Capture methane

[midnite2336]

So much talk about green house gases and I have yet to hear about capturing methane from land fills. Years ago I read that this is a great energy source and can be done with minimal expence. Also help the planet and give us another energy source. I had a relative who owned a small landfill and thirty years ago he was told by a energy company that there was enough methane produced from this land fill to heat the local village for 100 years. With as many landfills around the country that there are it seems that this would be a good energy source.

[fizzissist]

Already being done on small scales. Dairy farmers all over the place do it with their manure piles for power generation to reduce their energy costs.

But while you're capturing all that methane and thinking you're doing a good job for the environment, every time a "green" hydro-electric dam is built you create a whole new methane source. Three Gorges Dam is a great example of that.

Don't know why you haven't yet heard about methane landfill gas capture..been around for years..
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.r...ndfillgas.html

[Geof]

Yup, been done for decades, including capturing methane from sewage treatment plants and generating enough electricity to run the entire facility in some cases.

Not a really practical alternate energy source though because compared with total energy consumption there is only a trivial amount available from rotting garbage.

[fizzissist]

Seems like a real practical energy source to me...

First, Australia sends coal to China, they make garbage with it, send it to the U.S., and we make power from all that garbage we buy from China. How much more efficient can you be?

...We're discussing this at work right now, the issue of China/Garbage. Cheap box fans made in China, last for almost a season and a half, forcing you to buy a new fan. We ripped on apart to find that they're running steel-on-steel on a motor bearing. For a few bucks more they could put a bearing in it, and it would last for years...but OH, NO!! Can't have that, can we?

Creates "green" jobs...making fans that are more efficient, but don't last as long..

Well, we're taking a bunch of 'em apart to machine out the housing for bearings, and we'll stick bearings in 'em. I don't think this will bring Lasko to an end, but maybe people will start screaming one day for better quality products.

....which brings me to another story...I think I've told this one before, but worth re-telling...

[fizzissist]

So, I'm in a huge department store in Thailand, and there on the shelf is a coffee grinder. A German brand, Krupp. I bought one at home for about $20US. It was made in China.

The one in Thailand was identical (horsepower, color, voltage, everything). It was $54US. It was made in Mexico.

What's wrong with this picture?

[KIMFAB]

I see Geof is back from on tour. How was it? I missed my Alaska cruise this year and got a new back instead. So far seems to be a good swap.

Fizzy
I just passed thru there was going to call but didn't have time. Hoping to be up there again by the end of summer.
I was outside yesterday at 120 deg and it got me thinking of how to harness all that heat. What about a parabolic mirror directing that heat to a pipe filled with water and powering a steam engine? Does anyone in your outfit have info on the watts per sq ft here in the Vegas area?

[devincox]

Here is something I saw a special on discovery.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_Solar_One

"...electricity production is estimated to be 134 million kilowatt hours per year"

The plant uses 18,240 of these four-meter-long tubes

The total project site is approximately 400 acres (0.6 mi² / 1.6 km²), while the solar collectors cover 300 acres (1.2 km2).

with a nominal capacity of 64 MW and maximum capacity of 75 MW, as of June 2007

Someone else can do the math. (c;

Super interesting plant/process.

Devin

[fizzissist]

Fizzy
I just passed thru there was going to call but didn't have time. Hoping to be up there again by the end of summer.
I was outside yesterday at 120 deg and it got me thinking of how to harness all that heat. What about a parabolic mirror directing that heat to a pipe filled with water and powering a steam engine? Does anyone in your outfit have info on the watts per sq ft here in the Vegas area?

365Watts/sq meter is the average net.

Gimme a call next time....my turn to buy dinner...remember? How's the bumper project going? The CNC mill project?

Up here in the north, we've been hoping to hook up Harry Reid and collect hot air. Hot Air Windmill Harry....got a nice ring to it?

All that spent nuke fuel could be brought to Yuccy and we could extract power from the waste heat of decay.

[KIMFAB]

So 500 watts for a 8' X 2' unit might be usable if something can be made on a smaller scale.Will have to check out this solar one thing too although only a 15% efficiency rating is proposed by them. Thanks both of you.
Fizzy
Got the Shiz cnc up and have already put out two jobs on it. Forget about Harry he is way too slippery altho we might catch him this election if the repubs can keep it in their pants.

[cncjunky]

So much talk about green house gases and I have yet to hear about capturing methane from land fills. Years ago I read that this is a great energy source and can be done with minimal expence. Also help the planet and give us another energy source. I had a relative who owned a small landfill and thirty years ago he was told by a energy company that there was enough methane produced from this land fill to heat the local village for 100 years. With as many landfills around the country that there are it seems that this would be a good energy source.

Actually there is much talk of it by a billionaire by the name of T-BoonPickens. That is what he wants to do and it would be a very viable source of electricity. But there are some greedy b@stards that just don't want to let it happen.