Questions from BP
How often do parts need to be replaced?
The ce25 system is an industrial product designed to operate for at least 25 years
subject to normal operational and maintenance procedures. There is not a long part list
of items that must be replaced. Most of those items can be accounted for in our
consumable costs which run about $300 a day, per unit, depending on the
configuration. This would include standard industrial items, such as;
• Torch nozzles
• Plasma torch electrodes
• Turbine seals
• Processor flange gaskets
• Gas line insulation
• Consumable components on Caterpillar engine and gen-set
• Vacuum lines
• Air filters
• Water filters
Replacement components for the ce25 are cheap and very accessible. The design of
the adaptiveARC system takes into account the critical nature of user uptime. The
portable nature of the ce25 lends itself easily to replacement in case of catastrophic
failure, after all the technology can be deployed or removed in less than 72 hours.
Swapping processors in and out in a homogenous environment, is literally as simple as
backing a new processor into the “slot.”
How expensive are these parts?
Parts costs are included in the consumable cost of approximately $300 per day. This
also includes the price of larger maintenance items like engine overhauls calculated on
a averaged basis over the 20 year lifespan of the equipment.
How many tons of MSW can be burned per 24 hour period?
25 tons of “wet MSW” can be “gasified” per 24 hour period. That is based on a moisture
content of 55-60% at sea level.
How much energy is recovered to make electricity? 20%? 80%
25 tons of “wet MSW” (55-60%) moisture will yield approximately 500kW of continuous
output. The parasitic consumption of the ce25 is approximately 40kW or 8% of total
power output. 92% of the electricity produced is exportable to the grid.
How much of the energy generated is used to run the system?
See answer above.
I see that diesel, lime and water needs to be added to the system besides the
MSW. Is there anything else which needs to be added to the system? It looks like
urea or ammonia might have to be added also?
No - in certain scenarios an alkaline alternative to hydrated lime, but not likely. A urea
filter may be added onto the exhaust of the Caterpillar engine if our NOx output is high.
In all of our testing our NOx levels have been extremely low and we are not anticipating
the need for aftermarket scrubbers / filters from Cat. Ammonia could also be added into
the processor if excessive NOx was an issue. Again, we have several emission control
technologies in place that have reduced the amount of NOx produced.
If we said we wanted one of these here in the Gulf (in the USA) how long would it
take to get one of these here? This includes production time and permits.
It would take 120 days from the day we receive the first deposit to deliver the first
system to the gulf. Subsequent systems or bulk orders of systems could bring the
manufacturing and delivery schedule down to approximately 90 days. Permitting will be
achieved within 60-90 days. Permits can be worked on concurrently with
manufacturing.
adaptiveARC, Inc. has just signed a manufacturing agreement with a group in the
Carolinas that relies heavily on the gulf regional resources for parts and materials. As a
company we hope to improve the economic outlook for the region and believe that BP
will also benefit from economic stimulus and development in the regions manufacturing
sector.
Have you done a chemical analysis of the air emissions for this system?
We do combustion analysis on a daily basis and are very confident in our emissions
profile. We are starting gas analysis on our syngas using mass spectrometers and gas
chromatography. We are working with several environmental engineering firms
including AMEC/Geomatrix and SCS Engineers to produce validated results over the
next few weeks.
Have you done a chemical analysis of the liquid and solid waste products from
this process?
We have done a chemical analysis on the ash by-product from our pilot plant report
which was conducted about 4 years ago. We have taken ash samples from the ce25
and are awaiting results. There is no liquid by-products in our process.
Scrubbers need to be used? Alkaline and acid scrubber necessary?
Alkaline scrubbers are built into our gas cleaners. We also use dry sorbent injection
(dry scrubbers) with the feedstock as it enters the processor. Acid scrubbers are not
necessary in our system.
So this process generates ash instead of slag? What can be done with the ash?
Can it be used as fly ash for concrete? Or can it be reused for something else or
must it go to the landfill? What was found in the chemical analysis of the ash?
The ce25 is a dry ash gasifier that produces a very alkaline ash. The ash can be used
as the fly ash additive to Portland Cement. It has a very high commercial value since
the lime has already been added (lime is a large additive to Portland Cement, which
releases large volumes of CO2 into the atmosphere).
The ash also has a commercial value to the agricultural industry. We can mix some of
our carbon into the ash to produce a high value fertilizer.
How do you remove chlorine from the process so dioxins are not formed?
Chlorine, Bromine and halogens breakdown in the processor and are removed in the
gas cleaners. Several papers have been written that describe the acidic decomposition
and reformation into a mineral form. They mix with the alkaline slurry in the gas
cleaners and mineralize into a salt.
Has the Christopher Ranch system online and has emissions testing been
conducted?
We decided last year not to pursue the Christopher Ranch opportunity. The main
reason behind this decision was based on the availability of feedstock. Christopher
Ranch is a very large industrial farm that produces several different agricultural
products. It was not possible to bring mixed feedstocks including MSW, industrial
waste, C&D, etc. onto the facility which might contaminate produce production. It did
not make sense to continue to pursue the Ranch as a demonstration facility.
Do you have the results?
We have several results from our Mexico City facility and Monterrey, Mexico facility
which would be more appropriate to discuss in person, on the phone, etc.
Will you be able to burn absorbent boom (made of Polypropylene), tyvek suits
and other plastic material in the system or will it have to be diverted from it since
it might increase the dioxins?
Dioxin formation is not an issue with our technology. Polypropylene is a perfect feed
material for our technology and may increase power output by 2-3x.
How often will wood chips and the lime/water be replaced in a 24 hour period?
The slurry mixture is constantly being replaced in the processor... we use approximately
150 gallons a day depending on the fuel material. The wood chips will be replaced
every 4-6 weeks depending on level of contamination and fuel material processed.
It appears that HCL and HBr will be generated and be removed from the stack via
scrubbers. So it appears that the scrubbers will have these chemicals in them.
How will they be dealt with afterwards?
Once again stack removal is an option but not a requirement. To date we have not
produced these materials in excess and feel that they will only become an issue given
very specific feedstocks.
Trona is mentioned? What is that?
Sodium Sesqui-Carbonate - sodium based scrubber that is extremely effective in
mercury, arsenic and acidic removal.