THESCIENCEBEHINDANAEROBICDIGESTION.pptVIP

INTRODUCTION FACTORS AFFECTING PROCESS EFFICIENCY Effect of temperature on anaerobic digestion process (Mata-Alvarez 2003) Process conditions (Contd) Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) Reaction Time Values depend on feedstock characteristics, process technology, temperature, … Solids Retention time (SRT) Time microorganisms remain in a digester Organic loading rate (OLR) Amount of organic matter fed per m3 of digester Values depend on feedstock characteristics, temperature,….. Consistent operating conditions e.g. HRT, SRT, OLR, T?C, .. Process conditions (contd) Nature of substrate (type, solid content and size, etc..) PROCESS MONITORING CONTROL Summary of major challenges of AD process ‘Delicate’ process; requires skilled manpower Difficult to ‘resurrect’ when process fails Long start-up times Post aerobic ‘polishing’ is usually necessary before discharge of treated effluent or digestate into the water or soil environment TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIONS: EXAMPLES CONCLUSIONS 1. MOST ANAEROBIC DIGESTIONS SYSTEMS CAN WORK PROPERLY IF WELL OPERATED 2. PROCESS MONITORING AND CONTROL ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF SUCCESSFUL DIGESTION APPLICATION 3. EARLY DETECTION IS KEY TO EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION OF PROCESS RELATED PROBLEMS www.abertay.ac.uk THE SCIENCE BEHIND ANAEROBIC DIGESTION Dr Joseph C. Akunna Reader in Water Environmental Engineering +44 1382 308141 ? j.akunna@abertay.ac.uk Dundee, 4th Sept 2013 Biofuels Series: Anaerobic Digestion Industry Engagement Event CONTENTS Introduction Factors affecting process efficiency Process monitoring and control Technological options: Examples Conclusions Process fundamentals Organic matter + Micro-organisms Micro-organisms + CH4 + CO2 (biogas) + trace amounts of H2S, H2, N