Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process for waste treatment? An integrated approach for a dynamic energy and environmental system analysis of biogas production pathways F. Pierie MSc. B Eng. PhD. candidate W. Liu PhD. R.M.J. Benders PhD. Prof. W.J.T. van Gemert PhD. Prof. H.C. Moll PhD. This project is part-financed by the municipality of Groningen, province of Groningen, the European Union, European Regional Development Fund, the Ministry of Economic Affairs “Pieken in de Delta” and “Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland”, and is supported by Energy Valley.
Transcript
Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process for waste treatment?
An integrated approach for a dynamic energy and environmental system analysis of biogas production pathways
F. Pierie MSc. B Eng. PhD. candidate W. Liu PhD.
R.M.J. Benders PhD. Prof. W.J.T. van Gemert PhD.
Prof. H.C. Moll PhD.
This project is part-financed by the municipality of Groningen, province of Groningen, the European Union, European Regional Development Fund, the Ministry of Economic Affairs “Pieken in de Delta” and “Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland”, and is supported by Energy Valley.
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Method and model
3. Case study and results
4. Conclusions
Introduction
Goal: Researching the integration
of biogas production and use in a
smart, flexible and decentralized
(bio)gas grid.
Gas canister market
Consumers Waste producers
Gas canister truck
Gas upgrading
Greenhouse
Gas injection point
Farm
Biogas production
Smart monitoring
Solar PV
Wind
Within this presentation sustainability is defined as
“strong sustainability”
(Elkington 1999; Christodoulou 2012).
Definition sustainability
Profit People
Planet
Main findings
From a “strong sustainability” perspective:
• Use AD for waste treatment
• Use byproducts to power process
• Use remaining byproducts locally
In this presentation I will discuss the main findings
What we found using the integrated approach and the model
Method and model
Methodology in model
This methodology includes
• Modular approach
• Material and Energy Flow Analysis
• Attributed Life Cycle Analysis
An integrated approach for a dynamic energy and environmental system analysis of biogas production pathways
Modular approach Used to lower complexity and create flexibility in model
Sub-module
BIOMASS
Manure
Maize
TRANSPORT
Tractor
Truck
PRODUCTION
Co-digestion
UPGRADING
Scrubbing
Membranes
MODULE
Sub-module
Truck Grass
Gasification Alternative Sub-modules Absorption
Main route Alternative route
Sub-module Within each sub-module the impact of a specific process is determined (for instance the digester)
Variables
(P)EROI
Carbon Footprint
EcoPoints
Impact factors
Material Flow Analysis
Direct Material and Energy Flow Analysis
Indirect Material and Energy Flow Analysis
Attributed Life Cycle Analysis (SimaPro / EcoInvent)
Biomass Biogas
Electricity use
Electricity production
Constructions
t
1) (P)EROI (Process) Energy Returned on Invested in GJ/GJ
Energy in biomass
Process energy
consumed Process
Useful energy
produced Internal
energy use
System boundary
𝑃 𝐸𝑅𝑂𝐼 = 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑑
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑑 =
𝐺𝐽
𝐺𝐽
2) GWP(100) Carbon footprint GWP(100) in kgCO2eq/GJ
CO2
CO2
Fossil emissions
Increase in GWP BIOMASS
System boundary
Useful energy produced
𝐺𝑊𝑃(100) = 𝐸𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 =
𝑘𝑔𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑞
𝐺𝐽
3) EcoPoints
Human health
Resources
Eco-systems
System boundary
Useful energy produced
Environmental impact overall (ReCiPe) in EcoPoints Pt/GJ
𝐸𝑐𝑜𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 = 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡
𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 =
𝑃𝑡
𝐺𝐽
Model The sub-modules were combined into a model (Excel)
Sub-module
Module
Case study
The AD process used for energy production
vs.
The AD process used for waste management
The biogas pathways
80%
20%
50 km
50%
50%
50 km
1) Pathway with energy maize and manure
2) Pathway with road side grass and manure
Scale: Farm scale digester of 10000 to 20000 tonne/year
Scenarios
1) AD as energy producer
2) Improving the AD process
3) AD as waste treatment
Replacement of waste treatment
pathays
Waste feedstock production
Offset of mineral fertilizer or other
benefits to digestate use
Processing of excess digestate
Syst
em
bo
un
dar
y
System boundary
AD as energy producer The AD process used for green gas production
(P)EROI GWP EcoPoints
Ref
Ref
Ref
Ref = Is (Groningen) Natural gas use + production NL G
rass
Mai
ze
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Lowering impact AD Using a CHP unit running on biogas from the AD process to provides power and heat for the AD process
Improving AD Increasing efficiency through energy recycling
(P)EROI GWP EcoPoints
Ref
Ref
Ref
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
AD as waste treatment
1) Replacement of current manure treatment at farm
2) Replacement of current roadside grass management
Replacement of current waste treatment scenarios
AD waste The AD process used for waste management
(P)EROI GWP EcoPoints
Mitigation of energy use reference scenarios
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Ref
Re
f
Ref
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Discussion
• AD process complex to model
• Range sensitive values are large within literature
• Economical values not taken into account
• There are still emissions from biogas chain, only less due to replacement scenarios
Conclusion
• The goal of AD should not be limited to producing green gas
• Internal energy use improves impact AD process
• The goal of AD should be waste treatment, with use of byproducts (gas, heat, electricity and digestate) for internal and local consumption.
Are there QUESTIONS?
From a “strong sustainability” perspective:
• Use AD for waste treatment
• Use byproducts to power process
• Use remaining byproducts locally
Frank Pierie
Also check out presentation Flexigas from Jan Bekkering
(Wednesday session 27 room 9 from 15:15 to 15:35h.) This project is part-financed by the municipality of Groningen, province of Groningen, the European Union, European Regional Development Fund, the Ministry of Economic Affairs “Pieken in de Delta” and “Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland”, and is supported by Energy Valley.
Contact details
Frank Pierie PhD Researcher [email protected] Hanze Research Centre – Energy
This project is part-financed by the municipality of Groningen, province of Groningen, the European Union, European Regional Development Fund, the Ministry of Economic Affairs “Pieken in de Delta” and “Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland”, and is supported by Energy Valley.
Additional slides
System boundaries
System boundary energy
Waste feedstock production
Harvesting of waste feedstock
Transport of feedstocks
Storage and pre-treatment of feedstocks
Maize feedstock production
Harvesting of Maize feedstock
Anaerobic digestion of feedstocks
Upgrading to green gas and injection into
national gas grid
Biogas Digestate
Offset of natural gas and end use
Primary construction materials and
embodied energy
Direct and indirect Process
energy Transport of digestate
Emissions from digestate use as fertilizer
Offset of mineral fertilizer or other
benefits digestate use
System boundary
Processing of excess digestate
Offsetting of waste treatment
scenarios
System boundaries for energy production scenario
System boundary waste
Waste feedstock production
Harvesting of waste feedstock
Transport of feedstocks
Storage and pre-treatment of feedstocks
Maize feedstock production
Harvesting of Maize feedstock
Anaerobic digestion of feedstocks
Upgrading to green gas and injection into
national gas grid
Biogas Digestate
Offset of natural gas and end use
Primary construction materials and
embodied energy
Direct and indirect Process
energy Transport of digestate
Emissions from digestate use as fertilizer
Offset of mineral fertilizer or other
benefits digestate use
System boundary
Processing of excess digestate
Offsetting of waste treatment
scenarios
System boundaries for waste treatment scenarios
System boundary waste
Waste feedstock production
Harvesting of waste feedstock
Transport of feedstocks
Storage of manure 6 month
Primary construction materials and
embodied energy
Direct and indirect Process
energy
Transport of digestate
Emissions from digestate use as fertilizer
Offset of mineral fertilizer or other
benefits digestate use
System boundary
Processing of excess digestate
Waste feedstock production
Mulching of grass
Transport of material and men
Primary construction materials and
embodied energy
Direct and indirect Process
energy
Emissions from grass mulched
Offset of mineral fertilizer or other
benefits digestate use
System boundary
Man
ure
G
rass
The system boundaries of current waste scenarios
System boundary ref
Production of natural gas
Cleaning of natural gas
Distribution of natural gas
Combustion as end use
Primary construction materials and
embodied energy
Direct and indirect Process
energy
System boundary
Mitigation of earthquakes in
Groningen
The system boundary of (Groningen) natural gas per GJ
Sensitivity
analysis
(P)EROI
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
(P)EROI (GJ/GJ)
GWP100
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
GWP(100) (kgCO2eq)
EcoPoints
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
EcoPoints (ReCiPe 2012 Pt.)
Results Specific
Compare Energy invested in process (MJ)
GWP 100 emissions from process (kgCO2eq)
Compare
ReCiPe environmental impact from process (Pt)
Programed scenario in model
Maize scenario in model
Grass scenario in model
Green gas chain Results of three scenarios for green gas production
(P)EROI GWP EcoPoints
Replacing waste reference scenarios
Gra
ss
Mai
ze
Ref
Ref
Ref
Ref = Is (Groningen) Natural gas use + production NL
