Electricity Overview
Traditionally we have relied upon three (3) common processes to generate the electricity that we consume.
The most common method is use of Electromagnetic
Induction,
We also rely on electricity production from sources known as
Electrochemical
Cells and Circuits.
With the evolution of alternative energy we see more and more the emergence of
Solid State
Direct to Electricity technology.
These alternative technologies support the movement towards the decentralization of electricity generation and consumption.
Typically, other forms of creating electricity are simply variations on one of these three core methods.
| Electricity Source | Description |
| Electromagnetic Induction |
Rotary Motion, Linear Induction,
Magneto Devices, other |
| Electrochemical Cells | Battery, Fuel Cell |
|
Solid State
Direct to Electricity |
Photovoltaic, Thermal Electric TEG,
Electrostatic Triboelectric, Piezoelectric, Radio Frequency & Microwave |
Within the Recovery 2.0 system we view Electricity as a
Benchmark
form of energy and a somewhat unique
Commodity.
There exists a variety of
Opportunities
to generate and
recover
electricity throughout the Recovery 2.0 process.
Electricity is a highly perishable commodity that must be consumed as it is generated or it is subject to outright loss
unless a viable method of
Storage
can be employed.
A number of energy management strategies are being pursued for the storage of
Surplus Electricity
along with a variety of
Arbitrage
schemes.
Electricity as a Benchmark
Electricity has become a ubiquitous form of energy and a standard Benchmark
commodity
in our modern society.
Evolving from such forms of energy such as water wheels and mechanical belts and pulleys and steam engines,
the world has developed and industrialized with the aid and use of electric motors.
Modern conveniences and electronic devices have become almost unconceivable to function without it in todays era.
As the pace of adoption of electrification and a movement towards de carbonization,
we are faced with some unprecedented frontiers and challenges.
Traditionally energy transition technologies have used Electricity as a
destination
commodity,
and reliance on the grid as a source of reliable power or energy supply.
A wholesale rethink of the central grid and the reliability of energy supply may evolve into a highly distributed
or decentralized energy distribution system.
Energy as a Commodity
Within the Recovery 2.0 system, Energy is classified just like every other common form of commodity and traded accordingly.
Different types of energy must be treated differently as they may require unique material handling since you are
unable to stack on a pallet, inventory in a warehouse or load on a truck to transport like traditional recyclable commodities.
Electricity is a highly perishable commodity typically encountered as either
Alternating Current AC or Direct Current DC
that traditionally had to be consumed for immediate consumption.
Electricity is commonly converted back or forward between
AC/DC
with the use of a device known as an Inverter.
The flow electrical current also requires cleaning or grooming to condition the desired output into a homogenous frequency.
The energy contained in electricity is measured in a unit referred to as Joule
and commonly trades in the larger
units of measure
known as Watts.
The efficient
recovery
of electricity is largely dependant upon the ability to store it for use at a
later time
rather than the limiting option of immediate consumption.
The treatment of perishable excess Electricity is viewed the same as any other scrap, waste or byproduct that
enters across the scale into a recycling facility.
The economic value is determined by the current prevailing supply and demand factors and may range widely from
a market premium to a negative tip fee change.
Recovered Electricity
When attempting to identify the source of electric energy we typically divide it into three classifications,
electricity generated from traditional fossil fuels, electricity generated from contemporary alternative methods
and electricity recovered from industrial processes.
Recovered Energy is treated as a core fundamental to the Recovery 2.0 process and electricity is viewed as a
basic universal commodity that is harnessed within a
multi-stage
regeneration continuum.
Consolidation
of accumulated electricity from the harvest of recovered energy is a key to the overall system efficiency.
The Recovery 2.0 strategy directs recovered electricity into three main pathways.
The first priority is the internal use as energy to drive the recovery process.
The second path is dedicated to external electricity sales as a commodity to consumers such as the GRID where and when available.
The third option involves harvesting recovered energy to fuel independent processes which may act as a stable default
if GRID sales are not desirable.
Recovered Electricity systems require an energy storage option to act as a flexible buffer to insure overall efficiency.
Direct Carbon Fuel cells
Magneto Hydro Dynamics (MHD)
Electricity
As the world electrifies and moves toward carbon free emissions, an energy intense process such as thermal waste recovery
will be required to master Internally Generated Electricity in order to develop and move forward.
The
pathways
that have been referred to outline some novel approaches which include the generation of electricity from
Steam and
Hydro
Electric generation.
Harnessing energy on demand from storage such as from
Battery Banks,
Thermal Energy Storage
and
Compressed Air Storage
that may be converted into electricity.
In addition, the availability to tap into
Short Cycle Regeneration
sources such as Gravity Energy, Wind Energy (Air Flow) and Temperature Gradient provide a novel combination of electric generation.
Some level of popular interest has currently been expressed in the area of Excess Intermittent Electricity storage
and potential arbitrage opportunities.
We view this strategy as somewhat fickle over the longer term and even question the financial stability of
capital expenditures into ventures that rely solely on the sale of electricity to the grid.
In saying this, we also acknowledge that there may be some shorter term benefits for waste recovery systems that can accommodate
these intermittent needs within their existing design.
Grid Electricity may be consumed as an alternative back-up to operate the thermal waste recovery system.
The sale into the grid of surplus electricity, generated from the operation of a thermal waste recovery system,
may provide a revenue source.
Future control of this income stream may be out of the hands of the waste recovery facility operator
and may diminish or disappear.
Electricity Storage
In order to save highly perishable AC or DC electrical current for future use,
it must be converted into some sort of
storable form.
Typically electricity is converted into either an
Electron
form or a
Non-Electron
Storage
Electron Storage
The common historical method to store an electrical charge is in the form of electrons
with the use of capacitors or in electrochemical batteries or a chemical flow battery.
Non-Electron Storage
The conversion of electricity into a Non-Electron forms of Storage encompasses a variety of forms that include (but are not limited to)
Temperature, Pressure and potential Kinetic Energy.
Pumped Energy Storage
is a prime example of Non-Electron Storage.
Utility Grid Storage Concepts
Excess electricity from the Grid can be stored for future use. The excess energy is converted and stored
in a medium such as a battery bank.
When needed the energy is then converted back to electricity into the grid.
At each stage of the storage process
(charging stage, storage stage and discharging stage) there are losses of energy incurred.
These losses are deemed acceptable as the electricity, though not performing any useful functions while in storage,
is at least saved and can be consumed at a future
time instead of being lost.
Recovery 2.0 Storage and Beneficial Usage
There exists a variety of opportunities throughout the Recovery 2.0 process to generate and
recover electricity.
This electricity can be accumulated / recovered and stored for regeneration or beneficial use within the Recovery 2.0 processes.
By incorporating Short Cycle
Multi-Stage Energy Management into the storage procedure,
electricity can be utilized as an energy source throughout the Recovery 2.0 stages, assisting in an overall optimization.
If it is generally accepted that energy losses will be incurred during the storage process then a comprehensive Beneficial
Energy
usage practice may enhance the overall economic efficiency of the
recovery
product output.
Surplus Electricity Forum
The Surplus Electricity Forum was established to meet the growing needs of generators of peak electricity
that there is no immediate grid demand to connect or collaborate with potential users of this valuable resource.
Electricity Arbitrage
This is a buy low, sell high strategy of speculative purchasing and selling of surplus energy.
Electricity that is created during off-peak hours (when grid prices are cheapest) is purchased at a low cost.
It is then stored to be sold to the electrical grid for use during peak hours (when grid electricity prices are highest),
thus realizing a profit in the resale.
Surplus Electricity Sinks
| Sink Type | Description |
| Battery Bank |
Capacitor, Electrochemical Battery,
Flow Battery |
| Pumped Energy Storage | Hydro, Compressed Air, Hydraulic |
| Thermal Storage | Hot Bank, Cold Bank |
|
Discretionary Loads
Optional Buffers |
Electrolyzers,
DAC System,
Optional Consumption Load Dumps |
Virtual Power Plants (VPP)
Distributed Energy Resource Management (DERM) systems have evolved from solely a load side consumption Demand Response,
Load Shedding or load control with a SCADA System (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)
to now include the generation side.
The Inclusion of generation side / storage side
resources
such as solar with battery storage and Vehicle to grid charging systems
allow for the creation of what is referred to as virtual power plants (VPP)
The consolidation of multiple distributed resources into a virtual network provides central control for instantaneous grid response
at scale that may rival or replace peaker plants.
A VPP posesses the flexibility of rapid ramp rates both to ramp up by tapping into the network of idle awaiting battery reserves
or rapidly ramp down by curtailing load demand.
The addition of
discretionary load
Sinks may provide an additional dimension to the capabilities of virtual power networks.
Discretionary Loads
The use of flexible consumption loads as Discretionary
Sinks
for Surplus Electricity
is an invaluable option.
The ability to rapidly ramp-up processes that maximize resource recovery efforts is a strategic benefit.
Activating energy intense processes such as
Electrolyzers
and
Direct Air Capture
Systems, whenever it is possible, enhances our overall environmental impact.
Summary
The challenge is to design for optimum operation by
engineering a system that has the capability to swap from priority or default pathways
as seamless and rapidly as possible and the ability to scale up or down each energy pathway module.
Check-out the
Understanding Energy & Recovery
info.
