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Digesters and the Technology of Anaerobic Digestion

Updated on February 25, 2023
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Steve Last BSC Civ Eng, MICE. MCIWM is an anaerobic digestion expert who works as a biogas plant Emissions Compliance Consultant.

Find Out the Truth About Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Here!

Yes! It's true. Many people that have never heard about it before think that it must be a stomach complaint!
Yes! It's true. Many people that have never heard about it before think that it must be a stomach complaint!

What Biogas Is

Biogas Digesters produce biogas which is a mixture of gases, primarily methane and carbon dioxide, and a nutrient-rich slurry or 'liquor'.

However, some industries use the term to refer to a completely different type of digester. In papermaking the digester is a special piece of machinery used in the process. Its purpose is to cook small wood chips for several hours in order to soften them, but while is an alternative usage of the term, that isn't the same process as anaerobic digestion.

For a normal digester the gasholder is equipped with a gas outlet, while it is also equipped with an overflow pipe to lead the sludge out into a drainage pit. Disposal of the products of digestion is a subject in itself, and not covered here.

Uses That Have Also Been Found for the Material Left After Digestion is Compete

The solid waste output from a digester can possibly be used instead of sawdust for animal bedding, and is also sold as mulch. Many other uses have been suggested, and these are too numerous to discuss here.

Biogas Digestion Principles

Most People Have Seen Biogas Plants - But Don't Know It!

A typical agricultural biogas plant is easy to recognize. Watch out for large circular tanks with spherical roofs like these.
A typical agricultural biogas plant is easy to recognize. Watch out for large circular tanks with spherical roofs like these.

Digesters and the Technology of Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic Digesters use waste materials to make energy, that is the most remarkable fact about this process.

Anaerobic Digesters can actually help save our planet by taking carbon out of the atmosphere. Since it is the build-up of carbon which is thought to be the main cause of global warming, this is an awesome thing to be able to do!

Digesters were never really thought of, or discussed until the early 2000s, and made no sense economically while oil costs were low, yet now with rapidly rising fuel costs, and rising demand for renewable fuels to combat climate change, the process is seeing a BIG revival.

Economic forces and government encouragement are quite suddenly acting together so that Anaerobic Digestion is becoming a very popular concept and experiencing the rapid development of the technology and many new plants are being planned.

Find all the exciting AD facts in this article.

How the Anaerobic Digestion Process is Being Used to Reduce Carbon Emissions and Help Save Our Planet

The Raw Materials for Biogas Production via the Anaerobic Digestion Process

Many farms in Europe are using energy crops which are processed in digesters to produce biogas. In most cases the main crop used is corn silage. To generate significantly more methane than seasonal corn supplies and/or manure alone, digester designs in Europe are increasingly being modified to accept multiple substrates, from grease to corn silage to food waste.

Manure is a well known potential and largely free feedstock, but has a low energy content since cows have already substantially digested the substrate, so adding high-energy value materials produces more methane. Cattle slurry is about 12% dry matter and produces about 25 cubic metres of biogas per tonne, but broiler manure would be two to four times more efficient. Unfortunately, about half of the energy goes heating the dung and there will be additional losses if the dung is not fresh, but it is still worthwhile.

How the Biogas Produced is Converted Into Energy

The biogas is produced is usually burned to generate renewable energy.

When used for heat only, the biogas is burned in a modified gas boiler to provide heat energy to heat the digester and for export. When used for electricity generation a gas engine is used, and the cooling water is best used for a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) use. This means heating greenhouses, or piping the hot water to a local factory for use in manufacturing.

The digester is kept at an optimum temperature of between 90-95 degrees F. About 40,000 cubic feet of methane gas is produced per day in an average sized AD unit.

The recent costings have been completed suggesting that average sized digesters are expected to bring in at least $20,000 per year, although this would need verification, it seems to be a substantial sum.

Biogas technology has been used for hundreds of years, and the bacteria which create biogas are all around us!
Biogas technology has been used for hundreds of years, and the bacteria which create biogas are all around us!

Benefits of Anaerobic Digestion for Dairy Farms

How Governments are Encouraging the Electricity Generating Companies to Use Biogas

Utility companies are increasingly required to accept biogas power into the local power supply grid, and to provide smart meters that tell the digester plant operator exactly how much electricity is being produced or consumed at any given time and at what payment rate/cost.

This enables operators to plan and balance their use and supply input times for when the power is needed most in the power grid.

To supply power during peak usage times when it is most expensive/ commands the highest value to the digester plant operator. Operators suggest that this can add up to something like 15 percent on annual electricity revenues.

At one site the digester reportedly assumed to transform 83% of the biodegradable material into gas. The biogas there is produced at a high purity of 65% methane, and its heat of combustion is 5,720 kcal cubic metres at standard conditions. A suspended-pipe hot-water heat exchanger in the digester is used to heat the digester to between 35 degrees and 40 degrees Centigrade.

Sewage Works Biogas Plants Can Look Like This!

This is another example of what an AD Plant looks like. (It's behind the cyclists!)
This is another example of what an AD Plant looks like. (It's behind the cyclists!)

What Happens to the Excess Digester Fluid (Digestate)?

The water that remains at the top of the digester is decanted out of the digester through a floating drainpipe. This water may be returned directly to an oxidation ditch for further treatment. The digester is heated, and the temperature is raised so that it continues to the desired temperature.

This type of circulation is continued until the liquor leaving the top of the digester is within the target temperature (within the mesophilic and thermophilic range).

In some plants types the circulation is terminated and the heat content of the heating section is restored by circulating the liquor therein through a heat exchanger to raise the temperature of the liquor.

What is the Future for Renewable Biogas Energy?

Anaerobic Digestion Technology is currently seeing a rapid rise in popularity and the reason for this is the lower operational (energy) costs when compared with biological aeration due to the avoidance of aeration and the use of the methane produced as an energy source.

The rising price of oil is of course the biggest factor that has increased popularity.

Also, research has found that anaerobic systems can be developed that have the ability to operate at much higher loadings than previously thought possible, raising the profit to be made from these systems.

Anaerobic Digestion Plant Opinion

Yes! AD Plants carry out "carbon capture" to reduce climate change, but not like this though!
Yes! AD Plants carry out "carbon capture" to reduce climate change, but not like this though!
A lot of AD Plants are in fact biogas plants which process sewage sludge which is a waste product from sewage treatment.
A lot of AD Plants are in fact biogas plants which process sewage sludge which is a waste product from sewage treatment.

This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2008 stevelast

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