HomeMy WebLinkAboutNantucket RFI Exhibit C - TrashologyTrashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
Form C. Narrative Responses to Town questions
3 Develop a new facility on Nantucket to process solid waste that would supplement or replace the
Composter using technology chosen and provided by Respondent.
3-1 Waste feedstocks. Indicate the components of solid waste to be processed at the new facility.
Provide information on composition standards or specifications that might apply to each material
that might be processed. If available, provide standard definitions of Acceptable and Unacceptable
Waste.
• __X__ MSW.
• _____ Sewage sludge.
• __X__ Leaf and yard waste.
• __X__ Residuals from the Composter (plastics and inert materials) if operated past 2025.
• __X__ NRNCs (non-recyclable non-compostable materials).
• _____ Other (please specify). _______________________________________________
3-2 General description of proposed facility and technology. Provide or attach a general description of
the proposed facility and technology and indicate how it might be implemented on Nantucket. The
description might include the following:
a. Process flow diagram or block diagram that shows the sequence of steps that comprise the
facility, including acceptance and pre-processing of feedstocks, production of products and
generation and removal of residuals.
Trashology’s Pur-Gen system is a small-scale on-site waste-to-energy conversion system, capable of
processing 3 tons of waste per day. The technology is comprised of three major system operations: the
Solid Waste Pre-Processor (SWP), the Gasification System, and the Power Generation System. Unsorted,
comingled MSW is loaded into the SWP system, typically through a front-end loading process, and is
processed to condition the waste for densification into fuel pellets. The fuel pellets are fed into a
proprietary downdraft gasification system, which produces clean, synthetic gas. The synthetic gas is then
utilized in the power generation unit to produce thermal energy and electricity. The figures below
outline the high-level operations of the Pur-Gen system, as well as detail on the SWP system’s
operations.
Figure 1. Overview of major unit operations for Trashology’s Pur-Gen system.
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
Figure 2. Overview of the Solid Waste Pre-Processor’s (SWP) unit operations.
Figure 3 below outlines Trashology’s vision for the waste management cycle using the Pur-Gen system.
Implementing the Pur-Gen system in combination with existing recycling, reuse, and composting
practices, can eliminate the need for landfilling completely. This closes the loop on some of the most
environmentally costly waste management practices, while allowing for the generation of clean power
from otherwise wasted material resources.
Figure 3. Overview of the waste management process using the Pur-Gen system.
b. General arrangement showing typical equipment lay-out and indicative footprint requirements.
The Pur-Gen system was originally designed for use in military applications and is built around standard
shipping container form factors. The images below show two installations of the Pur-Gen system. The
general layout is a linear configuration of shipping containers. The exact form factor of the unit is
customizable to support on-site space and operational demands. Additionally, the front-end loading
system can be custom configured depending on available equipment on-site and preferred loading
procedures.
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
Figure 4. Pur-Gen system, shown with vertical cane front-end loader.
Figure 5. Another configuration of the Pur-Gen system, complete with a conveyor style loading system.
The shipping container form factor results in typical plant dimensions of 8.5’ (height) x 8.5’ (width) x 60’
(length). Because each unit acts as a standalone waste processing system, multiple units can be situated
in parallel to expand capacity. c. Typical mass and energy balances showing indicative amounts of feedstocks, products, and
residuals.
Figure 6 below outlines typical mass and energy balances for the Pur-Gen system, and assumes nominal
performance and consistent waste loading. Estimates for products and residuals are also included. From
3 tons/day processing, the system produces a net 75 kW of electrical power as well as over 100 kW of
thermal energy. It is worth noting that the power production system is currently configured to operate
on diesel fuel, which is mainly driven by military operational demand in the combat theatre. Trashology
is actively developing a new power production system which does not rely on diesel fuel to support
power generation.
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
Figure 6. Typical system inputs/outputs for the Pur-Gen system, operating at nominal performance.
d. Information on indicative measures of performance, such as fraction of incoming organic material
converted to products; fraction of incoming material typically requiring disposal as residual
material, or others as appropriate.
The Pur-Gen system is designed to process 3 tons/day of comingled waste inputs. Over the course of
processing, 0.6 tons of water vapor is produced during the drying process. This water vapor stream is
filtered and cleaned prior to being released to the atmosphere in a diluted manner in air. The metal
separation process captures a small portion of the overall waste stream, and is typically comprised of
ferrous and non-ferrous metals, glass, minerals, and other inorganic materials. These separated
materials are able to be disposed of or recycled through existing methods.
The downdraft gasifier takes in roughly 2.4 tons/day of fuel pellets and produces synthetic gas to
support power and thermal energy production. During gasification, roughly 0.16 tons of residual
carbon/ash is produced and collected. This ash can be reused as an aggregate in the production of
paving and building materials. The gasifier and power production systems produce a net 75kW of
electrical power, which can be utilized to support on-site demands or be fed back into the grid.
Figure 7 outlines additional processing parameters and specifications for each stage of the Pur-Gen
system’s operations, including process rates and net energy balances.
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
Figure 7. Overview of the Pur-Gen system’s processing parameters and specifications.
e. Product outputs of the facility with discussion of specifications and potential markets.
Output residuals are typically small in quantity and can be sorted and recycled using existing methods.
Power production from the system can be utilized on-site to support operations and other equipment as
needed or metered back to the utility, and thermal power production is reutilized to support the
operations of the SWP system. Collected ash/carbon residuals can be utilized as aggregate in the
production of paving and building materials.
f. Preferred circumstances for product off-take and marketing. Is Nantucket likely to be a favorable
or unfavorable location for finding product markets?
Nantucket is likely to be an excellent location for finding product markets. The residual char/ash
produced during gasification can be easily integrated into aggregate and pavement operations, or can
be safely utilized as a landfill cap. Separated inorganics, such as metals and glass, can be sorted and
recycled in accordance with existing methods.
g. Typical amounts and composition of solid waste residuals, potential air emissions and potential
aqueous discharges from facility operations. Discuss the preferred approaches to managing
residuals and mitigating potential impacts of air emissions and aqueous discharges.
The Pur-Gen system is designed to produce low residuals and emissions. As described above, carbon/ash
can be reutilized directly into new material production. The system does not produce any aqueous
discharges, and all water vapor production is cleaned and filtered prior to release into the environment.
The downdraft gasification emissions profile currently meets EPA regulations 40 CFR Part 60, subpart
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
EEEE. In addition, new developments in the power production system aim to produce power and
thermal energy with even fewer emissions and without the need for diesel fuel.
Residuals analysis using TCLP methods has been performed on the carbon/ash byproduct produced
during the gasification process. Figure 8 below outlines the results of the residuals analysis.
Figure 8. Carbon/ash residuals analysis using TCLP methods.
h. The technical and economic advantages of the proposed technology compared to composting and
to competing technologies.
The Pur-Gen system offers fully automated waste processing capability. Once the front-end loader
configuration is designed and implemented, the system can be easily introduced into existing waste
management processes with little need for additional equipment or manpower. Current methods of
sorting and processing waste are energy-intensive and still rely on the use of landfills for all materials
which cannot be recycled, reused, or composted. This has major negative impacts on the environment
due to the production of greenhouse gases and leachate from landfilling, especially in a small
community environment such as Nantucket. The major benefit of the Pur-Gen system is its ability to
eliminate the need for landfilling, while also producing environmentally friendly energy from waste
materials which otherwise would have been buried underground. This would be an excellent
opportunity for Nantucket to set an example as a forward-thinking community focused on
environmentally friendly waste management practices.
i. For technologies that would process the organic fraction of MSW or sewage sludge, whether the
technology has the capability to destroy PFAs and supporting test results, if available.
Does not apply.
3-3 Level of commercialization. To characterize the state of commercialization of the technology,
identify reference facilities or locations for each of the following, applicable dates for start-up and
completion of each stage, whether the Respondent is the owner and/or operator of the facility;
and, if not, any continued role of Respondent with the facility:
Trashology’s Pur-Gen system has been in development since 2008, primarily under contracts through
the Department of Defense (DoD). Throughout Trashology’s time developing this system, several field
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
tests have been performed. The list below outlines past installations and field tests, as well as future
testing and field tests currently planned.
Past Field Tests:
• Edwards AFB, CA (2012 – 2013)
• Fort Benning, GA (2015 – 2016)
Future Field Tests:
• Army Corps of Engineers waste variability study in 2021
• Final field test scheduled for 2022 at Fort Knox, KY
Note: All field tests were conducted at the 3 ton per day operating capacity.
• Multiple systems would be utilized to meet throughput requirement
o 3 tons/day is the upper limit in terms of individual system scale due to the nature of
downdraft gasification – larger scale produces lower-quality synthetic gas.
Larger operations can be accommodated through operating multiple systems in parallel,
producing high-quality synthetic gas and low emissions.
Plant is expandable indefinitely with the addition of more systems.
Commercialization: In 2019, Trashology received an investment to transition the technology from the
DoD market to the commercial market. Trashology has a comprehensive road-map for
commercialization. Below is a brief overview of the expected path to a commercial system:
• 2021 – 2022: Development, engineering, and testing of commercial-scale unit.
• 2023: First commercial system to be installed at pilot customer facility in TN.
• Commercial System will be designed to process waste streams consisting of: food, unrecyclable
paper/cardboard, plastics, biomass, and textiles. Expected compositional ranges for each
feedstock are shown below:
o Food: 10-60% wt
o Paper/cardboard 5-70% wt
o Plastics: 0-30%
o Biomasses: 0-70%
o Textiles: 0-20%
3-4 Business arrangements. Describe anticipated business arrangements with the Town, which might
include agreements for feedstock supply, lease of a site, marketing of products and other
agreements. Discuss the anticipated approach to development, ownership and financing, and any
required roles for the Town in the process. Address the duration of the agreements that would be
needed.
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
• Would the Town be required to guaranty delivery of minimum amounts of feedstock? How
might the contract be structured to provide the Respondent with incentives to encouraging
waste reduction and divert NRNCs from incoming material?
Trashology’s intention is to provide equipment and maintenance services to Nantucket to support waste
management. No guarantees would be required to operate the Pur-Gen system. Once the system is
purchased and installed, waste materials can be fed as they are available up to the 3 tons/day limit. The
system is outfitted with robust automation capabilities and self-regulates based upon the amount of
waste materials loaded. If less than 3 tons/day is loaded, less electricity output would be generated, and
the capacity of waste reduction would be limited.
• Could the Respondent provide guaranties of performance?
Trashology can provide a guarantee on the overall efficiency of the system in terms of electricity
produced per ton of waste materials processed. This system efficiency would be established through
testing using waste feedstocks roughly equivalent to those produced in Nantucket.
• If the Respondent is not ready to provide a facility on a commercial basis, would the
Respondent consider siting a pilot project or commercial demonstration project on Nantucket?
Trashology would love to participate in a pilot program and believes it would be an excellent
opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of the Pur-Gen system at a small-scale. A pilot program
would also provide useful data and help to define realistic expectations of processing capabilities, cost
estimates, and energy production using typical waste streams seen on Nantucket. Trashology also
knows that opportunities may exist through state organizations, such as Mass CEC, to support the
implementation of a pilot program on Nantucket.
3-5 Schedule. Provide a high-level schedule for development of the facility from approval of key
agreements to commercial operation. Under what circumstances might a facility achieve
commercial operation by December 1, 2025?
Trashology proposes the following development schedule, which would begin following a signed
agreement for the purchase of Pur-Gen systems.
• Engineering and Development: 3 Months
• Fabrication and Assembly: 6 Months
• Manufacturing Testing: 1 Month
• Shipping and Installation: 1 Month
• Commissioning: 1 Month
Trashology
277 Baker Ave. Concord, MA 01742
www.trashology.com | 978-264-0679
3-6 Costs. Provide indicative information on anticipated ranges of tip fees to be charged for feedstock
processing and on overall capital cost of the facility.
Trashology would develop a return on investment (ROI) model based on detailed information on
Nantucket’s existing waste management operations and cost structures. Trashology expects a 3-year
payback schedule based on existing estimates for tipping fees on Nantucket, and estimates $121/ton in
equivalent tipping fees when processing using the Pur-Gen system. This 3-year return on initial
investment is based on a unit sales price of ~$1M, annual anticipated maintenance cost, waste tipping
fees and the system’s power production capabilities compared against current electricity pricing on
Nantucket ($/kWh).
3-7 Other Comments. Feel free to provide. Note that the Town has a particular interest in technology
that can treat or destroy PFAs found in sewage sludge or other solid waste wastes or products.
The Town would also welcome information and estimates of greenhouse gas production or
reductions for the proposed actions or alternatives.
Trashology is excited at the opportunity to work with the island of Nantucket to enhance their waste
management capabilities and believes the Pur-Gen system could dramatically improve the
environmental impacts of waste management on the island while simultaneously producing clean
energy. The Pur-Gen system can eliminate Nantucket’s reliance on landfilling practices, which in turn will
have positive impacts on the local environment through reduced greenhouse gas and leachate
emissions. Nantucket, being a small island community, has the potential to become a leader in
environmentally friendly waste management practices, and Trashology hopes to be a part of making
that vision a reality.