Development of Velocity Sensor to Optimize the Energy Yield in a Biogas Plant

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 51 - 56, 01.01.2018

Abdullah Nsair Olaf Bade Kerstin Kuchta

Abstract

The number of biogas plants has increased worldwide making
the energy from Biomass one of the main renewable energy resources. Along with
the increase of number of biogas plants, the prices of the substrates have been
increased. Therefore, the optimization of the energy efficiencies in biogas
plants has become a crucial subject. An option to improve the efficiency of the
biogas plants is by optimizing their stirring system, where up to 51% from the
internal energy consumption in biogas plants might be caused by the stirrers. The
evaluation of the current mixing performance is done by performing velocity
testing with a reliable technology - the bending beam-. The main advantages of
this sensor in advance to the simple technology are the cost reliability,
accuracy, resistivity against foul and ability to be installed inside the
fermenters. The results showed the efficient use of the sensor and an
inaccuracy of the range (4-6) %. The effect of the Total Solids content (TS) of
the digestate on the mixing inside the fermenter was determined; at higher TS
values, the flow of the substrates becomes more uniform than at lower TS
values.

Keywords

Bending Beam, Biogas, Optimization, Sensor, Velocity

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