Sunday, February 14, 2021

Biogas Analysis and Gas Quality Monitoring of Anaerobic Digestion Processes

Biogas analysis and maximizing the efficiency of anaerobic digestion plants are gaining more attention as the anaerobic digestion industry matures. If you are seeking to find out more about this topic, read-on because this article is for you!

Technician gas analysis - studying monitoring results.
CC BY by PEO, 
With the rapidly increasing global awareness that the world must decarbonize or suffer huge problems and costs as a result of unrestrained global warming, biogas is in rising demand as a valuable energy source. However, the highest prices are only available for top quality biogas with a consistently high calorific value after upgrading (purification). To do that operators need to pay close attention to the quality of the digester off-gas. The way to do that is through biogas analysis

Thankfully, robust and low-cost biogas analysis sensors are available from a number of manufacturers for controlling the various biogas quality upgrading processes. The development of these devices specifically tailored to the biogas industry has been essential. But, there has been great progress, and biogas plants are now able to work much more effectively than before. The challenge for the equipment specifier is to match the available biogas analysis products for the scale, robustness, and accuracy to suit every application.

Many devices combine the functions of biogas flow measurement with quality monitoring systems for a wide variety of needs. There is often a requirement that the biogas analysis device includes, not only a capability to measure the main constituents of biogas, but also the lower concentrations, and even trace-level contaminants.
Link to the Biogas Analysis and Gas Quality Monitoring pdf version.
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The need to continuously measure methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), can be joined with a need for analysis of the low percentages of CO, H2S, N2, O2, which can also be found in the biogas composition depending on the nature of the process it originates from.

There are special requirements for the analysis of biogas which is produced as landfill gas, and the additional contaminants often found in that form of biogas. For that reason, we have devoted a section of this article to landfill gas analysis. Scroll down and read that if you are seeking information about landfill biogas analysis.

In the paragraphs which follow we provide more info on biogas analysers or general use. Biogas plant operators need economical, versatile, and reliable biogas analysis. Whether dealing with biogas plants, landfills, sewage treatment plants, and in some circumstances even composting plants. Some are fixed units, and some are mobile, and products are even available that are a combination of a stationary unit and mobile gas measuring device enables.

Today, like never before there are comprehensive professional biogas process control and optimization devices available for purchase. REad more here: https://anaerobic-digestion.com/biogas-analysis/