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Synthetic natural gas production from biogas in a waste water treatment plant

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  • Guilera, Jordi
  • Andreu, Teresa
  • Basset, Núria
  • Boeltken, Tim
  • Timm, Friedemann
  • Mallol, Ignasi
  • Morante, Joan Ramon

Abstract

The technical feasibility of synthetic natural gas production from biogenic source was evaluated under industrially relevant conditions. The biogas produced from anaerobic digestion in a waste water treatment plant was considered as renewable carbon dioxide source and renewable hydrogen was produced by alkaline electrolysis (37 kWhe) of tap water. In the present work, the catalytic methanation of biogas, partially upgraded biogas and carbon dioxide released by a membrane upgrading unit was performed through innovative micro-structured heat-exchange reactors. A 2-step methanation process, including gas pre-heating, catalytic reaction and water condensation was implemented. Experimentation revealed that, through this process strategy, the outlet gas mixture (CH4 ≥ 95%, H2 ≤ 5% and CO2 ≤ 2.5%) fulfils the requirements for gas grid injection. It was observed that most reaction occurred in the first reactor (T ≈ 400 °C), while the second reactor (T ≈ 300 °C) was necessary to assure a high methane content. The introduction of methane together with carbon dioxide was found to be positive, namely biogas or partially upgraded biogas instead of pure carbon dioxide. The methanation of biogas reduced the reaction hot-spots and increased the methane content at the outlet. Finally, a proper balance between injection requirements and costs was found at 4–5 bar (g).

Suggested Citation

  • Guilera, Jordi & Andreu, Teresa & Basset, Núria & Boeltken, Tim & Timm, Friedemann & Mallol, Ignasi & Morante, Joan Ramon, 2020. "Synthetic natural gas production from biogas in a waste water treatment plant," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 1301-1308.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:146:y:2020:i:c:p:1301-1308
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.044
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    2. Bedoić, Robert & Dorotić, Hrvoje & Schneider, Daniel Rolph & Čuček, Lidija & Ćosić, Boris & Pukšec, Tomislav & Duić, Neven, 2021. "Synergy between feedstock gate fee and power-to-gas: An energy and economic analysis of renewable methane production in a biogas plant," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 12-23.
    3. Andrea Barbaresi & Mirko Morini & Agostino Gambarotta, 2022. "Review on the Status of the Research on Power-to-Gas Experimental Activities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-32, August.
    4. Bidart, Christian & Wichert, Martin & Kolb, Gunther & Held, Michael, 2022. "Biogas catalytic methanation for biomethane production as fuel in freight transport - A carbon footprint assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    5. Beatriz Del Río-Gamero & Alejandro Ramos-Martín & Noemi Melián-Martel & Sebastián Pérez-Báez, 2020. "Water-Energy Nexus: A Pathway of Reaching the Zero Net Carbon in Wastewater Treatment Plants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Xi Yang & Alun Gu & Fujie Jiang & Wenli Xie & Qi Wu, 2020. "Integrated Assessment Modeling of China’s Shale Gas Resource: Energy System Optimization, Environmental Cobenefits, and Methane Risk," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, December.

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