The Biogas Process

Aim

After completed the course the student should be able to:

• account for the microbial processes responsible for biogas production and describe the delicate balances of the anaerobic degradation chain,
• identify and discuss causes of process disturbances and give suggestions on how to recover, improve, and control the biogas process,
• know the terminology relevant to the biogas process and define key terms,
• perform relevant calculations and laboratory analyses in relation to different aspects of the process.

Content

The course focuses on how the properties of the substrate affect and form microbial community and functioning of the biogas process. The relevance and use of the residue from biogas reactors, also called digestate, as biofertiliser is also evaluated. Different types of biogas plants are covered, as are the different specific subcomponents and sub-processes, such as control systems and pre-treatments. The role and interactions of biogas and biofertiliser with environmental and societal challenges are discussed.

The practical part of the course involves operation of laboratory scale biogas reactors. The experiments will be used to exemplify the biogas potential, kinetics, hydraulic retention times, and process performance related to different substrates.