TABLE OF CONTENT

CONTENTS PAGE

Aim of the project 2

Problem Definition 2

Feasibility of the project 2

Technical Specifications 3

Scope of work detailing the learners contribution and involvement 3

Purpose and benefits of the project to the organization 3

Declaration by the student 4

Declaration by the Mentor 5

1
AIM OF THE PROJECT

The project aims to divert Biomass waste from being sent to landfills instead to be used to produce
useful and environmental friendly products such as Biodiesel fuels for National Department of
Transport. Recycling activities have grown in the past few years for bottle, plastic, metals and paper.
However Biomass waste is yet to be fully utilized.

There are number of Bio digester activities being done but Biogas production technology presents a
number of challenges, these includes a slow product rate, a significant number of Bio digester have
failed due to the high number of delicate parameters, easy deactivation of system microbes and
expensive generators for electricity.

PROBLEM DEFINITION

Due to the lack of service delivery within the informal settlements, minimum number of water plant
treatments and securing land to create more landfills sites plus increase in price of petroleum fuel. The
project aims to esteem the waste management hierarchy adopted by South African government which
put priority to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover human waste and Biomass waste in informal
settlements in particular and townships in general.

The project not only aims to divert waste from landfills but to also complement government efforts to
achieve its target of 400 million litres of Biodiesel by 2020. The feedstock won’t affect food security and
also won’t compete for land and water for food production.

FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT

There is a challenge of securing land to create more landfills thus the analysis on the current systems has
revealed that many transfer sites have the capacity to reclaim products like paper, plastics, and cans.
However there is a challenge of treating the Biomass that is found in Municipality waste, that comes
from informal settlements in particular and township in general. The study shows Tones of Biomass
waste that comes from informal settlements and Townships that are produced annual are not utilized.

2
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

I am proposing setting up a Catalytic Pressureless Depolymerisation Reactor plant. A plant that will
process the contaminated Biomass waste with little challenges. The following technical specifications
will be the part of Catalytic Pressureless Depolymerisation (CPD) Plant.

 Pre-Treatment
 Feed stock storage tank
 Conveyor belts
 Feed Hooper
 Densifier

SCOPE OF WORK DETAILING THE LEANERS CONTRIBUTION AND INVOLVEMENT

The learner will conduct interviews with residents from Khayelitsha Township in Cape Town about the
proposed Catalytic Pressureless Depolymerisation plant. Based on the inputs from the Residents, I will
further do a comprehensive presentation in all three spheres of Governance (Transport department)
starting from Local, Provincial and National.

When I am conducting these interactions between Residence and Government, I will also present the
technical aspects of the plant and my involvement as a mechanical technician in Design process and
Commissioning the plant.

PURPOSE AND BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.

I am employed by TOMTSHI (PTY) LTD organization that is based in Johannesburg. It is a start up

company dedicated to providing cost effective Renewable Energy. The products offering to the company
includes Biofuel and Solar Energy.

These intends to benefit the customer by diversifying their energy matrix and managing waste
effectively. Department of Transport it is a state organ that is currently facing the challenges of carbon
foot prints from road infrastructures such as motor vehicles and also the hikes of petroleum fuels such
as imported mineral diesel and petrol. If the proposed project can be implemented fully, the above
mentioned challenges can be addressed vigorously.

3
 UNISA
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINERRING
Engineering Design Project IV (EDP 401M)
DECLARATION BY STUDENT
I………………………………………………………………… declare that the work contained in my design project report
entitled……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Subject Engineering Design Project IV, is my own work and has not been submitted to any other tertiary
institution as a design project.

…………………………………………. ……………………………………………….

Date Signature of student

……………………………………………….

Name in print

………………………………………………..

Student number

Witnesses:

……………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………….

4
 UNISA
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINERRING
Engineering Design Project IV (EDP 401M)
DECLARATION BY MENTOR

I ……………………………………………………….. Acting as mentor for ………………………………………………………in

The subject Engineering Design Project IV, declare that to the best of my knowledge the work contained
in the design project report entitled…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………… by …………………………………………….

Student No……………………………………………………………. is his/ her own work.

………………………………………………. ……………………………………………

Date Signature of mentor

……………………………………………..

Name in Print

……………………………………………….

Telephone No.

……………………………………………….

ECSA Registration No