Refuse conversion to methane (RefCOM): a proof-of-concept anaerobic digestion facility

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:5699303

Walter, D. K.; Brooks, C.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is developing a process for the anaerobic digestion of solid waste and sewage sludge into methane. Known as RefCOM - Refuse Conversion to Methane - the DOE experimental facility in Florida can process 100 tons of raw refuse per day with an output as high as 700,000 cubic feet of gas (CH/sub 4/ and CO/sub 2/) per day. Based on an average home gas consumption of one million cubic feet per year, a 1,000 tons-per-day plant has the potential to meet the gas needs of over 7,000 homes. The objectives of the RefCOM experiment are to: establish information on the quality and quantity of gas produced; ascertain optimum operating parameters for both mesophilic and thermophilic modes; and evaluate the reliability of the techniques.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA); Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Building and Community Systems; Mittelhauser Corp., Downers Grove, IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5699303
• Report Number(s): CONF-791006-2
• Resource Relation: Conference: Joint power generation conference, Charlotte, NC, USA, 7 Oct 1979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
PILOT PLANTS
METHANE
PRODUCTION
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SOLID WASTES
BIOCONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
EVALUATION
FLORIDA
HEATING
MESOPHILIC CONDITIONS
OPERATION
OPTIMIZATION
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THERMOPHILIC CONDITIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
ALKANES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DIGESTION
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
SEWAGE
SOUTHEAST REGION
USA
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)
320604 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)