Empirical Validation of a Biogas Plant Simulation Model and Analysis of Biogas Upgrading Potentials

Jan Martin Zepter, Jan Engelhardt, Tatiana Gabderakhmanova and Mattia Marinelli
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Jan Martin Zepter: Center for Electric Power and Energy, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Risø Campus, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Jan Engelhardt: Center for Electric Power and Energy, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Risø Campus, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Tatiana Gabderakhmanova: Center for Electric Power and Energy, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Risø Campus, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Mattia Marinelli: Center for Electric Power and Energy, Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Risø Campus, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: Biogas plants may support the transformation towards renewable-based and integrated energy systems by providing dispatchable co-generation as well as opportunities for biogas upgrading or power-to-X conversion. In this paper, a simulation model that comprises the main dynamics of the internal processes of a biogas plant is developed. Based on first-order kinetics of the anaerobic digestion process, the biogas production of an input feeding schedule of raw material can be estimated. The output of the plant in terms of electrical and thermal energy is validated against empirical data from a 3-MW biogas plant on the Danish island of Bornholm. The results show that the model provides an accurate representation of the processes within a biogas plant. The paper further provides insights on the functioning of the biogas plant on Bornholm as well as discusses upgrading potentials of biogas to biomethane at the plant from an energy perspective.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biogas; biogas upgrading; CHP; electrical energy; modeling; multi-energy system; thermal energy; validation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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