Generator eats garbage, poops energy

[fireandrain]

It supposedly creates 90% more energy than it uses, which is damned impressive. Alright, when can this be ready for consumer use?

http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2007a/0...adischBio.html

Great idea,but, uh, "poops energy?"

ewwwwww!

[david16]

"It supposedly creates 90% more energy than it uses"

And the 1st Law of Thermodynamics thought it was all that.

Originally Posted by david16

"It supposedly creates 90% more energy than it uses"

And the 1st Law of Thermodynamics thought it was all that.

Keep in mind this generator is consuming fuel. Therefore the claim that it creates 90% more energy than it uses, though poorly worded, may very well be true.

Or are you going to claim that oil/coal violates the 1st law of thermodynamics because digging it out of the ground uses less energy than we get from burning it?

Or that a car engine violates the 1st law because it creates more energy than it takes to keep it running?

[ecolodge]

Interesting concept. This machine is portable? Looks a little bulky to me. It would be interesting to find out the noise level and power output (which was not included in the article). I do see some pitfalls with this generator, but am certainly willing to learn more.

[arno]

What really frustrates me about crazy inventions like these are the fact that they were developed "for soldiers". Can't somebody design something for the good of all of humanity?

Originally Posted by arno

What really frustrates me about crazy inventions like these are the fact that they were developed "for soldiers". Can't somebody design something for the good of all of humanity?

Would be nice, wouldn't it. Plus the thing looks like it is roughly the size of a small room. Not quite on the portable scale yet.

[Haanu]

Umm What about pollutants? How much pollution does this thing create.

The tactical biorefinery first separates organic food material from residual trash, such as paper, plastic, Styrofoam and cardboard. The food waste goes to a bioreactor where industrial yeast ferments it into ethanol, a "green" fuel. Residual materials go to a gasifier where they are heated under low-oxygen conditions and eventually become low-grade propane gas and methane. The gas and ethanol are then combusted in a modified diesel engine that powers a generator to produce electricity.

[seven]

Are you sure Exxon didn't buy the patent on this yet? Seems they would want to squash this