Biogas Fuel Production with Distributed Purification and Central Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biogas production on a small scale is economically unfeasible due to high capital investment costs associated with biogas upgrading and fuel production processes, limiting its use to on-site applications, and there is a need for scalable and mobile technologies that can efficiently process lower volumes of biogas.
Innovation Solution
A method involving partial purification of biogas at the source using stationary systems to remove hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, followed by pressurization and transport to a centralized processing facility for further fuel production, leveraging economies of scale to reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biogas is fully upgraded to RNG at small-scale sources, then fuel quality is improved, but capital investment costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The biogas upgrading process is divided into two segments: partial purification at distributed small-scale sources (removing H2S and CO2) and centralized full upgrading at a hub facility. This segmentation allows small producers to perform only the economically feasible partial purification while maintaining fuel quality through subsequent centralized processing.
Solution Approach 2:
Partial purification (removal of H2S and CO2) is performed in advance at small-scale biogas sources before transport. This preliminary action reduces the burden on centralized facilities and enables small producers to participate economically while still achieving high-quality RNG through centralized completion of the upgrading process.
2Productivity
If biogas is transported from multiple small sources to a centralized facility, then economies of scale are achieved reducing per-unit costs, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into simple distributed partial purification units and a centralized full upgrading facility. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing small producers to use simple, low-cost equipment while benefiting from the efficiency of centralized processing for the remaining upgrading steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized facility serves multiple small-scale biogas sources, performing the complete upgrading process for all of them. This multi-functionality allows the centralized facility to achieve economies of scale by processing large volumes from multiple sources using a single integrated system.
3Use of energy by moving object
If small-scale biogas producers use on-site CHP units, then energy utilization is improved, but fuel production capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables small-scale biogas producers to serve dual purposes: they can use on-site CHP units for energy utilization while also transporting their partially purified biogas to centralized facilities for fuel production. This multi-functionality allows small producers to both consume their own energy and contribute to renewable fuel production.
Solution Approach 2:
Small-scale producers perform partial purification in advance, creating a product that can be either used for on-site energy generation or transported for fuel production. This preliminary processing enables flexibility in determining the ultimate use of the biogas based on economic conditions and energy needs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for efficient production of renewable fuels like RNG and ethanol by reducing capital investment costs and improving the efficiency of biogas utilization through partial purification and centralized processing, enabling the use of smaller biogas producers.
Implementation Method 1
partially purifying the biogas comprises using a stationary purification system to remove one or more components from the biogas
Implementation Method 2
removing one or more components from the biogas to produce a partially purified biogas
Implementation Method 3
feeding the partially purified biogas into a vessel such that the partially purified biogas is pressurized to a high pressure
Implementation Method 4
transporting the vessel containing the partially purified biogas to a centralized processing facility using a vehicle
Implementation Method 5
producing the fuel from methane in the partially purified biogas removed in step (e)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing a fuel includes removing hydrogen sulfide and/or carbon dioxide from biogas to provide partially purified biogas, which is filled in a mobile storage system. The partially purified biogas is transported to a centralized processing facility, in the mobile storage system, by truck, rail, or ship. At the centralized processing the partially purified biogas is further processed, either to produce a fuel that is renewable or has renewable content, or to produce renewable natural gas, which is used to produce the fuel that is renewable or has renewable content.