Ukrainian scientists in the struggle for the environment and new sources of energy

All without exception loudly declare the need to preserve the environment and energy conservation. Large sums are spent on discussing issues, various organizations are being created that send their own canoes to the experience of foreign colleagues at the expense of the state (usually, to no avail). A variety of forums, round tables, conferences are held, while Ukrainian scientists are developing a solution to energy, environmental, economic problems.

Single copies of developments of the Institute of Energy Technologies have already been introduced into production. Tripolskaya CHPP tested a special burner on a boiler, whose capacity is 300 MW. A specially designed burner reduces the consumption of natural gas by 5 times, which is used for burning anthracite.

Another invention of Ukrainian scientists is a lintel for communal boilers, thanks to which it is possible to replace expensive gas with cheaper brown coal. Among the latest developments is a circulating fluidized bed boiler, which is needed by the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant. This plant is the property of the concern "Energo", whose activities are aimed at coal mining, its enrichment, smelting of metal. In the metallurgical industry, it was decided to use waste of coal enrichment - a cake. It is planned to convert excess heat energy to electric power with the help of the boiler, so the company will be able to enter the energy market. This project was developed by experts of the Institute of Coal Technologies together with the design bureau of the Institute "Energomashproekt".

First and foremost, such boilers can significantly reduce the cost of energy resources, as well as effectively use the waste of the coal industry - sludge and cake. Over the long history of coal mining, millions of tons of such wastes accumulated, they occupy large areas, pollute the earth, and so on. The accumulation of coal waste has already acquired an environmental problem. With the help of new technologies, waste incineration occurs almost to the state of ash, which can then be used for agricultural needs or production of construction materials. In addition, with old coal-enrichment technologies, not all of the carbon was used for combustion, a lot of unused fuel was stored in the waste, which can now be burned with the help of a new circulating fluidized bed boiler and receive electrical and thermal energy.

At the Institute of Gas, NASU is also concerned about the problems of rational use of waste and obtaining cheap energy. In Bortnichi, near Kiev, there is an aeration station - engineering facilities, communications, equipment, which purify the sewage of Kiev. At this station, not only household, but also liquid wastes are cleaned, which remain after industrial enterprises. Such industrial liquid waste accumulates on the fields of aeration, where they begin to wander, resulting in the formation of a biological gas - a mixture of carbon dioxide and methane.

Methane is extremely dangerous for the environment. Adopted in Japan, the Kyoto Protocol obliges countries to burn methane, thereby turning it into carbon dioxide, which does not affect the ozone layer so destructively. Previously, it was done - methane was burned in large torches. But this process is extremely wasteful for such a non-volatile state as Ukraine. Scientists from the Gas Institute came to the conclusion that biological gas can be used as fuel, while receiving energy - thermal and electric. The scientists created a small experimental power plant that provides electricity and heat to the entire aeration station.

The formation of methane occurs not only when burning liquid waste, it is abundant in urban landfills, where for decades decaying food debris. One of the developments of the Institute makes it possible to produce electricity and gas for heating directly from the garbage heaps. In the thickness of garbage waste, a well is drilled, from which methane enters a special installation, which resembles a diesel generator. All this turns a bunch of garbage into a source of heat and energy.

Perhaps the most valuable invention of scientists is the installation, through which medical waste is processed. This unit allows to dispose of all harmful substances, burning of which is harmful not only to the environment, but also to humans (plastic, toxic waste, pesticides). Installation is small and easy to move, the introduction of such a device would help clean the earth of the huge amount of debris that accumulates near each locality. Garbage remains lying for years on the spot, there are landfills with pesticides, which eventually blurred by rain, falling underground, and poisoning underground water. Such wastes are not subject to normal combustion, since a number of toxic substances are released, in this case only utilization is needed. Such installations are made for Lithuania and China, where they are used with pleasure. Perhaps with time and in our country there will be a technology that will help get rid of accumulated debris and toxic waste.

Specialists of the Institute of Physical Chemistry presented at one exhibition a catalyst that neutralizes the exhaust gases in the internal combustion engine, which cause a greenhouse effect. Also, institutes create state-owned enterprises that practically use the achievements of science. Among them, one can single out an enterprise for the processing of butyl rubber rubber (chambers, diaphragms, etc.). In the process, waste rubber and waste from the rubber industry is converted to butyl regenerate, a material that is widely used for anti-corrosive, waterproofing, sealing building materials and for laying roads, building bridges.

All this is only a small part of scientific developments of Ukrainian scientists, which, unfortunately, have not been widely used. Innovations require significant costs, but the benefits for society and the earth as a whole is not comparable to any money.