Methane from Manure

Nearly one megawatt of electricity can be generated from the methane produced in an operational pilot plant at a feedlot in Vegreville, Alberta, Ca.  The Integrated Manure Utilization System (IMUS), combines anaerobic digestion, biogas utilization, liquids/solids separation, nutrient recovery and enrichment processes.  Methane gas produced by the process is used to generate the electricity and heat, nutrients are recovered to produce fertilizers, and water is recovered for irrigation.  The electricity is used to power the feedlot and about 700 households in two adjoining farming communities.  Future development of the plant will expand the electricity output to three megawatts of power.  In their press release, Mike Kotelko, of Highland Feeders was quoted as saying "Manure, second to beef in value, is the most important output of our operation in terms of social, economic and environmental sustainability."

The University of Alberta Engineering Magazine adds the following  information about the process: "The biogas collected from the top of the pilot plant’s digesters consists of between 57 and 59 percent methane gas. The remainder, carbon dioxide and trace gases, are consumed later in the closed loop manufacturing process to balance pH in the liquid stream. The methane is burned in combination with natural gas to power a GE Jenbacher, 999 kW generator, which can operate at between 50 and 100 percent load. It can accept a variable gas blend, so Highmark Renewables has the flexibility to adjust its ratio of biogas to natural gas depending on power prices.  There are probably 80 other feedlots in Alberta alone that have the size to support a project like this"

A Case pdf further explains the process:  The plant consumes about 100 tons a day of wet manure, about 20% of the feedlots total output.  The manure is chopped, water added, and heat, from the generator's cooling water and exhaust is used to produce a 55-degree Celsius, 13% moisture mixture.  After further chopping it is pumped into the anaerobic digesters.  Kotelko estimates that a commercial 3 MW IMUS plant will cost between $8 and $9 million, and would likely pay for itself in seven to eight years assuming both electricity and fertilizer are marketed.

An ARC website lists the following benefits for the process:

• Reduced manure handling costs
• Protection of water resources
• Odor reduction
• Recycling of waste water
• Reduced energy costs
• Value-added revenue from the sale of energy and bio-based fertilizer
• Strengthening agriculture’s reputation of environmentally sustainable resource management

The process was jointly developed by the Alberta Research Council (ARC) and Highmark Renewables.  The press release goes on to say:  IMUS is designed to overcome challenges associated with high-solid manure typical of most outdoor feedlots in North America.  Other currently existing biogas facilities are geared to indoor feedlot operations  and focus only on liquid manure.  The technology can be easily adapted to other biomass sources, including liquid manure, food-processing waste, livestock mortalities, rendering materials and municipal wastes.

I knew that methane from anaerobic digestion of wastes was being used to some extent, but I had no idea that plants of this size were operating.  Considering the impact that they could have on one Canadian process, this source of energy could be a significant source of renewable energy to add to our bag of tricks.  Biogas utilization if fairly common in Europe, but not in North America.  I will have to do some more research to see what else is out there and see if I can make an educated guess as to its potential.

Technocrat tags: biogas, biofuel, renewable energy

Comments

[ferrand stobart]

A 5000 tonne per annum food waste digester is being built near Ludlow, UK, see www.greenfinch.co.uk
regards
Stobart
Secretary, Grünhaus Project

[Mathew George]

Hi all,

Can someone help me, in finding instructions (preferable in the web)to build a (do it yourself) carburetor for converting a single cylinder petrol engine to methane/biogas?

[Henri Naths]

Hi I have investment capital and alot of time spent in, construction welding, physics,reasearch material etc etc.I am interested in the energy field and commercial biomass methane production centered around wood waste. Has any body done feasibility studies of combining manure and (cellulose) biomass?

[asil]

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[Ronald Ross Kastanek]

I am looking for an measure of btu's and cubic feet/ hour of natural gas per yard of manure or compost. Please email me with the answer if you can. Or a huge amount of manure and the daily output so I can figure this ratio out. Ronald Ross Kastanek PfP Energy Engineering Inc. [email protected]

[Kit P]

Ronald, the answer to question requires a lot more info than you provided. Dairy farm manure can produce biogas that is about 70% methane. With everything optimized, a 1000 dairy farm can support a 1 MWe power plant.

AGSTAR is a very successful program http://www.epa.gov/agstar/accomplish.html to reduce ghg and produce energy. Down load AgSTAR Handbook and Software http://www.epa.gov/agstar/resources/handbook.html

[prefabrik evler]

Thanks for the great information, it was very helpful.

prefabrik ev modelleri

[prefabrik]

thank you for nice info.

[KB]

There's a movement of citizens inspired by the presidential campaign who are now submitting ideas for how they think the Obama Administration should change America. It's called "Ideas for Change in America."

One idea is titled: Capture methane from sewage treatment plants; heat homes, fuel vehicles, make electricity.. You can read more and vote for the idea by clicking the following link:

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/capture_methane_from_sewage_treatment_plants_heat_homes_fuel_vehicles_make_electricity

The top 10 ideas are going to be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day and will be supported by a national lobbying campaign run by Change.org, MySpace, and more than a dozen leading nonprofits after the Inauguration. So each idea has a real chance at becoming policy.

Today 90% of the potential energy in sewage is removed and turned into CO2 or other products (via aerobic microbial action). Usually only about 5%-10% of potential fuel is collected into anaerobic digesters (where methane is produced). Methane is then usually considered just a byproduct, and increased production is rarely sought. When methane production is attempted, it is sometimes produced in such surplus that it could potentially provide energy to hundreds or thousands of homes. Imagine all that energy, and it is less than 10% of the potential!

If we approach sewage treatment with energy production as the primary goal, (treating sewage in anaerobic digesters first, harvesting the vast amounts of methane, then finishing the water as usual) we will have thousands of small local Biogas (natural gas) production plants, which could:
- provide clean vehicle fuel (already a proven technology)
- supply fuel for cheap electricity
- provide gas to heat homes or buildings

I am hoping that this gets a little interest, but it needs about 500 more people to vote for it before anyone would take notice.
If you have a chance, vote for it. I think you need to create an account, but as far as I can tell, they don't spam you or anything.

[Kit P]

Cool site man! Dude did see the idea about hemp for energy, radical, 10 tines the votes of KB's idea..

Wow, KB for a new idea to be new should it be one that we are not doing already?

Folks here have asked me to be nicer but KB did you give your idea much thought before posting?

[Ram]

Thanks to dedicated guys like you who care so much for our environment and burning the midnight oil to find alternative eco -friendly ways to keep the power generation,heating the homes and recycling the water for irrigation. Keep up the good work.if every city in US commits itself to this kind of project no matter how small scale it is ,we may have jobs for many more plus less dependence on foreign oil import.
Ram.

[christian louboutin]

Your articles and photos are really shock me. The pen can be a weapon! You are a talented writer with a pen, and maybe you will be

a great politician with the power given from citizens.

[air yeezy]

Theory is gray, evergreen tree of life!

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[Emma Leggett]

We are two teenagers living in Ireland and we are participating in a national science competition - BT young scientist. Our project aims to investigate the methane levels in animal effluent and either decrease the amount of methane produced by changing the diet or activity of the animals or perhaps use the methane as a bio-fuel. We have been led to believe that the University is currently investigating in a similar field. We hope that you will be able to provide us with some information regarding the research that the University has carried out.
Thanking you in anticipation of a favourable reply.