Waste to Energy

Inefficiency A Means To Sustainability

Peter Kuria Githinji 27.01.2014 (HAMK)

peter.g.kuria@gmail.com

Structure of Presentation-General Introduction State of Matter (solid, liquid and gas)

-Transformations that Create Waste -10 Considerations before converting waste to Energy

-Philosophical questions on states of energy -Examples of Energy Transformations

-Technical Considerations About Waste to Energy -Sources of Waste

-Systems of Waste Consolidation -Tools you use (Legal/Human good)

General Introduction State of Matter (solid, liquid and gas)

MATTER: Matter is found in three states 1. SOLID 2. LIQUID 3. GAS

Matter can be transformed from one state to another:

Transformations that Create WasteWe transform matter to new forms - but they remain within the same three states: SOLID, LIQUID and GAS, in the process, some heat is released and lost to the environment. The end product in most cases is however of little or of “NO use” = “WASTE”

FORMS of waste - SOLID (plastic), LIQUID (tannin), GAS (methane)

NB// Energy Can Not be Created nor Destroyed “1st Law of Thermodynamics”

The law of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system is constant; energy can be

transformed from one form to another, but cannot be created or destroyed

10 Considerations: Converting Waste to Energy1. SCALE - Size of the idea- 2. FEEDSTOCK- /Modelling/

3. DISTRIBUTION - for whom? 4. IMAGINED or REAL NEED? 5. COMPETING RESOURCES?

6. LINKAGES TO OTHER SECTORS 7. INiTIAL COSTS (vs- No 5) 8. IS IT REDUCING COSTS

9. WHERE IS THE MONEY- /MODELLING/ 10. SUSTAINABILITY

Philosophical questions on states of energy

When discussing about Waste to Energy- MUST we think of converting all the waste to “heat energy”??

Are there other equally “creative” things that can be done?

Can the “waste” be converted to another form of stable energy that is useful?

What other business models can be built around this to make the model worthwhile? - What about converting that matter to “MATTER” that is USABLE in any other form… — Not just INCINERATION to generate power?

Examples of Energy TransformationsThink of simple energy transformations

Water - Ice-water-Vapour /// Paper-Heat-Charcoal-ash

Inefficiency for Sustainability /How much energy from the sun is converted to usable energy daily?

What would happen if you ate an apple and you were 100 % efficient - in converting it to your own energy?

Energy Transformations

Which Apple?

Inefficiency is everything- eat the apple?

Assume you were 100% efficient in converting it- what would be the impact on 1. Micro-organisms and your survival? 2. Survival of the apple generation?

A few Technical Considerations1. POISONOUS EMISSIONS

2. INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION- (if heat used to generate power/incineration)

3. CONVERSION OF NATURAL EMISSIONS (CAPTURE OF METHANE)

4. CONVERSION OF MATTER- to usable but inert state

Sources of Waste Why is the source important?

1. Industrial waste - Chemicals?

2. Natural /Agricultural

3. Household —- ?? Electronic Waste? Organic waste?

SYSTEMSThere has to be systems that allow the collection of the waste for further action..

!

How do you consolidate your waste for your intended purpose?

SUPPORTIVE TOOLS

What are the minimum requirements that would allow you to deal with your waste- for example metal or electronic waste?

- Legal tools (law)

-Goodwill of humans?

-Show me the money- Where is the money?

EXERCISE

Based on the information- form groups design a schematic of how you would design a waste to energy business

-In the model- explain in detail the kind of waste, the need it is meeting, what you will do with the waste, the financing of the model, and the end products or results (does it bring profit?- what kind?)

Example End Product