aScotiA
04-07-2004, 09:07 PM
Thermodepolymerization. It's quite a mouthful of a word, but could it be the savior of, well, the world? After reading the thread that addressed the many ways we're all fucked when the planet runs out of oil, I remembered reading about TDP (on TW, yes this is OFN).
Basically, there is a technology (TDP) that is not only functional, but in operation in Missourri, that can convert virtually anything you put into it into light oil or a nugatory matter. The process is efficient (it produces more than it uses), and is expected to grow in efficiency in the years to come. TDP works just like nature in the way it makes oil, but instead of taking millions of years, it can be done in only a few hours. Pretty nifty, huh?
I've linked a few sites/PDFs that talk about TDP, and also cited parts from the official TDP webpage. Why this isn't top headline news, and never has been boggles my mind. Give yourself a read, and perhaps a glimpse into the immediate future ;).
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Destroys hazardous wastes
Hazardous Waste – These are the deadliest of waste streams on our planet. In the United States alone, over 26,000 hazardous waste sites are buried underground. TCP is a safer and less costly way to address this waste stream, rather than the current method of disposal, which is incineration. PCB's, dioxins, heavy metals, pathogens, and other contaminants are destroyed in the TCP.
Safe, harmless disposal of tires and rubbers
The Thermo-Depolymerization and Chemical Reformer approaches the tire issue from a beneficial re-use perspective as compared to destructive methods, and avoids practices such as incineration, dumping or landfilling.
TCP process can handle all organic material from a tire manufacturer. The materials are fed into the “TCP” to be converted into gases, oils, and carbon. The facility’s design will ensure complete use of feedstocks, destruction of contaminates, and the ability to use multiple feedstocks without separation. Potential services to collect tires from company-owned stores, dealers, collateral support industries and communities can be developed, as was done in the aluminum industry.
Tires actually represent only a small percentage of the overall industrial waste streams (1-2% in the US). Because they are unsightly, identifiable, and pose potential health risks (mosquito breeding grounds and current co-firing in kilns or boilers), they have acquired a negative public perception. By incorporating TCP in tire and rubber manufacturing, and by providing a post-consumer, environmental and energy solution (tire take-offs), tire companies can take a proactive role in reversing this negative perception.
Many believe that the high Btu value of tire chips should make them the ideal solid fuel replacement for coal. However, the absence of high ash levels precludes their use as a total replacement for coal in conventional boilers. The reason is that the ash serves the function of protecting the boiler grates from high combustion temperatures. The presence of sulfur also contributes to emission clean-up and permitting issues that are becoming increasingly more difficult to manage.
TCP effectively recycles scrap tires as compared to other “recycling technologies.” Tires are a renewable source of high Btu material that can help meet energy demands if transformed in a safe, affordable manner, as provided by the process.
Official Site - http://www.changingworldtech.com/home.html
Kantor.com - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_depolymerization (webpage)
Discovery Magazine - http://www.kantor.com/useful/oil.pdf (Acrobat PDF file)
MIT Technology Review - http://www.kantor.com/useful/mittdp.pdf (Acrobat PDF file)
Basically, there is a technology (TDP) that is not only functional, but in operation in Missourri, that can convert virtually anything you put into it into light oil or a nugatory matter. The process is efficient (it produces more than it uses), and is expected to grow in efficiency in the years to come. TDP works just like nature in the way it makes oil, but instead of taking millions of years, it can be done in only a few hours. Pretty nifty, huh?
I've linked a few sites/PDFs that talk about TDP, and also cited parts from the official TDP webpage. Why this isn't top headline news, and never has been boggles my mind. Give yourself a read, and perhaps a glimpse into the immediate future ;).
-------
Destroys hazardous wastes
Hazardous Waste – These are the deadliest of waste streams on our planet. In the United States alone, over 26,000 hazardous waste sites are buried underground. TCP is a safer and less costly way to address this waste stream, rather than the current method of disposal, which is incineration. PCB's, dioxins, heavy metals, pathogens, and other contaminants are destroyed in the TCP.
Safe, harmless disposal of tires and rubbers
The Thermo-Depolymerization and Chemical Reformer approaches the tire issue from a beneficial re-use perspective as compared to destructive methods, and avoids practices such as incineration, dumping or landfilling.
TCP process can handle all organic material from a tire manufacturer. The materials are fed into the “TCP” to be converted into gases, oils, and carbon. The facility’s design will ensure complete use of feedstocks, destruction of contaminates, and the ability to use multiple feedstocks without separation. Potential services to collect tires from company-owned stores, dealers, collateral support industries and communities can be developed, as was done in the aluminum industry.
Tires actually represent only a small percentage of the overall industrial waste streams (1-2% in the US). Because they are unsightly, identifiable, and pose potential health risks (mosquito breeding grounds and current co-firing in kilns or boilers), they have acquired a negative public perception. By incorporating TCP in tire and rubber manufacturing, and by providing a post-consumer, environmental and energy solution (tire take-offs), tire companies can take a proactive role in reversing this negative perception.
Many believe that the high Btu value of tire chips should make them the ideal solid fuel replacement for coal. However, the absence of high ash levels precludes their use as a total replacement for coal in conventional boilers. The reason is that the ash serves the function of protecting the boiler grates from high combustion temperatures. The presence of sulfur also contributes to emission clean-up and permitting issues that are becoming increasingly more difficult to manage.
TCP effectively recycles scrap tires as compared to other “recycling technologies.” Tires are a renewable source of high Btu material that can help meet energy demands if transformed in a safe, affordable manner, as provided by the process.
Official Site - http://www.changingworldtech.com/home.html
Kantor.com - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_depolymerization (webpage)
Discovery Magazine - http://www.kantor.com/useful/oil.pdf (Acrobat PDF file)
MIT Technology Review - http://www.kantor.com/useful/mittdp.pdf (Acrobat PDF file)