Biomethanation Reactor with Reaction Boosting Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing methane using methanogenic microorganisms are inefficient and economically unviable due to slow growth rates, biofilm formation challenges, and sensitivity to oxygen, which limits the scalability and reliability of industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A device with a reaction boosting mechanism that increases the contact surface between the aqueous medium containing methanogenic microorganisms and the gaseous mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, using mechanisms like turbulent mixing and gas dispersion to enhance gas exchange, allowing for continuous operation and high methane production rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If methanogenic microorganisms are grown in biofilm form on substrate materials, then gas exchange surface area is increased, but startup time becomes very long and biomass concentration is difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming methanogenic microorganism pellets with optimized properties before introducing them to the reactor. These pellets are cultivated under controlled conditions to develop appropriate size, density, and microbial composition, enabling immediate high-performance operation upon reactor startup without requiring long biofilm formation periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the microbial biomass from dispersed biofilm form to consolidated pellet form. This parameter change in biomass morphology enables better control of gas exchange surface area, faster startup times, and improved controllability of biomass concentration while maintaining high reaction efficiency
2Productivity
If hydrogen is supplied to conventional biogas plants optimized for organic substrate decomposition, then methane production could be increased, but the decomposition chain is damaged and the process stops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the methanogenic microorganisms from the conventional multi-step decomposition chain and isolates them in a dedicated reactor system. This allows direct conversion of hydrogen and carbon dioxide to methane without involving the upstream hydrolysis and acidogenesis steps that are sensitive to hydrogen presence, thereby maintaining process stability while enabling high methane production rates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the anaerobic digestion process into separate functional units, with a dedicated reactor for hydrogen-to-methane conversion using isolated methanogenic consortia. This segmentation allows optimization of each stage independently, permitting high hydrogen supply rates in the methanation reactor without disrupting other process stages
3Productivity
If pure cultures of methanogenic microorganisms are used in laboratory scale, then gas exchange efficiency is high, but the organisms are killed by traces of oxygen and cannot be used industrially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite microbial consortia that combine methanogenic microorganisms with protective aerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria on the pellet surface. This composite structure creates an oxygen barrier that protects the oxygen-sensitive methanogens in the pellet interior while maintaining efficient gas exchange, enabling industrial-scale application
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert anaerobic environment within the pellet structure and reactor system, excluding oxygen from the methanogenic microorganism habitat. The pellet morphology and protective outer layers act as physical barriers to oxygen diffusion, maintaining the required anaerobic conditions for methanogen survival and activity in industrial reactors
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
The solution enables efficient and economical methane production by maximizing the contact surface between methanogenic microorganisms and the gaseous substrates, leading to increased methane yields and reduced downtime, making it suitable for industrial-scale energy storage applications.
Implementation Method 1
The methane formation can be written by the following equation: 4H2+CO2⇔CH4+2H2O (so-called Sabatier reaction)
Implementation Method 2
a reaction boosting device, which is designed to increase the contact surface between the aqueous medium with the methanogenic microorganisms and the gaseous mixture
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to means and methods for the biomethanation of H2 and CO2. In particular, the invention relates to devices for producing methane by means of methanogenic microorganisms by converting H2 and CO2, wherein the devices comprise at least one reactor, an aqueous medium, which is provided in the at least one reactor, wherein the methanogenic microorganisms are contained in the aqueous medium, a feeding apparatus, which is designed to introduce H2 and CO2 into the at least one reactor, wherein H2 and CO2 form a gaseous mixture therein, and a reaction-increasing device, which is designed to enlarge the contact surface between the aqueous medium having the methanogenic microorganisms and the gaseous mixture. The invention further relates to methods for producing methane in a reactor device by means of methanogenic microorganisms.