There is great potential in displacing natural gas from the Danish gas market and replacing it with biogas. Denmark is a leading biogas sector, but the development of Danish biogas production is still progressing more slowly than one might expect.
One of the reasons is, among other things, opposition to planned plants. The opposition is due to concerns about odor nuisance. But that concern may soon be made more unfounded.
Researchers from Aarhus University have finally developed knowledge and technology to address odor nuisance from even modern, well-dimensioned biogas plants. The university states this in a press release.
- Using new sensor technology, we have been able to continuously measure the ventilation air emitted from biogas plants. Here we have found quite significant variations that depend on how the biomass is processed at the plant. Variations that can give rise to significant emissions of hydrogen sulfide, which the plant's air purifiers have difficulty handling, says Associate Professor Michael Wegener Kofod from Aarhus University's Department of Bio- and Chemical Technology, head of the Microbial Conversion Technologies research group, which is behind the research project, which goes by the name PEAK.
New type of filter can remove more odors
Biogas plants already use filters that filter the exhaust air from biogas production. Many of these filters are biological filters that use natural microorganisms to break down the hydrogen sulfide, which otherwise gives rise to the odors.
However, when examining two different biogas plants, the researchers discovered a very dynamic system, with periodic fluctuations that can challenge the biofilters that normally clean the exhaust air sufficiently to eliminate odors. The researchers discovered sudden and severe fluctuations in hydrogen sulfide emissions up to a factor of over 100 compared to normal.
- These variations depend on the operation, especially how the biomass from which the biogas is produced is handled and fed to the plant. Here we see these severe fluctuations, which is something that must be taken into account when designing and dimensioning air purification systems, he continues.
At Aarhus University's own biogas plant at the Foulum Research Center near Viborg, the researchers have therefore designed, developed and implemented a large experimental filter equipped with new technology within both purification and monitoring, together with the company BBK bio airclean A/S. Among other things, the filter is monitored online using a sensor platform developed during the project by one of the participating companies, Consibio.
- With the setup we have now, we can reduce the fluctuations to such an extent that the biological filters can keep up. This means minimal hydrogen sulfide emissions. Some of the technology we have developed as part of the project can make the cleaning even better. This is super relevant, because now we know why there can be problems with biogas emissions, and we know how to solve the problems, says Michael Wegener Kofod.
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