ENK5-2000-30004 Development of an Improved Energy Recovery of Biogas by Cooling and Removal of Harmful Substances - EROB

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EESD (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : Process Engineering

Proposal No:	ENK5-2000-30004
Date Prepared:	February 2004
Source:	European Bio-Energy Projects (EUR 20808)

Introduction

Renewable energy is by far the largest, most sustainable, and most ecological energy potential at mankind's disposal. Part of this natural energy supply is the use of biomass potentials and, in particular, the use of landfill and digester gas. But when this kind of biogas is utilised for internal combustion engines, the problems caused by trace components such as halogenated hydrocarbons and organic silicon compounds have interfered with and even discouraged biogas utilisation.

Halogens produce acids that corrode the metallic surfaces of engines, while silicon compounds produce deposits of silica that coat spark plugs, abrade the surfaces and disrupt valve operation.

Activities

The theoretical results of separation efficiency of trace components obtained by the feasibility check of the exploratory phase have to be followed up and cross-checked by tests and analytical investigations under real conditions on site of a landfill by using different models and types of plant components.

On the basis of these results, technical and process parameters have to be defined, determined and optimised to enable the development and engineering of the prototype of a standardised gas cooling plant in module construction. The next steps will be the manufacture, the installation, the integration and the start up of the pilot plant connected to a gas engine of a landfill gas power plant. The following test runs, using the pilot plant under different working conditions, will be constantly controlled by technical and scientific staff.

At the end of the project the results will be evaluated in respect to an optimised and reliable technology for the separation of harmful trace components from biogas, leading to the process definition and the standardisation of a plant programme, ready to be offered to the market of biogas power plants.

The consortium is structured in such a way that each of the proposers' participants is extremely interested in both the results and in the success of the project. On the one hand, there are two manufacturers and suppliers of biogas power stations, constantly confronted with problems and damage caused by harmful trace components and very interested in the objectives and the results of the project. On the other, there is the supplier of the refrigeration plants as well as the manufacturer and supplier of all other plant components, in particular the purpose-built finned tube heat exchangers in stainless steel.

The interest of both suppliers in the project is to be involved in future deliveries and to enlarge the actual programme of activities via a promising product.

Progress

The specific results to date are as follows:

• Determination of the basic technical requirements and cost-performance ratio of different ways of process design and selection of analytical methods to be applied;
• Theoretical determination of removal efficiencies of harmful substances from biogas by cooling;
• Functional tests and optimisation of model components on site at different temperatures as regards the analytical and calculated results;
• Promising results of the process have been analysed at a landfill gas temperature of
• 11°C. Reductions of 40% and 80% respectively have been achieved for the main siloxane compounds, octamethyltetracyclosiloxane and decamethylpentasiloxane
• Engineering of the pilot plant taking into consideration all the results and information obtained from the preceding tasks and adjusted to the needs of the selected site; and
• Pilot plant manufacture, functional tests at the manufacturing company, followed by test runs on site.

Impact and exploitation The expected results will be disseminated by various publications and during specific conferences and workshops at the European level. Printed matter and leaflets giving information about the process, the results achieved and the plant programme will be prepared and distributed to potential clients as well as to organisations and associations concerned with waste disposal, landfills and sewage plants.

Potential clients with engine problems in France, Spain, Belgium and Germany have already been informed about the project and are anxious to hear about the results. If an economical way of removing harmful traces can be found there is no doubt that this will be introduced successfully on to into the market. It is the aim of all EU governments to double the share of renewable energy in EU energy consumption until 2010 up to 12%.

This can only be achieved using processes and systems that work under economical conditions. In addition, a Kyoto objective implies a reduction of 8% in greenhouse gas emission for the EU between 2008 and 2012.

Methane is one of the main components of biogas and its contribution to the greenhouse effect is approximately 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Therefore, the utilisation and exploitation of biogas is an effective way to reach the Kyoto target. Since the intended research in the project will fulfil and improve energy recovery for landfill and sewage gas, it will contribute to EU policies.