Burning wood is a mortal sin

[velacreations]

Was that the video that was 55 minutes long? I can't watch long videos like that on my Internet connection, could you give us a summary?

[tachyon]

well it says that a 25$ million garbage processsing plant can produce in a week as much electricity as a 5$ million photovoltaic park does in a year.. you get charcoal as a bonus and neutralize toxic substances at the same time.. it's beneficial but nobody wants it.. wood distillation is another deal..

[velacreations]

well, I assume it is a syngas plant. And actually, it is very similar to wood pyrolysis, just at higher temperatures.

There is no doubt it works, as long as you have a lot of garbage and a central processing facility. But, it also takes energy to make that energy, and I doubt the liquid fuel production is very high.

Now, consider that you could compost that organic waste, and use that to grow tree crops for wood pyrolysis. Which would be more efficient? I would say the tree crops, because not only are you increasing the fertility of the soil (bonus), but you are creating a carbon sink the form of the charcoal.

[tachyon]

if you compost public garbage the toxic substances will destroy the plants..

[velacreations]

if you compost public garbage the toxic substances will destroy the plants..

that's not necessarily true. Soil organisms have the ability to isolate toxic substances, and in some cases, they can even render them nontoxic.

Additionally, many plants have the ability to absorb toxins, without harm to the plant.

Syngas production does not get rid of many toxins, however. It can concentrate the toxins in the remaining char, making it useless as a soil amendment.

[tachyon]

where did you ever read that I was talking about syngas? I dont think we're on the same chart here//

[velacreations]

where did you ever read that I was talking about syngas? I dont think we're on the same chart here//

when you are talking about pyrolysis of garbage, that's commonly referred to syngas production. It's basically gas produced from the anaerobic combustion of organic materials.

So, you put a bunch of garbage in a closed container, heat it up to 1000C or so, and the result is syngas + carbon and ash.

The syngas can then be converted to a variety of things, but most often, it is burned in an ICE.

[tachyon]

ok...... just see the video..

[velacreations]

I told you, I can't. If they are not doing syngas, then they could be producing methane in anaerobic digesters, but I doubt that is happening, based on what you've said.

So, it's a syngas plant, pretty simple.

[tachyon]

well ok.. syngas is a generic term so.. I guess you're right..

[velacreations]

What would y call it instead of syngas? Garbage gas?

[tachyon]

it's syngas..

[velacreations]

so, I guess the real question now is how do we recreate it in our backyards?

I'd start with wood retorts. There is a multi-stage design that has a rocket stove and once started, self powers from the syngas. You will have a surplus of syngas, but you can't store it very easily, so the best thing is use it to heat something or to power a generator. Here's an example of that design: TERRA: Carbon Negative

For these retorts, you need external fuel to get them going, but once it is up to temp, it produces a bunch of syngas. Some syngas keeps the retort heated, and the rest is surplus.

Now, imagine using the surplus from one retort to start the next, and then the next, etc, until you come to the end of your line your retorts and then use the surplus from all of them to power something.

You could do a grid tie generator or something to use the syngas, or try and condense it into liquid fuel (more difficult).

If you used organic waste (food waste, paper, yard waste, cardboard, etc), you would not have to get to 1500C, probably 500C would be enough, similar to wood pyrolysis, and definitely doable in your backyard.

Your products would be char, syngas, heat, and possibly electricity (if you run through a generator), and some tars and oils.

So, if you set it up so that it could heat your house and water as well (or maybe a greenhouse?), you'd be doing pretty good, but also produce some electricity. It would be pretty easy to get all of your neighbors to start bringing you their trash.

[Franco malgarini]

Someone has built a distiller for wood?

[Franco malgarini]

A very useful book:

The Technology of Wood Distillation (1925) , by Max Klar