Animal Waste Conversion Systems Based on Thermal Discharge,

摘要

Society faces many problems related to its growth in numbers and standard of living. Of major concern is environmental degradation resulting from pollution and the consumptive use of non-renewable natural resources. An animal waste management scheme was developed on the premise that one solution to these problems is the development of integrated production systems with recycled sources. The waste product of one industry must become the raw material for another. The feasibility of using waste heat from steam electric plants to sustain a food-producing complex which recycles nutrients is analyzed. Specifically,it is proposed to use microorganisms to convert animal waste into a high protein animal feed and a methane-rich fuel gas. Waste heat from steam electric plants is used as a low cost source of energy for maintaining stable,elevated temperatures in anaerobic digestion and single cell protein production units. Benefits to society include:improved efficiency of energy use and food production,recycling of raw materials,and conservation of non-renewable resources.