Re: GAS-L: Gasification = mass burn incineration?

[Arnt Karlsen <arnt@c2i.net>]

On Mon, 29 Apr 2002 14:17:44 -0700, 
"Berton, Fernando" <FBerton@CIWMB.ca.gov> wrote in message 
<4A94EAE8A21FD411BDCB00D0B73E82AD044868E6@WMBMAIL>:

> > This statement was recently made in a letter to the California
> > Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and I would like opinions
> > from experts as to the veracity if this claim.  The CIWMB has been

..do you have access to expertize capable of evaluating these opinions?

> > interested in using gasification of solid waste as an alternative to
> > landfilling and is aware

..so, you still have enough electricity in California?

..the average metric ton of raw MSW buys you about a MegaWattHour 
of electricity, and another 1.5 MegaWattHour of district heat, done 
_my_ way.  No, I cannot do it for free.  Your call.

> > of one facility in Woolongong, Australia that is in shakedown mode. 
> > There is one project proponent in California that would gasify

..urls to these?

> > cellulosic material in which all recyclables and plastics have been
> > removed.  Given

..remove the aluminum, fire the rest, if you wanna optimize a 
profitable business.  "Recycling all recyclables and plastics" 
is as wise as banning whaleing and seal-hunting and then having 
to ban fishing, because the whales and seals are starving.  
Again, your call.

> > this particular feedstock, is the following statement accurate.
> > 
> > "One analysis by the US EPA would appear to suggest toxic air
> > emissions from gasification of solid waste equal to or greater than
> > mass burn incineration."

..is right and/or wrong, that, depends on _what_ gasification 
technology is to be used.

> Another question:  What is the difference between starved air
> combustion and gasification/pyrolysis.  My sense of the latter is that
> it is in an

..you assume "gasification" and pyrolysis is the same?  
It is _not_.

..in thermochemical gasification, pyrolysis is driven by combustion, 
and yields tars, the _primary_ combustible == fuel, and charcoal, the 
_secondary_ fuel, _and_, the combustion _and_ reduction _catalyzer_.

..and yes, combustion gases are reduced to _poisonous_ CO gas, 
and _politically_correct_ hydrogen gas, by combustion heat, too, 
in the reduction catalyzer bed.  

..traditionally, people tried to "starve-burn tarry charcoal".
Or they used biological gasification, aka "biogassing".  Some of 
these woodoos works too, once you manage to raise the right "bug" 
culture.  Sorry, no, I don't swing those woodoo chickens.  

> oxygen-depleted environment thus not allowing combustion.  I liken it
> to baking a lasagna instead of barbecuing a steak.  Is that an
> accurate metaphor?   

..no.  See above.

.."_my_ way", as in: "Have gun, will travel":
http://www.crest.org/discussion/gasification/199903/msg00055.html
Half dead IVAR link in the above, moved to:
http://www.ivar.rl.no/IDybden/avlop/analyse.biopellets.cfm
Translation filter from norwegian to english:
http://www.tranexp.com/InterTran.cgi

..your call.

-- 
..med vennlig hilsen = with Kind Regards from Arnt Karlsen.
...with a number of polar bear hunters in his ancestry...
  Scenarios always come in sets of three: 
  best case, worst case, and just in case.

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