Because of the non-standard origins of the fuel – waste feedstock – there are no appropriate standards for the TDR gas fuel to comply with. The key physical characteristics of the gas fuel produced are :
* Net calorific value of approx 35 MJ/kg – this compares with commercial Butane at 45.8 MJ/kg; commercial Propane at 46.3 MJ/kg; and Methane at 50.0 MJ/kg.
* About 70% (by volume) is hydrocarbon content, the largest single component being methane at 16.4% by volume, the other significant hydrocarbon components are Hydrogen, Ethane, and Ethylene.
This is a sample of synthetic gas fuel from the Thermodynamic Reprocessing Cracking Machine.
* The sulphur content – again depends upon the feedstock – but typically would range from 100mg/m³ up to 5000 mg/m³. This compares with typical commercial Butane or Propane sulphur contents of 0.02% by weight (200 ppm).
As a fuel, the synthetic gas is unlike natural gas (well head gas is mostly methane >75%), or ‘dry (After the ‘wet’ components of Butane, Propane, etc are removed), pipeline gas (methane >90%); propane (typically >95% propane); digester gas (methane >66%); landfill gas (methane >55%); or manufactured gases from coal, oil, or coke (methane >35 – 40%).
Despite these variations, a report from the University of Pisa confirms its suitability for use in conventional gas engines. A typical analysis for the gas produced by the machine is shown on the tab below: