In part 2 of today’s posts about technologies that could save the world comes this one, about the most magical machine possibly ever invented. Above you see Startech Environmental Corporation’s Plasma Converter, a machine that uses a plasma arc to convert trash into an obsidian-like product useful in several manufacturing processes. And it is self-sustaining. Ok that’s the Cliff’s Notes version, here is the mind-blowing detail:
The entire thing takes up about as much space as a two-car garage, surprisingly compact for a machine that can consume nearly any type of waste—from dirty diapers to chemical weapons—by annihilating toxic materials in a process as old as the universe itself. Called plasma gasification, it works a little like the big bang, only backward (you get nothing from something). Inside a sealed vessel made of stainless steel and filled with a stable gas—either pure nitrogen or, as in this case, ordinary air—a 650-volt current passing between two electrodes rips electrons from the air, converting the gas into plasma. Current flows continuously through this newly formed plasma, creating a field of extremely intense energy very much like lightning. The radiant energy of the plasma arc is so powerful, it disintegrates trash into its constituent elements by tearing apart molecular bonds. The system is capable of breaking down pretty much anything except nuclear waste, the isotopes of which are indestructible. The only by-products are an obsidian-like glass used as a raw material for numerous applications, including bathroom tiles and high-strength asphalt, and a synthesis gas, or “syngas”—a mixture of primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be converted into a variety of marketable fuels, including ethanol, natural gas and hydrogen.
Alright, is your mind torn asunder into tiny pieces yet? Here is where it gets fricking incredible:
Just like your toaster, Startech’s Plasma Converter draws its power from the electrical grid to get started. The initial voltage is about equal to the zap from a police stun gun. But once the cycle is under way, the 2,200˚F syngas is fed into a cooling system, generating steam that drives turbines to produce electricity. About two thirds of the power is siphoned off to run the converter; the rest can be used on-site for heating or electricity, or sold back to the utility grid.
That’s right, once you start this machine, as long as you keep feeding it trash, it keeps spitting out usable byproducts and generates enough energy to keep itself running. It is basically the holy grail, and the answer to many of our world’s problems right now. If a city were to start using a machine like this, they could convert their waste to usable byproducts while generating electricity that can be sold to its residents. Win-win-win. Mr. Fusion is real. Oh and I wrote about systems that convert garbage to electricity twice before, but that was a biological process that can only handle organic trash, this is the real deal.
July 15th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
hi, i am curious to know if this machine already exists, and how the electrodes can be charged initially, also if the construction of this machine is possible with positive utility. if yes why has this machine not yet been used? if it is… i would really like to know where it is!!
July 15th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
click the link contained in the post to read the full article over on popular science’s website. it appears to be a demonstration technology for now- i too pray it one day makes it into the real world.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:35 am
i am interested in this type of technology, please tell me more i have access to loads of gabbages over 30million tons. i am passionate about reusing gabbages we can go extra miles.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 am
The most recent report I saw on National Geographic says that the process has been made much more efficient by processing the garbage at 1100 degrees and then converting it to plasma. It seems that this is definitely the most promising method for waste disposal but I wondered it the technology might have further uses.
Here in Missouri the utility company wants to abandon coal, which is plentiful, and build additional nuclear generation. There is of course some concern with safety and there seems no solution to nuclear waste.
Wouldn’t a plasma arc generator burn the coal cleanly without solid or expressed waste. While the trash process nets only one third the much denser coal should produce significantly more energy.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Truly clean coal. Interesting idea… not familiar enough with the technology to know if one type of fuel yields more energy than others. Regardless, this system should be under much wider public attention.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Is this technology in use right now, or is it in trial stages still?
How do I get in touch with this company?
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I only know as much as you see here, I wish I knew more myself!
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June 11th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
People seem confused. No, the technology is not in use because it is not cost efficient. Currently it is far cheaper to bury garbage then to process it. I have always suspected that states will increase the taxes on landfill and eventually make it worthwhile but to date that has not happened.
Some one asked if different fuels give off greater energy than others the answer is definitely. Try to run your car on celery juice and you will get the idea.
June 13th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
These types of plasma systems were great a few years ago, however, this tech. has been surpassed in performance. Pulsed gauss thermal induction has an electron sequestering property to create electricity, and recycles thermal energy through the electron field. This type of plasma can return three to twenty eight times the electricity required to operate the system depending on the amount of electrons brought into the system by the elements being heated to plasma. This type of system operates at much hotter temps (28K C to 60K C).With magnetic funnelling all elements can be harvested individually for recycling resulting in zero emission potential.
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