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British company turns plastic waste into hydrogen and aims to produce 35 tons per day for clean energy
UK-based Powerhouse Energy Group has announced the start of operations of its Feedstock Test Unit (FTU), a system designed to convert plastic waste into hydrogen. The technology is part of an innovative approach to the uptake of solid waste.
The unit, located at the company’s Technology Centre in Bridgend, Wales, was recently unveiled to a group of 50 investors during a private event.
The project is a smaller-scale representation of the Distributed Modular Generation (DMG) technology developed by Powerhouse.
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Paul Emmitt, CEO of Powerhouse Energy Group, highlighted that the company is studying the challenges of pyrolysis and waste gasification. According to him, the FTU is the result of extensive research and development, seeking to improve the efficiency and viability of converting plastic waste into clean fuels.
"Powerhouse is aware of the issues that have plagued the use of pyrolysis and gasification on waste and therefore to date we have focused our efforts on research and development, culminating in this FTU“, said Paul.
Process simulation in a controlled environment
The FTU has the capacity to process 2,5 tons of plastic waste per day. Although it is a small scale, the structure allows the simulation of the main processes of a large commercial unit, which is expected to reach a capacity of 35 tons per day in the future.
The unit’s operation has been tested continuously. Reports indicate that the technology has demonstrated positive results in prolonged testing. However, as this is an experimental project, continuous and full operation is not expected throughout the testing phase.
The system also allows for the optimization of parameters for future business units. With this, Powerhouse seeks to improve process efficiency and ensure that its technology can be implemented on a larger scale.
Plastic waste conversion
FTU provides a platform for testing different types of plastic waste and assessing their viability for conversion into hydrogen. The process occurs through pyrolysis, a thermochemical decomposition that occurs in the absence of oxygen.
This method breaks down plastics into their original chemical components. The main product of this process is synthesis gas, a mixture rich in hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide.
The Powerhouse system was developed with a focus on maximizing the proportion of hydrogen in the synthesis gas. This element is considered one of the most promising fuels for the energy transition, as it can be used as a clean source of energy.
Purification and use of synthesis gas
Before being used, synthesis gas undergoes a purification process, removing acidic compounds and unwanted impurities. The result is a clean gas stream, ready for a variety of applications.
This gas can be used to generate electricity using gas turbines or processed to obtain pure hydrogen. The versatility of this product allows the technology to be adapted to different demands in the energy market.
Plastic Waste Conversion: Adjustments and Customization
The system also allows adjustments to optimize the performance of plastic waste conversion. The introduction of steam or oxygen into the process enables gasification, an alternative for treating plastic waste.
With this flexibility, Powerhouse can test different types of waste and adapt its technology to meet market needs. Scalability is also an important factor in the commercial viability of future large-scale plants.
Tests with different raw materials
The company has already carried out tests with different samples of plastic waste. The results indicate that the technology performs more efficiently with plastics that cannot be recycled by other conventional methods.
The Powerhouse report confirms that FTU has demonstrated compatibility with a wide range of materials, which expands the technology’s potential to address the problem of hard-to-recycle plastics.
Expansion of hydrogen research
The search for efficient methods for producing hydrogen from waste has been the subject of several studies. Recently, scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore managed to transform sewage sludge into green hydrogen.
Powerhouse Energy Group’s initiative joins these global efforts, exploring sustainable alternatives for clean energy production.
With information from Interesting Engineering.
