Important Elements for successful biogasprojects

Steve Brewster

1Webinar - May 2015

IDENTIFY DRIVERSEnergy extractionRegulatory complianceLandfill MinimisationGreen House Gas controlEnvironmental

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Parameter Design BVFInfluent

Removalefficiency

Flow (m3/d) 2 990

COD (mg/l) 25 000 99%

BOD (mg/l) 12 500 99.6%

TSS (mg/l) 2 200 96%

TN (mg/l) 200

IDENTIFY PRODUCT PRIORITIESBiogas use it, sell it, upgrade itFertilizer use it, sell it,Biomass dry it, sell for fertilizer – when dried it stores well,

packs well, light & transportableWater recycle, use as process water, wash water, further

purification to potable water

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Know your feedstock• Feed characteristics determine plant process and design• Volumes -Max and min• Seasonality - e.g. Dairy, fruit waste, vineyards• Variability - Many samples over time• Analysis - water content, BOD, pH, consistency, temperature• Inhibitory Factors - Disinfectants, antibiotics

- Biological = pathogens, viruses• Contamination - glass, plastic, wood, metal, sand & rocks• Consider multiple feedstocks and sources - Source and feed

- diversity is good• Contract - Don’t accept supplier’s word on content, do due

diligence on the supply and material 5

Agricultural & Horticultural

Food and Beverage

Dairy

Breweries & Distilleries

Fisheries & Abattoirs

Pharmaceutical and Chemical

Pulp and Paper & other industries

Municipal sorted wastes

PossibleFeedSources

SECURE YOUR FEEDSTOCK !Ensure the feed will be available as plannedContract it if possible to ensure it continues to match plant designMultiple feeds and sources ensures stability of operation.Set-up an analysis programme the feedstock suppliers need to complywith and document, to ensure the quality of the feed

Plant success depends on the feedstock

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Sydney

DEFINE THE PROCESS

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Produce a Process & Instrumentationdiagram and.

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A scaled equipment layout plan as the basis for most ofthe subsequent detailed civil, electrical and hydraulicdesign

CONSIDER DOWNSTREAM PRODUCTSHeat - Direct flame, boiler ,dryer, steamElectricity – IC engine, micro-turbine, sterling engineClean water - Digestate requires further treatment and solids and dissolved

components removed by membrane, RO etcCooling (directly or indirectly, absorption chilling or electric compression)CNG (for pipeline reticulation or transport fuel)

Other chemicals from biogas refining and reforming, plastics etcCarbon Dioxide - dry ice, drink aeration, greenhouse atmosphere

CO2 enrichment

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CNG powered bussesBiogas fuelledBoiler

MONITOR YOUR PRODUCTS

Regular analysis of products (digestate & Biogas)

Document it to have a proof of quality

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BIOGAS TREATMENTUpgrading:

Scrubbing (H2S, SiOx, CO2, H2O) removalTransport

Compressedto CNG in steel tanks for vehiclesMeasurement

Rated by energy content; measure % methane

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Biogas Treatment and Utilisation

16Refuelling of an institute vehicle with biogas from the farm biogas digester around 1986. Invermay,Dunedin

NZ history

Hidden & forgotten considerations

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• Environmental - Resource consents & appeals= costs & delays

- Does intended use match the permitted orspecified use?

• Hazardous area survey - electrical requirement

• Gas regulations - Aus; state to state differences, Consider Porkindustry code of practise.

• Electrical supply - Adequate for load? consider distance tomajor loads

• Water supplies - Quantity, Potable and process (recycled) water

• Site waste disposal, traffic volumes and control, noise, odours, dischargesto air / water / soil, operational hours

• Benefits from larger scale operations

CONTRACT

Possible contract services:Design,Design-build,Design build operate,After project completion servicesFinancial model, payment timing, cash flow

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CONTRACTSInternational considerations,

local regs and laws regarding ownership & operations.Local custom,local labour“Inducements”

InsurancesWarranties

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CONTRACTORSModel: Project manager or master contractor?Who provides what;Health and safety; who?Demarcation of responsibilitiesElectrical - competency, familiarity with gas sitesConstruction contractor. Competency, communications,

cooperation with other trades, leadership

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Parameter Design BVFInfluent

BVF Effluentquality

Flow (m3/d) 8 000

COD (mg/l) 8 000 < 300

BOD (mg/l) 2 800

TSS (mg/l) 2 700 50-500

TKN (mg/l) 81

COMPONENTSInstruments - single vendor

Equipment / process Packages – clearly defined responsibility,- diagram. Confirm interface

requirementsMechanical Equipment - define installation demarcation

points and responsibilities.

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SUPPLY LOGISTICSGetting stuff from wherever to the project site in timely fashion:

Transportation methodStorage & insuranceClimatic considerationsCash flowWarranty time-outs Timing of orders and site arrival

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Digester types

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Standard tank design

– Small footprint– Accessible

– More expensive– Parts usually remotely manufactured– Considerable civil design & work required

In – ground– Inexpensive– Simple to construct– Mostly local materials & labour– Liner & cover – imported– Requires large area

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Digester types

NZ expertise history

Duffill Watts & King

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The first full-scale plantundertaken by the companyforbear in 1991. The formerFortex meatworks (Dunedin,New Zealand)

In-Ground casava waste treatment. Approx 8 Megawatts combined Electricity and heat output

ADI-BVF®- Dairy Plant Application

Flow(m3/d)

COD(mg/l)

Biogas(m3/d)

CH4(%)

BVF(ML)

Additionaltreatment

450 6800 1400 75% 5.6 SBR

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ADI-BVF®- Dairy Plant Application

Flow(m3/d)

COD(mg/l)

Biogas(m3/d)

CH4(%)

BVF(ML)

Additionaltreatment

4000 6520 10900 75% 28 SBR

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ADI-BVF®- Dairy Plant Application

Flow(m3/d)

COD(mg/l)

Biogas(m3/d)

CH4(%)

BVF(ML)

Additionaltreatment

1860 25,000 28,800 75% 39.3 SBR

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Web: adisystemsinc.com

Steve BrewsterSteve.d.brewster@adi.ca

+64 22 0435 017

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