Course:ECON371/UBCO2010WT1/GROUP7/Article3

Article #3 OCTOBER 20,2010 Robert Oeming Summary- The article emphasizes one specific method to create alternative fuel sources through the conversion of non-biodegradble plastics to clean, cost efficient fuel. Undergraduates at Northeastern university have identified the method: a "double - tank combustor" which works in a two step process turning recycled plastic into steam and heat. The heat propels the combuster as the steam generates electrical power; a completly self sustaining unit.

Analysis - This article highlights a very important recycling aspect which will surely be integrated into our future. The process of taking non-biodegradable plastics and transforming them into useful sources of fuel works to improve standards regarding consumption control and resource management. The demand for alternative fuels has become a necessity in our generation; imagine the burden the future holds. Through this conversion, we are taking a gaint leap in preserving the fossil fuel we have left, as well as the fuel for tomorrow. The potential yeilds approximetly 462 million barrels of petroluem, a massive step ahead in self sustainability.

Transforming Waste Plastic into an Alternative Fuel

By Teresa Cheong, Northeastern University | June 3, 2010 | 11 Comments

Boston, United States -- Student researchers at Northeastern University have designed an apparatus to convert plastic waste into clean energy while minimizing the release of harmful emissions. 

Under the leadership of Yiannis Levendis, distinguished professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, a team of undergraduate and graduate engineering students developed a waste combustor, which breaks down non-biodegradable plastics to create an alternative source of fuel.

Their prototype was featured at the fifth annual MIT Energy Conference this past March. The team worked for nine months on the research, which, for the undergraduates, was their senior capstone project.

Self-sustainability is the key to the double-tank combustor design. Plastic waste is first processed in an upper tank through pyrolysis, which converts solid plastic into gas. Next, the gas flows to a lower tank, where it is burned with oxidants to generate heat and steam. The heat sustains the combustor while the steam can be used to generate electric power.

“The prototype can be scaled up to drive a large power plant, which could connect to a plastic recycling center for a constant flow of fuel,” said David Laskowski, an undergraduate student working on the team.

Levendis, who has pursued research on the combustion of plastics and other post-consumer wastes for the past 20 years, is currently focusing on the concept of vaporizing solid plastic waste, which would reduce levels of harmful emissions during the combustion process.

“The inspiration behind my research is the quest to develop clean, cost-efficient power sources in the face of dwindling fossil fuel reserves,” Levendis said. “It will also help get rid of unsightly, non-biodegradable plastic waste that cannot be recycled.”

According to Laskowski, calculations show that the new technology has the potential of replacing up to 462 million gallons of petroleum in the United States alone, if all recycled plastics were to be processed.

“We are currently consuming highly-priced conventional premium fuels (to produce electricity). The fuel developed using this system will lower the cost of electricity for future generations,” Levendis said.

The team members included Jeff Young, Shane McElroy, Jason Lee, David Laskowski, David Garufi, and Paul Conroy, all senior undergraduate students; and Brendan Hall and Chuanwei Zhuo, who are graduate students.

With the success of their prototype, Hall and Zhuo plan to continue working with Levendis on further development of the project.

OCTOBER 20, 2010

Pauline Berry's Additional Notes: Summary- The compilation of alternative fuel research by numerous undergraduate and graduate students has lead to the discovery of recycling plastic waste into a biodegradable fuel source that will decrease the cost of fuel for future generations and produce much better ambient environmental quality as well as, give consumers alternatives to our current "highly-priced conventional fuel." It describes the simplistic process of producing the fuel from the plastic waste and states it could easily mass produce the fuel with a plastic recycling centre nearby to keep a constant flow of fuel coming in.

Analysis- The development of an alternative source of fuel through means of recycling is a method that basically kills two birds with one stone, if i may state. It almost sounds too good to be true, using a by-product of human use as a source to fuel our methods of transportation. I completely agree with Rob when he sates that we could now have greater control over resource and consumption by being able to eliminate the amount of plastic waste used by humans and reduce their impact on the environment by composing a fuel system that is powered by this plastic "gold" , we are now able to reduce the abundant negative impacts of plastic on our environment. In accordance with Rob's second last statement, this process also aids with the preservation of our scare fossil fuels left in our fuel sector. This discovery is definitely a positive impact that may soon alleviate our society's problems with environmental quality.