RE: DIG-L: community biogas in North America/Europe

[Effenberger Mathias <effenberger@tec.agrar.tu-muenchen.de>]

Dear Anthony,

thank you for diligently translating the webpage of Bioferm. Concerning the
issue of retention time: As you stated correctly, BioFerm claims a retention
time of one month. However, other authors (Grooterhorst & Denecke 1994) have
mentioned retention times of around 60 days which was the number first
coming to my mind. Actually, we don't know yet, since the BioFerm process
has not been systematically and independently assessed to date. One could
expect a longer period of time for digestion compared to the "wet" process,
due to the lack of mixing and pre-treatment of substrate.

Regards,

Mathias Effenberger
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Simm [mailto:simm@mozcom.com]
> Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2002 4:31 AM
> To: Effenberger Mathias
> Subject: RE: DIG-L: community biogas in North America/Europe
> 
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> as everyone seems to be interested in dry fermentation, I 
> translated the
> webpage that was mentioned below (http://www.bioferm.de/). I took the
> freedom to keep it simple. I edited both German and English text so
> orientation on the webpage should be easier. 
> 
> Dear Matthias, please allow me to clarify that, in this context, the
> expression "garage" means a prefabricated concrete building 
> sized to park a
> car. It is not vehicle repair shop or so (which is the 
> meaning of that word
> in some areas). 
> I noticed that BioFerm claims a retention period of one moth, 
> whereas you
> mention a period about twice as long. Could you comment?
> 
> Here it comes.
> 
> Demonstrationsanlage zur Trockenvergärung der Biomasse
> Dry Biomass Fermentation Pilot Plant
> 
> 
> In der auf der Kompostanlage angelieferten Biomasse steckt 
> sehr viel Energie. 
> Biomass received at the compost site holds VERY MUCH ENERGY. 
> 
> Damit diese nicht ungenutzt in die Atmosphäre entweicht, 
> wurde von der Fa.
> Bioferm auf der Kompostanlage Moosdorf die patentierte 
> Demonstrationsanlage
> zur Trockenfermentation gebaut - die bisher einzige Anlage in Europa. 
> In order to prevent this energy from escaping to the 
> athmoshpere, BioFerm
> (name of the company, "Inc.") built a patented dry 
> fermentation pilot plant
> on its (compost plant) premises at Moosdorf - the only such 
> plant in Europe
> to date. 
> 
> Die Anlage zeichnet sich durch einen einfachen und 
> übersichtlichen Aufbau aus.
> The plant sports a simple and clear design. 
> 
> Die Materialbearbeitung ist unkompliziert. Ein Aussortieren 
> der Störstoffe
> und eine Verflüssigung der Biomasse ist nicht mehr erforderlich
> (aufwendiges Aussortieren und Verflüssigen des Materials in der
> Flüssigvergärung).
> The material flow is simple and easy: sorting or liquifaction of raw
> material is not anymore necessary (as compared to liquid 
> fermentation). 
> 
> Das zu vergärende Material wird mit Rad- oder Frontladern in die aus
> gasdichtem Beton bestehenden Fermenterboxen eingelagert und gasdicht
> verschlossen.
> Inputs are moved by buckhoes or payloaders and stored in impermeable,
> sealed concrete fermenter boxes. 
> 
> Damit das Biogas entstehen kann, wird die Biomasse mit "gelösten"
> Methanbakterien (Perkolat) besprüht. 
> To start the process, the material is sprayed with an inocculatent of
> "dissolved methane bacteria" (percolate) 
> 
> Eine Fußbodenheizung hält die Biomasse während der Verweilzeit von ca.
> einem Monat bei 40°C. Das entstehende Gas wird abgesaugt, 
> komprimiert und
> in einen Druckspeicher geleitet 
> A floor heating system maintains a material temperature 40 ºC for a
> retention period of about one month. Biogas is pumped out and 
> stored in a
> pressure tank. 
> 
> Das während der Entleerung und Befüllung abgezogene 
> Gas-Luftgemisch wird
> über einen Biofilter gereinigt und in die Atmosphäre gelassen. 
> During loading and unloading, a mix of biogas and air is passed thru a
> biofilter and released to the athmosphere. 
> 
> Das "brauchbare" Gas wird durch Verbrennung in einem 
> Blockheizkraftwerk zur
> Strom- und Wärmegewinnung eingesetzt. 
> During operation, the biogas is utilized as generator fuel to 
> produce power
> and heat. 
> 
> Durch den Wegfall der Pumpen- und Rührtechnik ergeben sich beachtliche
> Energieeinsparungen und Risikoverringerungen.
> The technolgy eliminates mixing and pumping efforts, and 
> reduces system
> energy requirements, and hazards 
> 
> Die Bioferm-Trockenvergärungsanlage wird mit modernster Technik und
> entsprechenden Sicherheitseinrichtungen gesteuert. 
> The Bioferm Dry Fermentation plant is equipped with the latest hi-tec
> control equipment and corresponding safety devices 
> 
> Für den Betreiber bedeutet das einen geringen Arbeitseinsatz (tägliche
> Kontrolle, Ablesen der Daten).
> It can hence be operated at minimum effort (daily monitoring, data
> recognition) 
> 
> Diese Anlage stellt eine Innovation in der gesamten 
> Biogastechnologie dar,
> die auch zur TÜV-Anerkennung und Zertifizierung führen wird, 
> als einzige
> Biogasanlage Deutschlands!
> This plant represents an innovation of the entire biogas 
> technology. It is
> the only biogas plant in Germany that will be approved and 
> certified by
> (name of a German technical public-authority-like institution) 
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Anthony Simm
> 
> 
> At 09:05 AM 3/21/02 +0100, you wrote:
> >We are currently conducting research on a demonstration plant for dry
> >digestion of solid agricultural wastes. It's a batch system where the
> >material is piled into a sort of garage which is then 
> closed. Additionally,
> >water is percolating through the pile and circulated back 
> which provides an
> >inoculum. The material digests for about 60 days and the 
> produced biogas is
> >used in a CHP-unit. The system is described on: 
> http://www.bioferm.de/
> >(unfortunately, no English version of the website is 
> available). However,
> >reliable data will not be available before next year.
> >
> >Mathias Effenberger
> >Bayerische Landesanstalt fuer Landtechnik
> >Am Staudengarten 3
> >85354 Freising
> >GERMANY
> >phone: +49 8161 71-5157
> >fax:   +49 8161 71-4363
> >email: effenberger@tec.agrar.tu-muenchen.de
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Marty Climenhaga [mailto:mclimenhaga@macviro.com]
> >> Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 12:17 AM
> >> To: digestion@crest.org
> >> Subject: RE: DIG-L: community biogas in North America/Europe
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Thanks very much for your replies Stuart and Paul. The 
> >> question of dry 
> >> digestion reminds me of something I heard about a farm 
> >> practice of sealing 
> >> up hay in plastic, where it digests over the winter, and then 
> >> the bag is 
> >> cut open and the contents used for sileage (methane released to 
> >> atmosphere). Does anyone know about that or have I got the 
> >> facts wrong?
> >> 
> >> 
> >> >G'day Marty,
> >> 
> >> >For solid waste I think you should look at dry digestion, 
> >> which should
> >> >raise a few comments from others in the list more 
> >> knowlegable than I in
> >> >that area. That avoids the chopping/slurry but you may need 
> >> to develop
> >> >an inocculum.
> >> 
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From:	Marty Climenhaga [SMTP:mclimenhaga@macviro.com]
> >> Sent:	Tuesday, March 19, 2002 8:47 AM
> >> To:	digestion@crest.org
> >> Subject:	DIG-L: community biogas in North America/Europe
> >> 
> >> Hello all
> >> I'm working with a community group that has some funding to 
> >> explore options 
> >> for a very small-scale, low-tech biogas plant. They would 
> like to see
> >> whether it is possible and how expensive it is to digest 
> >> about a tonne a
> >> week of foodscraps and garden waste, with the biogas being used for
> >> supplemental greenhouse heating.  I know there are lots of 
> >> examples of this 
> >> kind of scale digestion with manure in developing countries, 
> >> I have helped
> >> out with one in El Salvador, but I don't know whether it's 
> >> possible to do
> >> it here in Canada, especially with a feedstock that would 
> have to be
> >> chopped up and slurried. I'm wondering whether anyone knows 
> >> of any examples 
> >> in North America or Europe or has any ideas to help me (my 
> >> first reaction
> >> is that regulatory issues and economics would make it very 
> expensive /
> >> close to impossible here, but I can't necessarily prove that 
> >> it wouldn't
> >> work).
> >> Thanks for any thoughts at all.
> >> Marty
> >> 
> >> Marty Climenhaga, M.S. (Eng)
> >> MacViro Consultants Inc.
> >> 600-90 Allstate Parkway
> >> Markham ON L3R 6H3
> >> tel: 905-475-7270 ext. 289
> >> fax: 905-475-5994
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> Digestion List Archives:
> >> http://www.crest.org/discussion/digestion/200202/
> >> 
> >> Digestion List Moderator:
> >> Paul Harris, paul.harris@adelaide.edu.au
> >> http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris
> >> List-Post: <mailto:digestion@crest.org>
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> >> List-Subscribe: <mailto:digestion-subscribe@crest.org>
> >> 
> >> Other Digestion Events and Information:
> >> http://www.bioenergy2002.org
> >> http://crest.org/discussiongroups/resources/biomass/biogas/BIO
> >GASMK.pdf
> >http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1010424940_7.html
> >
> >Beginners Tour of Biogas
> >http://WWW.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris/biogas/beginners
> >
> >Digestion List Archives:
> >http://www.crest.org/discussion/digestion/200202/
> >
> >Digestion List Moderator:
> >Paul Harris, paul.harris@adelaide.edu.au
> >http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris
> >List-Post: <mailto:digestion@crest.org>
> >List-Help: <mailto:digestion-help@crest.org>
> >List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:digestion-unsubscribe@crest.org>
> >List-Subscribe: <mailto:digestion-subscribe@crest.org>
> >
> >Other Digestion Events and Information:
> >http://www.bioenergy2002.org
> >http://crest.org/discussiongroups/resources/biomass/biogas/BI
OGASMK.pdf
>http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1010424940_7.html
>
>Beginners Tour of Biogas
>http://WWW.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris/biogas/beginners
>
>Digestion List Archives:
>http://www.crest.org/discussion/digestion/200202/
>
>Digestion List Moderator:
>Paul Harris, paul.harris@adelaide.edu.au
>http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris
>List-Post: <mailto:digestion@crest.org>
>List-Help: <mailto:digestion-help@crest.org>
>List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:digestion-unsubscribe@crest.org>
>List-Subscribe: <mailto:digestion-subscribe@crest.org>
>
>Other Digestion Events and Information:
>http://www.bioenergy2002.org
>http://crest.org/discussiongroups/resources/biomass/biogas/BIOGASMK.pdf
>http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1010424940_7.html
>
>Beginners Tour of Biogas
>http://WWW.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris/biogas/beginners
>

Digestion List Archives:
http://www.crest.org/discussion/digestion/200202/

Digestion List Moderator:
Paul Harris, paul.harris@adelaide.edu.au
http://www.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris
List-Post: <mailto:digestion@crest.org>
List-Help: <mailto:digestion-help@crest.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:digestion-unsubscribe@crest.org>
List-Subscribe: <mailto:digestion-subscribe@crest.org>

Other Digestion Events and Information:
http://www.bioenergy2002.org
http://crest.org/discussiongroups/resources/biomass/biogas/BIOGASMK.pdf
http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1010424940_7.html

Beginners Tour of Biogas
http://WWW.roseworthy.adelaide.edu.au/~pharris/biogas/beginners