Biogas up grade and its further applications in BGI

ETHIOPIA.

Table of Contents
1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................3
 1.1Background of the study.....................................................................................................................3
1.2 Statement of the Problem..................................................................................................................4
1.3 Objective............................................................................................................................................5
1.3.1 General Objectives......................................................................................................................5
1.3.2 Specific Objective........................................................................................................................5
1.4 Significance of the project..................................................................................................................6
1.5 Scope of the Project and Limitation...................................................................................................7
1.5.1 Scope...........................................................................................................................................7
1.5.2 Limitation....................................................................................................................................7
2. Literature Review.....................................................................................................................................8
3. Methodology............................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Alternative Technology for upgrading emitted Biogas.......................................................................9
3.1.1 Absorption with Water (Water Scrubbing)..................................................................................9
3.1.2 PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption)................................................................................................9
3.1.3 Membrane Separation...............................................................................................................10
4. Expected outcome..................................................................................................................................11
5. Beneficiaries...........................................................................................................................................11
6. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................12
7. Recommendation...................................................................................................................................13
8. References..............................................................................................................................................14

1 Introduction
1.1Background of the study
 Now a day, there is high spread of fuel demand, since the usage of biogas as fuel has more
advantages than the other. Biogas is economically and environmentally beneficial as it captures
and recovers (upgraded) the methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas is primarily methane (CH4) and
carbon dioxide (CO2) and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), moisture. Biogas
is produced from organic waste (carbon) which biodegrades by means of bacteria in an anaerobic
environment. It is commonly produced by anaerobic digestion as part of the treatment of wet
organic waste. This occurs in municipal wastewater and sewage treatment plants, industrial
operations that have liquid wastes containing organic material, and on types of farms where
animals are kept or held in a small area, such as pig or poultry farms. The anaerobic process has
frequently been used to treat wastewaters and solid residues. As it causes the degradation of
organic compounds in the absence of molecular oxygen, this biological process produces the
coproduct biogas, a mixture of methane (CH4, about 45-75%), carbon dioxide (CO2, 25-55%),
and other compounds including hydrogen sulfide, water, and other trace gas compounds.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas if emitted into the atmosphere, but can also represent a
valuable renewable energy source, with the potential to reduce gas emissions when it is collected
and substituted for fossil fuels. The biogas can be upgraded to natural gas and injected into the
natural gas grid or be used as fuel for transportation. Biogas can be used directly to heat power,
but the large volume of CO2 reduces the heating value of the gas. In the upgrading technologies
where carbon dioxide is separated from the biogas, some of the other unwanted compounds are
also separated. Biogas use as a fuel, purification to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen
sulfide (H2S) is required, because H2S corrodes vital mechanical components within engine
generator. Purified biogas provides reductions in gas emissions as well as several other
environmental benefits when used as a heat.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

In BGI Ethiopia kombolcha plant; there is biogas emission in waste water treatment. So this
emitted biogas can be pollutant to the environment causing Greenhouse effect, since this release
CO2& methane. However this emitted biogas can valuable by extended or upgrading this plant
as to generate additional heat source to the cafeteria’s that is located in the factory compound.
1.3 Objective
1.3.1 General Objectives
The general objective of this project is to use the produced methane gas from UASB reactor as
heat source and by packing the upgraded gas.

1.3.2 Specific Objective

 To know the different technology of biogas
 Studying the process of methane production
 To specify the upgraded technology from different angles
1.4 Significance of the project
The main target to do this case study is to produce gas (methane) from UASB reactor has the
efficiency so it used as heat source, to make renewable energy. By reducing the global warming
by eliminate the emission. This may save the energy and cost of the company and propose the
comply the optional solutions for this problem
1.5 Scope of the Project and Limitation
1.5.1 Scope
Work on the specific problem addressed on the waste water treatment plant (that emission of
biogas effluent) based on literature and field survey investigations; so that the appropriate
solutions or alternatives will be determined.

1.5.2 Limitation
The biogas produced from UASB reactor in waste water treatment has large volume of CO2 and
it reduces the heating value of the gas. We must extract the CO2 and H2S from the gas and
increase the concentration of methane in the gas and this needs an experiment but lack of finance
to do experiment in lower scale The gas that release from the waste water treatment is not as
much as sufficient amount in order to use for other purpose.
2. Literature Review
Most biogas is produced from decomposing landfill, wastewater generated gas, and gas from
digested farm or food waste. Sewage treatment plants are methane generators by the nature of the
process. Biogas from sewage sludge has a high methane and carbon dioxide content compared to
biogas from other feedstock like waste from restaurant and households. Anaerobic digestion is a
proven technology for sewage sludge treatment and which allows generation of renewable energy
from the same process. During anaerobic digestion, microorganisms break down the organic
matter contained in the sludge and convert it into biogas, a mixture of mainly methane and carbon
dioxide. Anaerobic microbiological decomposition is a process in which micro-organisms derive
energy and grow by metabolizing organic material in an oxygen-free environment resulting in the
production of methane (CH4). The anaerobic digestion process can be subdivided into the
following four phases:- Hydrolysis In the hydrolysis step complex organic material such as
proteins, carbohydrates and fat is decomposed into simpler sugar chains, amino acids and longer
fatty acids. Formation of acid Alcohols, hydrogen gas and shorter fatty acids are formed when the
bacteria breaks down the sugar. Formation of acetic acid This step contains conversion of acetic
acid, carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. Methanization Methane is formed from acetic acid and
carbon dioxide. Biogas from industrial waste has a high methane (60%-70%) and carbon dioxide
(30%-40%) content. To increase and upgraded the quality of the raw biogas, the gas is usually
cleaned of unwanted substances such as CO2, H2S, oxygen and nitrogen. The three dominating
upgrading technologies are water scrubbing, PSA (pressure swing adsorption) and membrane
separation. The main reason for doing this is to prevent corrosion and mechanical wear of the
equipment in which the biogas is used.
3. Methodology

 Field observation and investigations

 Personnel or industrial workers interviewing

3.1 Alternative Technology for upgrading emitted Biogas

To increase and upgrade the energy content in the biogas carbon dioxide and other component of
the gas is removed. The most common techniques for this are absorption with water (water
scrubbing), PSA and membrane separation.

3.1.1 Absorption with Water (Water Scrubbing)

Absorption is the process by which one substance, such as a solid or liquid, takes up another
substance, such as a liquid or gas, through minute pores or spaces between its molecules. In the
absorption column more of the CO2 is removed from the gas stream, increasing the CH4
concentration in the biogas. Absorption with water involves using pressurized water and changes
in temperature which removes carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and ammonium Water and
particulates should be removed. The biogas is pumped into the bottom of the column and the
water at the top of the column which gives a co-counter flow to increase the efficiency of the
system. In specific for CO2 capture, water absorption involves the reaction of CO2 with a water
solvent forming a weakly bonded intermediate compound.

3.1.2 PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption)

Adsorption is process by which molecules of a substance, such as a gas or a liquid, collect on the
surface of a solid. It differs from absorption, in which a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid
or solid. PSA is a technology where gases are separated under pressure which is dependent on
their ability to penetrate the material and remove the unwanted contaminant/s. PSA technology is
very flexible and can absorb a broad range of contaminants in gases or liquids. It utilize the fact
that under high pressure, gases tend to be attracted to solid surfaces, or "adsorbed". The higher
the pressure, the more gas is adsorbed. When the pressure is reduced, the gas is released, or
desorbed. PSA processes can be used to separate gases in a mixture because different gases tend
to be attracted to different solid surfaces more or less strongly. Zeolites (highly porous) are the
most common commercial adsorbent which act as molecular sieves. The adsorbed gases is then
desorbed from the zeolites but decreasing the pressure, allowing regeneration.

3.1.3 Membrane Separation

A membrane is a layer of material which serves as a selective barrier between two phases and
remains impermeable to specific particles, molecules, or substances when exposed to the action
of a driving force. The driving force is the pressure difference between both sides of the
membrane. Gas permeability through a membrane is a function of the solubility and diffusivity of
the gas into the material of the membrane. Membranes are expensive, and their separation
efficiencies are low. Membrane separation can occur under both wet and dry conditions
depending on what substances are being removed. The diffusion rate is dependent on partial
pressure, membrane thickness and the chemical solubility of the substance. There is low- and
high-pressure separation, gas-gas and gas-liquid separation. Permeability is an important factor
where carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide can then pass through the membrane (fiber wall),
while methane is retained.

To select a methodology for CO2 and H2S removal it should be considered.

 Cost.

The amount of CO2 and H2S to be removed and their desired final concentrations.

 Requirements regarding the recovery of valuable components such as CO2.

 Space that the equipment occupies Depending on the above selection parameters
water scrubbing absorption technique is selected
4. Expected outcome.
From this project the outcomes are:

 To increase use of methane in the company

 To increase the profit of the company.

 It minimizes the carbon print of the company.

 Create new line of revenue.

 To increase the availability of methane …etc.

5. Beneficiaries.
 B.G.I Ethiopia

 Increase government revenue, and fulfill social need

 Worker of the company.

 Country
 The environment etc….

6. Conclusion
Generally, waste water treatment offers two important benefits; environmentally safe waste
management and environmentally safe disposal. In waste water treatment there is USAB reactor
and this anaerobic reactor produce biogas with the aid of bacteria. The biogas mainly contains
CH4 and CO2 and we can upgrade it to use as a heat to the cafeteria and also packing the biogas
out to the market. There is many upgrading technology but the most suitable upgrading
technology is absorption with water the selection is based on four parameter this are cost, The
amount of CO2 and H2S to be removed and their desired final concentrations, Requirements
regarding the recovery of valuable components such as CO2,Space that the equipment occupy.
7. Recommendation
We recommended that the emitted biogas from USAB reactor can be upgraded (methane
concentration 95%) and used as a heat source to the cafeteria. The water scrapping technology is
advanced in the upgrading technology due to cost and the efficiency of machine and other
parameter. The company install absorption tower can upgrade and the gas used as heat source to
the cafeteria and the gas packed in to cylinder and out to the market this result another income to
the company.
8. References
Internet:-

http://www.brewery plant design for waste treatment plant.

Books

 Chemical process industries volume -1, second edition, edited by W.V.Mark S.C Bhatia.

 Chemical engineering design fifth edition, edited by Ray sinnott. Data and manuals

 Manuals books of waste treatment plant.

 The host organization design document.

 The operator’s manual.

 Daily recorded data.

 Thermodynamics 6th edition by cengel and boles