Biogas from refuse via an earth-sheltered passive solar digester. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5584762

As originally conceived, the project involved the design, construction and operation of a test-scale refuse digestion system and alternative energy technology, as an integral component of a planned comprehensive waste management system based on the concept of recycling and resource recovery. Specific technologies employed in the digestion system included aerobic composting and anaerobic fermentation. System inputs included non-recycleable organic refuse (paper, food wastes, etc.) and septage (septic tank sludge), both of which represent disposal problems for many North American communities, and heat. Anticipated system outputs were biogas (50 to 60% methane), a premium fuel, and compostable sludge, a potential soil amendment-fertilizer. Projected net energy output was enhanced by incorporating biological feedstock preheating, earth sheltering, passive solar heating, and sludge heat recovery into the project design. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate the economic and environmental viability of this system versus competing waste-to-energy technologies. Due primarily to institutional barriers and related factors, the project did not progress to the point of enabling the stated purpose to be demonstrated.

• Research Organization: North Country Recycling and Resource Recovery, Inc., Potsdam, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: FG42-81R205287
• OSTI ID: 5584762
• Report Number(s): DOE/R2/05287-T1; ON: DE85015637
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BIOCONVERSION
BIOREACTORS
BIOSYNTHESIS
BUILDINGS
DIGESTION
EARTH-COVERED BUILDINGS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION II
HEATING SYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
PROCESSING
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS
SYNTHESIS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES