BOB, I am pleased to answer your question about the residue from the TTRIF process. I believe you have asked a very good question -- one that I think separates TTRIF from the competitors that I have investigated. First I would like to correct your assumption about the output of Hamilton. It is true that the Hamilton plant could reach a capacity of 600 tons per day, but in reality I would be happy to see an average throughput of 500 tons per day. This is because it would be difficult to schedule delivery of 600 tons per day every day.
The organic waste materials come from various sources, but the average solids content is probably about 18%. This would include about 13% organic solids, 5% non-organic contaminants, and 82% water. The resulting product is shipped at 90% solids, meaning 90% organic product and 10% water. This moisture is required to form a good pellet and is the standard for animal feed or fertilizer products. As a result of this process about 15% of the input tonnage is sold as product, 5% is solid waste in the form of clean washed metal or glass that goes to landfill disposal and 80% is water. Before the installation of the evaporator at Hamilton, most of that water was transported to farmers for mixing with their dry animal feed. The content of organic matter resulted in effluent that was too high in suspended solids and biological oxygen demand for normal sewer discharge. Now that portion is processed through the evaporator so the protein and fats are reclaimed and mixed with the primary product to increase the volume and quality of the product. The evaporated water is condensed and directed to the industrial sewer system at nearly drinkable quality. The water looks very much like the distilled water you buy at the supermarket. A small part of the water escapes from the thermal oxidizer as water vapor. Therefore, for every 100 tons of input, the output would be approximately as follows: Product: 15%; Solid waste: 5%; Water to sewer: 70%; Water vapor: 10%
Now to answer your questions about costs. Previously TTRIF had to pay the cost of transportation to take the centrate to farmers. Transportation cost was open to bid by various waste hauling companies. Rene was not an owner of the successful transportation company. But that is now history. The distilled water now goes down the sewer at normal industrial discharge rates, with no surcharge because it meets the limits for suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, etc. Solid wastes are transported to landfill at normal landfill tipping fees. Air emissions are eliminated because all air is discharged through the thermal oxidizer. The Thermo Master plant therefore operates without any adverse impact on the environment and satisfies all environmental requirements for liquid effuent, solid waste and air emissions.
I hope this answers your question in layman's terms, but if you want more clarification, please let me know.
Best regards,
Cliff Maki |
