Rotary Kiln Gasification of Solid Wastes for Base Camps
WP-2211
Objective
Current practices at expeditionary basecamps have a large logistics burden on the Warfighter, and raise potential environmental and health concerns. A company-size base camp can consume 800 gallons per day of fuel, 5,500 gallons per day of water, and generate 1,200 pounds per day of solid waste. These numbers divert significant manpower from mission operations to managing the delivery and security of these resources. An improved method of solid waste management would be of great benefit. The priorities need to be replacement of open burn pits for soldier health, efficient solid waste disposal, generating power from the waste (or at least develop a system that's power neutral). Gasification has the potential to address those criteria. Gasification of solid wastes, produces a syngas, which can be burned in a standard diesel generator, thus eliminating complications of trying to produce a liquid fuel from waste. However, the handling and processing of mixed wastes has proven difficult in currently available downdraft gasifiers.
The objective of this project is to develop a design for a deployable, rotary kiln, waste-to-energy, gasification system with the following characteristics:
- Meets the deployability performance criteria
- Accepts all types of solid wastes typically generated at a contingency base (CB) with minimal preprocessing or segregation
- Provides a syngas that will fuel a standard Army diesel generator at a net-positive energy balance, displacing a large fraction of fuel use.
Technical Approach
Experts from several agencies will collaborate to achieve the objective. The work will center around a prototype rotary kiln gasification system at the State University of New York, Cobleskill. While gasification is a proven technology for simple materials like wood chips, there is little experience with mixed wastes. The prototype gasifier will be highly instrumented to allow researchers to gain a clear picture of the gasification process in terms of energy balance, syngas evolution, and the effects of varying feedstocks.
In addition to understanding gasification, researchers will determine how to most efficiently run a diesel engine (hence a gen-set, like the Army tactical quiet generator [TQG]) on syngas through prolonged laboratory trials, monitoring engine performance vs. syngas composition and energy content. The goal is to allow the engine to run continuously and efficiently on the lowest grade syngas possible.
Finally, engineers will develop conceptual designs that will allow this technology, inclusive of gas processing steps, to be rendered portable and deployable.
The end product deployable design will include specifications for the workable minimum of system components that will fit in the deployability criteria; operational parameters, such as acceptable waste streams, preprocessing required, temperature, and residence time; guidance for diesel gen-set connection and operation; field robustness; and ease of maintenance.
Benefits
Completion of this work will provide a thorough understanding of the solid waste gasification process using military-relevant waste feedstocks. Researchers will develop realistic benchmarks on net energy generation through gasification. Researchers will develop an understanding of any limitations and necessary operational parameters for diesel power generation via syngas.
Researchers believe that the performance criteria are achievable through rotary kiln gasification, including one to three tons per day capacity in a deployable system; a minimum of 50% net energy efficiency; and minimal labor requirement for waste handling. The integration of this technology into a basecamp, field operation, and maintenance needs will be projected and addressed in the latter stages of the project.
If this research is successful and the technology is fielded, burn pits could be eliminated; the power generated could supplant a significant portion of a CBs requirement for JP8 generator fuel. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2014)
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Mr. Stephen Cosper
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC/CERL)
Phone: 217-398-5569
Fax: 217-373-3430
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.