Title: Advancing Utilization of Manure Methane Digester Electrical Generation Philip Goodrich, R. Vance Morey, David Schmidt, Paul Burns, Matt Drewitz, Dennis Haubenschild, Amanda Bilek, David Nelson Richard Huelskamp
1Advancing Utilization of Manure Methane Digester
Electrical Generation Philip Goodrich, R. Vance
Morey, David Schmidt, Paul Burns, Matt Drewitz,
Dennis Haubenschild, Amanda Bilek, David Nelson
Richard Huelskamp
2Advancing Utilization of Manure Methane Digester
- Funding for this project was recommended by the
Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources
from the Minnesota Environment and Natural
Resources Trust Fund (204, 375)
3Background
- Have a well operating digester on an 800 cow
dairy herd - Biogas is being converted to electricity by 130
kW engine generator - Digester is producing excess biogas
4Haubenschild Dairy Farm Energy ProductionPrinceto
n, Minnesota
Milk Production Crop Production Electrical
Production Future Hydrogen Production Farm
Income Diversification
5View of digester, barn and engine generator
building at time of installation in 1999.
6Digester Winter 2005
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8Plug-Flow Digester - A small plug of slurry is
pumped into one end each day, causing a
comparable amount to flow out of the other end
into the storage basin in the background.
Methane Digester To breakdown organic matter in
the absence of oxygen to biogas, which is
primarily CH4/methane, CO2/carbon dioxide,
H2S/hydrogen sulfide, and water vapor.
9Engine Generator set Internal combustion engine
with 135 kW 240 VAC electrical generator.
Caterpiller 3406
10Biogas Production Used in Generator
11Objective
- Evaluate the feasibility of a fuel cell to
convert biogas (methane) to electricity. - Next step may be to produce hydrogen for farm use
from biogas.
12Procedures to Achieve Objective
- Develop biogas gas cleanup system
- Install fuel cell on digester
- Test the fuel cell
- Monitor systems for energy, consumption and
emissions
13Challenges
- Hydrogen sulfide removal
- Initial concentration 3000 ppm
- Need concentration lt 25 ppb
- Moisture removal
- Need dry gas
- Carbon dioxide removal
- Need concentration lt 5
14Types of Fuel Cells
- Proton Exchange Membrane -Low temp
- Solid Oxide -High temperature
- Molten Carbonate -High Temperature
15Biogas
16A fuel cell is similar to a car battery in that
it produces electricity through electrochemical
reactions. A fuel cell produces electricity as
long as the hydrogen fuel source and oxygen
passes through it.
Heat is also produced and can be utilized for
space heating and hot water needs.
Electricity conversion efficiency is around 25
The energy resources for hydrogen can be biogas,
natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, and
other hydrogen based liquids or gases.
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18The building at the left houses the 135 kW engine
generator and the building on the right houses
the fuel cell and instrumentation. One barn is to
the right rear of the picture
19Fuel Cell Uses hydrogen to generate
electricity without combustion. Output is 5 kW at
120 VAC
20Comparing Electrical Generator Technologies
Engine Generator System
Fuel Cell System
- Cost per kilowatt is very high. 10,000
--gt20,000 per kW - Biogas must be cleaned up to strict
specifications. Adds cost and complexity while
consuming energy. - Fuel cell is an emerging technology.
- Cost per kilowatt is low. 500 --gt1000 per kW
- Biogas can be used directly from the
digester with no cleanup. - ICE is mature technology.
21Comparing Electrical Generator Technologies
Engine Generator System
Fuel Cell System
- Greenhouse emissions and particulates are very
low. - System is very quiet.
- Few moving parts.
- Cost of maintenance is unknown.
- Fuel cell technology is continuously improving at
a rapid rate.
- Greenhouse emissions of CO2, SO2, CO and
particulates are significant. - Noise level is very high and sound mitigation
is necessary. - Many moving parts, most moving in a hot
environment needing oil and cooling. - Maintenance is well known.
- Technology is mature and changing slowly.
22Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEM)
- Advantages
- Could buy one from a vendor with experience
- Less expensive than others
- Made in lower capacity
- Disadvantages
- Low temperature water for heating
- Critical on gas quality
- Lots of gas cleanup needed
23Biogas Clean Up
24Biogas Clean Up
25Biogas Clean Up
26Biogas Clean Up
27Gemini Gas Monitor
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29Emissions from Haubenschild Generator Compared
to Plug Power Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM)
Fuel Cell
Fuel Cell
Engine Generator
- ( lt1 ppmv) 0.014 g/kWh
- (lt1 ppmv) lt.0023 g/kWh
- (lt1 ppmv) lt0.030 g/kWh
- (1790 ppmv) 14.5 g/kWh
CO NOx SOX CX HY
- ( 800ppmv) 4.18 g/kWh
- (2960ppmv) 25.5 g/kWh
- (277ppmv) 3.34 g/kWh
- (20460ppmv) 53 g/kWh
-
30Energy Production Organic Fertilizer
Net Air Emissions nergy Income
avings Environment Impact Reduction
31Environmental and Economic Benefits
- 1) reduced reliance on fossil fuels 2) reduced
odors and emissions 3) reduced soil and water
pollution 4) supports rural economy
32Funding
- Funding for this project was recommended by the
Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources
from the Minnesota Environment and Natural
Resources Trust Fund (204,375)
33- Project Participants
- Philip R. Goodrich PE, David Nelson PE, Richard
Huelskamp, David Schmidt PE, - R. Vance Morey from Department of Biosystems and
Agricultural Engineering, - University of Minnesota.
- Dennis Haubenschild from Haubenschild Farms,
Princeton MN - Matthew Drewitz, Paul Burns, from Minnesota
Department of Agriculture
- Other participants in this project include
- Amanda Bilik, The Minnesota Project,
- Verlyn Johnson and Blanca Martinez, BAE
- Henry Fischer, East Central Energy.
- Rob Lowen, Plug Power, Inc.
- Jamie Tooley, CES-Landtec Engineering
- Don White, Donaldson Corp
- David Thimsen, EPRI
- Claudio Martinez Stephan Becerra ,John Deere Co
34- Thank you
- Advancing Utilization of Manure Methane Digester
- Funding for this project was recommended by the
Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources
from the Minnesota Environment and Natural
Resources Trust Fund