Modular Waste/Renewable Energy System for Production of Electricity, Heat, and Potable Water in Remote Locations

Methods and designs for a modular waste processing system that will utilize an anaerobic process to produce hydrogen from food, animal, or human waste are being developed by this ongoing research effort. This hydrogen will be used to produce electricity in a reciprocating engine or fuel cell. A solar energy system has been designed and tested to provide heat for pre and post processing of waste and production of potable water. Potentially harmful pathogens from the waste are isolated from the environment and are drastically reduced by a thermal process. It is anticipated that this combined waste processing and renewable energy unit would be constructed in a standard shipping container for use in undeveloped and/or remote locations or at disaster sites. Hydrogen has many well established advantages as a clean renewable energy source. The use of microbial organisms to produce hydrogen has many advantages over more conventional techniques. Remote locations place a premium on the availability of electricity, heat, and potable water. Methane production by biological means is often used for producing electricity. Using microorganisms that produce hydrogen rather than methane significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions for the overall process. By using this hydrogen in a reciprocating engine or fuel cell the major end products would be electricity, water, and heat. To produce hydrogen rather than methane an aerobically it is necessary to first thermally pretreat the feed material. The developed solar energy system has consistently produced temperatures above 115°C. Typical hydrogen concentrations produced in the fermentation using food waste are 22% after 48 hours. Current efforts include use of a statistical experimental design to determine optimal operating parameters and a preliminary modular energy system design. The next steps in this effort will involve research and development of a bench-top prototype system and subsequently development and testing of a - ull scale prototype unit.