Researchers Discover How to Turn Plastic Trash Into Electricity

8/13/2019 Researchers Discover How to Turn Plastic Trash Into Electricity

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Researchers discover how to turn plastic

trash into electricity

ByMelissa Mahony| May 18, 2010, 4:00 AM PDT

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You dont have to swim through the Pacific Oceans infamousgarbage patchto know that human civilization has a plastic problem. A dip in the Gulf of Mexicoright now also isnt necessary to realize our energy troubles.

If only we could solve both issues at once, kill two birds with one stone (only in this case thebirds wouldnt die, choking on plastic or floundering in oil). Instead a ubiquitous throwaway

material would supply some of our energy needs.

Students atNortheastern Universityhope to achieve just that. Theyve developed a device that

converts plastic to electricity.

The waste combustor processes non-recyclable plastic within two tanks. The top tank converts

the plastic to gas through pyrolysis. The gas then travels to a lower tank, where it is burned to

generate heat and steam. The steam powers a turbine to produce electricity.
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Leading the research project is Yiannis Levendis, a professor of mechanical engineering.

Levendis is examining ways to tweak the vaporization of plastic in order to reduce any harmful

emissions that are released when burning the resulting gas.

Levendis says in astatement:

The inspiration behind my research is the quest to develop clean, cost-efficient power sources in

the face of dwindling fossil fuel reserves. It will also help get rid of unsightly, non-biodegradable

plastic waste that cannot be recycled.

TheMIT Energy Conferencein March featured a prototype of the device. According to theresearchers, the combustor could be scaled up for use in a power plant. Ideally, with a recycling

plant just next door. This would obviously take a lot of infrastructure adjustment. But with the

speed at which plastic biodegrades, we have a lot of time.

Im not sure how much electricity a single plastic bottle or say, all the plastic floating in the

Great Pacific Garbage Patch might generate. But for the plastic power idea to ever reach its fullpotential, wed still need to get folks to stop throwing trash overboard, on the beach, in thegutters, and out the car window.

This might also take a lot of time.

Possibility for a different kind of offshore platform?

Not sure if this is viable at the locations of the gyres in our oceans, but maybe placing floating energy-

generating platforms at these locations, and use the electricity for local uses (I don't know if it's viable to

send power to land from that distance, perhaps a recharging station for ships? Desalination for drinking

water? Communications relay? Oceanic casino? Hydrogen facility?)

Posted by HvyMtl

18th May 2010

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RE: Researchers discover how to turn plastic trash into electricity

Even just getting rid of some of the plastic is a step in the right

direction. If it can be used for energy, even better!
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Posted by stonecoldfox

18th May 2010

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nonrenewable plastic???Maybe we must seek a solution to recover all kinds of plastics , because when

the oilsources getting dry plastic wil be very rare, and expensive . Instead of burning plastics

(and what is not renewable plastic, it isquestionable) let us search to upgrade used plastic to make

somthing better of it like composites.

Jan Anton gilles

Posted by jan anton gilles

18th May 2010

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I'm not all that concerned with plastic as a pollutant. Plastic is fairly

benign; other than being unsightly I don't see it as being much

different than natural benign materials (rocks). However, being able

to recoup some of the energy expended in their manufacture would

be a huge benefit. As long as its economically feasible.

Posted by shadfurman

18th May 2010

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4/15

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Good idea to use for Pacific Gyre. It would not be self-sustaining commercially, at least not initally, but in

the very least it would be inexpensive to skim all the plastic crap off the surface and burn it (cleanly of

course).

It's one of those things like global warming and asteroid impacts... it might not be free to avoid a global

catastrophe, but if we could convince Fox news watchers that the "free market" doesn't account for

these sort of things perhaps we could prevent disasters.

Anyway, the actual technology for this is not new, and in the early 2000's the US army was looking into

using this to avoid burning waste in uncontrolled incinerators (which they currently do, or should i say

KBR does?).

They had a working prototype that would not only combust all camp waste but also provide up to 40 KW

of electricity (based on an average camp size).

That said, this is probably an incremental improvement on gasification technology, and allimprovements are welcome!

Currently the US is the only well-developed country in the world which does NOT utilize waste as a

source of energy, but continues to bury it in landfills!

Posted by j_batech@...

18th May 2010

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its unfortunate that some people think USofA as a well developed country! I am sure its kinda over

developed and now un-developing itself... The problems is not plastics or any other material. its actually

oversue, abuse and senseless waste of material. Overconsumption in USofA is the only cause of all the

world problems!no-offense

Posted by completelyhuman

18th May 2010
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5/15

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I don't doubt that this technology can work, the physics are fairly basic. The question is at what price.

What is the cost per KWh of electricity generated? If it is competitive, then they REALLY have something.

Otherwise it is useless.

Photovoltaics at 25 cents a KWh won't cut it either but at 8 cents a KWh they can replace almost all the

electricity we currently get from nuclear & fossil fuels.

We need to remove the subsidies that "conventional" sources receive so alternatives can compete on a

level playing field. This would be truly a free market.

Posted by jalbertini

19th May 2010

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Ok. As a start I reply to jalbertini. When I worked at Solarex in Frederick, Md.(1997-2000) they were the

only solar cell manufacturer in the world that made solar cells at a proffit without gov. assistance. They

are (were BP Solarex till this year). BP just closed the Frederick plant. At the time I worked there we

where battling hard to get the cost down and the output of the cells up. The initail energy costs were

high to manufacture the cells, but the cells could produce energy from a free source forever (or nearly)

once in place. Thin film couldn't at that time. Okay next, If we can use the wasted resources of the

plastic 'trash' and clean-up the ocean at the same time it might be worth it. The clean-up could be paid

in part by the profit from the energy produced. It would not have to be totally in the black as to profit if

it reduced the cost of cleaning up a mess. Less drain on us would enable more money to be spent for

other problems. It could mean less drain on the public coffers and less drain on our resources. This is a

maybe, has anyone else got something to add that would make this work. I've only got some experince

to work with, add yours. Don't say no, say what you can add to make it work!

Posted by garyfizer@...
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6/15

19th May 2010

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It has been proven that it is economical to buy a commercial gasifying unit for say $225,000 by office

complexes, etc. It works out cheaper than to pay for garbage removal. You have the gas, fewer trucks on

the road, smaller garbage dumps, etc.

Posted by israelgreen

20th May 2010

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This is a great idea that should be explored. I'm curious to learn how much water it needs, however,

since recycling in general takes a tremendous amount. If it could use ocean water, HvyMtl's comment

about the floating platforms might help that. In the meanwhile, everybody STOP USING PLASTIC! MOSTOF IT DOESN"T GET RECYCLED (obviously) and it's kind of poisonous in its very nature. Reuse, reuse,

reuse, reuse.

Posted by xrae00@...

20th May 2010

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Great!!! thanks for sharing this information to us!
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7/15

Posted by birumut

10th Feb 2011

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What to do with the remaining plastic after pyrolysis

After burning the plastic above 450 degree celsius in the first tank what about the remaining plastic

substances in the tank ?

Posted by Joseph Podimattathil

16th Jul 2011

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what to do with the remaining plastic in the tankAfter pyrolysis of waste plastic a small amount of melted plastic remain in the tank , what should we do

with it? or the entire plastic evapurates ?


16th Jul 2011

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Working Model

Is it possible to make a scaled down working model of this system????
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8/15

Posted by Johnson Zachariah

16th Jul 2011

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create car running on plastic

i want to create car which run on plastic by converting plastic into electricity and use that electricity to

run car .............i need too much guidence for that........please help

Posted by nayan59

1st Apr 2012

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pyrolysis querywhat type of plastics are to be used in pyrolysis

Possibility for a different kind of offshore platform?

Not sure if this is viable at the locations of the gyres in our oceans, but maybe placing floating energy-

generating platforms at these locations, and use the electricity for local uses (I don't know if it's viable to

send power to land from that distance, perhaps a recharging station for ships? Desalination for drinking

water? Communications relay? Oceanic casino? Hydrogen facility?)

Posted by HvyMtl

18th May 2010

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9/15

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Even just getting rid of some of the plastic is a step in the right

direction. If it can be used for energy, even better!

Posted by stonecoldfox

18th May 2010

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nonrenewable plastic???Maybe we must seek a solution to recover all kinds of plastics , because when

the oilsources getting dry plastic wil be very rare, and expensive . Instead of burning plastics

(and what is not renewable plastic, it isquestionable) let us search to upgrade used plastic to make

somthing better of it like composites.

Jan Anton gilles

Posted by jan anton gilles

18th May 2010

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I'm not all that concerned with plastic as a pollutant. Plastic is fairly

benign; other than being unsightly I don't see it as being much

different than natural benign materials (rocks). However, being able

to recoup some of the energy expended in their manufacture would

be a huge benefit. As long as its economically feasible.
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10/15

Posted by shadfurman

18th May 2010

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Good idea to use for Pacific Gyre. It would not be self-sustaining commercially, at least not initally, but in

the very least it would be inexpensive to skim all the plastic crap off the surface and burn it (cleanly of

course).

It's one of those things like global warming and asteroid impacts... it might not be free to avoid a global

catastrophe, but if we could convince Fox news watchers that the "free market" doesn't account for

these sort of things perhaps we could prevent disasters.

Anyway, the actual technology for this is not new, and in the early 2000's the US army was looking into

using this to avoid burning waste in uncontrolled incinerators (which they currently do, or should i say

KBR does?).

They had a working prototype that would not only combust all camp waste but also provide up to 40 KW

of electricity (based on an average camp size).

That said, this is probably an incremental improvement on gasification technology, and all

improvements are welcome!

Currently the US is the only well-developed country in the world which does NOT utilize waste as asource of energy, but continues to bury it in landfills!

Posted by j_batech@...

18th May 2010

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its unfortunate that some people think USofA as a well developed country! I am sure its kinda over

developed and now un-developing itself... The problems is not plastics or any other material. its actually

oversue, abuse and senseless waste of material. Overconsumption in USofA is the only cause of all the


11/15

world problems!

no-offense

Posted by completelyhuman

18th May 2010

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I don't doubt that this technology can work, the physics are fairly basic. The question is at what price.

What is the cost per KWh of electricity generated? If it is competitive, then they REALLY have something.Otherwise it is useless.

Photovoltaics at 25 cents a KWh won't cut it either but at 8 cents a KWh they can replace almost all the

electricity we currently get from nuclear & fossil fuels.

We need to remove the subsidies that "conventional" sources receive so alternatives can compete on a

level playing field. This would be truly a free market.

Posted by jalbertini

19th May 2010

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Ok. As a start I reply to jalbertini. When I worked at Solarex in Frederick, Md.(1997-2000) they were theonly solar cell manufacturer in the world that made solar cells at a proffit without gov. assistance. They

are (were BP Solarex till this year). BP just closed the Frederick plant. At the time I worked there we

where battling hard to get the cost down and the output of the cells up. The initail energy costs were

high to manufacture the cells, but the cells could produce energy from a free source forever (or nearly)

once in place. Thin film couldn't at that time. Okay next, If we can use the wasted resources of the

plastic 'trash' and clean-up the ocean at the same time it might be worth it. The clean-up could be paid

in part by the profit from the energy produced. It would not have to be totally in the black as to profit if


12/15

it reduced the cost of cleaning up a mess. Less drain on us would enable more money to be spent for

other problems. It could mean less drain on the public coffers and less drain on our resources. This is a

maybe, has anyone else got something to add that would make this work. I've only got some experince

to work with, add yours. Don't say no, say what you can add to make it work!

Posted by garyfizer@...

19th May 2010

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RE: Researchers discover how to turn plastic trash into electricityIt has been proven that it is economical to buy a commercial gasifying unit for say $225,000 by office

complexes, etc. It works out cheaper than to pay for garbage removal. You have the gas, fewer trucks on

the road, smaller garbage dumps, etc.

Posted by israelgreen

20th May 2010

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This is a great idea that should be explored. I'm curious to learn how much water it needs, however,

since recycling in general takes a tremendous amount. If it could use ocean water, HvyMtl's comment

about the floating platforms might help that. In the meanwhile, everybody STOP USING PLASTIC! MOST

OF IT DOESN"T GET RECYCLED (obviously) and it's kind of poisonous in its very nature. Reuse, reuse,

reuse, reuse.

Posted by xrae00@...

20th May 2010


13/15

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Great!!! thanks for sharing this information to us!

Posted by birumut

10th Feb 2011

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What to do with the remaining plastic after pyrolysis

After burning the plastic above 450 degree celsius in the first tank what about the remaining plastic

substances in the tank ?


16th Jul 2011

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what to do with the remaining plastic in the tank

After pyrolysis of waste plastic a small amount of melted plastic remain in the tank , what should we do

with it? or the entire plastic evapurates ?


16th Jul 2011

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14/15

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Working Model

Is it possible to make a scaled down working model of this system????

Posted by Johnson Zachariah

16th Jul 2011

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create car running on plastic

i want to create car which run on plastic by converting plastic into electricity and use that electricity to

run car .............i need too much guidence for that........please help

Posted by nayan59

1st Apr 2012

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pyrolysis query

what type of plastics are to be used in pyrolysis

Under the leadership of Yiannis Levendis fromNortheastern University, distinguished professor of

mechanical and industrial engineering, a team of

undergraduate and graduate engineering students

developed a waste combustor, which breaks down non-
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biodegradable plastics to create an alternative source of

fuel.

Self-sustainability is the key to the double-tank combustor design. Plastic waste

is first processed in an upper tank through pyrolysis, which converts solid plastic

into gas. Next, the gas flows to a lower tank, where it is burned with oxidants to

generate heat and steam. The heat sustains the combustor while the steam can

be used to generate electric energy.

4

According to David Laskowski, an undergraduate student working on the team,calculations show that the new technology has the potential of replacing up to

462 million gallons of petroleum in the United States alone, if all recycled plastics

were to be processed.

We are currently consuming highly-priced conventional premium fuels (to

produce electricity). The fuel developed using this system will lower the cost of

electricity for future generations, Levendis said.
http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2010/05/16/converting-plastic-waste-clean-energy-releasing-harmful-emissions/http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2010/05/16/converting-plastic-waste-clean-energy-releasing-harmful-emissions/http://www.reddit.com/submithttp://www.greenoptimistic.com/2010/05/16/converting-plastic-waste-clean-energy-releasing-harmful-emissions/

Documents

Researchers Discover How to Turn Plastic Trash Into Electricity