Message: 8 Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 16:01:50 -0500 From: "John Mullan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Biofuel] biodiesel from plastic To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
But what are you going to burn to attain "high enough temperatures" to break down the plastics so you can get more fuel to process more plastics? Well, this borders on "over unity", (which it is not), and is mostly theoretical in nature, but I have seen it almost work. Imagine a piece of paper (or plastic) burning. Now, this give off enough energy to 1) emit light 2) emit heat 3) emit enough energy to heat a portion next to the flame enough to vaporize and 4) ignite to continue burning. Now, imagine, taking the constituents out into separate paths, use the gas and some oil for a heat source, continue processing. In theory, there is enough energy to heat the plastic and vaporize (but not burn). Instead of burning the gas you re-introduce it to burn externally and give its heat to the process. Thermal Depolymerization or Pyrolisis, is being used, or at least experimented with. It works for not only plastics but also rubbers, tires, manures, coal, and other carbonatious materials such as 'turkey guts'. Some have greater energy output than others. AK On 8/28/2005, "Andy Karpay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >If my memory serves me right, "biodiesel from plastic" is neither "bio" >nor "diesel" The petroleum products from the feedstock (oil) in >plastics can be reclaimed by heating in an oxygen deficient atmosphere. >High enough temperatures will break the plastics down to a liquid and >then gas. The gas is collected and has the approximate btu content of >methane (perhaps more). Some will coalesce, or condense into an oily >substance. I suppose this substance can be refined to act like a diesel >fuel. It has many btu's in it too. > >AK > > _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
