EfW Optimisation and Control Needs Portable or Fixed Systems in Landfill, and Waste Food AD and Sludge AD as EfW Grows in Importance

Mounting energy costs will drive development of fossilfuels alternatives, and mounting taxes on landfill, its avoidance. New products will be needed. Geotech’s new product team is already busy.

For anaerobic digester (AD) operators, gas/CHP engine protection and control of expensive plant with continuous gas analysis it is essential. That is only part of the story; one person’s waste can be another person’s fuel and thus a resource with economic value driven up by oil prices. Ensuring maximum output of energy from waste (EfW) and maximum return on investment (ROI) are in objectives cited in anaerobic digestion (AD) planning. For water treatment of sewerage sludge, operators want AD processes which never fail, meet compliance demands and have a zero or negative carbon footprint and deliver EfW.

We see from four case studies where energy from waste with AD makes excellent use of today’s modern technology from Geotech for optimisation and protection. They herald the future of control and optimisation across farm and food waste, food processing waste and water treatment sludge where AD takes full advantage of today’s available technology and next, tomorrow’s – from Geotech.

Case Study 1

Biogas analysis data feedback informs AD management and control and protects CHPs.

For BiogenGreenfinch the key to successful AD operations includes managing feed mix and its loading while closely monitoring output biogas concentrations. At Twinwoods, a Geotech AEMS static continuous gas analyser, measures methane (CH4) percentage and provides a ‘switch on’ signal for combined heat and power (CHP) engines. It also monitors carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) with an H2S engine cut-off point to protect CHP engines. The gas analyser data log confirms this for BiogenGreenfinch. Gas engine manufacturers can see warranty and service contract conditions un-breached.