Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
15
Biogas upgrading to biomethane
MI CHAEL BE I L a n d WI EBKE BEYRI CH , Fraunhofer Institute
for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology, Germany
DOI: 10.1533/9780857097415.3.342
Abstract: Compared with other utilization paths of biogas, upgrading of
biogas to biomethane offers several advantages and has thus become of
increased relevance in the last decade. This chapter describes past
developments as well as the current state of upgrading, especially in
Europe. Specifics of biogas cleaning combined with biogas upgrading will
be described. The chapter focuses on technical aspects of upgrading and
off-gas treatment methods as well as on economic aspects of biomethane
provision.
Key words: biomethane, biogas upgrading, purification, natural gas,
physical absorption, physisorption, chemical absorption, chemisorption,
adsorption, molecular sieve, pressure swing adsorption (PSA), water
scrubber, amine scrubber, membrane separation, regenerative thermal
oxidation (RTO), catalytic oxidation, flameless oxidation.
15.1
Introduction
Upgrading of biogas to biomethane has increased in the last decade,
especially in Europe. Upgrading of biogas to biomethane offers several
advantages over direct utilization of raw biogas (e.g. in combined heat and
power plants (CHPs) at the site of production). In remote areas, heat
consumption over the whole year is often not guaranteed and thus heat has
to be vented. Biogas upgrading and grid injection of biomethane enables
transportation of the gas to places where the complete energy (power and
heat) is needed, thus offering the chance to increase the overall efficiency of
gas utilization. In summary, biomethane offers the following advantages:
.
temporary decoupling of production and utilization
.
local decoupling of production and utilization
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