(735s) Optimizing Energy Production from Hydrothermal Gasification of Blackwater

Mainstream Engineering has developed and demonstrated production of energy from a blackwater treatment system that concentrates waste solids in the blackwater and performs subsequent hydrothermal gasification and wastewater treatment. The deployable system is designed to be self-sustaining and operate in remote, deployed locations, where simple operation under optimal conditions of a varying feedstock is critical. Unlike conventional wastewater treatment systems that operate on pre-digested sewage sludge, no pre-retention is allowed, requiring a wetter, and more raw feedstock. In addition, the energy produced must be balanced against the requirement complete removal of organic carbon from the remaining water waste to meet stringent disposal requirements. To meet these conditions, improved understanding of continuous flow gasification of these feedstocks is needed. Mainstream conducted experimental investigation of varying blackwater feedstocks (solids loading 1 – 6%) in batch (15 – 60 minutes) and continuous (1 – 6 minutes) under a range of temperatures and catalysts and resulting gas composition and yield determined. The resulting mechanisms, impact of feedstock on yield, and best conditions for producing energy were determined, indicating the ideal product breakdown resulted in low hydrogen yields and high methane yields for easy energy generation by standard process equipment.