RE:Waste disposalMisbrandt,
Here is a recent article on plasma waste to energy technology it highlights the good, the bad and the unknown. I believe you are correct in that it has a lot of potential, however, until legislation (if ever) prohibits the burying of waste it likely won't find commercial marketability with municipalities in North America. Hard for a NA municipality to commit to largely unproven technology and adopt a plasma system that is widely unknown, when they can just transport it and bury it. The PRRS system is also aimed at isolated communities, but from my experience of visiting and working in these communities waste management is not a concern. Land is not hard to come by and the fact they are isolated makes it easy to hide waste. Many such communities in Canada have far bigger social issues to deal with that waste management doesn't even hit the radar. It's essentially a non issue so unless legislated and forced to change its unlikely anything will come of it. It was legislation that forced the US Navy to adopt the plasma system, without the legislation they would still be throwing garbage overboard. Much more potential in Europe and Asia where population, land and waste will become a catalyst for change in the coming century. Enough of my ramblings here is the article....
www.explainthatstuff.com/plasma-arc-recycling.html
Take a read of the article and at the bottom take note of the Hurlburt Field Air Force Base... if you do a google search of Hurlburt Field Air Force Base and Plasma...... guess which company provided the system they are testing. So maybe nothing came of the 5.5 million contract PYR "hyped five years ago" or maybe they are testing and using the equipment and the market just isn't there yet. R&D takes years to become commercially marketable and many fail to ever do so.
I wouln't be here if this was simply a plasma waste to energy play, but there are many irons in the fire all of which rely on the same proven technology used on a US aircraft carrier. PRRS, PAWDS are destroying waste, Drosrite is extracting the good out of waste, Purevap is taking quartz and removing the pure Si. These all rely on the same technology which isn't new it just has to be adapted to a new application and understood. This all takes time. Last but not least there are powders... and if the old powders were good enough for Arcam and GE.... its good enough for me.
Have a great Easter! Hope I was able provide relevant and helpful information for you, take care.
HK