Comparison of Biological Efficiency Assessment Methods and Their Application to Full-Scale Biogas Plants

Benedikt Hülsemann, Torsten Mächtig, Marcel Pohl, Jan Liebetrau, Joachim Müller, Eberhard Hartung and Hans Oechsner
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Benedikt Hülsemann: State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Torsten Mächtig: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Kiel University, Olshausenstraße 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany
Marcel Pohl: DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum Gemeinnützige GmbH, Biochemical Conversion Department, Torgauer Straße 116, 04347 Leipzig, Germany
Jan Liebetrau: Rytec GmbH, Consulting and Research, Pariser Ring 37, 76532 Baden-Baden, Germany
Joachim Müller: Tropics and Subtropics Group, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
Eberhard Hartung: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Kiel University, Olshausenstraße 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany
Hans Oechsner: State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: For calculation of biological efficiency of a biogas plant (BP), it is required to determine the specific methane potential (SMP) of the substrate. A study comparing available methods for determination of SMP and the comparison with data of full-scale BPs is missing but necessary according to the differences in process conditions between both. Firstly, mass and mass associated energy balances of 33 full-scale BPs were calculated and evaluated. The results show plausible data for only 55% of the investigated BPs. Furthermore, conversion and yield efficiencies were calculated according to six different methods for SMP determination. The results show a correlation between the measured on-site specific methane yield and the calculated SMP by methods based on biological degradability. However, these methods underestimate the SMP. Calculated SMPs based on calorific values are higher, but less sensitive. A combination of biochemical and energetical methods is a promising approach to evaluate the efficiency.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biochemical methane potential test; fermentable organic dry matter content; gross calorific value; mass and energy balance (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
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