Sustainable Energy From Dairy Farm Waste with GraniteFuel’s Advanced Biogas Upgrading
Dairy farms in Florida committed to embracing renewable resources, embarked on a sustainable journey, setting an example in the dairy industry’s environmental stewardship. Seeking to enhance their waste-to-energy process, the agricultural operation collaborated with GraniteFuel Engineering (GFE), a renowned leader in biogas conditioning systems, to install a comprehensive biogas upgrading system within their Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plant in Trenton, Florida. This collaborative effort aimed to optimize energy production, reduce carbon footprint, and generate clean renewable energy, aligning with farm’s mission of environmental responsibility.
Project Details
Owned and operated by TECO Peoples Gas, Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, the Florida Dairy Biogas RNG Plant is designed to produce over 105,000 MMBtu/year of clean renewable energy. The biogas is derived from the anaerobic digestion of manure and skillfully upgraded by GraniteFuel Engineering to offset natural gas consumption for more than 4,000 households in the region. The project’s success showcases GraniteFuel’s expertise in delivering advanced biogas conditioning solutions tailored to specific flow requirements, guaranteeing efficient operations and maximum system uptime.
GraniteFuel Engineering’s Customized Biogas Upgrading System
GraniteFuel Engineering implemented an innovative biogas upgrading system, meticulously designed to address various challenges and meet sustainability goals of the dairy producer. The process commenced with H2S removal, utilizing two static media vessels equipped with ferrosorp media. A lead-lag valve skid provided operational flexibility, enabling parallel or lead-lag sequence configurations to ensure continuous gas treatment without interruptions during media change-outs.
Following efficient H2S removal, the biogas flowed into the low-pressure blower system. To enhance gas pressure, multiple regenerative blowers were utilized for added redundancy and reliability, boosting the gas to a pressure of 5 to 7 PSI. Air coolers were strategically integrated to remove excess heat from the pressurized gas, and the moisture removal system ensured that the gas was sufficiently dry for further processing.
GraniteFuel Engineering’s advanced activated carbon polishing system was the next step, effectively eliminating latent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and siloxanes from the biogas, preparing it for downstream upgrading. The process continued with a sophisticated compression system, featuring parallel compressors to boost the biogas pressure up to 188 PSI. This setup ensured industry-leading system turn-down capabilities and electrical efficiencies, enhancing the overall performance and reliability of the system.
The biogas then underwent membrane CO2 separation, facilitated by a three-stage membrane system utilizing Evonik membranes. This state-of-the-art technology delivered remarkable methane recovery rates of around 99%, resulting in a final product gas with methane purity ranging from 96% to 99%. The tail gases, with methane levels below one percent, were vented in compliance with regulatory standards.
Summary
GraniteFuel Engineering’s comprehensive biogas upgrading system generates pipeline-spec RNG (renewable natural gas), transforming organic waste into clean renewable energy. The successful implementation of GraniteFuel’s technology highlights the potential of innovative biogas conditioning technologies in fostering environmental sustainability and energy independence. By optimizing the RNG production process and promoting responsible waste-to-energy practices, agricultural operators can exemplify the potential for renewable energy in creating a greener and more sustainable future.
