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Waste-to-Energy

Ardau™ – Pollutant-free, ultra low cost Electricity from Waste

The System

Ardau is a system that converts waste and other fuels into energy without emitting any pollution. A chemical reaction inside an enclosed pressure vessel extracts the maximum energy from the waste. Wastes that can be treated include municipal waste, factory waste, medical waste, sewage and plastics.

Heat and power are generated from this waste on a commercial scale with extreme efficiency. More power is produced from the same quantity of waste, making Ardau installations highly profitable.

There is no new technology involved in the process. It uses tried and tested technologies in a new configuration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercritical_fluid

Supercritical Fluid

Ardau in Operation

The main output from the Ardau pressure vessel is supercritical fluid (a form of superheated steam) at a very high temperature and pressure. This is used to drive a turbo-expander to generate electricity, though some may be taken off for other purposes such as hydrogen generation. Turbo-expanders with generator sets are very efficient producers of electricity and are a well-established technology.

Inorganic (unconsumed) matter drops out of the pressure vessel without disturbing its operation. Any valuable metals in this material can be recovered and sold. The residue is sterile and inert and can be sold for hard core.

Ardau installations can operate 24/7 with only two hours downtime for cleaning each year, and a two-day maintenance programme every five years.

Ardau systems are completely enclosed. There is no uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases, particulates or other pollutants. All outputs can be captured and sold, creating additional revenue streams.

Installation

Ardau systems are not expensive to install or maintain and have a small footprint (less than a basketball court or two tennis courts).

An Ardau system fits into a standard 40ft container, so can be transported by road or helicopter to a remote community thereby enabling it to produce power and clean water from its own waste and sewage.

A small (5MW) Ardau installation can meet the power needs of around 3,000 families.

Profitability

Waste-to-Energy installations can be very profitable as waste is normally subject to ‘gate fees’. These are charges that the entity disposing of the waste pays to the waste-to-energy provider. In the UK these fees can be over £100 per tonne. They mean that fuel is not a cost but actually an additional source of income, making such installations extremely profitable.

Possible Fuels:

Any carboniferous material can be used to feed the chemical reaction. These include:

  • Fossil Fuels – Coal; Lignite; Coal Waste; Oil; Petroleum Coke
  • Biomass – Wood and Wood Waste; Agricultural Waste; Livestock Waste
  • General Waste – Plastics; Municipal Waste; Factory Waste; Medical Waste; Sewage

Outputs from Ardau systems:

Electricity As described earlier.

Output Gases The turbo expander outputs a mixture of gases, primarily carbon dioxide and nitrogen. These can all be captured and stored (carbon capture and storage). If required the different gases can be separated and sold.

Hydrogen Current methods of generating hydrogen are expensive. The output from an Ardau system can be used to produce hydrogen at a lower cost in two different ways:

  1. Some of the supercritical fluid from the Ardau pressure vessel is passed directly to a conventional ‘steam reforming’ installation where it supplies the heat necessary for that process.
  2. Some or all of the electricity from the turbo-expander is used to ‘split’ water to generate hydrogen in a standard ‘electrolyser’.

Because the Ardau pressure vessel generates power so efficiently the cost of the hydrogen produced is reduced significantly in both cases.

Pure Water Clean water is a by-product of the Ardau process, so the installation can function as a low cost desalination facility.

Who or What Can Benefit By Using Ardau?

  • The Planet as the Ardau process emits no pollutants so reducing global warming
  • Existing Power Generators who can both use cheap fuel and become ‘green’
  • Regions and Countries seeking to be environmentally responsible
  • Corporations seeking to offset or reduce their carbon/environmental footprint
  • Businesses as Ardau installations can be extremely profitable
  • Remote Communities who do not have access to a power grid