Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a system for treating a waste in a vehicle. The waste is received from a lavatory in a waste tank through a waste input port connected to the lavatory in the vehicle. Anaerobic bacteria are introduced into the waste such that anaerobic digestion occurs to breakdown a biodegradable material in the waste in the waste tank.

Abstract: A method and arrangement are proposed for injecting CO2 into a subterranean aquifer for storage therein. In order to reduce the effects of water evaporation from brine in the aquifer when dry CO2 is injected into the aquifer, the CO2 is supplied mixed with a salt-lean fluid, i.e. a fluid that contains a low concentration of ions that can precipitate out as salts. The mixing may take place at the wellhead, with the CO2 salt-lean fluids supplied via separate low-grade material pipelines. The proportion of CO2 and salt-lean fluid in the mixture is such as to obtain a CO2 composition that is saturated with salt-lean fluid at the site of injection into the aquifer. By injecting saturated or “wet” CO2, less water is evaporated from the brine and the salt precipitation is greatly reduced, so keeping the pore spaces clear and providing an increased accessible pore volume for CO2 storage.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for exchanging heat from the degradation, decomposition, and chemical/biochemical transformation of municipal, industrial, and other types of waste. In one embodiment, a heat extraction system may include a closed-loop fluid circulation piping channeled throughout at least one heat extraction well oriented throughout a waste mass. The piping is fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger. A first circulation fluid is circulated through the closed-loop circulation piping into various depths of the waste mass to transfer thermal energy between said mass and said heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the transfer of thermal energy between the waste mass and the heat exchanger is used as alternative energy method and to control at least one of shear strength, compressibility, and hydraulic conductivity of the waste mass.

Abstract: A geothermal pyrolysis system is configured to convert a slurry into a petroleum material. The geothermal pyrolysis system comprises an input well configured to receive the slurry from a mixer. Piping that is mechanically coupled to the input well and extending downward to a point where the earth has an ambient temperature exceeds three hundred degrees Fahrenheit and can transform the slurry into the petroleum material. An extraction well is mechanically coupled to the piping configured to extract the petroleum material from the piping. A separator is mechanically coupled to the extraction well which separates the petroleum material into carbon char, water, oil and gas.

Abstract: A geothermal pyrolysis system is configured to convert a slurry into a petroleum material. The geothermal pyrolysis system comprises an input well configured to receive the slurry from a mixer. Piping that is mechanically coupled to the input well and extending downward to a point where the earth has an ambient temperature exceeds three hundred degrees Fahrenheit and can transform the slurry into the petroleum material. An extraction well is mechanically coupled to the piping configured to extract the petroleum material from the piping. A separator is mechanically coupled to the extraction well which separates the petroleum material into carbon char, water, oil and gas.

Abstract: An articulating conduit linkage system for maintaining a fluid connection between a fluid source and displaceable conduit that has been buried in a subsiding permeable body. A fluid source can supply a working fluid through a source outlet. A displaceable conduit can receive the working fluid through a conduit inlet, and be buried at a depth within a subsiding permeable body that is contained within a permeability control infrastructure. A plurality of articulating conduit segments can include, an outer conduit segment coupled to the source outlet, an inner conduit segment coupled to the conduit inlet, and at least one middle conduit segment coupled to the outer and inner segments. In the event of a subsidence, the plurality of articulating conduit segments are configured so the outer and inner conduit segments extend the conduit linkage system while maintaining a working fluid connection between the source outlet and the conduit inlet.

Abstract: A method for increasing the evaporation rate of an evaporative pond containing pond liquor comprising water and at least 1% by weight of sodium carbonate, said evaporative pond being in contact with an ambient air at an ambient air temperature of more than 0° C., the method comprising the following steps: feeding part of the pond liquor to a heat exchanger; heating the pond liquor in the heat exchanger with heat and producing a heated pond liquor; feeding the heated pond liquor into a spraying device at an operating temperature of at least 10° C. above the ambient air temperature; and spraying the heated pond liquor into an open area of the evaporative pond with the spraying device, so as to evaporate at least part of the water of the pond liquor when sprayed.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for exchanging heat from the degradation, decomposition, and chemical/biochemical transformation of municipal, industrial, and other types of waste. In one embodiment, a heat extraction system may include a closed-loop fluid circulation piping channeled throughout at least one heat extraction well oriented throughout a waste mass. The piping is fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger. A first circulation fluid is circulated through the closed-loop circulation piping into various depths of the waste mass to transfer thermal energy between said mass and said heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the transfer of thermal energy between the waste mass and the heat exchanger is used as alternative energy method and to control at least one of shear strength, compressibility, and hydraulic conductivity of the waste mass.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. The infrastructure can also include a comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material within the encapsulated volume. The comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The infrastructure can further include at least one convection driving conduit oriented in a lower portion of the permeable body to generate bulk convective flow patterns throughout the permeable body. An associated method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure, which defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material.

Abstract: A constructed permeability control infrastructure can include a permeability control impoundment defining a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted water-containing hydrocarbonaceous material can form a permeable body within the encapsulated volume. The impoundment includes a water vapor outlet for removing water vapor from the encapsulated volume. A heating device is also embedded within the permeable body to provide convective heating thereof. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to initially remove water therefrom as a water vapor. The water vapor can be removed from the infrastructure via the outlet which can be controlled or shut off when the permeable body is sufficiently dewatered. The dewatered permeable body can then be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for rejuvenating a wastewater treatment system of the type including a septic tank, an aerobic treatment unit or the like connected by a pipe to a plugged downstream soil absorption system includes a wastewater treatment unit which is interposed between the septic unit/aerobic treatment unit and the downstream soil absorption system. The wastewater treatment unit includes a single piece or a multiple piece solids settling and retention basin within which is suspendingly supported a wastewater treatment mechanism essentially of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,120. The wastewater treatment mechanism includes filters for filtering and settling solids from wastewater and flow equalization ports for effecting flow equalization thereby eliminating flow surges to the downstream plugged soil absorption system.

Abstract: Methods for inducing the precipitation of substantially water insoluble mineral carbonates in pores, spaces and fractures by conveying a carbon-dioxide (ie. CO2) bearing gaseous phase or an oxidised-carbon-bearing aqueous phase into spaces where reaction with an existing or introduced fluid phase of appropriate composition occurs, or by conveying a fluid of appropriate composition into spaces where reaction of the fluid components with a fluid delivery medium occurs, or by conveying a fluid of appropriate composition into spaces under controlled physical conditions such that unassisted reaction of the fluid components occurs.

Abstract: An advanced containment system for containing buried waste and associated leachate. A trench is dug on either side of the zone of interest containing the buried waste so as to accommodate a micro tunnel boring machine. A series of small diameter tunnels are serially excavated underneath the buried waste. The tunnels are excavated by the micro tunnel boring machine at a consistent depth and are substantially parallel to each other. As tunneling progresses, steel casing sections are connected end to end in the excavated portion of the tunnel so that a steel tube is formed. Each casing section has complementary interlocking structure running its length that interlocks with complementary interlocking structure on the adjacent casing section. Thus, once the first tube is emplaced, placement of subsequent tubes is facilitated by the complementary interlocking structure on the adjacent, previously placed, casing sections.

Abstract: A method of injecting steam into a landfill is provided. The steam enhances methane gas production in the landfill during the anaerobic phase, accelerates decomposition/biodegradation of the organic component of the trash prism during both the aerobic and anaerobic phases, and increases the rate of settlement of the landfill. A method of introducing a gaseous anaerobic fertilizer into the landfill is also provided. The fertilizer accelerates the decomposition/biodegradation of the organic component of the trash prism. A method of reducing the volume of a plastic component of the trash prism is provided, wherein the temperature and pressure of injected steam are raised to a level sufficient to melt plastic. Finally, a method of reducing the volume of a quantity of refuse prior to placing the refuse in a landfill is provided, wherein the refuse is heated to melt a plastic component of the refuse.

Abstract: The assisting in the evaporation of water from a surface impoundment or other impoundment that utilizes a closed heat pipe system that is partially submerged within the material of the surface impoundment. Water, or other heat transfer fluid, is circulated within the closed heat pipe system with this water being heated exteriorly of the surface impoundment prior to flowing within the portion of the heat pipe system that is located within the surface impoundment. The water is heated within the closed heat pipe system to an approximate temperature of one hundred seventy degrees Fahrenheit. The heating of the material in the surface impoundment is accomplished by the transfer of heat from the heat pipe system to the material in the surface impoundment. The rate of evaporation of water from the surface impoundment can be increased to more than thirty times the evaporation rate of a surface impoundment that doesn't utilize heat from an external source.

Abstract: Acid gas is liquified by compression and cooling, mixed with water under pressure and flowed into a disposal well.

Abstract: Acid gas is liquified by compression and cooling, mixed with water under pressure and flowed into a disposal well.