Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
17
Generation of heat and power from biogas for
stationary applications: boilers, gas engines
and turbines, combined heat and power (CHP)
plants and fuel cells
PRASADKAPARAJU, University of Jyva¨ skyla¨ , Finland and
JUKKA RINTALA, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
DOI: 10.1533/9780857097415.3.404
Abstract: Biogas is produced during the anaerobic degradation of organic
material. The produced biogas can be used for heat, electricity or
cogeneration of heat and electricity in a combined heat and power plant
(CHP). This chapter first discusses the key issues related to combustion
of biogas/biomethane in different stationary equipments. It then
describes the utilisation of biogas for the generation of electric power
and heat in different stationary applications such as boilers, gas engines
(CHP), micro turbines and fuel cells.
Key words: biogas, combustion, engines, power, stationary applications.
17.1
Introduction
Biogas is produced during the anaerobic degradation of organic material in
natural and man-made environments, namely dedicated anaerobic digestion
(AD) plants, sewage treatment plants and landfills. Biogas consists mainly
of 55-65% methane (CH
4
) and 35-45% carbon dioxide (CO
2
) with trace
amounts of other gases. The gas is usually saturated with water (H
2
O) and,
depending on the feedstock used, biogas may also contain hydrogen
sulphide (H
2
S), ammonia (NH
3
), siloxanes and some oxygen (O
2
) and
nitrogen (N
2
).
Biogas is considered as a CO
2
-neutral biofuel and can be used as fuel in all
stationary applications suitable for natural gas. The calorific value of biogas
ranges between 19.7 and 23.3MJ/m
3
and is dependent on the amount of
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