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Covington Goes Wast-To-Energy
PHG Energy, a Tennessee-based alternative energy company, announced an agreement with the city of Covington, Tenn. to convert waste to energy using PHG’s downdraft biomass gasification equipment and technology. The system converts a wide range of waste materials or renewable biomass to a low-emission substitute for natural gas or other fossil fuels.
Covington Mayor David Gordon found opportunity with the PHG system to reduce the landfill and transportation fees for 360 total tons of previously landfill-bound waste material the west Tennessee city of approximately 9,000 residents produces each month. PHG integrates established commercial technologies into one innovative system that simultaneously eliminates waste and produces heat that will be used for feedstock drying and the production of electricity.
Covington has been awarded a $250,000 Clean Tennessee Energy Grant from Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Dept. of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau for the waste-to-energy system. Total cost of the project is $2.25 million, with $2 million of funding obtained through the Tennessee Municipal Bond fund in the form of a general obligation bond issue.
PHG’s biomass gasification waste-to-energy system will be built adjacent the wastewater treatment plant on city owned property. The waste to be used, approximately 12 tons per day, is primarily composed of woody biomass from the city’s collections. The use of biosolids from the treatment plant is also being investigated as a possible fuel for the gasifiers.
PHG’s technology combines a state-of-the-art downdraft gasification system with thermal oxidation equipment and a 125 kilowatt Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power generator, manufactured by General Electric, to produce electric power. Combustion of producer gas within the thermal oxidizer provides heat to power the system while maintaining emission levels comparable to the use of natural gas.
Bandit Offers Knife Sharpening
Bandit Industries offers a new premium knife sharpening service for hand-fed and whole tree chipper knives. The service covers most major chipper brands and knives, and in the event knives cannot be sharpened, customers can conveniently purchase replacement knives without the added hassle and downtime of contacting other companies or placing new orders. Bandit’s sharpening service promises quick turnaround time, competitive pricing, and unmatched customer service throughout the process.
Bandit’s premium sharpening process begins with a thorough cleaning and inspection to check for any damage that could render the knife unsuitable for sharpening, including a spray process to help detect cracks. Rockwell hardness testing is done to ensure knife edges aren’t being machined into softer steel. A precision wet grinding system is then used to machine the knives, maintaining the proper temper and cutting angle with edges receiving an 80% grind unless otherwise specified. This is done to increase overall knife life while not affecting chipping performance. Once the process is complete, knives are re-inspected and gauged to estimate their remaining lifespan. This information is notated on the form, packaged with the knives and sent to the customer.
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