Pivot Fuel

Pivot Works

Pivot Works Ltd. converts human fecal sludge into solid fuel for powering local industries (cement and brick plants) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Discontinued

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

Pivot fuel is a human waste derived granular solid biomass fuel intended for industrial applications. Pivot Works Ltd. is a start-up waste-to-energy company that converts human waste streams in large municipalities to a solid fuel through mechanical processes providing both an energy source and sanitation solution.

Pivot Works is located in Kigali, Rwanda.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Rwanda

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Pivot Plant is the only distributor.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Industry range for a ton of solid fuel at Pivot Fuel’s energy content (18 GJ per ton) is 45 USD- 189 USD. ^I^{nterview with representative}

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Competitors are municipal wastewater treatment plants and large-scale aerobic digestion plants.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Private sector and businesses in need of solid fuel.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

The fuel is created using three major processes: use of a belt filter, mechanical dewatering machine followed by greenhouses for solar drying, and a thermal dryer for sanitizing and homogenizing the form factor of the finished product. Human waste is brought to the processing site by vacuum trucks and stored in large holding tanks. Video of the manufacturing process in the Pivot Plant in Rwanda.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trade secret. ^I^{nterview with representative}

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Users can obtain the product from the manufacturer.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

50 tons as of June 2016 ^{interview with representative}

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Material composition

What is the material composition of the fuel (e.g. ethanol, biogas, agricultural residues, etc.)

Human waste

Higher heating value (MJ/kg)

MJ/kg, energy content per gram

18 MJ/kg

Types of primary pollutants

What are the main pollutants when the fuel is combusted? (e.g. CO, PM2.5)

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

A municipality of roughly 1 million persons is required to achieve workable economies of scale. Climate, alternative fuels access and market price, regulatory structure, and government interest are all components needed for success. The fuel produced is a granular solid biomass fuel.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by the manufacturer.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Single use product

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

No expiration date in optimal conditions. In very humid climates or situations where the fuel is exposed to and accumulates moisture, there is a potential for fuel ignition.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

– Calorific value of 16 – 22 MJ/kg
– Density of 400 – 500 kg/m³

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Local and international labs performed tests for energy content, volatile solids content, ash content, pathogens and metals. These results can be made available to anyone interested in purchasing Pivot Works fuel.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

None

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Keep fuel in a dry and cool environment to prevent spontaneous combustion. Proper silos for storage should be installed to ensure safe conditions.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

Human waste collection and transportation systems and furnace systems for fuel combustion.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Diener, S., Semiyaga, S., Niwagaba, C. B., Muspratt, A. M., Gning, J. B., Mbéguéré, M., … Strande, L. (2014). A value proposition: Resource recovery from faecal sludge—Can it be the driver for improved sanitation? Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 88, 32–38.

Muspratt, A. M., Nakato, T., Niwagaba, C., Dione, H., Kang, J., Stupin, L., … Strande, L. (2014). Fuel potential of faecal sludge: calorific value results from Uganda, Ghana and Senegal. Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 4(2), 223–230.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Energy content, volatile solids content, ash content, pathogen and metals content, and burn duration and temperature.

Other information

Learn more about Pivot Works here.

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

Pivot Works is located in Kigali, Rwanda.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Rwanda

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Pivot Plant is the only distributor.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Industry range for a ton of solid fuel at Pivot Fuel’s energy content (18 GJ per ton) is 45 USD- 189 USD. ^I^{nterview with representative}

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Competitors are municipal wastewater treatment plants and large-scale aerobic digestion plants.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Private sector and businesses in need of solid fuel.

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trade secret. ^I^{nterview with representative}

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Users can obtain the product from the manufacturer.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

50 tons as of June 2016 ^{interview with representative}

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Material composition

What is the material composition of the fuel (e.g. ethanol, biogas, agricultural residues, etc.)

Human waste

Higher heating value (MJ/kg)

MJ/kg, energy content per gram

18 MJ/kg

Types of primary pollutants

What are the main pollutants when the fuel is combusted? (e.g. CO, PM2.5)

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by the manufacturer.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Single use product

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

No expiration date in optimal conditions. In very humid climates or situations where the fuel is exposed to and accumulates moisture, there is a potential for fuel ignition.

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

– Calorific value of 16 – 22 MJ/kg
– Density of 400 – 500 kg/m³

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

None

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Keep fuel in a dry and cool environment to prevent spontaneous combustion. Proper silos for storage should be installed to ensure safe conditions.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

Human waste collection and transportation systems and furnace systems for fuel combustion.

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Energy content, volatile solids content, ash content, pathogen and metals content, and burn duration and temperature.

Other information

Learn more about Pivot Works here.

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors