Richard, That is a great insight - if DAF can be use to contain CO2 near the surface of an algae pond, without the need of a tent (transparent roof) structure.
I was content with a moderately high precast concrete enclosure wall, using sensors to control the CO2 release. Silly as it seems, an open structure, as opposed to enclosed, is BY FAR the greatest cost savings which is available for this application... as Richard has no doubt immediately noticed. I agree that a gas turbine makes more sense in this kind of application. Unfortunately, gas turbine gen-sets in the mid range (1-50 MW-hr) are often (at least in published costs) not as economical as diesels, even though they should be lower - if the volume of production were higher. Diesels are preferred by industry in high torque applications, and consequently are produced in greater numbers, with lower costs, although the gap seems to be narrowing. High torque on the low end is not needed for this application and turbines offer much higher reliability. Russia seems to be able to sell gas turbines here far more cheaply than Allison, for instance, but is that a risk, or a temporary advantage -- down the road in cost/reliability? Jones --- "R.C.Macaulay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Howdy Vorts, > > To add thoughts to Jones green machine post. > Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a process used in > wastewater treating to > remove the final remaining fine solids from treated > sewage water . > The process entails adding liquid polymer and air as > the wastewater is > pumped into a settling tank. The polymer and air > bonds to the solids and > float to the surface where a skimmer sweeps off the > foam and the processed > ( near clear) water travels to the chlorination > basin for disinfecting. A > vegetable based near jell could be substituted for > the polymer and a soil > activator added for growth stimulation of the > skimmed foam to be pumped into > an algae pond. Seem that a gas turbine engine would > suffice as well as a > Jones Beene Caterpilar diesel engine and make lotsa > CO 2.bubbling up. > > Years ago a fellow working as a brakeman on SPRR > between San Antonio and LA > noticed the huge and amazing growth of algae ponds > out in the wet spot slues > in the desert of Arizona. He dipped a bucket of mud > "culture" from the pond > and cultured a liquid stimulator sold worldwide > today called "Medina". Could > it be that such existing technology be used in > developing a biomass gas and > liquid extraction plant without using corn ? We have > the sewer plant but > where's the beef? > > Richard > >
