Quick user's guide: Each module is broken into a series of topics presented in as a video of a narrated slide-set addressing that topic. Assessment questions are organized using the same set of topic headers. So, open the assessment document, watch each video, and fill in the answers as you go. While we can discuss issues or questions during our weekly tutorial, you are welcome to email me with any questions as you go: [email protected] is the best way to reach me during the spring of 2016.
Note: The videos play well in Quicktime!
Module 4: Types of AD designs is divided into seven topics. Click on each topic to view a video-narrated slide-set of that topic.
This module presents a number of forms of anaerobic digester technologies and a number of tools that can be used to choose the right technology for each situation. As co-digestion becomes more important in states with new bans on the landfilling of organic wastes, technology of new AD facilities becomes a larger issue. Technologies that allow efficient co-digestion have higher capital costs, but typically have higher revenues. Case studies are presented where available, and we're creating more.
4.1: Introduction
4.2: Passive AD systems
4.3: Low-rate AD systems
4.4: High-rate AD systems
4.5: Dry AD systems
4.6: Choosing an AD design
4.7: 'Extras'
ASSESSMENT questions for Module 4: download, print, complete and return by email following the instructions at the top.
Note: The videos play well in Quicktime!
Module 4: Types of AD designs is divided into seven topics. Click on each topic to view a video-narrated slide-set of that topic.
This module presents a number of forms of anaerobic digester technologies and a number of tools that can be used to choose the right technology for each situation. As co-digestion becomes more important in states with new bans on the landfilling of organic wastes, technology of new AD facilities becomes a larger issue. Technologies that allow efficient co-digestion have higher capital costs, but typically have higher revenues. Case studies are presented where available, and we're creating more.
4.1: Introduction
4.2: Passive AD systems
4.3: Low-rate AD systems
4.4: High-rate AD systems
4.5: Dry AD systems
4.6: Choosing an AD design
4.7: 'Extras'
ASSESSMENT questions for Module 4: download, print, complete and return by email following the instructions at the top.
Select covered lagoon technology providers and case studies
RCM offers a number of anaerobic technologies, including covered lagoons. For more information, see the link to RCM posted with this module. Their site features case studies from California and Ecuador.
http://www.rcmdigesters.com/rcm-technology/covered-lagoon/
RCM offers a number of anaerobic technologies, including covered lagoons. For more information, see the link to RCM posted with this module. Their site features case studies from California and Ecuador.
http://www.rcmdigesters.com/rcm-technology/covered-lagoon/
Select complete-mix technology providers and case studies
BIOFERM offers a variety of anaerobic digestion technologies. Their COCCUS complete-mix system uses a paddle mixing system. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has installed a two-tank COCCUS AD system at the 8,500-head Rosedale Diary.
http://biogas.uwosh.edu/large-dairy-system-bdii/
http://www.biofermenergy.com/references/rosendale-dairy/
Bio-Methatech (now Dominion and Grimm Environment Inc.) designs and constructs complete-mix KomBIo AD systems using designs and technologies licensed by Lipp of Germany. Digester tanks are spun from thin 2-ply stainless steel and constructed above ground. Two of these systems were built in Vermont: VTCAD here at the college has both hydrolysis and anaerobic tanks, while the system at the Benjamin Farm in Franklin has just the anaerobic tank. For more information on the KomBio complete mix system see the links to Dominion and Grimm or Lipp provided with this module.
http://www.dominiongrimm.ca/en/biogaz/291
http://www.lipp-system.de/en/lipp-tanks/digesters/lipp-universal-digester/
To learn more about VTCAD’s design and technical specifications, look at the technical drawings and documents in Appendix A and have a look at the brief photo tour posted in Appendix E.
Quasar Energy also provides complete-mix AD systems. While most Quasar systems are designed for very large, industrial settings they have constructed a number of on-farm systems. Jordan Dairy in Rutland, Massachusetts uses a Quasar system to digest dairy manure and significant amounts of food-processing waste sourced from the Boston area.
http://www.quasarenergygroup.com/
http://www.quasarenergygroup.com/pages/profile_rutland.pdf
RCM provides a number a technologies, including complete-mix AD. In Vermont, RCM constructed the systems at Chaput Family Farms in North Troy and Gebbie’s Maplehurst Farm in Greensboro. For more information, use the link to RCM complete-mix systems provided with this module. The site features systems built across the US, including Chaput’s in Vermont.
http://www.rcmdigesters.com/rcm-technology/complete-mix/
UEM provides a small complete-mix digester with a standard, “out-of-the box” design that makes AD more affordable for small farms. In Vermont, a UEM digester was installed at the Joneslan Farm in Hyde Park. For more information about this installation, follow the link provided with this module.
http://expeng.anr.msu.edu/uploads/files/133/Small%20Digester%20Case%20Study%20-%20Joneslan%20Farm.pdf
BIOFERM offers a variety of anaerobic digestion technologies. Their COCCUS complete-mix system uses a paddle mixing system. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has installed a two-tank COCCUS AD system at the 8,500-head Rosedale Diary.
http://biogas.uwosh.edu/large-dairy-system-bdii/
http://www.biofermenergy.com/references/rosendale-dairy/
Bio-Methatech (now Dominion and Grimm Environment Inc.) designs and constructs complete-mix KomBIo AD systems using designs and technologies licensed by Lipp of Germany. Digester tanks are spun from thin 2-ply stainless steel and constructed above ground. Two of these systems were built in Vermont: VTCAD here at the college has both hydrolysis and anaerobic tanks, while the system at the Benjamin Farm in Franklin has just the anaerobic tank. For more information on the KomBio complete mix system see the links to Dominion and Grimm or Lipp provided with this module.
http://www.dominiongrimm.ca/en/biogaz/291
http://www.lipp-system.de/en/lipp-tanks/digesters/lipp-universal-digester/
To learn more about VTCAD’s design and technical specifications, look at the technical drawings and documents in Appendix A and have a look at the brief photo tour posted in Appendix E.
Quasar Energy also provides complete-mix AD systems. While most Quasar systems are designed for very large, industrial settings they have constructed a number of on-farm systems. Jordan Dairy in Rutland, Massachusetts uses a Quasar system to digest dairy manure and significant amounts of food-processing waste sourced from the Boston area.
http://www.quasarenergygroup.com/
http://www.quasarenergygroup.com/pages/profile_rutland.pdf
RCM provides a number a technologies, including complete-mix AD. In Vermont, RCM constructed the systems at Chaput Family Farms in North Troy and Gebbie’s Maplehurst Farm in Greensboro. For more information, use the link to RCM complete-mix systems provided with this module. The site features systems built across the US, including Chaput’s in Vermont.
http://www.rcmdigesters.com/rcm-technology/complete-mix/
UEM provides a small complete-mix digester with a standard, “out-of-the box” design that makes AD more affordable for small farms. In Vermont, a UEM digester was installed at the Joneslan Farm in Hyde Park. For more information about this installation, follow the link provided with this module.
http://expeng.anr.msu.edu/uploads/files/133/Small%20Digester%20Case%20Study%20-%20Joneslan%20Farm.pdf
Select plug-flow technology providers and case studies
A group from British Columbia visited Vermont in 2008 to tour farms with anaerobic digesters and produced a report, “On-Farm Anaerobic Digestion Educational Mission”, that profiled a number of farm anaerobic digesters. Three conventional plug-flow systems from GHD (now DVO) were profiled: Green Mountain Dairy Farm in Sheldon; Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport; and Pleasant Valley Farm in Richford. The report also presents an Avatar pilot project at Foote Farm in Ferrisburgh and an experimental, one-off, vertical plug-flow digester at Nordic Farm in Shelburne.
Avatar Energy developed a small, modular plug-flow digester suitable for farms with as few as 100 cows. Avatar modules could be linked in parallel to expand the size of a project. See the link below and the Keewaydin Farm case study.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa5Fovf6_Wk
BIOFERM’s small, containerized EUCOlino anerobic digester system uses ‘agitated’ plug-flow technology and is designed for a farm with less than 150 head of cattle. The EUCOlino ‘plug and play’ AD system is suitable for co-digestion of feedstock with 15 – 20% solids content. For more information follow the link to the provider and to the Allen Farms case study by eXtension.
http://articles.extension.org/pages/67722/feasible-small-scale-anaerobic-digestion-case-study-of-eucolino-digestion-system
http://www.biofermenergy.com/references/allen-farms-small-scale-digester/
http://biogas.uwosh.edu/small-dairy-system-bdiii/
DVO offers a sophisticated version of the plug-flow digester with a number of interesting technology extras, including gas scrubbing and nutrient separation. To learn more about DVA and a wide variety of their projects, see the link posted with this module. A link to a case study of a 225-kW DVO system at Maxwell’s Neighborhood Farm is also provided with this module. Maxwell’s uses solids for bedding and uses recovered waste heat for a greenhouse that grows winter produce for local markets.
http://www.dvoinc.com/
http://www.dvoinc.com/howitworks.php
http://www.vtfarmtoplate.com/features/digester-on-a-dairy-farm#.VsIcI5MrLdQ
RCM offers a number of technologies, including plug-flow digesters. For more information, see the link to RCM plug-flow posted with this module. The RCM site features plug-flow digesters in New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
http://www.rcmdigesters.com/rcm-technology/plug-flow/
A group from British Columbia visited Vermont in 2008 to tour farms with anaerobic digesters and produced a report, “On-Farm Anaerobic Digestion Educational Mission”, that profiled a number of farm anaerobic digesters. Three conventional plug-flow systems from GHD (now DVO) were profiled: Green Mountain Dairy Farm in Sheldon; Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport; and Pleasant Valley Farm in Richford. The report also presents an Avatar pilot project at Foote Farm in Ferrisburgh and an experimental, one-off, vertical plug-flow digester at Nordic Farm in Shelburne.
Avatar Energy developed a small, modular plug-flow digester suitable for farms with as few as 100 cows. Avatar modules could be linked in parallel to expand the size of a project. See the link below and the Keewaydin Farm case study.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa5Fovf6_Wk
BIOFERM’s small, containerized EUCOlino anerobic digester system uses ‘agitated’ plug-flow technology and is designed for a farm with less than 150 head of cattle. The EUCOlino ‘plug and play’ AD system is suitable for co-digestion of feedstock with 15 – 20% solids content. For more information follow the link to the provider and to the Allen Farms case study by eXtension.
http://articles.extension.org/pages/67722/feasible-small-scale-anaerobic-digestion-case-study-of-eucolino-digestion-system
http://www.biofermenergy.com/references/allen-farms-small-scale-digester/
http://biogas.uwosh.edu/small-dairy-system-bdiii/
DVO offers a sophisticated version of the plug-flow digester with a number of interesting technology extras, including gas scrubbing and nutrient separation. To learn more about DVA and a wide variety of their projects, see the link posted with this module. A link to a case study of a 225-kW DVO system at Maxwell’s Neighborhood Farm is also provided with this module. Maxwell’s uses solids for bedding and uses recovered waste heat for a greenhouse that grows winter produce for local markets.
http://www.dvoinc.com/
http://www.dvoinc.com/howitworks.php
http://www.vtfarmtoplate.com/features/digester-on-a-dairy-farm#.VsIcI5MrLdQ
RCM offers a number of technologies, including plug-flow digesters. For more information, see the link to RCM plug-flow posted with this module. The RCM site features plug-flow digesters in New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
http://www.rcmdigesters.com/rcm-technology/plug-flow/
A fixed-film case study
There are no fixed-film digesters in Vermont, but a few New York farms have used them. Separation of solids prior to digestion reduces biogas yield and makes this design less attractive for dairy manure. Cornell did a nice case study of a custom-designed fixed-film system at the Farber Farm in Vermont. There, the undigested but separated solids are used as dairy bedding. For more, see the link to Cornell’s study provided in this module.
http://www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/Pages/General_Docs/Case_Studies/Farber_Case_Study.pdf
There are no fixed-film digesters in Vermont, but a few New York farms have used them. Separation of solids prior to digestion reduces biogas yield and makes this design less attractive for dairy manure. Cornell did a nice case study of a custom-designed fixed-film system at the Farber Farm in Vermont. There, the undigested but separated solids are used as dairy bedding. For more, see the link to Cornell’s study provided in this module.
http://www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/Pages/General_Docs/Case_Studies/Farber_Case_Study.pdf
An induced bed reactor provider
Andigen provides automated, modular and scalable induced bed reactors and installed the system at Neighborly Farms in Randolph Center, Vermont.
http://andigenag.com/?page_id=4
Andigen provides automated, modular and scalable induced bed reactors and installed the system at Neighborly Farms in Randolph Center, Vermont.
http://andigenag.com/?page_id=4
A sequencing batch reactor provider
Revolution Energy Solutions has built a psychrophilic sequencing batch reactor on an Oregon dairy farm. The design was developed by Canadian researchers. Solids settle in the tanks, while liquids rise to the top and have a short, 7 day, retention time. The system is capable of handling higher levels of ammonia than most anaerobic digesters.
http://revolutionenergysolutions.com/new-digester-operates-at-low-temperatures-2/
Revolution Energy Solutions has built a psychrophilic sequencing batch reactor on an Oregon dairy farm. The design was developed by Canadian researchers. Solids settle in the tanks, while liquids rise to the top and have a short, 7 day, retention time. The system is capable of handling higher levels of ammonia than most anaerobic digesters.
http://revolutionenergysolutions.com/new-digester-operates-at-low-temperatures-2/
Dry AD provider and case study
In 2011, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh constructed the first dry AD system in the America’s using German technology from BIOFERM. Links to this project and to BIOFERM’s dry AD system are posted here.
http://biogas.uwosh.edu/urban-dry-systems-bd1/
http://www.biofermenergy.com/references/university-of-wisconsin-oshkosh-biodigester/
http://www.biofermenergy.com/anaerobic-digestion-technology/dry-fermentation/
In 2011, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh constructed the first dry AD system in the America’s using German technology from BIOFERM. Links to this project and to BIOFERM’s dry AD system are posted here.
http://biogas.uwosh.edu/urban-dry-systems-bd1/
http://www.biofermenergy.com/references/university-of-wisconsin-oshkosh-biodigester/
http://www.biofermenergy.com/anaerobic-digestion-technology/dry-fermentation/
The Magic Hat Brewery AD system
The AD technology provided by PurposeEnergy is proprietary, and little detail is available. However, it is clear that the system includes separated hydrolysis and anaerobic processes. Magic Hat Brewery, in South Burlington, Vermont uses a PurposeEnergy digester to treat brewery waste. For more information, see the links provided here:
PurposeEnergy:
http://www.purposeenergy.com/wastewatersolutions/tribrid-bioreactor/
PC construction:
http://www.pcconstruction.com/purpose-energy-for-magic-hat-brewing-company/
Seven Days Vermont:
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/magic-hat-produces-its-own-energy-with-beer/Content?oid=2142409
The AD technology provided by PurposeEnergy is proprietary, and little detail is available. However, it is clear that the system includes separated hydrolysis and anaerobic processes. Magic Hat Brewery, in South Burlington, Vermont uses a PurposeEnergy digester to treat brewery waste. For more information, see the links provided here:
PurposeEnergy:
http://www.purposeenergy.com/wastewatersolutions/tribrid-bioreactor/
PC construction:
http://www.pcconstruction.com/purpose-energy-for-magic-hat-brewing-company/
Seven Days Vermont:
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/magic-hat-produces-its-own-energy-with-beer/Content?oid=2142409
Examples of anaerobic digester technology in Vermont and Massachusetts:
- Blue Spruce Farms - DVO plug flow AD in Bridport, VT (Cow Power)
- Deer Island Treatment Plant, Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Winthrop, MA
- Jasper Hill Farm - Green Machine with anaerobic phase in Greensboro, VT
- Jordan Farms - Quasar complete mix AD in Rutland, MA
- Keewaydin Farm - Avatar scaleable plug flow in Stowe, VT
- Magic Hat Brewery - Purpose Energy AD in South Burlington, VT
- Maplehurst Farm - RCM mixed AD in Greensboro, VT
- Riverview Farm - Bio-Methatech AD (AD only) in Franklin, VT
NYSERDA and Cornell: A rich source of information and case studies of A in New York state
Founded in 1975, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Consistent and generous funding allows NYSERDA to do some great work on renewable energy. NYSERDA's work on AD has been done through Cornell University's Dairy Environmental Systems program. Cornell has done many case studies of a variety of digester designs across New York State and beyond.
http://www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/Pages/Topics/Anaerobic_Digestion.html
Founded in 1975, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) promotes energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. Consistent and generous funding allows NYSERDA to do some great work on renewable energy. NYSERDA's work on AD has been done through Cornell University's Dairy Environmental Systems program. Cornell has done many case studies of a variety of digester designs across New York State and beyond.
http://www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/Pages/Topics/Anaerobic_Digestion.html
EPA AgSTAR's AD project profiles from across the US
http://www.epa.gov/agstar/agstar-project-profiles
http://www.epa.gov/agstar/agstar-project-profiles
The Economics module of this course will discuss feasibility studies, estimation of AD installation costs, and AD economics in more detail, but a few basic resources are linked here:
- Meyer and Power (2011) discuss the challenges and the benefits of anaerobic digestion and provide simple formulas for calculating the capital cost (in 2008 dollars) of lagoon, complete-mix and plug-flow digesters as a function of herd size.
- William Lazarus at the University of Minnesota developed a spreadsheet tools (DIGESTER_ECON.XLSM) to investigate the economic feasibility of anaerobic digesters.
http://wlazarus.cfans.umn.edu/william-lazarus-spreadsheet-decision-tools/ - At Cornell, Brent Gloy also developed a spreadsheet tool to analyze digester economics.
http://www.manuremanagement.cornell.edu/Pages/Assessment_Tools/Economic_Models.html
Learn more about 'extras':
Pasteurizers can be used to reduce the pathogen concentration of feedstock materials. Some systems actually pasteurize all effluent as it leaves the system. Note that Pasteurization is required in Europe and that decision and its consequences are described in the second link.
Pasteurizers can be used to reduce the pathogen concentration of feedstock materials. Some systems actually pasteurize all effluent as it leaves the system. Note that Pasteurization is required in Europe and that decision and its consequences are described in the second link.
- http://www.renewable-energy-concepts.com/biomass-bioenergy/anaerobic-methane-digester/pasteurization-food-waste.html
- http://www.aquaenviro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/A-consideration-of-the-PAS110-2010-pasteurisation-requirements-and-possible-alternatives-WRAP-Report.pdf