wastenotIOWA

Presents

Waste Not With Plasma Arc

wastenotIOWA
A Non-Profit 501(C)(3) Iowa Corporation

Goals
Eliminate The Need For Landfills In State Reduce Solid Waste Effects On The Environment Harvest Energy & By-Products From Waste

Landfills
Harm the Environment!
z

Largest U.S. Human Contribution to Methane Emissions z Liners Eventually Leak, Resulting In Leaching

Waste Energy!
z

U.S. Energy Act Of 2005 Recognizes MSW as A Renewable Energy Source

Energy In U. S. Solid Waste Is Nearly 10 Times That Available From Wind Power Enough Energy In Yearly Waste To Match 25 Nuclear Energy Plants

Waste Land!
z

Increasingly Difficult To Site

What if there were a technology..

That Could Transform Organic Waste Into Clean Gas Used To Produce Energy? That Could Transform Any Inorganic Waste Into Inert Glassy Stone?

Plasma Arc Can Do All Of That & More:

It Works By Passing An Electric Arc Current Through Ionized Gas Creates An Arc That Has Temperatures Hotter Than The Sun. Any Kind Of Substance In The Arc Is Broken Down Into:

Clean Gases That Can Be Used To Generate Several Forms Of Energy Inert Slag That Can Be Safely Reused

What is Plasma?
PLASMA is generated by ionizing a gas, either by heating it to a high temperature or by passing highenergy electrons through it. Examples:
Lightning Stars Fluorescent Bulbs Neon Signs Welding Arcs Metal Cutting Torches

Plasma Arc Torch

DC Voltage
Upstream Electrode

AIR

Downstream Electrode

Plasma Arc

AIR

Cooling Water

Plasma Arc Pushed Out by Air (>4,000oC)

Plasma Torch A Mature Technology

z z z z z z z z

Late 1800s:

Plasma Arc Heater Developed For Metal Industry

Early 1900s: Plasma Heaters Used In The Chemical Industry 1950s: 1960s: 1990s: 1991: 1998: Today: Plasma Arc Cutting & Welding Used To Simulate Heat Of Spacecraft Re-entry Plasma Arc Utilized In Steel Mill Operations Plasma Research Facility Founded at Georgia Tech Plasma Municipal Solid Waste Plant Operational In Japan Used in Industrial Plants Worldwide
Chemical Industry Metallurgical Industry Waste/Environment Industry

Basic Plasma Treatment Configurations

Plasma Torch Treatment
Torch

Plasma Arc Treatment

Electrodes

Solid Waste Gas

Gas
Plasma Plume >3,0000C

Solid Waste Slag

z Plasma Arc Generated In A Torch Body z Arc Pushed Out Of Torch, Forming A Plume z >3,000 C Plume Applied To Feedstock z Produces Syngas & Slag
0

Plasma Arc >3,0000C

z Plasma Arc Formed Between Two Electrodes z Solid Waste Passed Through Arc z Produces Syngas & Slag

Not an Incineration Process!

Plasma Torch Treatment of Solid Waste

Solid Waste

Plasma Torch
(MultipleTorches Around the Cupola)

Clean Syngas
~1100oC

Heating Value ~ 280 BTU/SCF

Oxygen-Starved Cupola/Chamber

Slag Tap

Not an Incineration Process!

Inert Vitrified Slag (Reusable)

Dissociation/Vitrification of MSW
C + 1/2O2 C + H2O CO2 CO + H2 CO2 + H2

Organic MSW In

CO + H2O CH4 + H2O

3H2 + CO H2 + 2HCl

Syngas Out

Cl2 + H2

Inorganic MSW In Slag Out

Typical Syngas Composition

A cetylene Ethylene Oxygen 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% Other M ethane <0.1% 3.2%

CO 2 8%

Nitrogen 17% CO 30%

Hydrogen 42%

Vitrified Slag

Waste Types Handled by Plasma Technology (From Recovered Energy, Inc.)

Plasma Arc Technology: Ideal For Waste Treatment

z z

Can Handle All Waste (Municipal, Medical, Hazardous, Toxic, Electronic, etc) Except Nuclear Fission Rods

Waste Exposed To Plasma Heated To >2,000C z Inorganic Material Melted/Vitrified Into Reusable Glass-Like Slag (Classified as by EPA, EU)

Inert

Organic Compounds Dissociated Into Simple Molecules Hydrogen Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Dioxide Water Vapor Nitrogen Methane

Clean Syngas
Acid Gases Readily Neutralized

The Key is High Temperature & Oxygen-Starved Chamber

Generating Electricity
Waste
Syngas 1100oC Syngas 150oC

Heat Exchanger

Scrubber

Gas Turbine

Cupola

Syngas

Electricity
H2O Steam
Steam

Electricity Slag
Torches
Steam Turbine
.

Electrical Energy From High Temperature MSW Processes

Electricity To Grid Per Ton
High Temperature Technology

Incineration Conventional Pyrolysis Pyrolysis/Gasification Convention Gasification

544 571 685 685 816 800 1000

Plasma Gasification/Vitrification
0 200 400 600

Kilowatt Hours

Plasma Plasma Gasification: Gasification:

A Green Technology
Clean Syngas Inert Slag

Utashinai Utashinai Plant Plant Environmental Environmental Data Data

Emission Parameter Dioxins/Furans Particulates HCL Gas NOx Gas SO2 Gas Units NgTEQ/dscm Mg/dscm ppmv ppmv ppmv U.S. EPA Limits 0.20 34 15 103 3.1 From Plasma Reactor <.05 <10 4 80 2

Plasma Plasma Gasification: Gasification:

Slag Component Arsenic Barium Cadmium Chromium Lead Mercury Selenium Silver

EPA Plasma Permissible Measured Concentration Concentration (mg/l) (mg/l) 5 100 1 5 5 0.2 1 5 <0.1 <0.5 <0.02 <0.2 <0.2 <0.01 <0.1 <0.5

Typical Typical Power Power Plant Plant

a a Air Emissions Air Emissions
Air Pollutant Emissions (Pounds per MWHr) CO2 SO2 NOX
2988 2249 1672 1135 0.8 13 12 0.1 5.4 6 4 1.7

FUEL
MSW Incineration(1) Coal(1) Oil(1) Natural Gas(1)

MSW Plasma Gasification(2) 1419

(1) (2)
a

<1.0

<2.0

Based on EPA Data Based on Empirical Data

Information Supplied by Lou Circeo, Phd, Georgia Tech Research Institute

What About CO2?

Pounds of CO2 Per MWH of Electricity Produced
3,500 3,000
Pounds of CO2/MWH
2,888 2,249 1,672 1,419 1,135

2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0

MSW Incineration

Coal

Oil

MSW Plasma

Natural Gas

Power Generation Process

Mercury Emission Comparisons

Gaseous Mercury Concentration (ug/m3)

Mercury Emissions
6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00
Coal-Fired Utility Boiler Landfill Gas Vent Systems MSW WTE Incineration St. Lucie Plasma Plant (Contracted)

Plasma Gasification:
Cost Effective Clean Renewable Energy

Representative Cost/Revenue
Operating Costs ~ $50.00/Ton
Starting Energy
(Includes Amortization of Capital)

Operating Energy = 100 Kwh

One Ton of Typical MSW

Generated Energy = 1016 Kwh

Syngas

Plasma Torch
Slag Tap

~1100oC

Syngas Treatment

Turbines, Etc.

916 Kwh Available Energy @ $0.04 = $36.64

300 lb @ $0.006/lb = $1.80

Product Revenue/Ton $43.44 Share of Tipping Fee . $23.00 100 lb Gross Income $66.44 Operating Cost/Ton ......... ~$50.00 @ $0.05/lb Net Revenue/Ton . ~$16.44 = $5.00
Metal Tap

Cedar Rapids
Plasma Solid Waste Treatment Demonstration

Tepa/InEnTec Plasma Treatment Demonstration Unit

CR/LC Solid Waste Agency Landfill Site 1

Tepa/InEnTec Plasma Gasification Unit

Locations Using/Planning Plasma Gasification/Vitrification

z z z z z z z z z

GM Plant, Defiance, OH (Melting Metal Since 1988) Utashinai, Japan (Working MSW Successfully Since 2002) Several Incineration Ash Treatment Facilities Two Medical Waste Treatment Facilities Ottawa, Canada (Completed, Producing Electricity Plus More) Marion & Cedar Rapids, Iowa (200 TPD) St. Lucie County, FL (To Be 600 TPD) Midland, Michigan - Completed (Dow Corning Plant, Hazardous Waste, Producing Steam) International Falls, MN (150 TPD, Feasibility Phase Underway)

Ottawa Demonstration Facility Built By Plasco Energy

Ground Breaking, September 18, 2006

Completed Facility, June 24, 2007

100 100 Tons/Day Tons/Day Capacity Capacity

Ottawa (Plasco) Plasma Facility

Products
z z z z z z

1.4 Megawatt-hours Of Electricity 300 Liters Of Potable Quality Water 7-15 Kilograms Of Metal 5-10 Kilograms Of Commercial Salt 150 Kilograms Of Construction Aggregate 5 Kilograms Of Agricultural Fertilizer

RECAP: International Falls, Minnesota

Funding Profile
z z

150 Tons Per Day Overall Project Development Leadership by Laurentian RC&D Many Private & Government Entities are Members of the Team Have Secured About $14,000,000 of the $30,350,000 Required For Construction Planned Plant Completion is 2013 Now in Project Feasibility Analysis

U.S. Federal $10,350,000

County/ Private $10,000,000

z z

Minnesota State $10,000,000

z z

See Website www.lrcd.org, Click on Renewable Energy, Then RECAP

PyroGenesiss PAWDS

Carnival Cruise Lines M/S Fantasy z Plasma

Arc Waste Destruction System z Installed On Carnival Cruise Liner In 2003 z Typically Treats 5 Tons Of Waste Per Day z Emissions Much Less Than EPA or EU Limits z Inert Slag Can Be Deposited In Oceans z Navy Is Exploring Its Use On Aircraft Carriers

Plasma Gasification: Not Only MSW To Electricity

But Many Feedstocks & Products

Plasma Gasification: A Variety of Feedstocks & Products

FEEDSTOCKS
Waste Coal Petcoke Biomas Bitumen CO2 H2 S Hot Water Steam Steam Aggregate Slag Metal Bricks Rockwool Hydrogen Biodiesel Hot Water
Feed Handling &Storage Plasma Gasification/ Vitrification Syngas Cooling & Cleanup

PRODUCTS
Electricity Syngas Cooled Cleaned Syngas Conversion
Process(es)

Steam Methanol Ethanol

Plasma Slag Wool

Loose Plasma Slagwool

Feedstock

Syngas

Plasma Reactor
Molten Slag Tap

Spinner Loose Plasma Slagwool

Products Blow-In Insulation Hydroponics Media

What About Coal?

Feed Syngas to Coal-Fired Plant

Waste
Syngas 1100oC Heat

Exchanger

Syngas 150oC

Steam Turbine

Syngas

Cupola

H2O

Steam

Electricity

Electricity To Run Torches

Slag

Torches

Or

OrFeed Steam

Waste
Syngas 1100oC Syngas 150oC

Steam

Gas Turbine

Syngas

Electricity
Heat Exchanger

H2O

Electricity To Run Torches

Slag

Torches

OrFeed Both Syngas & Steam

Waste
Syngas 1100oC

Steam Syngas 150oC

Syngas

Heat Exchanger

H2O

Slag

Torches

Better Yet

Plasma Gasification Of Coal

Plasma Gasification Instead Of Coal-Firing

(Still Need to Sequester CO2)

Waste Handling Hierarchy

Assumed

wastenotIOWA

Most Favored

Least Favored

Plasma Arc Technology: Ideal For Waste Treatment

z Can

Handle All Waste Material Becomes Clean Energy-Rich Gas Material Becomes Inert Slag/Glass

z Organic

z Inorganic

Environmentally Safe Supports Energy Recovery Provides Economic Opportunity

Plasma-Arc technology addresses two of the worlds biggest problems how to deal with solid waste and the energy needs of our communities . . . This is the end of the rainbow. It will change the world.
-- Chris Craft, County Commissioner St Lucie County, Florida

GROWING POPULATIONS. INCREASING ENERGY DEMANDS. A FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT. MOUNTAINS OF WASTE, MOUNTAINS OF ENERGY
- From Plasco Energy

International InternationalFalls, Falls, Minnesota Minnesota Yamhill YamhillCounty County Oregon Oregon

Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada Port PortHope, Hope, Canada Canada Canada

Marion/ Marion/ Cedar Cedar Rapids, Rapids, Iowa Iowa

Fort FortRiley. Riley. Kansas Kansas

Milwaukee Milwaukee Michigan Michigan Illinois Illinois

Some Locations Planning Plasma Gasification Of MSW

St. St.Lucie LucieCounty, County, Florida Florida

Proposed Marion/Cedar Rapids, Iowa Configuration

Clean Syngas MSW, Ash, etc Heated Water Generation Particulate Removal & Final Cleaning Refractive Afterburmer

Syngas

120o F 400o F

Water Return From User Hot Water To User

Slag
Slag Removal

Torch

Proposed Building
Courtesy Courtesy Plasma Plasma Power, Power, LLC LLC - A A Solid Solid Solution Solution for for Our Our Changing Changing Energy Energy Needs Needs

z z Site on 3.5 to 4.5 Acres z z All Equipment is Enclosed z z Waste is Enclosed z z Includes a Public Showroom

Summary
z

Plasma processing of MSW has unique treatment capabilities unequaled by other waste treatment technologies z It may be more cost-effective to take MSW to a plasma facility for energy production than to dump it in a landfill z Plasma processing of MSW in the U.S. could:
Significantly reduce the MSW disposal problem Significantly alleviate the energy crisis Reduce the need for landfills
z

Plasma processing of MSW has the potential to supply ~5% of U.S. electricity needs - Equivalent to ~25 nuclear power plants z Can create more renewable energy than the projected energy from solar, wind, landfill & geothermal energies combined z When fully developed, it may become cost-effective to mine existing landfills for energy production & land restoration

wastenotIOWA, Inc.
Contact Information
www.wastenotiowa.org
Dennis Naughton, President Ed Mulholland, Vice President Erik Miles, Secretary Brent Harstad Don Leonhart Dow Prouty John Vernon dennis@xwires.net 329.631.2110 319.377.5055 319.377.5926 319.393.2330 319.393.1936 310.393.6672 312.377.0452 emulholland16@mchsi.com 319.899.4207 erikmiles@mchsi.com brentandpath@yahoo.com donleonhart@gmail.com dowprouty@msn.com jgvernon@aol.com

Charlie Kress, Treasurer/Spokesman chaskress@mchsi.com

Thank You!