Feasibility Analysis of Bio-Methane Production in a Biogas Plant: A Case Study

Andrea Baccioli, Lorenzo Ferrari, Romain Guiller, Oumayma Yousfi, Francesco Vizza and Umberto Desideri
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Andrea Baccioli: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Lorenzo Ferrari: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Romain Guiller: Department of Thermal and Energy Science, Polytech Nantes, University of Nantes, Rue Christian Pauc, 44300 Nantes, France
Oumayma Yousfi: Department of Thermal and Energy Science, Polytech Nantes, University of Nantes, Rue Christian Pauc, 44300 Nantes, France
Francesco Vizza: National Research Council of Italy CNR-ICCOM – Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
Umberto Desideri: Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: A feasibility analysis, to assess the suitability of converting the biogas produced in an existing anaerobic digestion plant to bio-methane, was carried out. The case study plant was equipped with a micro-gas turbine co-generator. Several upgrading systems of different sizes were considered, to determine the most suitable configuration from a thermodynamic and economic point of view. For this purpose, a model of the whole plant that included digesters, a micro-gas turbine, a sludge line, heat transfer loops, and heat exchangers was developed. A steady-state simulation was performed by using the daily average conditions for the one-year long operation of the plant. The results highlighted that the feasibility depended on the amount of bio-methane produced, as this affected the performance of the cogeneration system and the balance between the costs and revenues. When large amounts of biogas are upgraded to bio-methane, the heat provided by the micro-gas turbine during the winter season is not sufficient to keep the digesters at the desired temperature and, therefore, natural gas integration is necessary. In addition, by increasing the upgrading unit size, the amount of electric energy purchased by the grid increases accordingly. An economic analysis showed that the optimal upgrading system size was strongly dependent on the bio-methane selling price.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biogas; upgrading system; bio-methane; cogeneration; micro-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 (6)

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