Rocket Thrusters Used To Treat Sewage 73
Zothecula writes "Rocket engines are generally not thought of as being environmentally-friendly, but thanks to a newly-developed process, we may someday see them neutralizing the emissions from wastewater treatment plants. The same process would also see those plants generating their own power, thus meaning they would be both energy-neutral and emissions-free. Developed by two engineers at Stanford University, the system starts with the formation of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane gas — something that treatment plants traditionally try to avoid."
I know just the place to test this... (Score:2, Interesting)
On a hot day the Lowell, MA water treatment facility can me smelled for a good mile plus in every direction, strongly. And there's a low-incoming housing complex right next to it. How those poor people can live there is a mystery. Although I guess I just answered that. Ok, so not a mystery.
At any rate, it would be a great candidate for this sort of technology. And I wonder how this tech could be applied to space travel and such self-contained environments or poor areas such as submarines, underwater facilities, small third world countries/towns, etc.
Why not a fluidized bed? (Score:3, Interesting)
Why all the complication of a rocket engine (aerodynamic flow, high thrust to weight ratio, ignition problems, injector stability/howling issues, injector clogging issues, high pressure fuel pumps) when they could just pipe it into a nice boring fluidized bed?
Sounds more like a stunt, to "get kids interested in science", than a solid technical engineering decision.
I tooted (Score:0, Interesting)
Some Details Left Out... (Score:3, Interesting)
What's left out, however, is how the rocket engines are supposed to be used to generate electricity. Rocket engines are optimized to produce thrust. While liquid engines have turbine machinery in them, this engine would be burning gas with it's own oxidizer in the fuel (NO2). Without the separate fuel and oxidizer plumbing, I am not sure how much pump/turbine machinery would be in the design of the rocket engine. That said, I don't know what kind of spinning motion would be used to generate the electricity for the waste water plant. It would be nice to see some details on how the engine design will be used to actually produce electricity. Don't get me wrong, rocket motors are great sources of energy, but they very rarely, if ever, are used to drive electricity into a circuit. So I am curious if they are simply planning to use the nozzle flame to heat water for a steam turbine, or if they have an internal turbine that is driven by the NO2 (preburn) to drive a magnet surrounded by copper, or if they intend to stick a turbine in the thrust column of the engine (expensive materials).
It's an interesting idea, but some technical details would be nice. Typically rockets attempt to minimize spinning components and, thus, are not nearly as good electricity produces as other types of engines that have spinning components as a fundamental part of their design (ICEs, Diesels, etc.).
Re:Some Details Left Out... (Score:3, Interesting)
Simple they are not really going to use it as a rocket motor.
My guess that is more PR than anything.
Think of it as more of a wielding torch. IE it is going to be a burner.
You but a big tank of water over it and make steam.
steam that turns a turbine.
Or you could use it with a Stirling engine but they cost more than a simple steam turbine.