Biogas Plant
In Germany alone, more than 6,000 biogas plants generate electricity, heat and steam, and for several years they have also produced fuel. Biogas is a particularly versatile renewable energy source. Its potential is just being discovered in Germany. Residual material – organic waste from the food industry, slurry and dung from agriculture or biological waste and sewage sludge from cities and municipalities – as well as energy crops such as maize, grass, cereals, sugar beet and lots of other renewable substrates can be used in a biogas plant.
Various microorganisms decompose the biomass into ...
Various microorganisms decompose the biomass into biogas in several steps under anaerobic conditions. The microorganisms digest the carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and lime remain largely unchanged in this process.
Biogas is a gas mixture, the composition of which essentially depends on the feedstock materials. The most important components of biogas are methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen, but also water vapour and traces of hydrogen, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide.
Among all the renewable energy sources, biogas is by far the most versatile.
Biogas:
- can produce electricity, heat and steam in CHP stations (combined heat and power stations).
- is a regional product, also in terms of value creation.
- can be stored, even over periods of days and weeks.
- can be transported.
- can be processed into a product of natural gas quality and be fed into the natural gas distribution system.
- brings about independence.
How Does A Biogas Plant Work?
- In the collecting pit, slurry and other substrates are stored temporarily, and shredded and mixed when needed. The term 'substrate' is used to designate the solid or liquid biomass that is used in the digester to generate biogas.
- The digester is the core of the plant. It is a container in which the biomass is decomposed by microorganisms in darkness and under anaerobic conditions. Subsequently, the products of this decomposition are metabolized by methanogenic bacteria into methane and carbon dioxide.
- The digester is usually heated to about 38 to 42 °C (mesophilic) or 55 °C (thermophilic) and stirred regularly.
- The generated biogas is collected either under the gas-tight cover directly above the substrate or in an external gas storage tank.
- It can be conducted directly to a CHP station (combined heat and power station), where it is burnt in a combustion engine for the generation of electricity and heat.
- Alternatively, the biogas can be dried and purified in a gas treatment unit. In this biogas treatment or purification, the methane content of the biogas is raised substantially and it reaches the quality of natural gas (biomethane).
- Biomethane can subsequently be fed directly into the natural gas distribution system.
- After the substrate has been fermented in the digester, it is first deposited in the fermentation residue store. From here, it is finally used as a high-quality biological fertilizer. The fermentation residue can also be separated and dried.
Customer reviews
No reviews were found for Biogas Plant. Be the first to review!