Operating tests analysis of liquid biologically degradable waste processing by anaerobic fermentation

Abstract

This study concerns the analysis of operating anaerobic fermentation systems of agricultural biogas station and implementing a suitable system enabling the use of liquid biowaste. Based on the comparison of the technological solutions and operating parameters of specific equipment a system enabling the utilisation of biowaste has been designed. The tests made use of liquid substrates commercially offered to biogas station operators. The study evaluates practical measurements at an agricultural biogas station in order to evaluate the biogas production from these substrates and the efficiency of transforming input material to usable energy. The use of such treated substrates for the anaerobic fermentation technology may have a substantial influence on the volume of dosed energy crops. The mixture of input substrates consisting of liquid cattle excrements, silage corn, liquid food-processing waste, animal waste and glycerine water was experimentally validated. This mixture was compared with the operation using liquid cattle excrements and silage corn. It was concluded that the proposed composition of input raw materials makes it possible to increase the production of biogas and el. power. On the other hand, it was identified that the energy content of the input raw materials is not optimally transformed into usable energy. Therefore, the proposed mixture of input materials with biowaste is not recommended for use.

Keywords

• biogas
• anaerobic fermentation
• biologically degradable waste
• biogas station