Environmental Decision Support System for Biogas Upgrading to Feasible Fuel

Eric Santos-Clotas, Alba Cabrera-Codony, Alba Castillo, Maria J. Martín, Manel Poch and Hèctor Monclús
Additional contact information
Eric Santos-Clotas: LEQUIA, Institute of Environment, University of Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69. Campus Montilivi, Girona, E17003 Catalonia, Spain
Alba Cabrera-Codony: LEQUIA, Institute of Environment, University of Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69. Campus Montilivi, Girona, E17003 Catalonia, Spain
Alba Castillo: LEQUIA, Institute of Environment, University of Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69. Campus Montilivi, Girona, E17003 Catalonia, Spain
Maria J. Martín: LEQUIA, Institute of Environment, University of Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69. Campus Montilivi, Girona, E17003 Catalonia, Spain
Manel Poch: LEQUIA, Institute of Environment, University of Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69. Campus Montilivi, Girona, E17003 Catalonia, Spain
Hèctor Monclús: LEQUIA, Institute of Environment, University of Girona, Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69. Campus Montilivi, Girona, E17003 Catalonia, Spain

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Biogas production is a growing market and the existing conversion technologies require different biogas quality and characteristics. In pursuance of assisting decision-makers in biogas upgrading an environmental decision support system (EDSS) was developed. Since the field is rapidly progressing, this tool is easily updatable with new data from technical and scientific literature through the knowledge acquisition level. By a thorough technology review, the diagnosis level evaluates a wide spectrum of technologies for eliminating siloxanes, H 2 S, and CO 2 from biogas, which are scored in a supervision level based upon environmental, economic, social and technical criteria. The sensitivity of the user towards those criteria is regarded by the EDSS giving a response based on its preferences. The EDSS was validated with data from a case-study for removing siloxanes from biogas in a sewage plant. The tool described the flow diagram of treatment alternatives and estimated the performance and effluent quality, which matched the treatment currently given in the facility. Adsorption onto activated carbon was the best-ranked technology due to its great efficiency and maturity as a commercial technology. On the other hand, biological technologies obtained high scores when economic and environmental criteria were preferred. The sensitivity analysis proved to be effective allowing the identification of the challenges and opportunities for the technologies considered.

Keywords: EDSS; biogas upgrading; renewable energies; siloxanes; hydrogen sulfide (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 (5)

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