Power for Animal Wastes System Gasifier

Animal wastes are a n environmental problem, particularly in fee lot areas were animals are concentrated. If the wastes could be upgraded to a fuel by gasification and then burned inefficient small-scale engines, high value electric power and process heat could be produced, while mitigating environmental problems. The proposed small-scale power generation concept uses innovative methods to pre-treat and gasify the animal waste and then burn the fuel gas, so that reliable and low cost electric power can be generated using existing engines. Most importantly, preliminary analysis shows that the concept will be competitive in geographical areas of interest. In the Phase I project, a concept design will be refined to address those opportunities. In addition, available test equipment will be updated and utilized to show the feasibility of the novel gasifies and combustor. Test results will then be used to update the concept design and, with the support manufacturers, an economic analysis will be performed that will show the feasibility of the concept. The concept will be used to generate electric power from animal wastes, primarily in remote areas of the U.S., and abroad. Over 25 million tons of animal wastes will be beneficially used, thereby reducing surface and ground water environmental damage. Also, the use of renewable waste as a fuel, will reduce CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by over 26million tons. These are substantial benefits, which will be accomplished at a competitive cost and with low air emissions. Considering the value of both the electricity and process heat generated, implementing this concept will benefit farmer, to the level of $1.36 billion per year. In addition to these dairy waste benefits, the concept could also be adapted to other animal and agricultural wastes. This would multiply the beneficial dairy waste impacts, noted above, by a substantial factor of 14.