Optimal conditions for flexible methane production in a demand-based operation of biogas plants

Laperrière, W.; Barry, B.; Torrijos, Michel; Péchiné, B.; Bernet, Nicolas; Steyer, Jean-Philippe

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.013

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In order to determine the main factors restricting the NPV of the DO mechanism, sensitivity analysis was further conducted by varying the uncertain input parameters of the co-digestion ceteris paribus within a 10% interval (Hahn et al, 2014a). The flexibility (defined as the ratio of biogas compensating for peak load electricity demand phase to the base load continuous biogas production), co-digestion facilities investments, feeding OLR of substrates, real biogas production amount and labour salary are selected as the key parameters for representing the possible uncertain factors that have direct impacts on the economic benefits of the proposed system (Laperrière et al, 2017). The extent of the variation of the output (NPV of system) indicates the risk potential of each parameter on the economic benefits of the sewage plant.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Example studies (Barchmann et al, 2016; Feng et al, 2018; Mauky et al, 2015) used cow manure and corn silage as substrates for AD to produce biogas on demand. Laperrière et al (2017) further used corn silage, carrots and glycerol; Ahmed et al (2017) adopted sugar beet silage and grass silage as substrates for co-digestion. These studies confirmed the suitability of selected agricultural wastes for using as regulatory substrates to regulate the biogas supply.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Optimizing the co-digestion supply chain of sewage sludge and food waste by the demand oriented biogas supplying mechanism

et al. 2020

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Co-digestion of sewage sludge with food waste is a beneficial pathway for sewage plants to enhance their biogas yield. This paper employs hybrid programming with system dynamics simulation to optimize such a co-digestion system from the perspective of demand-oriented biogas supply chain, thus to improve the efficiency of the biogas utilization. The optimum operational parameters of the co-digestion system are derived from the simulation model. It is demonstrated that the demand-oriented biogas supply mechanism can be effectively driven under market-oriented incentive policy. For better compensation of the external cost to assist the operations of the co-digestion supply chain, it is suggested that the substrate collection and transportation subsidy should be combined with the renewables portfolio standard to be implemented as the optimum incentives. The limitations of the study are discussed to lay the foundation for future improvements.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing the co-digestion supply chain of sewage sludge and food waste by the demand oriented biogas supplying mechanism

et al. 2020

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“…This shortfall of the model has also to be considered in the case of flexible biogas production. Even though limitations to variable gas productions have been considered in the dispatch model according to Mauky et al () and Laperrière et al (), constraints for gradients and temporally high OLR are not modelled and might therefore overestimate the potential of flexible gas production.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A plant‐specific model approach to assess effects of repowering measures on existing biogas plants: The case of Baden‐Wuerttemberg

2018

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Up to the latest versions of the German renewable energy act (EEG), there had been a constant growth of new biogas plants (BGPs). After reaching a stagnation in the last years, today the focus has shifted to improving the existing BGPs. Assuming that most plants have not reached the technical end of life, the question arises on how an operation can be realized beyond the initial EEG support period of 20 years. In addition, new legal and economic conditions require the implementation of adjustments, that is, “repowering measures.” Based on a method review, a plant‐specific model approach is presented to assess repowering measures for a wide range of BGPs differing in capacity, substrate mixture and agricultural structures. The techno‐economic model includes different performance indicators like levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and temporal aspects like technical progress. Using a data set for BGPs in the state of Baden‐Wuerttemberg (Germany), results are illustrated for the different model modules and three repowering scenarios of an extended operation period of ten years. The scenarios regard different options to meet the requirements of the current EEG, namely the flexibilization and restrictions on energy crops, in comparison with a reference case. While in repowering scenarios, the number of plants decreases between 54% and 69% and the overall power capacity changes between −48% and 13% until 2035. The results further show a reduction potential in the specific area demand and GHG emission up to 12% and 24%, respectively. Technical progress, additional revenues and capacity premiums are shown to be an important factor for efficient substrate utilization, low LCOE and thereby the enabling of an extended operation period. The scenario results indicate that the agricultural areas for energy crop cultivation and the amount of manure used in BGPs will be reduced considerably, inducing new chances and challenges in the future.

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“…Digestate from three different origins were sampled from pilot-scale, solid-state mesophilic anaerobic digesters that had been operated under identical environmental conditions for 1.5 years [ 12 ]. One anaerobic digester received readily biodegradable substrates (grass and carrots), the second digester received intermediately biodegradable substrate (grass and manure) and the third digester received slowly biodegradable substrates (manure and dung).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiplexed chemostat system for quantification of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in anaerobic digestion

et al. 2018

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Continuous cultures in chemostats have proven their value in microbiology, microbial ecology, systems biology and bioprocess engineering, among others. In these systems, microbial growth and ecosystem performance can be quantified under stable and defined environmental conditions. This is essential when linking microbial diversity to ecosystem function. Here, a new system to test this link in anaerobic, methanogenic microbial communities is introduced. Rigorously replicated experiments or a suitable experimental design typically require operating several chemostats in parallel. However, this is labor intensive, especially when measuring biogas production. Commercial solutions for multiplying reactors performing continuous anaerobic digestion exist but are expensive and use comparably large reactor volumes, requiring the preparation of substantial amounts of media. Here, a flexible system of Lab-scale Automated and Multiplexed Anaerobic Chemostat system (LAMACs) with a working volume of 200 mL is introduced. Sterile feeding, biomass wasting and pressure monitoring are automated. One module containing six reactors fits the typical dimensions of a lab bench. Thanks to automation, time required for reactor operation and maintenance are reduced compared to traditional lab-scale systems. Several modules can be used together, and so far the parallel operation of 30 reactors was demonstrated. The chemostats are autoclavable. Parameters like reactor volume, flow rates and operating temperature can be freely set. The robustness of the system was tested in a two-month long experiment in which three inocula in four replicates, i.e., twelve continuous digesters were monitored. Statistically significant differences in the biogas production between inocula were observed. In anaerobic digestion, biogas production and consequently pressure development in a closed environment is a proxy for ecosystem performance. The precision of the pressure measurement is thus crucial. The measured maximum and minimum rates of gas production could be determined at the same precision. The LAMACs is a tool that enables us to put in practice the often-demanded need for replication and rigorous testing in microbial ecology as well as bioprocess engineering.

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Optimal conditions for flexible methane production in a demand-based operation of biogas plants

Cited by 17 publications

References 17 publications

Optimizing the co-digestion supply chain of sewage sludge and food waste by the demand oriented biogas supplying mechanism

Optimizing the co-digestion supply chain of sewage sludge and food waste by the demand oriented biogas supplying mechanism

A plant‐specific model approach to assess effects of repowering measures on existing biogas plants: The case of Baden‐Wuerttemberg

Multiplexed chemostat system for quantification of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in anaerobic digestion

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