Changing old habits: The case of feeding patterns in anaerobic digesters

Willeghems, Gwen; Buysse, Jeroen

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2016.01.081

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Such environmental selection pressures can be, for example, temperature [ 14 , 15 ], ammonia concentration [ 16 ], feed composition [ 17 ], hydraulic retention time (HRT) [ 18 ], organic loading rate (OLR) [ 19 ], or the feeding regime in terms of temporal feeding schedule [ 1 , 20 – 24 ]. A temporal feeding schedule is particularly interesting because it could be implemented in industrial practice without additional investments [ 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contrary to this practice, several laboratory-scale studies have shown a positive influence of discontinuous feeding regimes on process performance and functional stability associated with shifts in the microbial community [ 1 , 20 – 23 ]. In addition to functional stability, a techno-economic analysis for existing co-digestion plants in Belgium revealed that discontinuous feeding regimes could even be economically advantageous as they allowed an increase in overall organic loading rates and biogas production [ 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intermittent fasting for microbes: how discontinuous feeding increases functional stability in anaerobic digestion

Bonk

Popp

Weinrich

et al. 2018

Biotechnol Biofuels

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BackgroundDemand-driven biogas production could play an important role for future sustainable energy supply. However, feeding a biogas reactor according to energy demand may lead to organic overloading and, thus, to process failures. To minimize this risk, digesters need to be actively steered towards containing more robust microbial communities. This study focuses on acetogenesis and methanogenesis as crucial process steps for avoiding acidification. We fed lab-scale anaerobic digesters with volatile fatty acids under various feeding regimes and disturbances. The resulting microbial communities were analyzed on DNA and RNA level by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism of the mcrA gene, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and a [2-13C]-acetate assay. A modified Anaerobic Digestion Model 1 (ADM1) that distinguishes between the acetoclastic methanogens Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina was developed and fitted using experimental abiotic and biotic process parameters.ResultsDiscontinuous feeding led to more functional resilience than continuous feeding, without loss in process efficiency. This was attributed to a different microbial community composition. Methanosaeta dominated the continuously fed reactors, while its competitor Methanosarcina was washed out. With discontinuous feeding, however, the fluctuating acetic acid concentrations provided niches to grow and co-exist for both organisms as shown by transcription analysis of the mcrA gene. Our model confirmed the higher functional resilience due to the higher abundance of Methanosarcina based on its higher substrate uptake rate and higher resistance to low pH values. Finally, we applied our model to maize silage as a more complex and practically relevant substrate and showed that our model is likely transferable to the complete AD process.ConclusionsThe composition of the microbial community determined the AD functional resilience against organic overloading in our experiments. In particular, communities with higher share of Methanosarcina showed higher process stability. The share of these microorganisms can be purposefully increased by discontinuous feeding. A model was developed that enables derivation of the necessary feeding regime for a more robust community with higher share of Methanosarcina.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13068-018-1279-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intermittent fasting for microbes: how discontinuous feeding increases functional stability in anaerobic digestion

Bonk

Popp

Weinrich

et al. 2018

Biotechnol Biofuels

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Analysing different sizes of a CHP unit is done by Hochloff and Braun () by optimizing the concurrent dispatch in the reserve control market and day‐ahead electricity spot market. A nonlinear programming model has been developed by Willeghems and Buysse () to optimize profits by adjusting the feeding regime and regarding a first‐order kinetic biogas yield function, the organic loading rate (OLR) as well as nutrient restrictions. Gebrezgabher, Meuwissen, Prins, and Lansink () optimize the sales of electricity under digestate application restrictions and analysis the influence of digestate treatment technologies.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A plant‐specific model approach to assess effects of repowering measures on existing biogas plants: The case of Baden‐Wuerttemberg

2018

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Up to the latest versions of the German renewable energy act (EEG), there had been a constant growth of new biogas plants (BGPs). After reaching a stagnation in the last years, today the focus has shifted to improving the existing BGPs. Assuming that most plants have not reached the technical end of life, the question arises on how an operation can be realized beyond the initial EEG support period of 20 years. In addition, new legal and economic conditions require the implementation of adjustments, that is, “repowering measures.” Based on a method review, a plant‐specific model approach is presented to assess repowering measures for a wide range of BGPs differing in capacity, substrate mixture and agricultural structures. The techno‐economic model includes different performance indicators like levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and temporal aspects like technical progress. Using a data set for BGPs in the state of Baden‐Wuerttemberg (Germany), results are illustrated for the different model modules and three repowering scenarios of an extended operation period of ten years. The scenarios regard different options to meet the requirements of the current EEG, namely the flexibilization and restrictions on energy crops, in comparison with a reference case. While in repowering scenarios, the number of plants decreases between 54% and 69% and the overall power capacity changes between −48% and 13% until 2035. The results further show a reduction potential in the specific area demand and GHG emission up to 12% and 24%, respectively. Technical progress, additional revenues and capacity premiums are shown to be an important factor for efficient substrate utilization, low LCOE and thereby the enabling of an extended operation period. The scenario results indicate that the agricultural areas for energy crop cultivation and the amount of manure used in BGPs will be reduced considerably, inducing new chances and challenges in the future.

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“…In the future three other installations might install a predigester. Currently many of the digesters face financial difficulties and are searching for alternative business models [23]. In Flanders, biogas upgrading systems have not been installed yet.…”

Section: Zoss Et Al (2016) Developed a Mathematical Model To Evaluatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-economic assessment of a microbial power-to-gas plant – Case study in Belgium

et al. 2018

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A successful transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy management in 2050 requires the implementation of renewable energy sources on a large scale. Therefore, it is expected that the share of renewable energy will further increase. Due to the introduction of these intermittent energy sources, the need for flexibility in our energy system increases significantly. Power-togas (P2G) is one promising option for providing long term energy storage and for providing flexibility to the electricity system. An interesting, recent technological development is biological methanation. The latter utilizes microorganisms to catalyze the Sabatier reaction. This biological reaction can be achieved at lower temperatures and pressures than when a chemical catalyst is used and has a higher tolerance to contaminations from the CO2 source, process upset or contamination by foreign organisms. We investigate the techno-economic potential of biological methanation (i.e. microbial power-togas concept) using a case study that revolves around anaerobic digestion using mainly municipal organic waste in Belgium. The most important parameters that influence the economic feasibility are the electricity consumption (44 %), operating hours of the electrolyser (14 %), and the investment cost of the electrolyser (14 %). Based on our findings we offer further routes of research that serve to strengthen the business case.

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Changing old habits: The case of feeding patterns in anaerobic digesters

Cited by 21 publications

References 34 publications

Intermittent fasting for microbes: how discontinuous feeding increases functional stability in anaerobic digestion

Intermittent fasting for microbes: how discontinuous feeding increases functional stability in anaerobic digestion

A plant‐specific model approach to assess effects of repowering measures on existing biogas plants: The case of Baden‐Wuerttemberg

Techno-economic assessment of a microbial power-to-gas plant – Case study in Belgium

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