abstract |
A method for generating electricity in which sludge is anaerobically digested to form a gas mixture of methane and carbon dioxide and a residue of digested sludge. Water is removed from the digested sludge to form dewatered sludge, which, in turn, is gasified to form a gaseous composition which includes carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas mixture containing methane and carbon dioxide produced in the anaerobic digestion step is mixed with the gas mixture containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the gasification step and burned in an apparatus, such as a micro-turbine, for generating electricity. The non-carbonaceous fraction of the sludge is melted during the gasification step and rendered environmentally benign. |