Global Clean Energy Inc. (GCE) is a Humble, Texas- based waste-to-energy company that focuses on technologies to convert waste into high value energy, a process the company refers to as Reforming Environmental Salvage into Clean Usable Energy (RESCUE). GCE is focused on the North American market in the end-of-life plastic, tires and metal recovery.
The company announced in October 2014 that it had secured a long-term supply agreement of tire chips to be used as feedstock with Pittsburgh-based Liberty Tire Recycling, a national tire recycler that processes in excess of 140 million tires annually.
Waste360 recently sat down with the GCE’s Chief Development Officer Steven Mann to discuss the state of tire waste-to-energy projects in the U.S. and where the company fits in.
Waste360: Explain the state of waste-to-energy projects in the U.S.
Steven Mann: We are literally entering the beginning of the waste-to-energy era in the U.S. The technologies now exist to recreate how we make energy in this country by converting waste into energy instead of environmentally damaging oil wells, fracking, tar sand mining and incineration. If energy stopped flowing from all of these sources, the U.S. could create the energy it needs by converting its waste sources to energy—not just tires, but plastics and municipal solid waste (MSW). It’s a very exciting time and we’re proud to be a part of the future of waste to energy.
Waste360: Is converting tire waste into energy gaining popularity?
Steven Mann: Absolutely. It was always a popular idea, now the technology has caught up to the promise. There are many waste-to-energy projects being developed in the U.S. that will be active in the next three years. Also, there is progress toward new technologies using alternative heating elements other than traditional burners, such as microwave technology, that show promise in the future.
Between existing developments using current cutting-edge technologies, such as GSE’s projects and progress toward future cutting-edge technologies, the future for tires-to-energy has never been brighter. The next two years are going to be very exciting.
Waste360: How does the conversion work?
Steven Mann: First, waste tires are collected and shredded down to about ¾ of an inch and de-wired. The tire chips are inserted into the pyrolysis system. Pyrolysis occurs when you heat tire chips in the absence of oxygen so there is no combustion. This allows the tire chips to be super-heated without them burning.
When you indirectly heat tire chips to 450 degrees Celsius, you break down the hydrocarbons to form synthesis gas (syngas) and solids (carbon). The carbon is micro-milled to a fine powder and pelletized to create tire derived carbon black or rCB to replace crude oil derived carbon black for pigmentation and lower grade rubber products. The syngas is condensed into a Pyroil, which is then upgraded to a D975 ultra-low sulfur diesel. Any syngas that is not condensed into Pyroil, is recirculated back into the burners so the gas produced by the pyrolysis system is used almost 100 percent so there is very little waste.
CLICK THIS LINK FOR THE REST OF THE STORY AT https://www.waste360.com/waste-energy/turning-waste-tires-energy
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