SET is working with experienced engineering, manufacturing, project management, feedstock research and testing partners for delivering client-specific waste conversion technology for commercial use.

Dr. Nikhil Patel is the inventor and developer of the core conversion technology owned by SET. The technology was developed at the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC), USA. In addition to this technology, Dr. Patel has designed a wide range of innovative gasification technologies for efficient conversion of waste feedstock with vastly different and complex compositions. His technology development experience enables him to recognize the pathways that will lead to technological success as opposed to those likely to lead to dead ends. During his 25-plus years of work experience in mechanical, thermochemical, and aerospace engineering, Dr. Patel has developed confidence in creating innovative conversion technologies that are critically required to solve today’s environmental challenges.

While working on his Ph.D. in the Aerospace Engineering Department in India’s premier scientific research institution Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Dr. Patel developed processes for successfully converting waste streams generated from cane molasses-based ethanol distillery effluents–highly complex industrial pollutants that are environmentally hazardous and known to be very challenging to process. In developing a novel gasification solution to resolve this problem for distilleries, Dr. Patel developed and utilized fundamental research tools used in the aerospace industries. A series of three innovative reactor configurations were developed by Dr. Patel that could achieve sustained combustion and gasification of these difficult-to-burn wastes. Six years of extensive experimental research, pilot testing, and modeling efforts conducted at IISc increased his scientific understanding and experience which led to creation of the successful technology known as the Sandwich Gasifier.

During his 15 years at the EERC, Dr. Patel utilized his fundamental and practical understanding of combustion and gasification in advancing the core gasification technology employed by SET. This innovation allows the complete conversion of complex wastes into a clean synthetic gas of the desired composition. This process thus allows seamless integration with off-the-shelf syngas conversion technologies for the production of green diesel, chemicals, electricity, heat, and value-added by-products. The Sandwich Gasification technology has undergone extensive pilot testing and peer review at the EERC. The commitment of the SET team led by Dr. Patel is key to the commercial success of the next-generation waste conversion technologies that humankind needs to achieve environmental sustainability for its continued health and survival.