Objective

The Department of Defense (DoD) has a strong interest and focused need to reduce the logistics tail associated with forward operations. Activities associated with mission sustainment at forward operating bases (FOBs) and combat outposts (COPs) present significant challenges with respect to fuel and water supply, and waste footprint management. Waste-to-energy conversion (WEC) systems present a promising option for managing waste burdens while providing supplemental energy and heat. While a number of gasification and pyrolysis-based WEC systems are currently under evaluation by DoD, no system has been demonstrated to meet PM Force Sustainment Systems’ (PM FSS) desire for a compact (8 ft x 8 ft x 20 ft), efficient (50% net chemical energy recovery), and robust (field-worthy, minimal operator interface) WEC system. To address the current need, Infoscitex Corporation (IST) will develop a downdraft gasification system capable of processing shredded waste into clean-burning producer gas with the objective of supplying the base camp with electricity and heat, while at the same time substantially reducing the footprint of the waste preprocessing system. The use of shredded waste (instead of pellets) as feedstock to the gasifier will eliminate some components of the pre-processing system that impart higher parasitic losses and require more frequent maintenance cycles.

The overall objective of the project is to design, fabricate, and characterize a shredded waste downdraft gasifier system. IST has experience developing gasifier-based WEC systems and is familiar with the challenges associated with preprocessing DoD-relevant waste streams (i.e., comingled paper, food, plastics, wood) into fuel for subsequent gasification. IST will leverage lessons learned under previous U.S. Army and privately funded gasifier and solid waste preprocessor development efforts to provide DoD with a downdraft gasifier capable of enabling PM FSS’ vision for a compact, robust, efficient WEC.