A Case Study on the Electricity Generation Using a Micro Gas Turbine Fuelled by Biogas from a Sewage Treatment Plant

Chia-Chi Chang, Manh Van Do, Wei-Li Hsu, Bo-Liang Liu, Ching-Yuan Chang, Yi-Hung Chen, Min-Hao Yuan, Cheng-Fang Lin, Chang-Ping Yu, Yen-Hau Chen, Je-Lueng Shie, Wan-Yi Wu, Chien-Hsien Lee and Trinh Van Tuyen
Additional contact information
Chia-Chi Chang: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Manh Van Do: Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 1000000, Vietnam
Wei-Li Hsu: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Bo-Liang Liu: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Ching-Yuan Chang: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Yi-Hung Chen: Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Min-Hao Yuan: Department of Occupational Safety and Health, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
Cheng-Fang Lin: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Chang-Ping Yu: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Yen-Hau Chen: Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Je-Lueng Shie: Department of Environmental Engineering, National I-Lan University, Yi-Lan 260, Taiwan
Wan-Yi Wu: Huimin Environmental Tech Corporation, Taipei 105, Taiwan
Chien-Hsien Lee: Sewerage Systems Office, Public Works Department, Taipei City Government, Taipei 10376, Taiwan
Trinh Van Tuyen: Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 1000000, Vietnam

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Combined heat and power production from biogas is now playing an important role in energy and resource utilization as well as pollution control in waste water treatment. This research used biogas from the Bali Sewage Treatment Plant in New Taipei City, Taiwan, as a major source of fuel for the electricity generation. A micro gas turbine electricity generator, Capstone CR-30, which possesses a maximum rated power load (P WL ) of 30 kW, was equipped to convert biogas into electricity. The biogas is mainly composed of CH 4 (56.1 ± 8.0 vol.%), CO 2 (25.5 ± 9.8 vol.%), H 2 (0.5 vol.%), and H 2 S (0.99 ± 0.07 ppmv). During the test operation period of the generator, it was found that the thermal efficiency increases from 19.8% to 23.4% kWh e /kWh th , while the electricity generation efficiency (η EB ) also rises from 0.93 to 1.09 kWh e /m 3 biogas as the P WL increases from 10 kW to 30 kW. The results indicated that the generator has a better performance with higher P WL . At P WL = 30 kW, the average adjusted concentrations of CO and NOx (adjusted to 15 vol.% O 2 ) emitted from the generator are 86 ppmv and 17 ppmv, respectively. Both are much lower than the emission standards of stationary sources in Taiwan of 2000 ppmv and 150 ppmv, respectively. Thus, P WL of 30 kW was selected in cooperation with biogas inflow = 0.412 m 3 /min and air/fuel ratio (i.e., air/biogas ratio) = 76.0 vol./vol. for the long-term regular operation. At the above setting conditions for long-term operation, the generator continuously consumed the biogas and provided stable electricity generation at a rate of 19.64 kWh e /h for a 2-year running period. Moreover, the greenhouse gas can be cut off with a rate of 10.78 kg CO 2 e/h when using biogas as fuel for electricity generation. Overall, this research proves that the application of a micro gas turbine electricity generator not only has promising performance for using biogas but also gives a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emission, which fits the concepts of the circular economy and environmental protection.

Keywords: biogas conversion; electricity generation; greenhouse gas reduction; sewage treatment; gas turbine (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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