Paper details

Title:

Biogas Slurry Logistics Assessment: Tanker vs. Umbilical System

Author(s):

Berruto, R., Busato, P., Bochtis, D.

Document(s):

Abstract:

The continuous development of new crops for anaerobic digestion has led to the need to manage in a rational and environmental­friendly way the distribution of the digested products that comes out of the biogas plant. The EU, national, and regional regulations set the time windows when it is allowed to carry out the slurry applications and the limits on the amount of Nitrogen per hectare (ha) to be distributed in the field. The purpose of the study was to compare the use of traditional tanker system [TS] vs. the umbilical system [US] in terms of application performance and operation costs. Based on the field trials carried out in 2008 2009 and 2010 a dynamic, discrete­event simulation model using Extendsim® software (Imaginethat Inc, USA) was built. The values of the input parameters are based on experimentally measured and subsequently analyzed data. The assessment considers the following factors: field distance (1 to 5 km, step 1 km) and rates of Nitrogen distributed per ha (50 to 300 kgN ha­1, step 50 kgNha­1). The US was shown to be cost­effective for high application rates and distances of 2­4 km. The US allowed, however, a very important reduction in working time (up to 71% for a 5 km pipeline system) compared with the TS. The significant savings in term of working times (up to 400 h/y savings for 1 MW biogas plant) are a useful information in terms of comprehensive planning involving, for example, timeliness issues and/or workability issues. The US allows covering a larger area within the available operational days compared to TS. The savings for the distribution of the digestate, on selected scenarios, was found to be about 40% for the US (up to 20,000 €/y). Assuming a 15 years life­time for a biogas plant, this implies savings up to 0,3 M€, and a significant reduction in the associated energy expenses and CO2 emissions.

Keywords:

logistics, management, modelling, biogas plant

Topic:

Processes for Fuels from Biomass

Subtopic:

Production and supply of gaseous biofuels

Event:

19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

VP3.4.28

Pages:

2132 - 2135

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-55-4

ISBN-10:

88-89407-55-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP3.4.28

Price:

FREE