Naked Science Forum

General Science => Question of the Week => Topic started by: thedoc on 16/07/2013 15:32:34

Title: QotW - 13.07.11 - Power from Poo?
Post by: thedoc on 16/07/2013 15:32:34

Can we get power from poo? We get excited over excrement!
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Title: Re: QotW - 13.07.11 - Power from Poo?
Post by: SimpleEngineer on 17/10/2013 16:26:57

Yes.. There are quite a few ways..

Digesting bacteria will reduce it to methane that is collected and burned..

It can be burned it self..

You can fertilise things with it to grow stuff to be burned

Title: Re: QotW - 13.07.11 - Power from Poo?
Post by: alancalverd on 21/10/2013 00:05:26

As has been the practice in sewage plants for the last 150 years at least. Methane-powered pumps have been around for ages, and the salads offered on sewage plant open days (at least before privatisation) were amazing.

Title: Re: QotW - 13.07.11 - Power from Poo?
Post by: dlorde on 22/10/2013 22:01:20

Someone needs to get out more... the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been subsidising a major competition for the last few years: The Reinvent The Toilet Challenge (http://www.gatesfoundation.org/media-center/press-releases/2012/08/bill-gates-names-winners-of-the-reinvent-the-toilet-challenge) - seriously; the winners were announced last year and several of the entries involved power generation. California Institute of Technology in the United States received the $100,000 first prize for designing a solar-powered toilet that generates hydrogen and electricity.

Title: Re: QotW - 13.07.11 - Power from Poo?
Post by: Lmnre on 23/10/2013 09:11:07

Rural people in developing countries have used sewage biogas generators for decades.

Do-It-Yourself Methane Generator (http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/methane_generator.html)