Does anyone know a site where tires are burned for fuel? It seems to me a couple of years back that a power plant in California was burning used tires for their steam turbines to generate electric power. I have read that the average passenger car contains 2 gallons of oil. It seems to me this would be a good way to get rid of old tires and help our energy needs. What are the down sides to this?
Tires for fuel
- Thread starter GreeCguy
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JHZR2
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pollution... burning rubber eludes some nasty stuff!
JMH
JMH
Yes, tons of thick, black smoke. But - can't they create some kind of "scrubber" much like they do with coal? Just wondering . . . .
JHZR2
Staff member
while burning any hydrocarbon compounds, coal and rubber included, produce mainly CO2 and water, Id venture to guess that the 'other' things that come out from burning rubber may be harder to trap than the sulfuric acid and whatnot that comes from coal burning.
Just my guess... Id think that coal burns MUCH claner than rubber...
JMH
Just my guess... Id think that coal burns MUCH claner than rubber...
JMH
When push comes to shove, we will do it. Most rubber contains sulfur, but so does coal. The steel belts, and clay and limestone fillers will produce a high ash content, but with a good supply of air, it shouldn't be much worse than burning coal. Thanks to the glass industry, we are into energy intensive recycling rather than waste to energy.
Used, shredded tires are mixed with coal for energy and cement plants. Mike Rowe on Discovery channels "Dirty Jobs" did a segment on tire shredding at a cement plant. Here is the EPA scoop....
http://www.epa.gov/garbage/tires/tdf.htm
http://www.epa.gov/garbage/tires/tdf.htm
They are going to do a test burn at an International Paper plant in Ticonderoga NY.
The wind blows over to nearby Vermont. Vermont is not exactly thrilled.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051013/NEWS01/510130313&theme=TIRES
The wind blows over to nearby Vermont. Vermont is not exactly thrilled.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051013/NEWS01/510130313&theme=TIRES
I used to live in Northwest Alabama. I wonder if the Cobert Steam plant, (TVA) burned tires with their coal the same way you're saying the one in Memphis does. I knew fella's that worked out there but never thought to ask.
Interesting idea. Hope it works out. When you melt old tires, you get something like a lite crude. There will be some sulfur, don't know much they use these days. The carbon residue will contain some amount of silicates, (antiwear additives). Clever idea soaking the tires in oil. Maybe used motor oil?? Separating out the reinforcing materials is a costly issue. Apparently he has found a cost effective way to do that after soaking the tires. I wish him luck. Hope he makes a fortune.
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