The Anaerobic Digester
Solutions for Unsorted Waste (Trash)
- A biological processes in which micro-organisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen
- Converts livestock manure into:
- Biogas which is distributed in two ways
- Biogas which is distributed in two ways
- Fuels generators with reciprocating engines to produce electricity
- Biogas is scrubbed and resulting methane is piped to a natural gas distribution network
- Digestate which becomes a nutrient rich fertilizer
- Biogas which is distributed in two ways
Benefits
Pollution Reduction
• Reduces methane emissions into to the atmosphere (GHG)
• Reduces run-off into ground water, lakes and streams
• Reduces run-off into ground water, lakes and streams
Expense Reduction
• Provides energy to meet on-site demand
Additional Income
• Derived from selling energy and digestate
Reduced Regulatory Burden
• Strict regulations exist related to the storage, handling and spreading of manure. Anaerobic Digester reduces that burden
Faster Re-grazing
• Cows can graze fields as soon as 2 weeks after spreading fertilizer from digestate (versus 3-4 weeks when spreading manure)
Additional Farming Benefits of AD
Improved Slurry Handing
Where livestock manure or slurry is produced, there are always considerations relating to its storage, handling and spreading. The regulations relating to slurry and manure management are becoming more complex and as the burden on farmers increases, AD should be more widely considered as part of the solution.
Bioenergy
Provides bioenergy which returns nutrients to land and rotates with crops for food production, rather than tying up land solely for bioenergy production. Crops grown to produce bioenergy also aids pest and weed control, for example; controlling the growth of blackgrass, plus it generates a low-carbon biofertiliser.
Profitable Farm Waste
Making break crops/out of date produce/vegetable offcuts/etc. profitable by turning them into energy.
Digestate Use
A greater spreading window for land application:
- Reduction of pathogens that can be found in undigested slurry;
- Faster re-grazing – cows can be put out 2-3 weeks after spreading with no problems;
- Less likelihood of nutrient leaching into local watercourses than slurries;
- The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of slurry is significantly altered by the AD process. In real terms, this reduced BOD means that if the digestate does get into watercourses, it will not pollute to the same extent as slurry.
- Smell reduction when spread.
How Does It Work: Anaerobic Digester
The Process
Anaerobic Digester
Rather than sending to the Lagoon, the Manure is placed into the Anaerobic Digester.
• Eliminate the Off- Gassing of methane (GHG)
• Creates Clean-Renewable Electricity (off-set costs at site).
• Creates Heat for use in the Dairy (further offsetting at site).
• Creates Clean-Renewable Electricity (off-set costs at site).
• Creates Heat for use in the Dairy (further offsetting at site).
The Anaerobic Digestor replaces the practice of manure lagoons; and applying manure from the lagoon direct to the field
Rather than send the manure to the lagoon, it is placed in the Anaerobic Digester. This eliminate off-gassing of methane (GHG) Source of heat for use in barns
Creates digestate to be used as:
• A high nutrient fertilizer
• Fuel in a biomass boiler
• Bedding to line cows’ stalls
• Fuel in a biomass boiler
• Bedding to line cows’ stalls
Replacing the practices of manure lagoons, and spreading/applying to ground with a simple, smart, and clean process. “Anaerobic Digestion”. This process delivers valuable off-takes, and eliminates the pollutants – methane, leachate, and pathogens
The digester system reduces manure solids to a bacteria-free, odorless product. This product can be used as:
• Fertilizer (no concerns re off-gassing, or leaching to water table).
• A valuable Fuel, used in a biomass boiler.
• bedding used to line cows' stalls.
• A valuable Fuel, used in a biomass boiler.
• bedding used to line cows' stalls.
Unused feed (silage), bedding, hay, and crops, are sent to the Bio-Digester, producing a valuable Fertilizer, and or Bio-Fuel.
vs
Traditional Method
Typically, dairy farms are organized so that the cows are facing out, and the rear of the cows are facing in towards the middle of the barn.
The cows relieve themselves towards the centre of the barn
The cows are fed on the outside, keeping the feed separate from the waste.
The manure is either moved off site, and or held in “Holding Ponds/Lagoons”. Historically manure is then pumped out of the Lagoon and applied to ground, in order to get rid of it.
Manure
Manure
Manure Lagoon.
Tremendous release of Methane.
Manure pumped from the lagoon, and applied on the ground.
Additional release of methane, plus leaching into the water table.
The manure is removed from the barn, using tractors, sweepers, and our automated in floor squeegee systems
In floor auto squeegee
Vehicle squeegee
•Electricity
•Heat
•High Grade Fertilizer
•Heat
•High Grade Fertilizer
Biogas Process
Animal manure and crops are used as feedstock to produce biogas
Animal manure and crops are used as feedstock to produce biogas
Animal manure and crops are used as feedstock to produce biogas
Animal manure and crops are used as feedstock to produce biogas
Visual Interpretation of Permitted Development Rights for Small Scale On-Farm Anaerobic Digestion Plants
