Industrial Gases AppSheet

Biogas Production

What is biogas? Big spheres reveal from

large distance which
kind of plant this is.
Biogas is a biofuel that can be used to produce electricity, as transport fuel, or as 17
an energy source for heating and cooking. It is produced by decomposition of 8
organic waste, during which a blend of gases is released, referred to as biogas. It
consists of 45-75% methane (CH4), with most of the remainder being carbon
dioxide (CO2). The exact composition is depending on the feedstock used. 13
14
Referred to as a green energy source, biogas offers a sustainable solution for two 7
important environmental challenges:
- The enormous amount of waste releasing dangerous levels of CH4 and CO2 into
15
the atmosphere every day. When producing biogas, these greenhouse gases are 16
captured in a controlled environment.
- The dependence on fossil fuels to meet global energy demand. For example,
150 000 tons of waste can provide the annual electricity for 12 000 families.
9
10
A biogas energy plant looks quite impressive because of its size. It all starts from
12 6
the feedstock, which is collected and entered into a digester. Here the
fermentation process takes place and creates the biogas, which will then be split 5
in 2 directions. Some of it goes to a gas engine connected to a generator, which 11 Almost all energy and material generated
produces heat and electricity. The rest of the biogas continues to a gas treatment 4 during the biogas production, is used in
plant for upgrading to biomethane. 1 some way or another.

This biomethane, also known as renewable natural gas (RNG), is a near-pure 3 PROCESS
source of CH4 obtained by removing CO2 and other contaminants from biogas. 10. Energy crops
RNG is indistinguishable from natural gas and can therefore directly be used in 11. Dump station
2
the gas distribution system, in end-user equipment, and in compressed natural OUTPUTS 12. Collection tank
gas (CNG) vehicles. INPUTS 5. Heat 13. Digester
1. Industrial waste & sewage 6. National power grid 14. Digester residue storage
Another output of biogas production is the residue of the fermentation process in 2. Agricultural waste 7. Gas station (RNG) 15. Gas engine
the digester, which serves as liquid fertilizer. 3. Food waste 8. National gas grid (RNG) 16. Generator
4. Animal waste 9. Liquid fertilizer 17. Gas upgrading plant
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Industrial Gases AppSheet

Biogas Production

How does an anaerobic digester work?

2
The digester is completely sealed off from light and air. This
Carbon dioxide CO2
absence of O2 is what is referred to by the term anaerobic. It
13 Methane CH4
seems contradictory to the use of O2 in the biogas 11
Water H2O
production process, but the two do indeed go hand in
12 Hydrogen sulfide H2S
hand. Letʼs find out!
Organisms
16
Because of the anaerobic condition in the digester and the
heat of about 40°C/100°F applied to it, different 14

microorganisms start digesting the slurry, creating the CH4 8 1. Slurry in

7
and CO2 that make up biogas. In addition, a mixer makes 2. Biogas out
the slurry homogenous and forces the formed biogas 15 4 3. Digestate out
bubbles up into the tankʼs headspace. A complete 12 5 4. Hot water in
6
“methanization” can take several weeks. 10 5. Cold water out
6. Gases formed
Besides the desired creation of CH4 and CO2, also water 3 7. Mixer
vapor (H2O) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are formed. This 11
8. Wall heaters
1
latter is very corrosive, will damage downstream 9. Insulation
equipment, and has a typical smell of rotten eggs. In order 9 10. Main tank (holds liquid part)
to protect the gas engine, but even concrete and steel 11. Headspace (holds gaseous part)
parts, it needs to be removed. 12. Support structure
13. Double membrane cover
There are different ways to remove H2S, such as iron oxide 14. Air venting system
dosing, adsorption with activated carbon or molecular 15. Over/underpressure valve
sieves, water scrubbing and membrane separation. 16. Inspection window
Microorganisms will form because of the anaerobic conditions.
They will digest the slurry, forming CH4 and CO2, but also harmful H2S.

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Industrial Gases AppSheet

Biogas Production
The methods that use reagents to eliminate H2S are
expensive because of their reliance on consumables. The Carbon dioxide CO2
Methane CH4
downside of the other methods is that they require a big
7 Water H2O
installation to handle the full biogas flow of the plant, for in
3 Hydrogen sulfide H2S
the end only filtering out a tiny bit of H2S. That leaves O2 Oxygen O2
dosing or micro oxygenation often as the solution with the 2 Odorant
lowest TCO. 4
IN
The idea is to bring O2 into the headspace of the digester, 1. Digester
8
where it converts the H2S into elemental sulphur. Up to 98% 2H2S + O2 → 2. Biogas out
H2S removal efficiency can be achieved when 0.25NL of O2 is S2 + 2H2O OUT SET 3. Gas measurement (incl. H2S)
used per liter of slurry. O2 dosing also improves the quality 4. PID control
of the digested sludge by lowering its foaming potential
5 6 - + 10
5. Process control valve
and improving dewaterability. After micro oxygenation, the
O2 6. O2 source
biogas meets the standard for continuation downstream to 1 9
7. Biogas
the gas engine (usually max. 100-500ppm H2S) and RNG O2 dosing in the digester will minimize H2S transfer to the gas engine and upgrading plant. Further upgrading is always 8. Gas engine
upgrading plant, where also odorant is added to give it needed in order to make RNG. 9. Gas upgrading plant
that typical gas smell. 10. Biomethane (RNG)

Why is O2 used instead of air? Which purity is required?

The reason for not using air is that it would introduce 78% N2 which in turn would lower the calorific
value of the biogas, measured by the Wobbe index. The CH4 concentration could fall below 50%,
which is too low for the gas engine and RNG upgrading plant. N2 is also difficult and costly to remove
downstream. In short: Choosing O2 over air prevents nitrogen dilution of biogas, without affecting
the digestion process and H2S elimination efficiency.
As for most O2 applications, a certain mass flow is required to make the reaction happen. In
theory this can be achieved with either low flow/high purity, or high flow/low purity. However,
since low purity O2 would introduce too much N2, 93% makes a perfect setpoint. Target O2
purity in the digester headspace ranges from 0.3-3% to allow for both H2S elimination and
explosion prevention.

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