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How Efficient are Agitators in Biogas Digesters? Determination of the Efficiency of Submersible Motor Mixers and Incline Agitators by Measuring Nutrient Distribution in Full-Scale Agricultural Biogas Digesters

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Lemmer

    (State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, Stuttgart 70599, Germany)

  • Hans-Joachim Naegele

    (State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, Stuttgart 70599, Germany)

  • Jana Sondermann

    (State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, Stuttgart 70599, Germany)

Abstract

The goal of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of two different agitation systems by measuring the nutrient distribution in a digester fed with renewable energy crops and animal manure. The study was carried out at the practical research biogas plant of Hohenheim University. A unique probe sampling system has been developed that allows probe sampling from the top of the concrete roof into different parts and heights of the digester. The samples were then analyzed in the laboratory for natural fatty acids concentrations. Three different agitation setups were chosen for evaluation at continuous stirring and feeding procedures. The results showed that the analysis approach for agitator optimization through direct measurement of the nutrients distribution in the digester is promising. The type of the agitators and the agitation regime showed significant differences on local concentrations of organic acids, which are not correlated to the dry matter content. Simultaneous measurements on electric energy consumption of the different agitator types verify that by using the slow-moving incline agitator with large propeller diameters in favor of the fast-moving submersible mixer with smaller propeller diameters, the savings potential rises up to 70% by maintaining the mixing quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Lemmer & Hans-Joachim Naegele & Jana Sondermann, 2013. "How Efficient are Agitators in Biogas Digesters? Determination of the Efficiency of Submersible Motor Mixers and Incline Agitators by Measuring Nutrient Distribution in Full-Scale Agricultural Biogas ," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-19, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:6:y:2013:i:12:p:6255-6273:d:30934
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Abdullah Nsair & Senem Onen Cinar & Ayah Alassali & Hani Abu Qdais & Kerstin Kuchta, 2020. "Operational Parameters of Biogas Plants: A Review and Evaluation Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-27, July.
    2. Singh, Buta & Szamosi, Zoltán & Siménfalvi, Zoltán, 2019. "State of the art on mixing in an anaerobic digester: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 922-936.
    3. Camilo Wilches & Maik Vaske & Kilian Hartmann & Michael Nelles, 2019. "Representative Sampling Implementation in Online VFA/TIC Monitoring for Anaerobic Digestion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Tsapekos, Panagiotis & Khoshnevisan, Benyamin & Zhu, Xinyu & Treu, Laura & Alfaro, Natalia & Kougias, Panagiotis G. & Angelidaki, Irini, 2022. "Lab- and pilot-scale anaerobic digestion of municipal bio-waste and potential of digestate for biogas upgrading sustained by microbial analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 344-353.
    5. Wang, Zhongzhong & Hu, Yuansheng & Wang, Shun & Wu, Guangxue & Zhan, Xinmin, 2023. "A critical review on dry anaerobic digestion of organic waste: Characteristics, operational conditions, and improvement strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    6. Schneider, Nico & Gerber, Mandy, 2020. "Rheological properties of digestate from agricultural biogas plants: An overview of measurement techniques and influencing factors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    7. Katarzyna Ignatowicz & Jacek Piekarski & Paweł Kogut, 2021. "Influence of Selected Substrate Dosage on the Process of Biogas Installation Start-Up in Real Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-11, September.
    8. Seongwon Im & Mo-Kwon Lee & Alsayed Mostafa & Om Prakash & Kyeong-Ho Lim & Dong-Hoon Kim, 2021. "Effect of Localized Temperature Difference on Hydrogen Fermentation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-11, October.

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