Bioplastics on the Move! – How Can Plant Engineering React to the Biomass Boom?

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The new process could give a real boost to biogas production. Most of the current energy costs would be eliminated, and in contrast to the conventional process small plants would be economically viable. Total investment is substantially lower because there is no need for gas upgrading.

Biogas Plant Engineering: Optical Analysis Enhances Efficiency

Siemens is working on instrumentation and control systems which are designed to enhance process management and plant efficiency in the biogas industry. Acids are produced when biomass ferments to make methane. If the acid concentration is too high, the process reaches a critical point. The system then has to be cleaned and restarted. Currently, operators periodically take samples from the tank for lab analysis.

As they do not know the actual acid content in the fermenter at any given time, many users leave a wide safety margin which means that they have to accept high losses.

What Analytical Methods Are Available...

Infrared spectroscopy can solve this problem. Molecules emit characteristic light spectra when they are exposed to infrared light. The spectra provide information about the chemical bonds, and that information can then be used to determine the presence of specific elements or chemical groups. Instrumentation developed by Siemens emits infrared light into the fermenter through a glass window in order to detect the acid content. This eliminates the risk of excessive acid levels, and users can utilize the full potential of their production systems. Experts estimate that the energy yields will increase by 5 % to 10 %.

Bio corrosion: the importance of removing sulfur Stephan Prechtl and Martin Faulstich (ATZ Development Center) have published a study which highlights another very real challenge for equipment manufacturers. Biofilms colonize metal, natural stone, concrete and plastic surfaces in equipment which is used for industrial-scale biomass processing or power generation.

How to Deal With Corrosion in Biomass Plants

Many agricultural biogas systems are made of concrete, and mechanical agitators are used for mixing. The hydrogen sulfide and its by-products (sulfurous acids and sulfuric acid) which form during anaerobic microbiological decomposition of the substrate often cause corrosion to the structure and equipment such as agitators, heat exchangers and cogeneration systems. Biological desulfurization directly in the fermenter is the most common technique for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content in the biogas.

But how does it work? More on page 7!

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