Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
immediate and responsive energy requirements for expeditionary operations as well
as yielding estimated cost savings of $2,905/day [10]. A projected fielding plan for
the TGER involves identification of current Modified Table of Organization and
Equipment (MTO&E) trailers associated with FPU kitchen support which would
then be modified to include the waste conversion technology. This would avoid
any changes to the MTO&E or prime mover designation. Estimations indicate
that the additional tasks associated with maintenance support for the operator and
mechanic would not exceed those standards for the assigned Military Occupational
Specialty and Generator Mechanic. Higher order support may follow a Contractor
Logistics Support or low density support plan similar to that for the reverse osmosis
purification unit equipment.
Anticipated field employment of the system is such that the TGER would be
pulled by the assigned 5-ton family of medium tactical vehicles assigned to accom-
pany the FPU Containerized Kitchen. Upon occupation of the FPU site, the TGER
would start up initially on diesel fuel alone. This would provide immediate power to
the kitchen and begin to heat up/power the system components. As waste is devel-
oped from the kitchen, it will be introduced to the TGER and the two energetic
materials (synthetic gas and ethanol) will begin to displace the diesel fuel. By six
to twelve hours (depending on the waste stream), the TGER will run on 98% waste
energetics and is capable of running for 12 h with a one hour maintenance shut-down
intervening.
Improvements for future models revolve around three subsystems: the gasifier,
bioreactor and materials handling. The current downdraft gasifier equipment is too
complicated and unreliable under desert conditions. However, modifications to the
current design could reduce the complexity of the system and, with a thorough
inspection, repair and evaluation by the manufacturer, we believe a number of alter-
ations to the downdraft gasifier would mitigate its reliability problems. Ultimately,
it would be advantageous to consider alternative thermo-chemical approaches.
The issues with the bioreactor are much less complex and more easily addressed,
as the system was custom built by Purdue University and several supporting
subcontractors. Repairing and upgrading this system will primarily involve replac-
ing and upgrading the two heat exchangers, modifying the system software to
accommodate the changed thermo-dynamics and thermal management, and adjust-
ing the “plumbing” of the ethanol collection and delivery system.
During the intervening 18 months since the TGER fabrication, the commercial
field of biomass fuel processing has greatly expanded. There are a number of new
options for third party equipment such as improved shredders, pelletizers and pellet
drying systems which did not exist previously.
6 Conclusion
Throughout the course of the 15 month program the TGER underwent testing in a
variety of conditions and environments. Performance characteristics of the TGER
varied in each environment and provided valuable information as to how to improve
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