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

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DECHEMA e.V.

Microbiological desulfurization is a very simple process. Capital investment and operating costs are low, and the technique is used in the majority of systems. Under optimal conditions, the desulfurization rate can be as high as 95 %. Deposits of elemental sulfur can cause blockage problems in pipes. Fluctuating crude gas concentrations have a negative effect on microbiological desulfurization directly in the fermenter gas chamber.

Corrosion damage can often be avoided by selecting a more suitable method of biogas desulfurization. The following techniques are used in practical application. However, the technical suitability as well as the capital investment and operating costs of the various options have to be evaluated for the specific application.

• Precipitation by directly adding ferric salt

• Caustic rinse

• Adsorption on iron-rich bodies

• Adsorption on activated carbon

• External biological desulfurization in a separate reactor

There are an estimated 7,000 biogas plants in Germany, and many of them have been operating for years without interruption. Most of the equipment at these plants is no longer state-of-the-art. Susceptible parts are wearing out, and experts predict massive repowering, for example with advanced instrumentation and control systems to facilitate process management.

Engineering for Syngas Plants: Preventing Deposits

Susceptible parts which are subjected to high stress (e.g. agitators, feed units and cogeneration plants) will be replaced. Tar formation is a problem associated with the production of syngas from biomass. The main difficulties are the trouble-free supply of biomass, high coke and tar content in the product mixture and the cost and effort of gas upgrading. The main problem associated with the use of biomass for Stirling engine applications is the efficient transfer of heat from the biomass combustion flue gas to the working gas in the Stirling engine.

How to Improve Efficiency of Gas Heat Exchangers

The hot gas heat exchanger provides the interface between the flue gas and the working gas. To ensure high electrical efficiency, the temperature of the flue gas at the inlet to the hot gas heat exchanger should be as high as possible, but this can cause problems resulting from ash deposits in this part of the system. A computer program to calculate heat transfer at the flue gas end of the hot gas heat exchanger has been developed to address the problem. Following extensive engineering and development work, the efficiency of these system components has been improved significantly. An automated gas scrubber for the hot gas heat exchanger is now also available.

Nanotechnology offers a different approach ... more on page 8!

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