Amber

Amber,

Tuesday Sept 30, 2008 1. proposed energy as the main focus of the project 2. provided the idea of evaluating the comprehensive energy consumption in science centre and including it in our project which was later refuted by the group because the focus was too broad 3. contributed ideas eg. greenroofs

Friday Oct 3rd 1. researched on the piezoelectric cell with Tony 2. came up with the idea of biomass waste as a future energy alternative, inspired by waste electricity generator in thailand

Monday Oct 6th 1. reseached on the biomass energy generating factory, found: 1) according to __Biomass for Electricity Generation from Official__ Energy Statistics from the U.S government, Energy Information Administration (EIA), http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/analysispaper/biomass/

a) "20 million wet tons (enough to supply about 3 gigawatts of capacity) are available today at prices of $1.25 per million Btu or less. The average price of coal to electric utilities in 2001 was $1.23 per million Btu." Through calculation: 3*109/20*106=3000/20=150watts/ton, which means each ton of biomass produces only 150watts (unknown time period) This result is not satisfactory for the goal of having biomass generating enough energy to power the entire science centre. b) the benefit of having biomass generator to replace traditional coal or natural gas as energy source


 * inspired by leslie that even though the current result of large-scale biomass electricity generating is not satisfactory, approaches to cutting edge technology and potential solution is encouraged. also, looking into small-scale generator as well as lower the expectation of generating capacity to even powering an exhibit might be feasible approaches

Tuesday Oct 14th 1) went through websites: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6149773.html http://www.adb.org/Clean-Energy/documents/INO-PFS-Municipal-Waste.pdf http://www.fotosearch.com/DGV405/634038/ http://www.eham.net/articles/10953 http://www.uwex.edu/uwmril/pdf/RuralEnergyIssues/renewable/Biogas_Economics_Mehta.pdf (potentially feasible)

Friday Oct 17th 1) confirmed possible location of pze with tony

Thursday Oct 23rd Benchmark: My design of the final project will be one of the three alternatives of future energy source, biomass electricity generator. The final product will be presented in the form of a website including details about the generator (a when and where this generator will be built, the efficiency and the effect of the generator, and pictures of model), scientific principle, financial estimation, environmental benefits etc. The final website is planned to be finished at the end of November. The majority part of research will be done by early November. In December, the product will be given to the team and being integrated to other aspects of the project together to discuss the problem and solution to the energy supply and usage in Ontario Science Center. This aspect of the project does not require any external financial supply as concerned so far.

Oct 30th 1) According to the waste total waste data sent by Paul, Through Calculation, Each month, the biomass waste generated by science centre every month= **Food+Mixed Paper Fibre+Wood+LANDFILL every month=5.04+3.84+1.72+12.04=22.66 tons Every month, The diversion of total waste to the recycled waste is approximately 58%. Therefore, the biomass that cannot be recycled every month is 22.66 tons*(1-58%) = 10 tons Based on previous data, each tons of biomass will generate 150watts of electricity, therefore, each month, the science centre will produce 150watts/ton*10 tons=1500watts of electricity if the generotor is applied. therefore, each day, 1500/30=50 watts are generated, which is enough to power 1 light bulb.............................unfortunately, it's not really efficient. HOWEVER, this result is based on insufficient research. I am going to conduct more research, and if the generator to be installed in the centre is advanced, it will be much better than this. 2)** Inspired by Paul, another alternative is born!!! Sewer waste in addition to the biomass waste can also be used for electricity generating. According to my research, it is a great alternative!!! The scientific principle behind this is: Bacteria are attached to anodes and create a stream of electrons when digesting the organic matter in the waste water. The cathode pulls oxygen from the air to complete the circuit. Therefore, electric current is produce as a result. I t solves two problems at once: human waste disposal and energy creation. If [|wastewater treatment] facilities used an array of large scale devices based on this design, they could not only clean up the [|water] through more natural processes, they could also generate excess [|electricity] that could be pumped back into the power grid. It's not enough electricity to actually run the city, of course, but it could probably run the [|wastewater] treatment facilities.
 * **2008** ||
 * || **Mixed Drink Containers** || **Food** || **Mixed Paper Fibre** || **Wood** || **Metal** || **LANDFILL** || ** TOTAL ** || **RECYCLED** || **DIVERSION** ||
 * ** Jan-08 ** || || || || ||  || || || || ||
 * ** Feb-08 ** || || || || ||  || || || || ||
 * ** Mar-08 ** || 0.00 || 3.96 || 0.00 || 0.00 || 0.00 || **0.00** || **3.96** || **3.96** || **100.00%** ||
 * ** Apr-08 ** || 3.43 || 4.67 || 0.00 || 1.87 || 0.00 || **12.75** || **22.72** || **9.97** || **43.88%** ||
 * ** May-08 ** || 2.16 || 5.61 || 7.54 || 0.21 || 0.00 || **18.38** || **33.90** || **15.52** || **45.78%** ||
 * ** Jun-08 ** || 2.70 || 5.06 || 1.80 || 3.26 || 2.12 || **10.50** || **25.44** || **14.94** || **58.73%** ||
 * ** Jul-08 ** || 4.56 || 5.72 || 2.15 || 3.27 || 0.00 || **19.72** || **35.42** || **15.70** || **44.33%** ||
 * ** Aug-08 ** || 3.71 || 4.07 || 3.28 || || || **16.87** || **27.93** || **11.06** || **39.60%** ||
 * ** Sep-08 ** || 4.62 || 6.16 || 12.12 || || || **6.05** || **28.95** || **22.90** || **79.10%** ||
 * ** Oct-08 ** || || || || || || || || || ||
 * ** Nov-08 ** || || || || || || || || || ||
 * ** Dec-08 ** || || || || || || || || || ||
 * **TOTAL** || **21.18** || **35.25** || **26.89** || **8.61** || **2.12** || **84.27** || **178.32** || **94.05** || ||
 * **AVERAGE** || **3.03** || **5.04** || **3.84** || **1.72** || **0.42** || **12.04** || **25.47** || **13.44** || **58.77%** ||

http://www.tecfre.com/thank-god-that-electricity-doesnt-smell-toilet-turbine-generate-electricity-by-flushing/ http://bioage.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/htengnp.png

Wastewater is the mixture of liquid and solid materials that residents and businesses flush down toilets and empty down sinks and drains. This material then flows through a network of pipes that make up the city’s sanitary sewer system. Toronto's highly concentrated urban population contributes too much organic and inorganic material and bacteria-causing bacteria for existing natural system (land and lakes) to accommodate.