- Process type – Screening, decanting, hydronic separation and harvesting.
- Process setup – see process flow chart
- Feedstock – Fats, oil, and grease (FOG) captured from commercial kitchen’s grease traps, interceptors and lagoons.
- Heat level(s) – Closed loop Hydronic heat exchanger tubes utilizing NO steam.
- Cycle time – variable dependent upon degree of grease separation desired and initial temperature of feedstock. Plan on 24 hours to process, but range is 18-36 hours.
- Output – variable dependent upon grease content of raw grease trap waste. For planning purposes post processing results are 15% Brown Grease, 5% batter and 80% pasteurized effluent water.
No additional materials, substances, or chemicals (such as polymers or flocculants) are needed for Greasezilla℠ to process grease trap waste.
Raw Grease Trap Waste (GTW) can go directly into Greasezilla℠ reactor tanks; however efficiency of the system is maximized through decanting by removing approximately 50% of raw GTW that is water.
Raw Grease Trap Waste (GTW) contains 3-10% Brown Grease by volume. If the GTW waste is decanted, then 10-20% can be refined into GZ fuel depending on input characteristics.
Processed GZ fuel is stored in a heated insulated tank, trailer or frac tank. The most common storage vessel is a commercial tanker which is then trucked to and emptied at a fuel depot.
A standard Greasezilla℠ system with two 10k gallon reactors can process 6-8 million gallons a year and be profitable processing as little as 2 million gallons a year depending on input characteristics. Contact company for a system calculator.
Greasezilla℠ brown grease advanced biofuel (ABF) trades on the Jacobsen commodity exchange. With a moisture content of less than 1%, the ABF is a RIN-qualified feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and heating oil. It is also a drop-in substitute for bunker fuel #6. However, Greasezilla℠ fuel burns much cleaner than bunker #6 and is increasingly in demand as countries continue to prioritize climate efforts. Greasezilla℠ burns 5% of the fuel it creates during processing and may also be used for other heating applications in the client’s facilities or processes.
The historical 5-year range for Brown Grease is $0.75 – $2.00/gallon. Downey Ridge Environmental can provide turnkey management of Brown Grease sales as a service to our clients. Optional heated fuel tanks for pre-market storage available.
Since Greasezilla℠ occupies a small footprint of only 1000 square feet (100 square meters) most applications are housed in existing facilities. The system also comes in a containerized modular configuration for exterior placement.
- Tanks -two 10,000-gallon reactor tanks, approx. 10x13x20 feet (37.5 cubic meters)
- Hydronic Heater- Sub 1 million BTU (can be configured in series)
- Fuel Source – 300-gallon (1135-liter) heated tank for Greasezilla fuel standard.
- Cycle time – dependent on client’s needs. Use 24 hours for planning/estimates.
Nominal permitting requirements vary from municipality to municipality for pasteurized effluent discharge, non-flammable fuel storage and limited flue gas emissions.
Greasezilla℠ consumes approximately 4 gallons (15 liters) of GZ fuel per hour during processing. There are minimal electrical needs associated with pumps used to fill and drain the reactor tanks and solid-state circuitry employed by digital controllers.
Most countries, states and some municipalities offer credits for the creation and utilization of advanced biofuels, which is the classification of Greasezilla℠ fuel. Consult your local authorities.
Minimal preventative maintenance consisting of cleaning, burner nozzle replacement and pump lubrication is recommended. Turnkey wear part replacement kits are available through Downey Ridge Environmental for nominal cost.
Greasezilla℠ systems have been operating for over 10 years with little or no downtime.
Varies dependent upon input characteristics and decant process. Greasezilla℠ does not affect BOD levels beyond removing high BOD brown grease from the grease trap waste. Greasezilla® reduces BOD to extent that brown grease is removed, leaving pasteurized water and effluent for minimal further treatment.
- After processing approximately 80% of the volume in a 10,000-gallon Greasezilla℠ reactor tank is pasteurized effluent water, ready for headworks of a treatment plant.
- The small (approx. 5% by volume) brain or batter layer is an excellent feedstock for anaerobic or co-digestion, or composting. If neither is utilized, then traditional methods of treatment can be utilized, or it can be processed with the effluent water.
GZ systems normally payback within two years even when operating at only 50% capacity. Volume, tipping fees, effluent disposal cost and Brown Grease ABF revenue all impact system profitability.
Greasezilla℠ is designed for a life cycle of a minimum 20 years.
- Hydronic Separation System (HSS) Dual Reactor 20K (capacity 7.5m/gal/yr)
- HSS Single Reactor 10K decant/processing system (capacity 3.5m/gal/yr)
Greasezilla℠ is engineered to be scalable to meet even higher volume requirements
- Assists in complying with CFR 40 403.2 (a) “prevent the introduction of pollutants into POTW which will interfere with the operation of the POTW” and: (c) “improve opportunities to recycle and reclaim municipal and industrial wastewater and sludges”
- Assists in complying with CFR 40 403.5: “Prohibited discharges” (b) 3: “solid or viscous pollutants in amounts which will cause obstruction to the flow in the POTW resulting in interference”
