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The Energy Aspects of Biogas Production from Sheep Manure
Conference Paper · April 2019
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The Energy Aspects of Biogas Production from Sheep Manure
Gábor Nagy1, Alexandra Takács1, András Arnold Kállay 1
1
Department of Combustion Technology and Thermal Energy, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, Hungary
Abstract
The result of the anaerobic degradation of organic material is a renewable energy source, called biogas. Due to its
high methane content, biogas is primarily used for energy production. A beneficial method for energy production is
cogeneration. Thus, heat and electricity can be produced at the same time. Sheep manure was used for biogas
production in lab-scale experiments, using various reactor temperatures with and without the addition of inoculum.
The recorded gas yield and gas composition was used to estimate the replaceable natural gas quantity. Furthermore,
the necessary gas engine performance was also calculated.
Introduction Materials and methods
Biogas is a renewable energy source which is The dry matter content (TS) was decreased to 15 wt.
produced by micro-organisms in anaerobic environment % for better mixing and homogeneity. During the
during the degradation of organic materials. As the experiments, 0 and 10 wt.% digested cow manure
produced gas has high methane content, its primary (DCM) was added as inoculant. The properties of the
application is heat and power generation via base material are summarised in Table 1.
combustion. Further possibilities for the utilization of
biogas can be the production of synthetic natural gas Table 1. Ultimate and proximate analysis of the base
(SNG) after CO2 separation, or synthesis gas can be material
produced after catalytic reforming [1]. Sheep Digested
Most organic materials are suitable for biogas manure cow manure
production, including animal manures too. In 2015, over Nitrogen 2.59 2.25
85 million sheep were recorded to the part of the
livestock population of the EU-28 [2]. Thus, the Carbon 29.28 37.70
exploitation of the manure of these livestock as a Hydrogen 3.85 5.27
wt.
%
potential valuable material can be considered a relevant Sulphur 0.70 0.71
matter
and beneficial research topic. Sheep manure has already
Dry
been used for experiments, which proved to be a low- Oxygen 17.17 20.07
quality base material, according to literature [3]. In Ash 46.42 33.00
literature, the gas yield was around 0.1-0.4 m 3/kg dry
MJ/kg
base material [4-6], the methane content of the produced HHV 9.87 15.30
gas was expected to be 40-65 vol.% [5, 7-10]. Thus, the
biogas should be applicable for energy purposes.
Feed material
The composition of biogas and the intensity of gas
wt.%
formation are heavily depending on the temperature. Moisture 84.9 79.1
Based on this, there are three types of temperature
zones: psychrophilic (environmental temperature),
pH 7.68 8.81
-
mesophilic (optimally 32-42 °C) and thermophilic (<50
°C) [11].
Inoculums are biologically active liquids or partially The schematic illustration of the anaerobic digester
digested organic wastes, rich in micro-organisms. By can be found in Figure 1. For the experiments,
adding these to the base material, higher gas yield can environmental temperature (18-28 °C), 34 °C
be achieved [12], and the methane content can be (mesophilic conditions) and 50 °C (thermophilic
increased [13]. conditions) were used.
For the experiments, sheep manure was used for
anaerobic digestion using all three (psychrophilic,
mesophilic and thermophilic) temperature zone.
Digested cow manure (DCM) was used as inoculum,
and its additional value was 0 and 10 wt.%. The gas
yield and the gas composition were examined. Based on
these data, calculations were made in relation to energy
purposes.
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Proceedings of the European Combustion Meeting
2019
produced, which is equivalent to approximately
215,000 m3. In comparison, the quantity of replaceable
natural gas of the biogas produced at 50 °C is
significantly lower.
l/kg TOC l/kg TS l/kg base material
75.6
50°C, +10% DCM 61.6
11.1
67.6
50°C, +0% DCM 58.4
10.5
140.6
34°C, +10% DCM 115.8
20.9
101.0
34°C, +0% DCM 86.5
Figure 1. The lab-scale anaerobic digester 15.6
system (1 – water bath; 2 – reactor; 3 – tube for
biogas 45.9
Room t., +10% DCM 35.6
departure; 4 – confining liquid container; 5 – 6.4
confining liquid overflow) 18.2
Room t., +0% DCM 14.9
An Agilent 490 Micro-GC with a COX module was 2.7
used for the analysis of CH 4, CO2, CO, C2 and O2. The
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
calculations of the Lower Heating Value (LHV) and the
adiabatic flame temperature were based on the gas Gas production
composition.
Figure 2. Biogas production
Results
The produced gas quantities in relation to 1 kg total
50°C, +10% DCM 48.4
organic content, 1 kg total solids and 1 kg base material
are illustrated in Figure 2. It can be observed that the 41.9
50°C, +0% DCM
gas yield increased at higher temperatures. The highest
gas yield was obtained at 34 °C reactor temperature. 57.6
34°C, +10% DCM
The addition of 10% DCM increased the gas production
in case of all used temperatures. 34°C, +0% DCM 53.3
The methane content of the produced gas
continuously increases with time, and slightly deviates Room t., +10% DCM 42.4
after reaching a maximum value. The maximum
methane contents of the experiments (Figure 3.) could Room t., +0% DCM 23.9
be ensured during continuous industrial operation. The
highest methane content could be achieved with 34 °C 0 20 40 60 80
reactor temperature (53-57 vol.%). Furthermore, the CH4 content, vol.%
addition of DCM had a positive effect on the maximum
Figure 3. The maximum methane contents
methane content, as well.
0.5 kg slurry was prepared for each experiment,
The LHV and the expected flame temperature are
which consisted of the original manure diluted with
important not only for heat production, but as emission
water. In case of mature sheep, the produced manure is
factors as well. These values can be observed in Figure
1.1-2.5 kg/day [14-16], the average of which (1.8
5. The average heating value of natural gas in Hungary
kg/day) was used for the calculations. Considering
is 34 MJ/m3 [17]. Approximately 60% of this heating
small-scale sheep farming of Hungary, the livestock is
value was reached with 34 °C reactors and 45-50% with
around 2000. Based on the previously given values, the
50 °C reactor temperature. However, the
expected biogas production and methane content are
environmental temperature resulted in only 25-45% of
shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the natural gas
the heating value. Based on the average Hungarian
equivalent with the produced biogas is also illustrated.
natural gas composition [17], the calculated adiabatic
These data are based on the average natural gas
flame temperature is 2050 °C. The biogas samples
composition published by a Hungarian natural gas
had significantly lower flame temperatures. At 34 and
supplier, Tigáz-DSO Ltd. (90-95 V/V% methane, 3-5
50 °C reactor temperature the flame temperature was
V/V% other hydrocarbons and 1-3 V/V% non-
1838-
combustibles [17]). Using 34 °C reactor temperature, up
to 355,000 m3 biogas per year could be
2
1909 °C, while using room temperature resulted in Combined heat and power (CHP) refers to a
considerably lower values, 1509-1746 °C. simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heat
from the combustion of a fuel. Thus, the produced heat
Natural gas equivalent can be used for the heating of the reactors, and
electricity can be input for the electrical system. To
Annual biomethane production
recommend a gas engine for CHP, 40% electric
Annual biogas production efficiency was chosen, and the annual operating time
952.5 was considered 8000 hours. Using these values, the
50°C, +10% DCM 904.9 annual useful electric energy that could be produced and
1869.2 the necessary electric output of the gas engine are
830.8 illustrated in Figure 6.
789.3
1881.6
50°C, +0% DCM 2152,1 Annual useful electric energy, kW
2044.5
0 200 400 600 800 1000
3552.6
34°C, +10% DCM
1547.5 50°C, +10%
1470.1 DCM
2757.1
458.9 50°C, +0% DCM
34°C, +0% DCM 435.9
1028.6 34°C, +10% DCM
114.4
Room t., +10% DCM 108.6
454.0 34°C, +0% DCM
Room t., +10% DCM
Room t., +0% DCM
Room t., +0% DCM
4
1
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105
Annual amount, 100 m3 Electric output of gas engine, kWel
Figure 4. The annual amount of biogas, biomethane Figure 6. The annual useful electric energy to be
and the replaceable natural gas quantity produced and the electric output of the possible
gas engine
As a gas engine with 5 kW electrical output can be
used for biogas utilisation, even the lowest expected
energy output (Room temperature, +0%DCM) is
eligible for the installation of a micro gas turbine.
However, using “34°C,+10%DCM”, a gas engine with
100 kW electrical output could be operated.
Conclusion
Based on the results, the highest biogas quantity and
methane content from sheep manure could be achieved
using 10% digested cow manure inoculant and 34 °C
reactor temperature. In this case, the maximum methane
content was 58 vol.% with approximately 116 L/kg TS
gas yield. The achieved gas quantity and methane
content should be suitable to save up to 2150 m 3 natural
gas per year with continuous operation, in case of a
sheep livestock with 2000 population. Such gas quantity
could be suitable for the operation of a 100-kW
electrical output gas engine for 8000 h/year.
Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to Mária Ambrus for her
linguistic advice.
Figure 5. LHVs and adiabatic flame temperatures
3
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