February 28, 2007—A group of scientists have created a portable refinery that efficiently converts food, paper and plastic trash into electricity. The machine, designed for the US military, would allow soldiers in the field to convert waste into power and could have widespread civilian applications in the future.
“This is a very promising technology,” said Michael Ladisch, the professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University who leads the project. “In a very short time it should be ready for use in the military, and I think it could be used outside the military shortly thereafter.”
The “tactical biorefinery” processes several kinds of waste at once, which it converts into fuel via two parallel processes. The system then burns the different fuels in a diesel engine to power a generator. Ladisch said the machine’s ability to burn multiple fuels at once, along with its mobility, make it unique.
Roughly the size a small moving van, the biorefinery could alleviate the expense and potential danger associated with transporting waste and fuel. Ladisch said the machine eventually could be deployed in disaster situations, similar to Hurricane Katrina, or at any crisis location where people are stranded without power. Emergency crews could then use the machine to turn debris such as woodchips into much-needed electricity.
The refinery also could provide supplementary power for factories, restaurants or stores, Ladisch said.
For more information, visit the Purdue Web site.
