BioWaste is becoming a valuable source for creating renewable and sustainable energy. Finding innovative and efficient ways create energy will be the key towards a greener, less wasteful planet. W2E (waste to energy) processes are becoming more in demand as they have developed methods to use what we consider waste, such as food, to digest into valuable energy.
Rotajet have recently installed a RJ-FL spray washer and 2 vibrating sieves that will help facilitate W2E at IP Polymers, a recycling and W2E site in Grimsby, Barrow-upon-Humber.
The installs
To degrease, wash and decontaminate the biowaste drums and containers, Rotajet have installed the RJ-FL Spray washer. This machine operates with powerful spray washing nozzles which blasts high pressured water and detergents onto the containers cleaning them of contaminants.
These containers are used to carry a mix of waste such as foods and oil which are filtered and prepared to be sent off to a bio-diesel or AD plant (aerobic digestion/food waste) to be produced into useful and useable energy
The internal basket rotates the containers around a series of fixed spray bars, fitted knife jets. This ensures every surface of the container is cleaned both internal and external. With the addition options of chemical detergent dosing and hot water, this machine has everything to guarantee a thorough extensive wash if needed.
To minimize the manual labour of loading and to reduce the risk of handling potentially dangerous substances, this machine is fitted with a wheeled loading trolly and custom basket that allows easy loading of the containers.
No waste is left behind as the contaminants collected from the wash is then re-filtered and recirculated back into the W2E process.
IP Polymers and a recycling facility which provide W2E services. They prepare waste materials such as UCO (used cooking oil) to export to biodiesel manufacturers who will process the materials further to generate energy.
The power created can be used to generate electricity that can be fed to the grid reducing the need to rely solely on harmful non-renewable electricity generation methods such as fossil fuels
Most biodiesel facilities require the oil to be filtered down to 400micron prior to it entering their process. These Erimaki sieves can accommodate to this and have the advantage of being able to filter continuously. Their powerful vibrations sifts the material through and their it’s no bag design means they have the capacity to filter hundreds if not thousands of litres per hour to meet potentially high throughput requirements.
Another advantage of these sieves is that the different feed factions are simply separated through the layers of screens and then deposited through the outer shoots meaning no manual collection is needed. With the continuous feed, filters can often need regular cleaning manually but the Erimaki sieves are are self-cleaning and don’t require any manual intervention.
The W2E Process
What is Biodiesel and how is it used?
Biodiesel is a fuel that is collected and produced from renewable oil based organics from biowaste such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. It is a cleaner and a more environmentally friendly -burning replacement for petrol based diesel fuel.
Many larger companies are slowly making the switch to use biodiesel as it is a renewable source, has lower pollution emissions, is less toxic and follows a circular solution to make the most from productions waste. Biodiesel can be used interchangeably with diesel fuel and can also be blended together to create a hybrid of the two.
The first step in the biodiesel process is collecting the sources which is carried out by companies such as IP Polymers who collect food waste and packaging containing oil organics to prepare them to be exported to biodiesel facilities. These oil organics mainly derive from food and oil waste such as vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease
The Bio-waste facilities will process the waste further to break down the organic matter and manufacture them into usable fuel for a variety applications. Biodiesel blended in various proportions with petroleum-based diesel is used mostly as a transportation fuel to power different vehicle engines. Other types of biodiesel are more suitable for electricity generation. Just like with fossil fuels, the biodiesel will be burned to release energy to power electricity generators.
At present, biodiesel is the second most consumed biofuel in the US and with being most eco, circular alternative to fuel it is expected that processes like this will start to become the more widespread method. With so much food, oil and organic waste we dispose of today, this process could be the solution for a circular, zero waste, energy generation towards a greener planet.