Turning Wastes

into
Watts

“There is no alternate to energy but

certainly there is an alternate
energy”…….
 What is biogas?
Gas produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of organic
matter under anaerobic conditions.

Biogas = CH4 + CO2 + H2S + N2 + H2 etc

Typical biogas composition:

Methane, CH4 : 55-70%

Carbon dioxide, CO2 : 25-40%
Nitrogen, N2 : 0-2 %
Hydrogen Sulphide, H2S : 0-3 %
Hydrogen, H2 : 0-2 %
Oxygen, O2 : 0-2 %

• pH-value : 6.5 to 7.5

• Due Point : < - 80° C
Anaerobic Digestion

Complex Organic Carbon

Hydrolysis
Monomers & Oligomers

Acidogenesis
Organic Acids
Acetogenesis
Acetate – H2 / CO2

Methanogenesis

CH4 + CO2
 LIQUEFACTION GASIFICATION
PHASE PHASE

COMPLEX
SIMPLE ACETATE
ORGANIC
ORGANICS H2 / CO2
MATTER

ACIDOGENS METHANOGENS

METHANE and CARBON DIOXIDE

LOW ODOR EFFLUENT

 WHERE DOES BIOGAS COME FROM?

• Vegetation - When vegetation decomposes, it

gives off methane gas
• Farm and ranch animals - cattle, chickens, pigs
• Sewage – The treatment of human waste in
anaerobic digesters produces methane
• Landfills
• Garbage produces methane as it decomposes
Biogas Cycle Solar energy

Biomethane production Photosynthesis

Animal husbandry
Crop harvesting
Industrial processing CO2
H2O
Human consumption
Energy Biofertilizer
crops Electrical and/or
thermal energy

Biogas Natural gas

Organic Anaerobic
wastes digestion pipeline

CO2 Cleaning &

Upgrading
Energy crops
 Potential wastes that can be used for
biogas power generation
Leather Industry Wastes
Abattoir Industry Wastes
Fruit/Food Processing Wastes
Pulp & Paper Industry Wastewater
Municipal Wastewater/Sewage
Vegetable Market Yard Wastes
Animal/Agro Residue
 Major types of biogas plants in
India
1. Fixed dome type
2. Floating drum type
3. Bag type
Flexible balloon biogas plant
 “BIOGAS TO POWER”……….WHY?

 Power is in short supply. 78,000MW planned in 11th Plan.

 1.25 lac villages and 56 % of household are non electrified-
Power is in big deficit.
 Rural, decentralized and renewable power -A Priority.
 Enactment of Electricity Act 2003 and Renewable policy
2005 in place.
 Process industries need high quality and uninterrupted
power.
 Any expansion /New downstream projects will require
additional, quality power.
 Power generation/Cogeneration is becoming an important
revenue stream.
 “BIOGAS TO POWER”……….WHY?

 Successful reference plants available –reduced risk.

 Elemental Sulphur as a high value biproduct from
Bioskrubber process , an added advantage.
 CDM benefits – Generate more power, get more benefit
 Therefore generating additional power from biogas now
makes good business sense.
Biogas application from “ Heat to Power ”
A High Value Shift

 Current utilization of biogas - mostly as heat value.

 Biogas fired Gas Engines - for high value shift.
 1 m3 of gas fired in engine can give 2 units of power .
 High efficiency - Electrical 40.8%+17.5%+22.9% =81.2%
 System configuration -Biogas+Scrubber+Gas engines
 H2S in the biogas must be removed for gas engine
application.
 Typical H2S in biogas is 3% to 5%.Should be brought
down to 250 ppm.
 Electricity status in India
Break-up of Power
• Thermal Power Plants – 75%
• Hydro Electric Power Plants - 21%
• Nuclear Power Plants - 4%
• Installed wind power Generation – 9655
MW
• 30% to 40% of electrical power is lost in
transmission and distribution

*(2008)
Contd…

• Per capita electricity consumption: 600 kWhr per year.

• 84% villages electrified, 44% of rural households
electrified. i.e. still a long way to go to achieve a dark
free India.
• Per capita power consumption – 612 KWH
• Annual power production – 680 billion KWH
 Energy in India
Electricity Generation : 557.97 TWh
 INSTALLED CAPACITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY

Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

 Power demand…
• India’s economy - high growth rate and growing energy
demand. Currently a shortage ≈ 18% and power cuts are
very frequent – affecting the industry and continuous
production.
• The Government of India gives special incentives to
encourage the use of renewable sources of energy.
• MNRE has set a goal of installing 10 percent of the additional
power generation capacity in the country through grid
connected renewable power by 2012.
• Power generation from biogas has been the least utilised
opportunity in India so far.
 Ways to produce power
from biogas…
1. Biogas used in duel fuel engine with 75% - 80
% replacement of diesel
2. Through 100% biogas engines
3. Through fuel cells – direct conversion of
biogas into electricity.
4. Through burning biogas in boiler steam

electricity turbine
 Facts need to keep in mind….
• Biogas can be burned and used as a heat source (produce hot air,
hot water or steam).

• Biogas can be used to operate an engine generator set that

produces electricity and if the waste heat is captured and used,
(Combined Heat & Power-CHP), plant efficiency improves.

• The monetary benefit occurs when the electricity generated is used

to replace electricity that’s normally bought at retail.

• A Combined Heat & Power (CHP) unit increases the cost of an

anaerobic digester system.

• You can store gas – but can’t store electricity.

Biogas into Electricity conversion
through Engines
Power generation from biogas…..
Contd….
General Process flow diagram….
 In Internal Combustion engines…

1. Adequate removal of hydrogen sulfide to below 10

ppm is important to reduce engine maintain
requirement.
2. Often more frequent changing of engine oil and testing
for oil sulfur content can increase engine component
life.
3. Dual-fuel carburetor can be employed to start-up and
shut down the engine system effectively - removing
trace sulfide from the internal parts.
4. Waste heat may be used for digester heating, space
heating, hot water and or refrigeration.
 Treatment of biogas…

 Treatment includes removal of hydrogen sulfide, water,

mercaptans, carbon dioxide, trace organics, and
particulates.
 Treatment of biogas is necessary to maintain the engine
in good condition
 It reduces greenhouse gas emissions
 Will enhance calorific value of biogas
 Biogas can be injected into a natural gas pipeline. i.e.
can be used as a replacement for natural gas
 How comes H2S?
• Concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the gas is a function of feed
substrate and inorganic sulfate content.
• Wastes high in proteins containing sulfur based amino acids
(methionine and cysteine) - significantly influence biogas hydrogen
sulfide levels.
(For instance, layer poultry waste containing feathers made of
keratin may produce biogas sulfide levels up to 20,000 ppm).
• Sulfate present in the waste, either from an industrial source (eg.
pulping of wood) or from seawater (marine aquiculture) will be
reduced to sulfide by sulfate reducing bacteria.
SO--4  S--
• H2S – High toxic and corrosive in nature
• The burning of the gas releases sulfur dioxide which is also a
corrosive and toxic gas.
Can H2S be removed from Biogas?
• Removal of H2S from Biogas is possible
• Physical Methods: Absorption in water, adsorption in
activated charcoal/peat
- Large quantity of scrubber, high cost, useful for low
conc.
• Chemical Methods: Alkali, Alkaloamine, ferric oxides,
Zinc salts
- High cost, chemical waste generation
• Biotechnological Methods : Biofilter,Bioscrubber
Biotrickling filter
- High efficiency, Lower investment costs, Lead to
savings on energy, Avoid catalysts, Avoid formation of
secondary contaminants.
 Biomethane
• Biomethane – the gas obtained after removing the impurities in the
biogas, such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

Sr.No
Biomethane Methane
1. Limited supply Unlimited supply
2. Renewable Not renewable
3. Good for environment Not good for environment
4. Biomethane recovery, Natural gas sold by the gas
use and production company does NOT generate
generates "Greentags" or these incentives and new
a "Renewable Energy revenue streams.
Credit" for the owners.
 Basic Concept: How biogas is
converted into electricity in engines
Biogas as fuel
- Electromechanical device
- Convert mechanical energy
into AC electric energy
- also known as AC generators
- based on Faraday's law of
electromagnetic induction

To alternator
Alternator
 Biogas Power generation
through
dual-fuel Engine

 Also called as ‘Flexible-fuel engine’.

 Two different fuels (Biogas 70-80 % and other fuel
(generally diesel)) mixed together – the resulting blend is
combusted.
 Operation produces less complex-hydrocarbon pollution,
and the engines have fewer internal problems.
 Compression ignition is used.
 7
Power generation through 100% biogas engine

• Also called as gas engines

• Both compression and spark ignition can be employed
• Carburetor is replaced by venturi system to introduce
gas into the air flow
• Maximum power output is lower than dual fuel engine
• Electrically efficiency is lower than duel fuel engine
• Will cause corrosion in mechanical parts
• Overall, the dual-fuel engine perform well and have great
potential for use on-farm energy utilization.
 Genset??
• Known as Engine-generator set
• Combination of an electrical generator and an engine
(prime mover) mounted together - a single piece of self-
contained equipment.
• Located in proximity to the end-user rather than in a
central location
• Economic, easy, and safe to install even on the domestic
level
• Ranging from small to very large size
 GE Jenbacher engine models

Type 2 – 250 – 330 kWe

Introduced 1976 – 30 years continuous development
8 cylinder
GE Jenbacher engine models

Type 3 – 500 – 1,100 kWe

 Engine
Generator set:
Internal
combustion
engine with 135
kW 240 VAC
electrical
generator.

Caterpiller 3406
 Advanced Reciprocating Engine System

• ARES: High efficiency, low emissions gas engine

• US DOE, Caterpillar, Cummins, Waukesha Engine
• Biogas to electricity efficiency: 42% now, target 50%
• (Conventional efficiency 30%)
• Reduces NOX by 90%
 Example of 1030kW & 300kW
Generators
• Biogas Technology Group is able to provide modular
power generation units ranging from 300KW – 1MW,
using mostly Caterpillar or Perkins engines
 What is CHP?
 ‘Combined Heat and Power (CHP) – is a highly
efficient and environmentally friendly technology for
generating heat and power (usually electricity) on site
from a single fuel source usually gas.’
 Power generation systems create large amounts of heat
– when converting fuel into electricity. Avg. central utility
power plant turns ≈ 60% of the energy content of the
input fuel into heat and wasted.
 Typical Co-generation Efficiency
- 30% conversion of biogas to electricity
- 50% recovery of waste heat
 Capturing these waste heat - increase energy efficiency,
operating cost savings, and reduced air pollution and
global warming.
 How does CHP work?
The basic elements of a CHP plant:
1. A prime mover (gas engine)
2. Electrical generator driven by the engine
3. Heat exchangers recovering heat from the engine
• Jacket cooling water
• Lubricating oil
• Turbocharger intercooler
• Exhaust gases
4. System control panel
 GE Jenbacher gas module

Engine
Engine control Generator
Heat recovery - panel
heat exchanger
Process flow diagram of CPH in Genset
 Typical CHP flow diagram

Gas input Electrical output

Engine hot
water circuit Exhaust

Exhaust heat
exchanger
Building hot
water return

Secondary heat
exchanger
Engine hot Building hot
water circuit water feed
 Biogas plants in India

• Potential -12 million family type biogas plants

• Achieved - 4.12 million family type biogas plants - 34%
of the potential.
• Functionality of the biogas plants is about 95.80%
• Domestic biogas plants can supply few hours of
electricity for domestic needs .i.e. More beneficial in rural
areas.
• Electricity can simply be produced by using Biogas
generators of few kW capacity.

*APITCO Survey
Power generation Potential in Distillery
Units
• 1 litre alcohol distilled  15 litre wastewater
• Anaerobic Digestion
1 litre wastewater  15 litre of biogas
Per litre of alcohol distilled  225 litre biogas
• No. of distilleries: Nearly 300
• Total alcohol production : 3.20 billion litres/year
• Wastewater : 45 billion litres/year
• Biogas production: 1200 million m3 biogas
• Electricity Generation: 1 M3 Biogas  2KWh
• Total electricity: 2.4 million MWh/year
.
Directory of Indian Distilleries, All India Distillers' Association.
 TARGET DISTILLERIES

Biogas to Power project will benefit all Distilleries such as:

 Those having high power consumption from the grid.

 Those having other plants/offices in Group companies
buying high and expensive power from the grid.
 Those attached to sugar factory having cogen unit and
selling power to the grid.
 Those wanting to sell power to a Third party
 Alternative: Biogas Engine

• Very few distilleries have gone for power

generation using biogas engines although it
can be an attractive alternative:
– Significant savings can be achieved by supplying the
entire electricity demand of the facility from own
source
– Additional revenue can be achieved by exporting the
surplus power to the National Grid.
– Distilleries can earn additional revenue through the
CDM mechanism
 CDM in distilleries

• The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM),

under the Kyoto Protocol, has introduced the
possibility of earning CERs - Certified Emissions
Reductions, “Carbon Credits” through utilisation
of the biogas for power (electricity) generation.
 Hypothetical case in distillery

Theoretical case study of electricity generation

using biogas engine in a typical distillery:
1. CDM project development
• CER revenue options
2. Power generation example, considering two
scenarios:
• Case 1 – Selling the electricity to the grid and royalty to the client
• Case 1 – Selling the electricity to the Client; Savings for the Client
 Process flow diagram with CDM and power
generation
Press mud
Raw Treated
Raw materials Spent Spent
Power Distillery Wash A.D. Wash Bio
35 KLPD Facility composting
Steam

Alcohol 35 KL Compost
Biogas
Furnace for sale
Oil
1 MW Power
Bagasse
Boiler generation
package

Option 2 Option 1
power
966 KW (to Grid)
 Hypothetical Process Flow diagram before
CDM

Raw materials
Raw Spent Wash Open
Power Distillery
35 KLPD lagoon
Steam

Alcohol

Boiler
Furnace Oil
 .

Puente Hills 50 Megawatt Boiler run by Biogas, Los Angeles

in U.S
A waste-to-energy power plant located in Westchester
County, U.S.A
58 megawatt Waste-to-Energy power plant – biogas obtained from
wastes, expanded in 2007, Florida, US
Sandon Dock waste water treatment works, Liverpool
*CHP for digester heating water
 Shakarganj Mills Ltd , Pakistan
5 fully mixed digesters (CSTR) tanks
(each above 12,000 m3), gas holder and control room
Jack’s Gulley MBT plant, New South Wales, Australia
 A Major Boost for Promotion of the
Renewable Energy Sector in India
“Electricity Act 2003'' notified on 10th June, 2003 - The most important
legislative development - encouraged the recent growth in renewable
power
Important features of this Act w.r.t. renewable energy:
 It identifies the role of renewable energy technologies for supplying
power to the utility grid as well as in stand-alone systems.
 The Act provides for the Independent Power Producers (IPP) to set
up renewable power plants for captive use, third party sale, power
trading and distribution.
 It empowers the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs)
to promote renewable energy and specify, for purchase of
electricity from renewable energy sources, a percentage of the
total consumption of electricity in the area of a distribution licensee.
 Sample of Basic data for power generation

Parameter Unit Data

Distillery Operational Data
Distillery capacity KL/day 35
Spent wash generation m3/day 438
Inlet COD mg/L 110000
Biogas generation m3/hr 587
Methane content % 60
H2S content after H2S scrubber ppm < 300
Methane quantity fed to biogas engine m3/hr 352
Methane quantity fed to biogas engine m3/day 8446
 Basic evaluation data
Power consumption
Present in house power consumption KWH/d 500
Present power consumption pattern through out the day uniform
hours/year for power consumption (270 days/year) hrs/year 6480
Present in house power consumption/yr KWH/yr 3240000
Power generation through biogas engine
Biogas engine rated power generation KW 1136
Biogas specific power generation for the biogas engine KWH/m3 1.94
@ 65% methane
Auxiliary power for the biogas engine (85% efficiency) KWH 170
Net power generation KWH 966
Yearly power generation for say 6000 hrs KWH/yr 5,793,600
 Engine sizing for biogas

• Engine has fixed energy input

– Rated electrical & thermal output
– Electrical efficiency

Points to ponder before engine selection:

1. Assess feedstock to digesters
– Food waste, energy crops?
2. Estimate biogas CH4 content
3. Estimate biogas volume
4. Determine biogas energy content (kW)
5. Select appropriate engine
“……the time is running out…soon,
there will be nothing left to burn on
earth but earth itself…”
 BENEFITS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Avoid the high costs involved in transmission capex.

Avoid distribution losses – Technical & otherwise
Avoid recurring fuel cost
Boost the rural economy
Encourage self help groups & self dependence
Enable village co-operatives to supply and / or monitor
distribution
Make available much needed energy for basic needs at
the doorstep at affordable prices.
 Potential of urban wastes in India
1. About 50 million tonnes of solid waste (1.48 lakh tonnes
per day) and 6000 million m3 of liquid waste are
generated every year by our urban population.
2. This translates into a potential for generation of over
2600 MW of power from urban wastes.
3. Generating substantial decentralized energy besides
reducing the quantity of waste for its safe disposal.
4. Requires 1750 acres of land for land filling/year.

*MNRE 2008-2009 Annual report

The major benefits of recovery of energy
from urban wastes are:
• Reduction in the quantity of waste by 60 % to
90%.
• Reduction in demand for land as well as cost for
transportation of wastes to far-away landfill sites.
• Net reduction in environmental pollution, and
generation of substantial quantity of energy.
Contd..
In case of projects for generation of only biogas for thermal
application, the financial assistance is limited to Rs.1.0
crore/MWeq (i.e. biogas production of 12000 cu.m/day).
The Central Financial Assistance (CFA) in the range of
Rs.40,000 to Rs.30,000 per kW is available for
implementation of the programme by State Nodal Agencies
through village level organizations, institutions and private
entrepreneurs in rural areas for sale of electricity to individual/
community/grid etc.
Capital subsidy on re-imbursement basis is provided for
projects ranging from Rs.50 lakh to Rs.100 lakh per MW,
depending upon the systems, configuration and type of
project.
The Scheme is open to private and public sector enterprises
and organizations, as well as NGOs.
 Potential from Industrial wastes
• India’s rapid industrialization has resulted in the generation of huge
quantity of wastes, both solid and liquid.
• Industrial sectors such as
-sugar, pulp and paper, fruit and food processing,
-sago/starch, distilleries, dairies, tanneries,
-slaughterhouses, poultries, etc.
• The potential for recovery of energy from industrial wastes is
estimated at about 1300 MW.

* MNRE annual report 2008-09.

 Installed projects on Biogas power
generation in India
A total of 48 projects with aggregate
capacity of about 69.62 MWeq have been
installed in distilleries, pulp and paper
mills, slaughter houses, tanneries, starch
industries, sea-food processing, poultry
and oil extraction industries.

* MNRE annual report 2008-09.

 Industrial waste-to energy projects…

Projects under Installation:

(i) A 6 MW power project in Andhra Pradesh based on

poultry litter;
(ii) Two projects of 1 MW capacity each in Andhra Pradesh
based on biogas;
(iii) A 5MW project in Maharashtra based on biogas from
distillery effulents.
(iv) A “National Working Group” for the development of
Biogas based power projects in distilleries aimed at
installation of 500 MW capacity projects in distilleries
by the year 2012
MNRE’s Financial assistance for projects of
various types :
Setting up five pilot projects on energy recovery from Municipal Solid Wastes:
Rs.2 crore per MW, subject to ceiling of 20% of project cost and Rs.10.00 crore
per project, whichever is less, is provided for five pilot projects.
Power from biogas generated at Sewage Treatment Plants: 40% of the project
cost subject to a maximum of Rs.2.0 crore/MW for projects
Power generation from other Urban Wastes and mix of Urban and Agricultural /
Agro industrial Wastes: 50% of project cost subject to a limit of Rs.3 crore per
MW for projects.
Biomethanation technology for power generation from a mix of cattle dung,
vegetable market and slaughterhouse wastes along with agricultural residues
and agro-industrial wastes: Financial assistance of 30% of project cost subject
to upper limit of Rs.3.0 crore/MW is provided for projects.
Contd…
• In Jan 2006, the Ministry launched a programme on
biogas based distributed/grid power generation of unit
capacity from 3 kW to 250 kW.
• The Central Financial Assistance (CFA) in the range of
Rs.40,000 to Rs.30,000 per kW is available for
implementation of the programme by State Nodal
Agencies through village level organizations, institutions
and private entrepreneurs in rural areas for sale of
electricity to individual/ community/grid etc.
 Few installations in industries …1

PROJECT SECTOR Type Of FLOW H2S H2S POWER

Gas M3/hr In Out Equivalent MW
% ppm
Kanoria Chemicals & Ind. Ltd., Distillery Biogas 875 2.0 500 2.0
Ankleshwar, Gujrat
SOM Distilleries, Distillery Biogas 1250 3.0 500 2.7
Bhopal, M. P.
BMSS Ltd., Distillery Biogas 500 3.0 1000 1.0
Shripur, Dist. Solapur,(Maharashtra)
Degremont India Ltd. Sewage Biogas 840 1.0 1000 2.0
For Delhi Jal Nigam Delhi. At Rithala Treatment
Plant
India Glycols Ltd Distillery Biogas 800 4.6 0.1 1.8
Kashipur, Uttranchal & Allied
Chemicals
VA Tech Wabag Ltd.. Sewage Biogas 381 1.0 630 0.60
For Chennai Metro-Perungudi Treatment
Plant
VA Tech Wabag Ltd. Sewage Biogas 521 1.0 630 1.0
For Chennai Metro-Kodungaiyur Treatment
Plant
 Contd..

PROJECT SECTOR Type Of FLOW H2S H2S POWER

Gas M3/hr In Out Equivalent
% ppm MW

MMS Steel & Power Pvt. Ltd Power Natural 3333 0.08 10 10.0
Narimanan ,T.N. Plant Gas

MMS Steel & Power Pvt. Ltd Power Natural 1666 0.08 10 5.00
Kovilkallapal, T.N. Plant Gas

Luna Chemicals Ltd. Power Biogas 650 3.5 500 1.30

Asnad, Gujrat Plant

Riddhi Siddhi Gluco Biols Ltd. Starch Biogas 1200 2.0 500 2.0
Gokak, Karnataka Plant

Trichy Distilleries & Chem. Ltd. Distillery Biogas 750 5.0 500 1.4
Trichy, T. N.
1.89 MW Power Generation Project Based on Biogas Produced from Starch
Industry Liquid Waste Through 100% Biogas
Engines by Riddhi Siddhi Gluco Biols Ltd., Golak, Belgaum Dist, Karnataka
Kanoria Chemicals Ltd.
Ankleshwar, Gujarat
8.25MW biogas based power project in a distillery at Banur, Dist.

Patiala, Punjab
Brihan Maharashtra Sugar Syndicate Ltd.
Akluj ,Maharashtra
A 30 tonnes/day capacity Biomethanation Plant for Power Generation
in Koyambedu Vegetable Market, Chennai
A 5500 M3 biogas plant for power generation using starch
industry waste at Phagwara, Punjab
A 1 MW Biogas Plant using distillery effluents installed at a
Sugar Mill in West Godavari District, A.P.
2.5 MW poultry litter based power generation project under
construction at Namakkal, Tamil Nadu
Biogas based power generation project (1x20kW and 1x40 kW) setup at a Dairy Farm in
Dist. Satna,
Madhya Pradesh
 INDIA LYCOLS Ltd.
Kashipur,Uttaranchal
INDIA GLYCOLS Ltd.
Kashipur,Uttaranchal
8.25 MW biogas based Cogeneration power plant by M/s Chandigarh
Distillers and Bottlers Ltd., Banur, Distt. Patiala, Punjab
3 MW power generation project based on palm oil Industry Waste by
Sai Renewable Pvt. Ltd, West Godavari District, A.P
A biomethanation plant of 0.15 MW based on vegetable market and
slaughter house wastes for generation of power at Vijayawada, A.P.
5 MW power and 75 tonnes per day biofertiliser from Municipal Solid

Waste of Lucknow city, by M/s Asia Bioenergy India Ltd., Chennai

25 KWe Bio-methanation project based on leather solid waste (chrome

shavings) at M/s. Tata International Ltd., Dewas, M.P.

0.2 MW power generation project utilizing Sago industry liquid waste at
Ms. Varalakshmi Company, Salem, Tamil Nadu
 Biogas power generation by steam turbine

• Utilise the biogas for power generation by burning as

supplemental fuel in the boiler.
• High pressure steam produced is used to generate
power using a steam turbine.
Biogas Power Generation through boiler

biogas

Boiler Turbine Transformer

Cooling Generator
tower
 What does
each part do?

The boiler is where the biogas is burnt to

boil water

The steam from the boiler is used to turn a

turbine

The turbine is connected to the generator,

which acts like a dynamo – it generates
electricity out of movement
The steam is cooled down and
turned back into water in the cooling
tower
Biogas power generation
through fuel cells
 Basic principles of fuel cell (FC)

•Related to battery: both convert chemical energy into electricity

•Battery: the chemical energy has to be stored beforehand

•FC only operates when it is supplied from external sources

•Fundamental mechanism: inverse water hydrolysis reaction

Anode: 2H ® 4H + + 4e -
2
Cathode:
4e - + 4H + + O ® 2H O
2 2

Net reaction:
2H2 + O2  2H2O
Biogas power generation through fuel cells
• A fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device
• It produces electricity from fuel (on the anode side)
and an oxidant (on the cathode side), which react in
the presence of an electrolyte.
• The reactants flow into the cell, and the reaction
products flow out of it, while the electrolyte remains
within it.
• Stationary equipment for power generation
• Generating Fuel cells can operate virtually continuously
as long as the necessary flows are maintained
Contd..
• They consume reactant from an external source, which
must be replenished – a thermodynamically open
system.
• By contrast, batteries store electrical energy chemically
and hence represent a thermodynamically closed
system.
• Many combinations of fuels and oxidants are possible.
• A hydrogen fuel cell uses hydrogen as its fuel and
oxygen (usually from air) as its oxidant.
• Other fuels include hydrocarbons and alcohols. Other
oxidants include chlorine and chlorine dioxide.
Working of Fuel cell
 Technical Feasibility of Biogas Fuelled
Fuel Cells
• Numerous demonstrations have already proven the
technical feasibility
– phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) – Low Temperature
– molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) – High Temperature
– solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) – High Temperature

• Most technical problems have been overcome

– wide array of contaminants to clean up
– high degree of variability in fuel quality
 PAFC Demonstrations
• UTC Fuel Cells PC-25 currently in
operation

200-kilowatt PC25 that

converts anaerobic digester
gas generated by the
wastewater treatment facility
into usable heat and
electricity for the facility.
 MCFC System on
Wastewater Treatment BioGas

1 Megawatt
 Fuel Cells

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell powered by biogas, Finland

New York City WWTP Fuel
Cell Systems
 Technical Challenges
Gas Clean Up
• Contaminant removal requirements are highly dependent
on type of fuel cell used and the type of biomass. H2S,
organic acids, siloxanes, alkali metals, halogens.
• PAFC clean up system has been successfully
demonstrated and a performance verification report
published.
• PAFC more sensitive to poisons than SOFC and MCFC
• Siloxanes are a more serious problem!
• In high temperature fuel cells siloxanes form glassy
deposits
• Moisture removal
– Need dry gas
 Gas Clean Up – Siloxane Removal

• Siloxane removal is one of the more

challenging aspects of using landfill or AD
biogas
• Agricultural waste ADG does not contain
siloxanes
– cows don’t use cosmetics and conditioner!!
 Economic Feasibility

• The economics of biogas fuelled fuel-cell systems are still

very difficult to assess. Even for PAFC systems that have
had a long operating history the predicted cost per kW and
the actual cost per kW can differ by a factor of two or
three.
• The cost of the fuel cell is also very vague.
• Based on material costs SOFC stacks look very
competitive
– near term projected cost = US$400 per kW
– the potential cost reduction with large-volume
manufacturing methods is as low as US$180 per kW.
 Biogas
Fuel Processing
• A fuel processor changes - composition of the
biogas - can be fed to a fuel cell system to a
hydrogen-rich mixture that can be fed to a
fuel cell
• The process adds complexity to the system
but usually is necessary in order to obtain
acceptable fuel cell performance and lifetime.
 Conclusions

1. Biogas-fuelled fuel cell systems are technically

feasible and can operate for extended periods with
good reliability and performance
2. Economic feasibility is much more difficult to
assess but it appears that costs are too high
- The impact of carbon credits on the economics
of biomass fuelled fuel cell systems may be a
significant factor in the near future.
3. Utilising waste biomass for power generation will
not solve our energy and GHG problems but it can
significantly reduce GHG emissions
Sr.No Fuel cell system
1. Cost per kilowatt is very high.
2. The biogas must be cleaned up to
strict specifications. Adds cost and
complexity while consuming energy.
3. The fuel cell is an emerging
technology.
4. The greenhouse emissions and
particulates are very low
5. The fuel cell technology is
continuously improving at a rapid
rate.
6. The system is very quiet.
7. There are few moving parts.
Engine Generator System
Cost per kilowatt is low.
The biogas can be used directly from the
digester with no cleanup.
It is a mature technology.
The greenhouse emissions of carbon
dioxide, sulfur dioxide carbon monoxide
and particulates are significant.
The technology is mature and changing
slowly
The noise level is very high and sound
mitigation is necessary
There are many moving parts, most
moving in a hot environment needing oil
and cooling
 Advantages of biogas
based
power generation

 Usable fuel
 Useful by-products from the biogas process
 Reduces Greenhouse Gas emissions
 Sustainable Resource as long as we have wastes
 Could fulfill the gap in the peak electricity demand and
supply
 Highly possible in community and institutional biogas
plants
 So, in a word…
A plethora of renewable energy is all around us, with even more ways
to make use of it.
The Three Rs of Recycling
Plus One!
Recycle Reduce

Reuse
RECOVER