Cogeneration from Biogas

Cogeneration from Biogas is the combined production of electricity and thermal energy using an engine (powered by biogas) connected with an electric generator.

This technology is easily applicable in agricultural production settings and livestock farms.

CPL CONCORDIA designs and builds complete cogeneration plants of any size and supports its customers through pre- and after-sales service that can cover the entire country.

Biogas is a natural gas consisting mainly of methane and carbon dioxide, produced by the anaerobic fermentation of organic matter of different origins: Animal wastes, plant biomass, agribusiness waste. Fermentation takes place inside digesters in a humid environment and in the absence of oxygen.

The biogas generation process is divided into three stages:

Material preparation
Fermentation
Post treatment of residual materials

Organic material is collected in a primary pit, sterilized to remove harmful germs and moved to the digester for the fermentation process. The gas produced during the anaerobic digestion process consists of between 50-70% methane and 30-50% carbon dioxide.

Eventually, then,the biogas is piped to an endothermic engine: the co-generator.

The electricity generated in this way is partly sold to the electricity distribution grid and partly used to power the anaerobic digestion plant. The thermal energy produced by the engine can be used to heat the digester by regulating the biogas production process, heat any greenhouses, or be fed into a district heating network.

A biogas energy utilization plant consists of:

A power section
A biogas digestion section
A cogeneration section

The cogeneration section consists of:

Biogas treatment system
Centralized heat exchanger with double circulation pump, piping, valves
Electricity transformation and supply section

01.

The advantages

Power generation from livestock and agricultural waste to generate additional income
Reduction of biological waste storage and disposal issues
Stabilization of slurry: there is a slowing of degradative and fermentative processes resulting in a decrease in the production of malodorous compounds. In addition, the odorous substances formed during the process (hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, ammonia) are destined for combustion
Exploitation of alternative energy sources to conventional fuels
Possibility of using low-yielding but energetic crops in the process with significant economic benefits
Ability to use and market digestate as a soil conditioner to replace chemical fertilizers
Reduction of greenhouse gases

02.

The uses

The treatable materials from which biogas can be obtained through anaerobic digestion are various:

Energy crops: corn, sorghum, triticale, ryegrass, etc.
Crop residues
Animal slurry
Sewage sludge
Municipal solid waste wet fraction
Organic waste from agro-industry and slaughtering

03.

The offer

“Systems and products designed for biogas upgrading”

CPL CONCORDIA has 35 years of experience in the cogeneration industry, more than 500 plants built, 10 million hours of guaranteed plant operation and is able to:

Sizing the system according to the waste available to the user
Providing turnkey facility
Carry out careful and targeted plant management that enables the business plan to be balanced
Pose as a general contractor and, therefore, deal with the chemical-biological process, digestate management, sizing, supply and installation of the digester
Offer the customer various solutions for purchasing and financing the plant
Ensuring continuous care:
- Preliminary design development and bidding
- Management of the bureaucratic process: permits and licenses
- Technical support: full service maintenance and post-activation practices
- Commercial assistance: access to the current incentive mechanism
- Rapid service and maintenance through locations throughout the country

Products

It is important that there is continuous management control of the fermentation process, but it is crucial that the cogeneration module is sized and built with the best performing technological solutions, because it is on the cogeneration unit that the energy and economic performance of the plant depends. For this CPL CONCORDIA has designed the BIOPOWER line dedicated to biogas valorization.