Producing fuel from corn and other crops could be good for the planet–if only the process didn't take a significant environmental toll. New breakthroughs could make a difference.
The National Geographic Magazine, October 2007 Coverpage is dedicated for BioFuel.
Read the full article:
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-10/tableofcontents.html?fs=www7.nationalgeographic.com
Monday, November 19, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Seminar on Bio Gas
The GoGreen Team organized a seminar on Bio Gas at Maharagama
Sri Jayasekararamaya temple, on the 8th Thurseday from 5.00-7.00 pm
We thought it is worthwhile to share the outcome of our attempt:
Chaired By Ven Mollamure Nandarathana Thero, Memember Maharagama Muninicipal Council
Resource Personnel:
Mr. Joseph , Advisor to Ministry of Science and Technology on Renewable Energy Resources
Mr. Bandula Chandrasekera Programs Coordinator Energy Forum
Matters Discussed :
1.Issue of Cost of Domestic Gas
2.Growing of Glirisiedia for Bio Gas Plants,Cattle and Gasifiers
3. Setting up of the Model Plant
4. Issue on Disposing of waste
5. Hand book on Bio Gas was distributed
6. Sponsors Sanasa Development Bank is ready to provide funds under Micro Financing
Decisions taken:
1. Coordinating team headed by Dhammika (School Leaver)
Memebers Eranga - USJ, Chamath - USJ, Harsha ,Tharindu , Kamal, Nimal - HNB Assurance
Chamila - Open University
2.Set up a plant at the Temple
3.Start a Plantation of Glirisidia by Saturday 10th October 2007.
4. Every Saturday Evening (8.00pm) a meeting on Progress Review.
................. 
Present 5 GGs.
1.Ramesh Abeywickrama.
2.Kaplia
3.Devika
4.Nishantha
5.Chamara
Sri Jayasekararamaya temple, on the 8th Thurseday from 5.00-7.00 pm
We thought it is worthwhile to share the outcome of our attempt:
Chaired By Ven Mollamure Nandarathana Thero, Memember Maharagama Muninicipal Council
Resource Personnel:
Mr. Joseph , Advisor to Ministry of Science and Technology on Renewable Energy Resources
Mr. Bandula Chandrasekera Programs Coordinator Energy Forum
Matters Discussed :
1.Issue of Cost of Domestic Gas
2.Growing of Glirisiedia for Bio Gas Plants,Cattle and Gasifiers
3. Setting up of the Model Plant
4. Issue on Disposing of waste
5. Hand book on Bio Gas was distributed
6. Sponsors Sanasa Development Bank is ready to provide funds under Micro Financing
Decisions taken:
1. Coordinating team headed by Dhammika (School Leaver)
Memebers Eranga - USJ, Chamath - USJ, Harsha ,Tharindu , Kamal, Nimal - HNB Assurance
Chamila - Open University
2.Set up a plant at the Temple
3.Start a Plantation of Glirisidia by Saturday 10th October 2007.
4. Every Saturday Evening (8.00pm) a meeting on Progress Review.
................. 
Present 5 GGs.
1.Ramesh Abeywickrama.
2.Kaplia
3.Devika
4.Nishantha
5.Chamara
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
Success stories : Urban experiences: Weerasiri Café : Kottawa -Sri Lanka
Mr Wickum Weerakkody is a prominent businessman in Kottawa, an urban city located about 10Km from Colombo city limits down Highlevel Road.
He is running his very successful family business which he inherits from his father - "The Weerasiri Cafe". Begin the fully vegetarian hotel at Kottawa, Mr Weerakkody is hitting a very high daily margin, which he serves for so many customers daily .
The premises is located in a very prominent and strategic location in the middle of the town, intern , it is surrounded by so many other businesses as well as pathways to the general public.
Day by day, when the business was growing, Mr Weerakkody had to face an unexpected situation. The business has been disposing large quantities of waste water, combined with cooked food/uncooked waste which created an environmental issue. The situation went so serious as some of the concern neighbours along with the concerned environmental groups went to courts against Mr Weerakkody over his garbage disposal procedures.
There were no escape for Mr Weerakkody, as h
e too was a prominent member in the same community who had to collaborate with the same neighbours.
The only solution had been to go for a long lasting solution of garbage management system.
Even after trying various methods, Mr Weerakkody finally seek help from a senior Environmental research Engineer.
He is non other than Engineer Mr Athula Jayamanne. Today Mr Weerakkody runs his "Weerasiri Cafe" very peacefully, thanks to Mr Jayamanne's introduction of advance waste water treatment method.
Mr Jayamanne had provided his consultancy to Mr Weerakkody to build his own Bio Gas unit in his premises, while managing his own garbage and waste water. Today Mr Weerakkody uses bio gas in his hotel's kitchen as an alternative energy source to LP Gas.
According to him, "the Bio Gas cooker functions very well, giving a maximum output, which had already recovered the ROI", Mr Wickum Weerakkody concluded his success story.
Our GO GREEN team recently visited Mr Weerakkody’s premises, what we saw was an exemplary saga which is worth to share with all around the world.
We are publishing this as an appreciation of Mr Weerakkody’s silent contribution to the society , we could found out that he is the Kottawa city’s Lions’ Club president as well.
Yet humble man he is, Mr Weerakkody spared more than 3 hours with our team, explaining each step of his Bio Gas setting up project, from his busy schedule.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Some pictures of a successful Bio Gas project- Piyara Bakery , Gampaha
This is the success story of the Gampaha Piyara Backery, successfully using bio gas for cooking, this is a large schale project.
New Invention as a solution for garbage management- from Sunday Observer
An answer to Sri Lanka's garbage problem?
Invention of an eco-friendly trash incinerator:
by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson
From an announcer for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation(SLBC) in 1959, the voice that presented the famous 'Handiyagedera' program in 1978 to an enterprising businessman today, Gunatunga K. Liyanage has come up with a novel invention which may be an answer to Sri Lanka's growing garbage disposal issue; an invention of an eco-friendly trash incinerator with almost zero per cent of environmental pollution, an instantly viable solution to the staggering problem of thrash disposal confronting the Municipal and Urban Councils in Sri Lanka he says.
A detailed description of the novel invention has been sent to the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD), the Central Environment Authority, the Sri Lanka Investors Commission and the Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka for their appraisal and assessment.
A miniature model of the invention; the eco-friendly trash incinerator has been set up at Gamini Furniture Palace factory premises at Buddhaloka Mawatha, Piliyandala for inspection and a demonstration of the concept could be done for interested parties on request, Mr Liyanage said.
Asked if Mr Liyanage is an engineer, he answered in the negative and said the invention was totally his, it is unique and there were no engineers involved in the initiation of the concept.
Mr Liyanage in an interview with the Sunday Observer said, "The introduction of this incineration process is unique and does not require external fuel and has no atmospheric pollution.
The possibility of generating power is also available with this concept. So, this could be the best alternative to finding vast land fills to store garbage for months till degenerated or resorting to anaerobic digestion combined with or without bio-gas generation which is of course not so popular due to the high cost of digesters, the unpleasant and unhealthy maintenance and moreover because it is a long drawn out total digestion process."
Explaining the concept Mr Liyanage further said, "The most important novel feature of an invention of a trash incinerator of this nature is the manner in which it has been designed with the ( one or preferably four) provision of air or smoke absorbing pipes or tubes which does not cause environmental pollution.
The picture shows a sectional elevation of the incinerator. Marked 7 is one of the most important features of this invention, the smoke/ air re-circulating pipes which are four in number in this embodiment but can be selected according to the need.
The smoke absorbing pipes are mounted in such a manner that their top end, at the dome, above the level of the trash feeding gates with the bottom passing though the inner conical frustum to the empty space at the bottom of the incinerator thereby enabling the air or smoke to be sucked into the pipes or tubes from the top end being discharged to the inside of the inner conical frustum structure, made of heat resistant materials, thereby rejoining the combustion process".
"As the opening at the bottom, provided for servicing and burnt material removal is now closed, the "chimney effect" causes a partial vacuum at the core of the inner conical frustum thereby enabling the air and smoke to be sucked in through the said pipes or tubes from the space in the dome above the thrash feeding level.
The ratio of fresh air or smoke sucked in can be controlled by the gates provided at, or just above the top ring of the outer conical frustum. Such gates may be arranged for dual function of feeding trash from time to time and control the amount of air sucked in, or a separate gate may be provided for the two functions.
This recirculation of partially burnt gasses so caused will ensure almost total combustion of trash. While trash may be introduced from time to time, ash may also be removed accordingly by opening the ash removal openings which have to be closed immediately", Mr Liyanage further explained.
"In this invention complete combustion is assured through suction of part of the burnt gasses back to the flame thereby ensuring that almost all the material is completely burnt.
The configuration of this novel design consists essentially of a structure of the shape of a frustum of a cone, (or a frustum of a pyramid, Tetrahedral or with a polygonal base) and no visible smoke is generated thereby eliminating or reducing environmental pollution to zero per cent.
"The structure may be supported with pillars and columns, a cylindrical structure or any other suitable civil engineering structural method while the outer conical frustum may be made with reinforced concrete preferably.
The extension chimney of any suitable height may be mounted to the top dome with the inner chimney enclosed in it with a circular gap in between the two chimneys to open when initiating the burning process and close when thrash is properly ignited. These two chimneys are supported with suitable means or any standard means such as cables which are used for supporting such tall structures."
Mr Liyanage said he hopes that his invention, concept and contribution to the country's development would be taken by the Municipal and Urban Councils and put into operation as a viable solution to the confounding garbage and trash disposal issue in Sri Lanka.
Invention of an eco-friendly trash incinerator:
by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson
From an announcer for the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation(SLBC) in 1959, the voice that presented the famous 'Handiyagedera' program in 1978 to an enterprising businessman today, Gunatunga K. Liyanage has come up with a novel invention which may be an answer to Sri Lanka's growing garbage disposal issue; an invention of an eco-friendly trash incinerator with almost zero per cent of environmental pollution, an instantly viable solution to the staggering problem of thrash disposal confronting the Municipal and Urban Councils in Sri Lanka he says.
A detailed description of the novel invention has been sent to the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERD), the Central Environment Authority, the Sri Lanka Investors Commission and the Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka for their appraisal and assessment.
A miniature model of the invention; the eco-friendly trash incinerator has been set up at Gamini Furniture Palace factory premises at Buddhaloka Mawatha, Piliyandala for inspection and a demonstration of the concept could be done for interested parties on request, Mr Liyanage said.
Asked if Mr Liyanage is an engineer, he answered in the negative and said the invention was totally his, it is unique and there were no engineers involved in the initiation of the concept.
Mr Liyanage in an interview with the Sunday Observer said, "The introduction of this incineration process is unique and does not require external fuel and has no atmospheric pollution.
The possibility of generating power is also available with this concept. So, this could be the best alternative to finding vast land fills to store garbage for months till degenerated or resorting to anaerobic digestion combined with or without bio-gas generation which is of course not so popular due to the high cost of digesters, the unpleasant and unhealthy maintenance and moreover because it is a long drawn out total digestion process."
Explaining the concept Mr Liyanage further said, "The most important novel feature of an invention of a trash incinerator of this nature is the manner in which it has been designed with the ( one or preferably four) provision of air or smoke absorbing pipes or tubes which does not cause environmental pollution.
The picture shows a sectional elevation of the incinerator. Marked 7 is one of the most important features of this invention, the smoke/ air re-circulating pipes which are four in number in this embodiment but can be selected according to the need.
The smoke absorbing pipes are mounted in such a manner that their top end, at the dome, above the level of the trash feeding gates with the bottom passing though the inner conical frustum to the empty space at the bottom of the incinerator thereby enabling the air or smoke to be sucked into the pipes or tubes from the top end being discharged to the inside of the inner conical frustum structure, made of heat resistant materials, thereby rejoining the combustion process".
"As the opening at the bottom, provided for servicing and burnt material removal is now closed, the "chimney effect" causes a partial vacuum at the core of the inner conical frustum thereby enabling the air and smoke to be sucked in through the said pipes or tubes from the space in the dome above the thrash feeding level.
The ratio of fresh air or smoke sucked in can be controlled by the gates provided at, or just above the top ring of the outer conical frustum. Such gates may be arranged for dual function of feeding trash from time to time and control the amount of air sucked in, or a separate gate may be provided for the two functions.
This recirculation of partially burnt gasses so caused will ensure almost total combustion of trash. While trash may be introduced from time to time, ash may also be removed accordingly by opening the ash removal openings which have to be closed immediately", Mr Liyanage further explained.
"In this invention complete combustion is assured through suction of part of the burnt gasses back to the flame thereby ensuring that almost all the material is completely burnt.
The configuration of this novel design consists essentially of a structure of the shape of a frustum of a cone, (or a frustum of a pyramid, Tetrahedral or with a polygonal base) and no visible smoke is generated thereby eliminating or reducing environmental pollution to zero per cent.
"The structure may be supported with pillars and columns, a cylindrical structure or any other suitable civil engineering structural method while the outer conical frustum may be made with reinforced concrete preferably.
The extension chimney of any suitable height may be mounted to the top dome with the inner chimney enclosed in it with a circular gap in between the two chimneys to open when initiating the burning process and close when thrash is properly ignited. These two chimneys are supported with suitable means or any standard means such as cables which are used for supporting such tall structures."
Mr Liyanage said he hopes that his invention, concept and contribution to the country's development would be taken by the Municipal and Urban Councils and put into operation as a viable solution to the confounding garbage and trash disposal issue in Sri Lanka.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/10/21/imp01.asp
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