Microturbine Operation with Biogas from a Covered Dairy Manure Lagoon

Douglas W. Williams
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA USA

J.J. Frederick
Student Assistant California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA USA

Acknowledgements
WRBEP
(Western Regional Biomass Energy Program)

CSU-ARI
(CA State Univ.Agricultural Research Institute)

Southern California Gas Company California Polytechnic State University

Capstone Microturbines
USDA-NRCS
(Natural Resource Conservation Service)

Methane Production Technologies

Covered Lagoon Plug Flow Complete Mix
78% Success Rate 37% Success Rate 30% Success Rate

Covered Lagoon Digester at 9000-head Swine Farm

Lagoon Digester and Biogas Handling

Successful Biogas-fueled 60 KW Engine-Generator

FARM DESCRIPTION

Free Stall Dairy

~ 300 Cows, Heifers, Calves Equivalent /250 AUs (Animal Units)

Flushed Dairy Manure Removal

250 to 400 cubic meters/day .3 to .4 % Total Solids 3000 to 4000 mg/l COD

Electrical Usage
234,000 KWhrs/year $21,000 per year

Cal Poly Dairy Parlor and Cow Lane

FLUSHED MANURE WASH ALLEY

Sump and pump Irrigation pump Recycle flush water pump

Figure 1. Covered Lagoon Milking Schematic Parlor

Overflow to storage Below-ground Biogas Line

Solids Separator

Existing Storage Lagoon, 19,000 cubic meters capacity

New Covered Lagoon, 14,000 cubic meters liquid capacity

30 kW MicroTurbine electric Generator System

Manure Solids

Transfer
Pump

Slurry Inlet

Sump and

Measuring Influent Flow into Lagoon

Lagoon Cover

Lagoon Covers and Biogas Pipe Connector

Lagoon Cover and Biogas Pipe

Biogas Pipe Installation

Biogas pipe with Condensate Trap

Biogas Piping Condensate Removal Box

Biogas Handling System

Biogas Equipment and Lagoon Cover

Compressor, Microturbine and Heat Exchanger

TABLE 1
MAJOR EQUIPMENT ITEMS
Digester Cover and Installation Gas Handling Micro-Turbine Compressor, Heat Exchange Electric Generator Building and Utility Utility Tie-in 90,000 5,000 50,000 5,000 5,000

Equipment Subtotal

155,000
25,000

CONSTRUCTION
Engineering

Construction Subtotal

25,000

TOTAL

$180,000

PROJECT STATUS

Cover Installed 90% of area covered Biogas Production 200 to 300 cu meters/day 88% Methane, 12% CO2 Biogas tested in 10 KW EngineGenerator Set 75% COD Reduction

Microturbine and Covered Lagoon

10 KW Engine-Gen Set

Biogas Measurement by Cal Poly Students

10 KW Engine-Generator Test on Biogas

Engine Generator at Full 10 KW

Covered Lagoon Effluent Pipe

CONCLUSIONS

10 KW Engine-Generator Test Input: 11 cubic meters/hr Output: 10 KW Efficiency:10% 30 KW Microturbine Specification: Input: 13 cubic meters/hr Output: 28 KW Efficiency: 27% Effluent Characteristics: 1000 to 1500 mg/l COD 90 mg/l Ammonia

BENEFITS OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

Odor control
Effective Manure and Nutrient Management Electrical Returns 170,000 KWhrs/year $15,500/year 75% of Demand