The True Challenges & Risks of Biogas and its
Utilization Options in Thailand
1
Technologies
Biogas Production Plants
Landfill Gas Recovery
Biogas Engine Generators
Biogas Purification
Biomass Fired Heat and Power Plants
Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Plants
Waste Heat Recovery Systems
2
Typical Applications for Biogas in Thailand
Farm Waste
Agri-Industrial Waste (Starch, Palm Oil,
Sugar,….)
Landfill Gas
Ethanol WW from Molasses and cassava
Napier Grass (NEW and Special)
Seafood Industry
Tropical Fruit Processing
Slaughterhouse Waste
OFMSW
General Food and Beverage Industry
3
Biogas Production Technology
How it works
Biogas
Treated Wastewater
Wastewater
Inlet
4
Biomethanation Reactors (1)
• Technical solutions do exist for all organic
substrates to produce Biogas.
• Many reactor types are available, mesophilic
or thermophilic.
• High tech and high performance solutions.
• Low tech and low performance solutions.
5
Biomethanation Reactors
• Various pre- and post- treatments are
available and must be carefully
engineered and selected.
6
Different Reactors (1)
Medium/High Loading Low/Medium Loading
Rate: Rate
beet sugar, starch, fermentation (alcohol,
brewery, soft drinks. baker’s yeast, citric acid),
Juices, fruit & veg. fish and meat processing,
processing, potato & slaughterhouse,
corn processing, rendering, dairy industry.
slaughterhouse,
rendering, cheese
processing.
High Loading Rate - Tower
Different Reactors (2)
High FOG: Oil & Toxicity
Fermentation Proof:
Fish & Meat, Petrochemical
Slaughter- Applications,
houses,
Rendering,
Cheese
Processing.
Alternative
Sludge & Reactor:
Slurries: Covered
Molasses lagoon,
distilleries Molasses
Sludges, distilleries,
pulps Pulp & Paper
Industry, and
many more
applications
where space is
8
available
Biogas Utilization
Material for reactor tanks:
new options for Thailand
round bolted steel tanks, pre coated
inside/outside
9
Biogas Utilization
Inground or covered lagoon reactors are very
common here in Thailand.
Where space does not matter, where
feedstocks are unstable and undefined!
or even for post treatment, probably a realistic
solution.
10
Biogas Production
11
Examples of Biogas Projects in Thailand
100% bunker oil
replacement +
2.6 MW electricity
generation
100% bunker oil
replacement.
12
Selected References
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Biogas Utilization
• The biogas can be utilized in many ways
depending on the thermal or electricity
energy requirements of your factory such as
fuel replacement for boiler, electricity
generation etc. Thanks to Thailand‟s
“adder” system you are motivated to sell to
the grid. You might also want to produce
CBG (compressed biogas) for use as
vehicle fuel
17
Biogas Production and Methane Gas Estimation
• The estimation of the biogas production rate and
methane gas content is the first step in the biogas
utilization plan.
• The major factors are biodegradable COD load and
flow rate of the wastewater.
• These factors are related to the raw material, the
capacity of the plant, and the production process.
18
Wastewater Treatment Concerns (2)
• How do I design the size of the plant,
considering unstable feedstock supply
patterns?
• Do I go for maximum and invest in a plant
which is then for certain periods too big and
underutilized?
• Or do I go for small and bypass the
substrate/water for too long periods?
19
Wastewater Treatment Concerns (3)
• How do I get my wastewater or solids to the
reactor?
• What space do I need?
• Did I consider also biogas treatment for its
intended purpose, i.e. power generation /
boiler?
• Do I need scrubbing (H2S..), drying?
• How far do I have to transport the gas?
20
Investment and Financial Concern (1)
• How do I optimize my revenue from the
biogas plant?
• Do I give preference to the power generators?
The remaining gas to the boiler? Do I sell my
power to the grid?
• Do I replace other fossil fuels such as bunker
oil? Where is the break-even?
21
Investment and Financial Concern (2)
• Have I explored all financial initiatives
available to support the implementation of the
project?
• Is my project generating carbon credits? Is it
worth to follow all the CDM procedures?
• Shall I invest myself or look for BOO/BOT
partners?
22
Possibilities of Biogas Utilization
Oil/ coal replacement
Biogas Electricity generation
Compressed Biogas
Consideration about the Biogas
• Still: Biogas you do not buy thru a pipeline or from a
tank or storage „on call‟ like other fuels but is the
result of a biological process, which may bear
unpredictable issues. The dependence to biogas
must be well considered in terms of down stream
processes, not only from smooth process flow but
also commercial considerations must be applied!
• …and above all: SAFETY!
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Oil/ coal replacement
Boilers
Dual fuel
burner
systems
25
Electricity Generation
CHP Plant
Biogas blower
Biogas scrubber
Biogas drier 26
Biogas Cleaning (1)
• Only methane in the biogas is a source of
energy.
• Some other compositions are not utilized for
the energy production such as carbon dioxide,
oxygen, hydrogen sulfide gas, small particle
(dust), and moisture.
• Biogas cleaning may be required.
• Hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) or moisture can
damage the biogas utilizing equipment.
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H2S Scrubbers
• Biogas contains H2S, a very corrosive gas
which is unwanted at the down stream
equipment such as engines, biogas purifiers
but also in (SOx) emmissions.
• Bioscrubbers are here the optimal solution.
28
Biogas Cleaning (2)
Hydrogen Sulfide gas (H2S)
• Corrosive to metal part of the equipment.
• H2S gas production based on the raw materials:
– Ethanol from molasses: commonly 20-30,000 ppm
– Cassava Starch: 3,000 ppm
• The maximum limit of H2S:
– Electricity generator:200 ppm. (or lower)
– Burner and boiler: 2,000 – 5,000 ppm.
– (better none or low, also for emission reasons)
29
Biogas Cleaning Techniques
• Scrubbing/Sweetening:
H2S gas and dust removal.
• Dryer/Demister:
H2O content removal.
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BioGasclean Asia
Biological H2S removal
Peter Thygesen, BioGasclean Asia
Renewable Energy Asia, Bitec
Bangkok, June, 2013
BioGasclean A/S Denmark, Head office
BioGasclean Asia Co.,Ltd, Thailand
• Leaders in biological removal of H2S from biogas.
• Have worked on most known substrates and engines.
• Have installations in about 30 countries.
• Have more than 110 installations with an installed
generating capacity of over 280 MW
Basic Value-chain on a Biogas plant
1. 2. 3.
Biogas Gas Treatment: Energy & Power
Generation: H2S removal generation
• Conversion of Drying Gas Engine
COD to Biogas Pressure Boiler
adjustment
Each step is equally important and need to operate with
high reliability to create revenue on the plant
Key points in reliable H2S removal
• Proper knowhow in design and dimensioning
• Materials in the right quality for high corrosive
environment.
• Integration of the system on the biogas plant
• Advances Process control
• Safety considerations
• Operation and Maintenance
• After Sales Service
P/V valve
Bio scrubber Tan
k
principle
Spray system
• Air injection
• Effluent water adding
• Pre-treatment(MUW)
PTU Gas outlet
Effluent
Gas inlet MUW tanks Storage
tank
O2
Air
High
Circulating Blower level
Low
pump level
MgSO4, MgSO4,
SO42 CaSO4 CaSO4 Effluent
-
Pump
Auto Drain Gutter
BiogasCleaner FRP tank
Thailand
Capacity: 700 Nm3/h. 3.000 ppm H2S => 100 ppm
Cassava WWTP
BiogasCleaner 3 FRP tanks
Denmark, Design Capacity: 3,600m3/h – 3,000ppm
PTU in FRP housing
BiogasCleaner built on-site
Thailand
Design Capacity: 1.670 Nm3/h, 30.000 ppm H2S => 100 ppm
Sugar cane molasses ethanol WWTP
Cost for H2S removal
Example1: 3,000 ppm H2S (Cassava and POME)
• Treatment cost per 1,000 m3 = 70 THB
• Cost per MW electrical produced = 34 THB
Example 2: 20,000 ppm H2S (Molasses based Ethanol)
• Treatment cost per 1,000 m3 = 465 THB
• Cost per MW electrical produced = 225 THB.
• Average Selling price for 1 MW in Thailand = 3,100 THB
Budget conditions: Plant life 15 years; 8,000 h operation/y,
Maintenance & QSR cleaning,
3 MW installation with 1,600 m3 /h capacity.
References
No. Country No. Power MW
1 Thailand 35 110
2 Denmark 10 25
3 Malaysia 8 20
4 U.S.A. 8 20
5 Guatemala 4 6
6 India 6 9
7 Indonesia 6 11
8 Canada 5 18
9 Turkey 3 5
10 Argentina/China/Mexico/Morocco/Pakistan/ 14 27
to Israel/ South Africa (2 INSTALLATIONS EACH)
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17 Australia/Brazil/Colombia/Cambodia/Finland 13 34
to Italy/Lithuania/Netherland/New Zealand
29 Poland/UK/Vietnam/Laos (1 INSTALLATION EACH)
TOTAL 112 285
Thank You
Asia
www.biogasclean.com
Biogas upgrading technology
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Biogas related to industries
Basic nutrient for the anaerobic Methane /
Industries Process
fermentation CO2 ratio
Vegetable-based material (corn
Agriculture sector, Mono
silage, spent hops, spent grain, 55% / 45%
breweries,destilleries fermentation
etc.)
CO- Manure (cow, pig, chicken) with
Cattle farms 55% / 45%
fermentation vegetable-based material
Compost-processing 55% / 45%
VFG Vegetable-based material
industry 70% / 30%
Potable water companies,
Semi-solid organic residues from
water authorities, STP,\ Water
water and solids 65% / 35%
industrial wastewater treatment
(sludge)
treatment Systems
44
Biogas Upgrading
Pentair Haffmans upgrade installation
Biogas
55% CH4 Bio-methane
45% CO2
Green
CO2
• Membrane and CO2 recovery technology
• In summary 100 % CH4 is turned into bio methane
• No CO2 is wasted extra source of income
45
Biogas Upgrading
Biomethane
(Green Gas)
CO2
Membrane CO2
Unit Recovery
46
Wastewater Treatment plant – Process Diagram
47
Biogas Upgrading Installation – Mass Balance
Membrane Unit
Bio-methane
Biogas 153 Nm3/h
250 Nm3/h 1.3 m Nm3/y
(55% CH4 – 45% CO2)
Gaseous CO2
H2S
removal
(50% CH4 – 50% CO2)
CO2 Recovery System
Gaseous CO2 175 kg/h CO 2
(10 CH4 – 90 % CO2) 1,600 tons/y CO 2
Biogas Upgrading Installation 250 m3/h Beverwijk
Plant Capacity 250 Nm3 per hour
Biogas source Wastewater treatment plant
Methane / CO2 Ratio 55 % CH4 / 45 % CO2
Pressure 8 bar
Biomethane produced 1,280,000 Nm3 / year
CO2 Recovered 1,600 ton / year
CO2 used for pH correction of water coming from
wastewater treatment plant
Methane Loss None
Injection into grid According to Dutch Specifications
Biogas Upgrading Installation 450 m3/h Well
Plant Capacity 450 Nm3 per hour
Biogas source Vegetable-based material
(Compost-processing industry)
Methane / CO2 Ratio 55 % CH4 / 45 % CO2
Pressure 8 bar
Biomethane produced 2,200,000 Nm3 / year
CO2 Recovered 2,520 ton / year
CO2 used for Greenhouse / Cooling agent / Dry-ice
Methane Loss None
Injection into grid According to Dutch Specifications
Biogas Upgrading Installation 350 m3/h Witteveen
Plant Capacity 350 Nm3 per hour
Biogas source Vegetable-based material (corn
silage,spent hops, spent grain,
etc.) (Mono-Digestion)
Methane / CO2 Ratio 55 % CH4 / 45 % CO2
Pressure 8 bar
Biomethane produced 1,600,000 Nm3 / year
CO2 Recovered 2.240 ton / year
Methane Loss None
Injection into grid According to Dutch Specifications
51
Siloxane Removal Systems
Siloxane Removal Systems
Investment and Financial Concern (4)
• Investment and Finance.
• As all biological processes it seems that
banks and fund managers have endless
questions and doubts and ask for guarantees.
• Since feedstock for the plants is readily
available there should be no doubt that today
technologies as offered by us are reliable
systems, well proven etc.
Thank You
RETECH ENERGY CO., LTD.
2/22 Iyara Tower 6th and 7 th Floor
Chan Road, Soi 2
Kwaeng Thungwatdorn, Khet Sathorn
Bangkok 10120 , Thailand
Tel . +66 -2-678 8921-2 , +66-81-862 6871 Fax . +66 -2-678 8920
[email protected]
www.retech-energy.com
