AZO Cleantech
Summary
In the United States, over 70 million tons of organic waste is produced each year. Unfortunately, the mismanagement of these wastes poses significant consequences to both public health and the environment in the form of surface and groundwater contamination.
Increasing the acquisition and utilization of biogas, which is a type of fuel that can be extracted from these organic wastes, could reduce these unwanted health effects while simultaneously offering consumers a new and exciting renewable energy source.
Biogas is a type of fuel that can be derived from various biodegradable materials, including livestock manure, food waste, industrial waste, sewage sludge, energy crops, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, and even certain agricultural products such as straw.
This novel renewable energy source arises from a process known as anaerobic digestion, which relies on microorganisms to degrade the organic compounds present with these biodegradable materials into simple substances that make up biogas.
Chemically, biogas is comprised of 50-60% methane (CH4), 40-50% carbon dioxide (CO2) and several minor chemical products, such as ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and water. Biogas can be upgraded to bio-methane through the removal of CO2 and other impurities to create a final product that is comprised of approximately 97% CH4 and less than 3% CO2.
Both raw and upgraded biogas can be used for a variety of commercial energy applications, some of which include electricity and heat generation that is acquired by combined heat and power (CHP) units. Otherwise referred to as a biogas cogeneration plant, biogas CHP units can successfully convert this renewable fuel into electricity and heat with efficiency rates of 35% and 50%, respectively.
Some of the most suitable applications of biogas cogeneration plants can be found in hospitals, nursing homes, laundromats, hotels, academic institutions, prisons and both residential and recreational facilities.
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