[Digestion] Small Digester and Rankine Engine Questions
Matthew S Orosz
mso at MIT.EDU
Fri Jan 14 00:56:36 CST 2011
Charles,
I am working with a team researching a small scale (3-5kW) Organic
Rankine Cycle
(ORC) primarily for use with solar but it could also be converted for use with
biogas in a suitable combustor/boiler setup.
We have two prototype units in the field (one in Lesotho and one in St.
Pete FL)
that we hope to bring online this year, and we have been operating an ORC test
bench at MIT for a few years. We hope to publish data on system performance
in the next year, so feel free to get in touch if it is of interest.
Best,
Matt Orosz
www.stginternational.org
Quoting armoss at umd.edu:
> Charles-
> There's at least one small-scale digester of that
> size currently operating in the U.S. - at the USDA
> Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in
> Beltsville, MD. The dairy's herd size is roughly
> 125-130, with ~100 milking and producing manure at
> any given time (dry cattle are let out to pasture).
> The digester was built in 1994 and was constructed
> as a continuous stirred-tank reactor. I have
> tentative plans to conduct research on this digester
> simultaneously with a low-cost, pilot-scale digester
> project operating on the same waste-stream that's
> being constructed by our lab group at the University
> of Maryland. I don't have intimate knowledge of the
> USDA CSTR's history, but I can tell you what I know.
>
> The digester was originally constructed for odor
> control as an upright, cylindrical concrete tank
> (I'm not sure enough of the designed HRT to give you
> information on it), and was later insulated with
> gunnite-coated styrofoam. It operates on
> mechanically screw-press separated, scraped waste,
> and utilizes the biogas produced to power a boiler
> that circulates hot water through a conveyance
> system installed within the digester for heating; a
> combined heat and power electric generator was
> installed in the mid-2000s, but it has never been
> brought online. The digester's had a number of
> problems come up, including repeated clogging of the
> supply lines (originally 3-4" ID, now 6"), the break
> down of the screw-press separator and supply pumps,
> and the corrosion of the boiler due to inadequate
> scrubbing. To be fair, many of the problems
> associated with the digester are the result of
> fluctuating research interest, funds, management,
> and the lack of an effective biogas scrubbing
> system, but they exist all the same. Currently, the
> digester is up and operating... although obviously
> not ideally.
>
> Although most of the digestion systems are covered
> lagoons, the AgSTAR website contains a link to a
> Excel file detailing the digesters currently
> registered in the EPA's system (look under "Farm
> Project Profiles"). A few of them approximate the
> herd numbers you're interested in.
>
> As a side note, our research at the University of
> Maryland, together with research at Ohio State and
> the University of Wisconsin, is attempting to
> introduce smaller-scale, lower-cost systems in the
> U.S. I gave a presentation in October on
> small-scale digestion and some of the current
> efforts that you can find here.
>
> Good luck hunting!
>
> -Andy
>
> Andrew R. Moss
> Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Fellow
> University of Maryland Dept. of Environmental Science and Technology
> 1445 Animal Sci./Ag. Engineering (Bldg. 142)
> University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
> Phone: (865) 363-5535
>
>
> ---- Original message ----
>
> Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:00:06 -0800
> From: <digestion-request at lists.bioenergylists.org>
> Subject: Digestion Digest, Vol 5, Issue 5
> To: <digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org>
>
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> >________________ >Today's Topics: > > 1. Small
> Digester and Rankine Engine Questions (Gould,
> Merrill) > 2. Re: 250kW hot water biogas boiler
> (Ian Bywater) > 3. Re: Small Digester and Rankin
> Engine Questions (Randy Mott) > 4. Re: Small
> Digester and Rankin Engine Questions (Sam Wampler)
> > 5. Re: Small Digester and Rankine Engine
> Questions (David Fulford) >________________ >Date:
> Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:07:41 +0000 >From: "Gould,
> Merrill" <gouldm at anr.msu.edu> >Subject:
> [Digestion] Small Digester and Rankine Engine
> Questions >To:
> "digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org"
> <digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org> >
>
> Greetings:
>
>
>
> I have two questions I am hoping someone has
> answers for:
>
> 1. Are there small farms with digesters in
> the United States? When I say small farm I don?t
> mean 2-3 cows, I mean a farm with around 125 dairy
> cows, which is the average herd size in Michigan.
> If so, where are they and what has been their
> experience with their digester? I suspect there
> probably are no small farms with digesters in the
> US, but I would really like to know. I have had
> numerous inquiries from farmers with small farms
> in West Michigan about putting in a digester on
> their farm. If my assumption is correct that there
> are no small farms with digesters, are there farms
> with comparable numbers of dairy cattle with
> digesters outside of the United State? If so,
> where are they and what has their experience been
> with their digester?
>
> 2. Has anyone had experience using a Rankine
> engine as part of an energy producing system?
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide
> me.
>
>
>
> Charles Gould
>
> Michigan State University Extension
>
> West Olive, Michigan
>
>
>
> >________________ >Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 20:51:07
> +1300 >From: Ian Bywater
> <ian.bywater at naturalsystems.co.nz> >Subject: Re:
> [Digestion] 250kW hot water biogas boiler >To: For
> Discussion of Anaerobic Digestion
> <digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org> >
> Hi Edward,
> I know a boiler expert here in Christchurch, New
> Zealand that I'm sure has the right expertise and
> can help.
> Ian Bywater
> On 7/01/2011, at 8:42 PM, Edward Matos wrote:
>
> A milk processing company in our vicinity
> (Tanga, Tanzania) has had a lasting interest in
> converting its milk pasteurising process from
> running on propane to running on biogas. I am
> doing them a little favour by helping them to
> make a feasibility study and find the right
> people that will make this happen. Unfortunately
> I have very little experience in biogas
> combustion and would like to find out if anyone
> here is/knows someone who could help us on this
> subject.
>
> _________________
>
> Director, Natural Systems Limited
>
> (Unit 5B/ 3 Settlers Crescent)
>
> PO Box 41032
>
> Christchurch 8247
>
> New Zealand
>
> T +64(0)3 376 5549
>
> M +64(0)27 579 6333
> F +64(0)3 365 4146
> S bywateri
> W www.naturalsystems.co.nz
> The Most Exciting Green Technology Company in New
> Zealand (NBR 2008)
> Bayer Innovators Award finalist, 2010, Agriculture
> and Environment category
> NZ patent 530362
> >________________ >Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:50:57
> +0100 >From: "Randy Mott" <randymott at ceeres.eu>
> >Subject: Re: [Digestion] Small Digester and
> Rankin Engine Questions >To: "'For Discussion of
> Anaerobic Digestion'"
> <digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org> >
>
> We don?t do projects in the US, but my
> understanding is that 500 cows is a rule of thumb.
> I have some literature?.
>
>
>
> On Rankin cycle engines, we have followed it
> closely in Europe and the US. There is about 15%
> more electricity that can come from the heat
> exhaust of the initial generators. The capex is
> about 1250 Euro/kW. We don?t have much incentive
> to do it in Poland since we sell the heat and also
> obtain a co-generation certificate for each MWe.
>
>
>
> GE Jenbacher is doing some development in Europe
> and eventually, I believe, will be trying to offer
> this as an option on its generators.
>
>
>
> Randy Mott
>
> CEERES
>
> Warsaw
>
>
>
>
>
> From: digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
> [mailto:digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
> On Behalf Of Gould, Merrill
> Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 6:08 PM
> To: digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org
> Subject: [Digestion] Small Digester and Rankine
> Engine Questions
>
>
>
> Greetings:
>
>
>
> I have two questions I am hoping someone has
> answers for:
>
> 1. Are there small farms with digesters in
> the United States? When I say small farm I don?t
> mean 2-3 cows, I mean a farm with around 125 dairy
> cows, which is the average herd size in Michigan.
> If so, where are they and what has been their
> experience with their digester? I suspect there
> probably are no small farms with digesters in the
> US, but I would really like to know. I have had
> numerous inquiries from farmers with small farms
> in West Michigan about putting in a digester on
> their farm. If my assumption is correct that there
> are no small farms with digesters, are there farms
> with comparable numbers of dairy cattle with
> digesters outside of the United State? If so,
> where are they and what has their experience been
> with their digester?
>
> 2. Has anyone had experience using a Rankine
> engine as part of an energy producing system?
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide
> me.
>
>
>
> Charles Gould
>
> Michigan State University Extension
>
> West Olive, Michigan
>
>
>
> >________________ >Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 05:20:28
> -0800 >From: Sam Wampler
> <smwampler at avatarenergy.com> >Subject: Re:
> [Digestion] Small Digester and Rankin Engine
> Questions >To: For Discussion of Anaerobic
> Digestion <digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org> >
>
> Nick,
>
>
>
> Why don?t you have Kevin answer the below
> question about a small digester.
>
>
>
> Sam
>
>
>
> Description: http://www.avatarenergy.com/images/logos/sam.GIF
> Description:
> http://www.avatarenergy.com/images/logos/emaillogo.gif
> Description:
> http://www.avatarenergy.com/images/logos/email_icon.gif
> smwampler at avatarenergy.com
> Description:
> http://www.avatarenergy.com/images/logos/web_icon.gif
> www.avatarenergy.com
> Description:
> http://www.avatarenergy.com/images/logos/cell_icon.gif336.446.9305
> (Google Voice)
> Description:
> http://www.avatarenergy.com/images/logos/cell_icon.gif336.824.1389
> (fax)
>
>
>
>
>
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> The information contained in this email message is
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> From: digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
> [mailto:digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
> On Behalf Of Randy Mott
> Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 2:51 AM
> To: 'For Discussion of Anaerobic Digestion'
> Subject: Re: [Digestion] Small Digester and Rankin
> Engine Questions
>
>
>
> We don?t do projects in the US, but my
> understanding is that 500 cows is a rule of thumb.
> I have some literature?.
>
>
>
> On Rankin cycle engines, we have followed it
> closely in Europe and the US. There is about 15%
> more electricity that can come from the heat
> exhaust of the initial generators. The capex is
> about 1250 Euro/kW. We don?t have much incentive
> to do it in Poland since we sell the heat and also
> obtain a co-generation certificate for each MWe.
>
>
>
> GE Jenbacher is doing some development in Europe
> and eventually, I believe, will be trying to offer
> this as an option on its generators.
>
>
>
> Randy Mott
>
> CEERES
>
> Warsaw
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
> [mailto:digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
> On Behalf Of Gould, Merrill
> Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 6:08 PM
> To: digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org
> Subject: [Digestion] Small Digester and Rankine
> Engine Questions
>
>
>
> Greetings:
>
>
>
> I have two questions I am hoping someone has
> answers for:
>
> 1. Are there small farms with digesters in
> the United States? When I say small farm I don?t
> mean 2-3 cows, I mean a farm with around 125 dairy
> cows, which is the average herd size in Michigan.
> If so, where are they and what has been their
> experience with their digester? I suspect there
> probably are no small farms with digesters in the
> US, but I would really like to know. I have had
> numerous inquiries from farmers with small farms
> in West Michigan about putting in a digester on
> their farm. If my assumption is correct that there
> are no small farms with digesters, are there farms
> with comparable numbers of dairy cattle with
> digesters outside of the United State? If so,
> where are they and what has their experience been
> with their digester?
>
> 2. Has anyone had experience using a Rankine
> engine as part of an energy producing system?
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide
> me.
>
>
>
> Charles Gould
>
> Michigan State University Extension
>
> West Olive, Michigan
>
>
>
> >________________ >Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:22:12
> +0000 >From: David Fulford <davidf at kingdombio.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Digestion] Small Digester and
> Rankine Engine Questions >To: For Discussion of
> Anaerobic Digestion
> <digestion at lists.bioenergylists.org> >Cc: "Gould,
> Merrill" <gouldm at anr.msu.edu> >
> Charles and listers,
>
> The best source of information on AD in USA is the
> AgSTAR project run by EPA (www.epa.gov/agstar/).
> They have a database of digesters, which includes
> a few small ones.
>
> They point to the Minnesota Project
> (www.mnproject.org) which is trying to
> concentrate on biogas for small farms (125 cattle
> or less).
>
> Regards,
>
> David F
>
> On 11/01/2011 17:07, Gould, Merrill wrote:
>
> Greetings:
>
>
>
> I have two questions I am hoping someone has
> answers for:
>
> 1. Are there small farms with digesters in
> the United States? When I say small farm I
> don?t mean 2-3 cows, I mean a farm with around
> 125 dairy cows, which is the average herd size
> in Michigan. If so, where are they and what has
> been their experience with their digester? I
> suspect there probably are no small farms with
> digesters in the US, but I would really like to
> know. I have had numerous inquiries from farmers
> with small farms in West Michigan about putting
> in a digester on their farm. If my assumption is
> correct that there are no small farms with
> digesters, are there farms with comparable
> numbers of dairy cattle with digesters outside
> of the United State? If so, where are they and
> what has their experience been with their
> digester?
>
> 2. Has anyone had experience using a
> Rankine engine as part of an energy producing
> system?
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any insight you can
> provide me.
>
>
>
> Charles Gould
>
> Michigan State University Extension
>
> West Olive, Michigan
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> for more information about digestion, see
> Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> and the Biogas Wiki http://biogas.wikispaces.com/
>
>
> --
>
> ********************************************************************
> Dr David Fulford CEnv MEI, 15, Brandon Ave, Woodley,
> Reading RG5 4PU
> d.j.fulford at btinternet.com, Tel: +44(0)118 326 9779 Mob:
> +44(0)7746 806401
> Kingdom Bioenergy Ltd, www.kingdombio.com,
> davidf at kindombio.com
>
> >________________
> >_______________________________________________
> >Digestion mailing list > >to Send a Message to
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> Change your List Settings use the web page
>
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> > >for more information about digestion, see
> >Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> >http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/ >and the
> Biogas Wiki http://biogas.wikispaces.com/ >
>
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