is the colorless fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk, in which corpuscles or fat globules are suspended. Plasma is needed and collected just as blood drawings for patient needs.

Plasma are charged molecules

Plasma Constituents = Electrons, Charged Particles, Free Radicals, Photons, Excited Atoms

The Plasma-Gasification Process:
* Waste Handling
* Plasma Treatment
* Gas Cooling and Cleaning
* Energy Generation or syn Gas Storage

Simply, gasification is a closed loop (no smokestacks) compression process that takes all liquids, gases, and solids, in whatever condition, even most toxic, and has the ability to change them into chemical properties, products, and energies of reuse. Fuels and products such as: Hydrogen, synthetic gas for heating, hydrogen, gasoline, and biofuel for vehicles, and Ammonia. Yes, creates biofuel - gasoline. Gasification creates steam that can be used for direct heating, thereby offering immediate heat to multiple buildings, even warming entire cities.

INERT GAS MELTING WASTE THROUGH ARC TORCHES --> DECOMPOSING STAGE --> EVAPORATING STAGE --> CHEMICAL SEPARATIONS --> [ANY UNBOUND CHEMICALS - WASTE GOES BACK THROUGH PROCESS] --> COMPLETE MATERIALS & CHEMICALS PACKAGED, SOLD, & TRANPORTED

Incinerators burn all the things above, but does not offer any recycling or reforming modes. It is an open loop - meaning emitting, through smokestacks. Though cleaner than past 200 years, incinerators still create toxic ash waste. Incinerators get rid of their toxic ash waste two ways: through smokestacks emissions and through burying solids in landfills and toxic ash waste parks. Covering toxic ash waste does not change

Cost. Great incinerator sales people. But we cannot afford to NOT build and use them. Extraordinary to be able to get rid of landfills.

When cities and towns choose something other than gasification, know that what alternative was chosen was by a business coming to governments with only intention: to sell their product, service, and process.

Best way for governments to behave is be proactive, do research and know what it wants, and then make an announcement for bids. No proposals, no lobbying by businesses. Saves a lot of time, effort, and especially money, as choosing incinerators when gasification has always been available makes it even more costly, not only in financing - money, but air pollution and filling landfills with toxic ash waste.

HYDROGEN
Hydrogen fueled automobiles far outshine batteried electric vehicles as they are less to maintain than gas-fueled and battery-electric, "waste" is only water (no toxic chemical leach or attempt to recycle), not heavy (no heavy battery or water-cooling system), and no slave labor, especially children, used to dig cobalt and lithium.

OIL / SYNGAS
Machinery need oils to stay lubricated. Gasification can possibly fill the need without further drilling for fossils and petroleum.

We will use Plasma Arc Gasification to gasify (melting-evaporation process) trash, toxic chemicals, landfill contents, coal-tar, asphalt, concrete, cement,... Whatever material that cannot be reused in current condition.

"Incinerators use combustion to reduce waste into ash, gas, and heat in a volume proportion of about nine to one. Incineration can handle types of waste deemed too dangerous to store in landfills, including biological and medical refuse. However, the (often toxic) ash produced by incineration and other thermal techniques must be landfilled as well, and in addition to emitting greenhouse gases, other emissions (such as dioxins) pose health and environmental risks. The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), an international alliance of like-minded grassroot groups, points out that incinerators are usually located in poor and rural areas with little political influence – a violation of environmental justice. ....

Plasma arc gasification is the next generation of thermal treatment techniques. By running a high voltage current through a pressurized, inert gas, tremendously high temperatures can be induced (up to 30,000 degree Fahrenheit – three times as hot as the surface of the sun) in an arc of plasma. This arc is capable of obliterating any type of waste – excluding some very rare, high-energy nuclear wastes – and converting them into elementary gases and an obsidian-like slag material. This process is highly exothermic so there is a surplus of energy produced; once the arc is initiated it “pays” for itself and then some.

The emissions from gasification, dubbed syngas, can be converted on-site into hydrogen and other valuable gases for sale. Startech, a leading developer of gasification technology, maintains that the combined sales of the power surplus and hydrogen production would allow plants to profit $15 from each ton of waste processed. This could help mitigate the $1.25 billion currently spent annually on the collection and disposal of {New York} City’s trash (up from $658 million in 2000).

I contacted Joseph Longo, the charismatic CEO of Startech (also the inventor of the trash compactor), to ask what obstacles remain in the way of plasma gasification's widespread acceptance. I hinted at the powerful waste disposal lobby and high construction overhead but he thought the issue was more general than that.

Very sad. Trash compactor Joseph Longo decided to allow other companies to use his plasma technology rather than do its own gasification projects.

"Startech and its executives often talked about the promising plasma technology they had developed, which they claimed used high temperatures to destroy contaminants in a variety of materials, leaving behind recyclable waste and gases for industrial or power uses. ....

The company won a lot of coverage from local and national environmental media over the years, but it was unable to turn a profit, and various filings showed much of its revenue over the years was made by selling exclusive distribution agreements with companies for about $250,000 a piece.

At its height, the company employed about 20 people and had a Wilton headquarters and a Bristol showroom and manufacturing center. It was publicly traded over the counter until the bankruptcy filing.

In 2010, executives of the firm started to leave, including company founder Joseph Longo, who stepped down in December of that year, after an illness. Longo died on April 23, 2011."

MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) research scientist Daniel R. Cohn, wanted to deal with the problem of greenhouse gas emissions. In early 1990's, Cohn, head of the Plasma Technology Division at MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) attempted to use new nuclear fusion technologies. "I wondered if we could find something that would be useful for societal benefit more near-term. We decided to look into an environmental application."

Incineration, releases contaminants into the air through smokestacks. Opposite, Plasma Gasification process, like InEnTec's, completely traps hazardous elements in molten glass while producing a useful feedstock fuel called, "synthesis gas" (syngas). Syngas is transformed mainly into ethanol, methanol, and hydrogen fuels. Whatever is not used gets added to new trash/toxins/waste insuring it is an extremely clean process.
President, CEO, and co-founder InEnTec Jeffrey E. Surma states, "The process is more expensive than throwing trash in a landfill, however, and climate change considerations weren’t a major driver of investment 25 years ago. Back in the early '90s, global warming was more of an academic pursuit."

"Hydrogen is a key product focus for InEnTec, which hopes to produce inexpensive, fuel cell–grade hydrogen at sites across the country — work that could support the expanded use of electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells. 'We see this as an enormous opportunity,' Surma says.

While 99 percent of hydrogen today is produced from fossil fuels, InEnTec can generate hydrogen from any waste product. And its plants have a small footprint — typically one-half to two acres - allowing hydrogen to be produced almost anywhere. 'You’re reducing the distance waste has to travel and converting it into a virtually zero-carbon fuel,' Surma adds, explaining that the InEnTec process itself produces no direct emissions."

Swindon, Wiltshire, England, UK (Advanced Plasma Power)

Hirwaun, Wales, UK (EnviroParks Limited)
"EnviroParks Limited[15] plan (31/9/07) a consortium to build an Organic Park in Tower Colliery at Hirwaun, South Wales. This includes a plasma gasification plant combined with advanced anaerobic digestion to divert municipal solid waste..."

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Plasco Energy Group Inc.)

Hurlburt Field, Florida, USA (PyroGenesis Canada Inc.)

East Luther / Grand Valley, Ontario, Canada (Navitus Plasma Inc)

St. Lucie County, Florida, USA (GeoPlasma)
"The first plasma-based waste disposal system in the USA was announced in 2006 in St. Lucie County, Florida. The county stated that it hopes to not only avoid further landfill, but completely empty its existing landfill — 4,300,000 short tons (3,900,000 t) of waste collected since 1978 — within 18 years."

Tallahassee, Florida, USA (Green Power Systems)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Plasco Energy Group Inc.)

Port Hope, Ontario, Canada (Sunbay Energy Corporation)

Jackson, Georgia, USA (PR Power Company)

Red Deer, Alberta, Canada (Plasco Energy Group Inc.)

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain (Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas)

'Re-invent the Toilet' - Delft University (TUD) participated in a contest by the Bill &

Energy Park Peterborough, England, UK (Tetronics)