Actions for Anaerobic fermentation of agricultural residues [electronic resource] : potential for improvement and implementation. Eleventh quarter progress report, December 16, 1978-March 15, 1979

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Anaerobic fermentation of agricultural residues [electronic resource] : potential for improvement and implementation. Eleventh quarter progress report, December 16, 1978-March 15, 1979

Published
Oak Ridge, Tenn. : Distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy, 1979.
Physical Description
Pages: 33 : digital, PDF file
Additional Creators
United States. Department of Energy. Office of Scientific and Technical Information
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Summary
The Cornell University project on production of methane from agricultural residues has as its main goal the development of a low-cost methane gas generation system for use on small agricultural operations. Five different types of anaerobic fermentor reactor designs are presently being operated, with the majority of effort focused on two full scale reactors (both about 35m/sup 3/) designed to process the residues produced by 65-cow dairies. Three pilot units (5m/sup 3/ volume) are being operated to determine the limits of operation variables -- temperature, labor inputs, mixing, and bedding composition. Variables being evaluated with the pilot reactors include: temperature of operation (25/sup 0/C and 35/sup 0/C), straw and sawdust bedding addition, intermittent feeding (once per day to once per week), mixing (none to once per 4 days), and moisture content (90 percent to 60 percent moisture). The low-cost full scale plug flow reactor has now been operated for nearly one year, including the winter with the lowest temperature (down to minus 25/sup 0/C) for the longest period recorded for the northern New York area. Preliminary analysis of the data indicates more efficient solids conversion with the plug flow design (41 percent TVS destruction efficiency) than with the completely mixed full scale system (31.7 percent TVS destruction efficiency) when operating at a 30-day hydraulic retention time at 35/sup 0/C. Although analysis of the thermal data is incomplete, comprehensive heat loss studies were conducted during the cold period.The efficiency of the boiler-hot water heating system varied bewteen 40 and 55 percent. The net energy production during the coldest conditions (worst case) was estimated to be 44 percent at a 15-day HRT at 35/sup 0/C with the low-cost plug flow system. Considerable operatonal problems with the full scale systems occurred during the coldest winter period; but these problems were not caused by the weather.
Report Numbers
E 1.99:coo-2981-11
coo-2981-11
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Note
Published through SciTech Connect.
01/01/1979.
"coo-2981-11"
Jewell, W.J.
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (USA). Dept. of Agricultural Engineering
Funding Information
EY-76-S-02-2981
View MARC record | catkey: 13820153