tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post7136389743243610410..comments2023-12-01T16:56:04.415+11:00Comments on Peak Energy: Gasifying Biomass with SunlightBig Gavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-88835054208406225262010-03-15T00:27:47.506+11:002010-03-15T00:27:47.506+11:00Hard to believe this is an somewhat old practice i...Hard to believe this is an somewhat old practice in even Wisconsin farms (1800's).<br /><br />AG and Animal farms utilize waste crop and or a combination of animal waste stream into 'slurry pools & piles' that collect passive heat from sun to accelerate natural break down. The organic breakdown produces heat and piped to barns, ponds and livestock and biogas for running generators, etc...<br /><br />Lye helps in cold weather and acts as fertilizer for left over solids after breakdown. <br /><br />Nothing is wasted... <br /><br />'scale and localized use' is everything. In the bio-syngas projects I have watched in Wisconsin, there are huge environmental gains working with farmers and communities to bring in bio-waste and receive energy. <br /><br />However, there is always a translation loss of heat that is generated in the process. And the more heat used to break down mass often equals much greater loss.<br /><br />In traditional farm style passive breakdown this may be 5-10% heatloss and in scale manufacturing as high as 10-20%.<br />(Still VERY efficient compared to anything with a traditional combustion2stream process.)<br /><br />I do like the idea of concentrating solar heat to lower this loss.<br /><br />While I think 'syngas' application has good and applicable potential. Simple education of zero waste sustainable farms practices could have a massive impact on reducing 20-30% of 'real' global emissions. Not to mention the immediate 'life saving' results it would have on area drinking and well water.<br /><br /><br />But my hope is to always prove we can use ANY resources for energy if we properly balance its cost with its 'true sustainability'... but that would raise oil to $250 a barrel and coal four fold... and prove to even John Michael Greer that there are many solar options that are sustainable ;-)EHS Directorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11768405187596006599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-67661761416934650032010-03-12T22:59:48.344+11:002010-03-12T22:59:48.344+11:00Cconvert biomass to biofuel is interesting subject...Cconvert biomass to biofuel is interesting subjectAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com