Fundamentals in Anaerobic Digestion

First steps in developing a project

Tom Knitter
SEI - Renewable Energy Information Office
22nd October, Tullamore

SEI REIO - Background

Created in 1995, based in Clonakilty, West Cork

Established to promote the use of renewable
resources and provide independent information and
advice on the financial, social and technical issues
relating to renewable energy development.
2003 Awarded Best European RE Agency by the EC

Outline
Fundamentals in Anaerobic Digestion
Utilization/basics
Technical requirements
Checklist developing a project
Upgrading Biogas to Biomethane

SEIs grant Aid and provided Information

Biology

4 digestion steps by different

enzymes and bacteria without
oxygen

Bacteria in last step (Methane

formation) most sensitive
pH-Value (fatty acids), temperature

Temperature
Mesophilic: 38 42 C
Thermophilic: 55 65 C

Source : FNR

Composition Biogas
Average composition of
biogas
Component

Chemical symbol

Concentration

Methane

CH4

50 - 75 % - vol.

Carbon dioxide

CO2

25 - 45 % - vol.

Water vapour

H2O

2 - 7 % - vol.

Oxygen

O2

< 2 % - vol.

Nitrogen

N2

< 2 % - vol.

Ammonia

NH3

< 1 % - vol.

Hydrogen

H2

< 1 % - vol.

Hydrogen sulphide

H2S

20 20.000 ppm

[ppm: Parts per million; % - vol.: volumetric percentage]

Biogas an Energy all-rounder

Source: IEA

Feedstock
Source: German Biogas Association

Feedstock yield
1 Household
4000 kWh el./a
4000 kWh th./a

Feedstock yield
6 Cows = 110 t/a
Slurry

1 Household
4000 kWh el./a
4000 kWh th./a

or
14 t/a fresh Grass
silage
or
16 t/a food waste

AD processes
Temperature
Mesophilic
38 42 C

Thermophilic
55 65 C

Feedstock
Mono-digestion
One feedstock

Co-digestion
Several feedstock

Plant design/System
Batch
Garage system

Continuous
Mixing, pumping

Digestion
Dry
Dry feedstock (>25% DM)

Wet
Mainly wet feedstock

AD processes
Temperature
Mesophilic
38 42 C

Thermophilic
55 65 C

Feedstock
Mono-digestion
One feedstock

Co-digestion
Several feedstock

Plant design/System
Batch
Garage system

Continuous
Mixing, pumping

Digestion
Dry
Dry feedstock (>25% DM)

Wet
Mainly wet feedstock

Biogas Plants

Biogas plant scheme

Source: Haase

Technical requirements
Main Components:

Sorting/screening systems (organic waste)

Digester
Mixer/agitator
Pumps
Feeding systems for solid biomass
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

Components must be suitable for feedstock!

Sorting/screening
(organic waste)

Digester types
Vertical digester
Different heights, diameter
Several digesters/stages
possible

Plug flow digester

Horizontal shaft
High organic loading rate
Dry digestion

Combination plug flow

vertical digester
Two (several) stages

Digester types
Batch system
Garage
No mixing, pumping

Source: Bekon

Agitators types
(Continuous system)

Pumps types

Feeding systems

CHP Unit for Biogas

Modified Gas- or Diesel-engines

50 2000 kW installed capacity
Operating 7500 8200 hr/a
Efficiency rates:
Electrical 30 42 %
Thermal 25 50 %
Overall up to 85%

Limit values of boigas-components/lube oil

(f.ex. H2S, NH3; TBN, Oxidation etc.)
Design of the plant!

Developing an AD plant

?...!

Developing a project is a long process!

Operating the plant:

What is my motivation for installing/operating a plant?

Who is operating the plant (24/7 supervision necessary)?

Source: German Biogas

Association

Developing an AD project
Feedstock

Availability and amount:

What do I have, how much do I have or can I get?
stable amount over next months, year(s)?

Gate fee/price
Stable for the next years?
Costs calculated realistically

Regulations (ABP, waste permit)?

Quality
gas yield/specific gas production, dry matter, organic dry matter

50 - 100 kW feedstock is necessary to operate a plant viably (list website!)

Depending highly on Investment, gate fee/price, running costs etc.

Sizing CHP unit

Sizing the plant and components/technique

Indication Sizing an AD plant

2 basic main parameters:
Retention Time: 35 80 days
feedstock remains in main digester(s)
Volume digester divided by input per day
30 t Slurry/day (app. 60 kW), RT 35 days = 1050 m3

Organic Loading Rate: < 4.0 - 4.5 kg oDM/m3/d

How much organic dry matter (oDM) added per m3 per
d
Overload system/technique/biology
Organic dry material added daily (kg oDM/d)
OLR (kg oDM/(m3 d)=

Net volume digester (m3)

30 t/d x 0.10 oDM/t = 3000 kg/1050 m3 = 2.9 kg/m3d

RT and OLR depending on feedstock and plant system!

Checklist developing project

Starting Planning (extract)
Get in contact with local authorities
public consultation
Which planning regulations/legislation

Regulated by local authority (planning permission)

What is the content of this permission/legislation?

Possible location of plant

Heat demand, heat usage (who?), residential area

Plant integration in existing farm/network/infrastructure

Grid connection, distance

Checklist developing a project

Supplier/developer of plant components; plant design

Experience, track record, reputation (financing!)
Similar/same reference-plants get in contact
how well were these performing during the last years?

Suitable equipment and design for feedstock (changing!)

Compare supplier/developer
Price, Recommended plant design/dimension
OLR, RT, digesters
Trainings
Warranty, after sales, maintenance
Find out Operating costs!

Developing an AD plant

Financial projection

What is the availability of the plant (up to 8200 hr/a)

What is my income?

Selling electricity/heat, Saving heat

Gate fee, value fertilizer

What are my costs?

Investment (3500 5500 Euro/kW)

Loans, interest

Insurance, Administration
Operating/running plant
Labor, Maintenance, spare parts, Consultants
Sampling, testing, means

Comparing income and cost in ct/kWh

Checklist on website:

http://www.sei.ie/Renewables/Bioenergy/Anaerobic_Digestion/

Upgrading Biogas

Upgrading to Biomethane

CH4 content from 50-60% to > 95% (natural gas)

Utilization

Injection gas-grid
Using as a vehicle fuel (natural gas engine)
Criteria of product gas
Wobbe-Index, calorific value
CH4, CO2 conc., Water

According IEA upgrading Biogas in early

commercial stage

High amount of feedstock necessary (app. >3

MWel.)

Vehicle fuel and production costs

Source: FNR, Meo Consulting

Production costs liquid

biofuels

Upgrading Technique
Cleaning and upgrading Biogas
Water (already AD)
Gas Cooling

H2S (already AD)

Char coal etc.

CO2

Scrubber
Water
Amine

PSA (Pressure swing adsorption)

Grant programme Biomass

CHP/AD_CHP

Grant Programme Biomass CHP/AD_CHP:

Launched January 2008, Duration End of 2010
Supported Technologies: Biomass CHP and AD_CHP
Indicative Budget of 5-8m

Grant support:
Grant support of up to 40% of the Feasibility study (CHP programme)
Grant of up to 30% of eligible costs/Investment costs
Cost cap on eligible costs defined in programme
Indicative grant cap per project 1.5 million

Biomass CHP/AD_CHP

Eligible projects characteristics (extract):

New biomass CHP/AD_CHP installed in RoI
Primary energy savings (PES)
For <1 MWe PES >0%
For 1MWe PES >10%

High efficiency CHP complying with EU CHP Directive 2004/8/EC

Eligible costs (extract):

Equipment (e.g. prime mover, fuel supply, processing and storage)
Mechanical/electrical connections of plant items
Specified building and civil engineering work

Programme details
Application Guide and Application Form:
Biomass CHP/AD_CHP:

www.sei.ie/bio_chpgrants

CHP Feasibility Study:

www.sei.ie/Grants/CHP/

Information: www.sei.ie/Renewables/Bioenergy/
Renewable Energy RD&D: www.sei.ie see grants

Further AD information

Provided AD Information
Calculator
Input/feedstock, typical gas yields
Calculating main operating parameter, gas yields, kWh el. Th.
Retention time, organic loading rate

Literature f. ex. updated English-Handbook

Checklist developing a project
Guide Connection to the grid
Information Animal By products
Bioenergy contacts/consultant list
getting registered!

http://www.sei.ie/Renewables/Bioenergy/
Anaerobic_Digestion

Contact
Thank you
Tom Knitter
SEI - Renewable Energy Information Office
Unit A, West Cork Technology Park, Clonakilty
tom.knitter@reio.ie
023-88 63237