Biogas prediction and design of a food waste to energy system for the urban environment

Nathan Curry and Pragasen Pillay

Renewable Energy, 2012, vol. 41, issue C, 200-209

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion applied to the organic waste produced in urban environments could provide a critical solution to growing garbage problems while simultaneously reducing external energy requirements. As landfills across Canada and the rest of the world are filled to their limits, a carbon-neutral process which can locally generate electricity and heat while providing up to 50% volatile solid reduction is something to be seriously considered. This paper investigates the feasibility of urban anaerobic digestion, presents four techniques for biogas estimation – ultimate analysis, yield from molecular formula analysis, a novel computer simulation technique using Anaerobic Digestion Model #1 (ADM1), and a literature review of experimentally determined biogas yields. In addition, a case study for small-scale anaerobic digestion system design is presented for an urban building.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Urban environment; Waste to energy; Food waste; Renewable energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:41:y:2012:i:c:p:200-209

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.10.019

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