Utilization of solar heat to process organic wastes for biological hydrogen production

This article describes the development and operation of a solar thermal energy system as part of research on developing a modular distributed energy system based on the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste to produce hydrogen, initially in remote locations. It is anticipated that the modular energy system will be housed in a conventional shipping container for ease of manufacture, transportation, and installation. One key to the modular energy system is the utilization of solar thermal energy for the pre- and post-processing of organic waste materials. Since it is important to maximize energy efficiency for a modular energy system, solar thermal energy is being used as the heat source for waste material processing. A key aspect is obtaining sufficient temperatures for processing. This article describes the design and operation of a vacuum tube-based solar thermal energy system for pre- and post-processing of organic waste, as well as for providing potable water and building heat. The solar thermal system routinely obtains temperatures above 120°C. © 2011 Energy Engineering. All rights reserved.