Could manure heat and power farms?

Posted in: Energy by admin on January 1, 2009 | No Comments

ARS engineers at the ARS Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center in South Carolina are studying how to use a technique called wet gasification to turn wet manure slurry into energy-rich gases and produce water. The ARS team developed a patented cost-benefit model of a wet gasification technology to calculate estimated returns, and concluded that liquid swine wastes can generate a net energy potential comparable to brown coal. The team is also investigating methods for producing a type of charcoal – called green coal – from manure. Green coal can be burned on the farm for energy or transported offsite to coal plants for fuel. It can also be added to the soil, a practice that would reduce greenhouse gases by permanently sequestering carbon in the soil in the form of the green coal.

Challenges in the Anaerobic Digestion of Hog Manure

Posted in: Energy, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 25, 2008 | No Comments

Anaerobic digesters (AD) have different requirements when hog manure is used instead of dairy manure. As well, chemicals like antibiotics and disinfectants can impede the AD functioning. Some level of inhibiting substances, like ammonia, is normal, but if these levels get too high the AD will stop. The maximum level of inhibiting substances an AD can tolerate will depend on the individual substrate and microorganisms. Mathematical simulations can be run to predict yield and stability under various conditions, and a program known as Aquasim has been developed to do so. Aquasim has been run to determine Biochemical Methane Potential with different substrates, to create a semi-continuous flow model for bioethanol by-product, and to monitor a stable dairy biogas plant. The program can fairly accurately predict the complex biological and chemical response of an anaerobic digester under multiple conditions.

Alternative Sources of Energy – On-Farm Options

Posted in: Energy, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 1, 2008 | No Comments

An on-farm source of alternative energy is an anaerobic digester, which can be run off of liquid manure. Anaerobic digestion produces digestate and a bioga composed of carbon dioxide and methane. Biogas can be used for energy or fuel, and have a decent energy output. Using additional material, like high energy crops, as well as liquid manure are usually necessary for proper functioning, and will also greatly increase the energy produced. Management for the anaerobic digester requires some management and skill to have it functioning properly. As well, it is useful to be connected to a grid as excess electricity can be produced. Ways to deal with payment or cost of electricity include net metering and the standard offer program (Ontario), and there are various funding programs available in Ontario.

The effects of digestion temperature and temperature shock on the biogas yields from the mesophilic anaerobic digestion of swine manure

Posted in: Energy by admin on January 1, 2008 | No Comments

The effect of incubation conditions on the laboratory measurement of the methane producing capacity of livestock wastes

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Digestible and metabolizable energy of crude glycerol for growing pigs

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The apparent DE and ME values of crude glycerol for growing pigs were determined in 5 experiments using crude glycerol (86.95% glycerol) from a biodiesel production facility, which used soybean oil as the initial feedstock. It was concluded that among all experiments, the crude glycerol examined in this study was shown to have a Digestible Energy of of 3,344 ± 8 kcal/kg and an Metabolized Energy of 3,207 ± 10 kcal/kg, thereby providing a highly available energy source for growing pigs.

The impact of different natural zeolite concentrations on the methane production in thermophilic anaerobic digestion of pig waste

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The effect of natural zeolite on the thermophilic anaerobic decomposition of pig waste was
investigated. In particular, the effect of adding different amounts of zeolite on the increase
of methane production of waste. It was found that the results of adding zeolite had an effect not only on the toxicity of
ammonia and on the C/N proportion but also on the regulation of acidity (pH) of the pig
wastes.

Alternative Energy Sources – What We Learned from European Technology and a Practical Look at Possible Ontario On-Farm Applications

Posted in: Energy, Pork Insight Articles by admin on April 3, 2007 | No Comments

An on-farm methane digester can provide a farm with the opportunity to become more self-sufficient. Income from the digester can come from heat, electricity, tipping fees, and digestate. Tipping fees can come from nutrients with large amounts of methane and little cost to access, or from nutrients with little methane that someone will pay to dispose of. Digestate can be used as fertilizer as the nutrients remain unchanged, and it contains less bacteria and odor than manure. The costs associated with producing electricity can potentially come from being charged more to buy back electricity from the grid, inflation, and metering systems. Utilizing the heat produced is another issue. The heat can be used in the barn, but a second business such as a drying or greenhouse operation could be established. Tipping fees have problems associated with volume. Low methane nutrients take up a lot of volume in the tank, and the use of non-traditional organics requires additional equipment and permits. The main problem with digestate is storage and transportation. By charging to cover the costs of transportation the digestate can be disposed of off-site, but demand may be low especially in off seasons. The various benefits and challenges of managing a digester need to be closely considered before installation.

Alternative Energy Sources – What We Learned From European Technology and a Practical Look at Possible Ontario On-Farm Applications

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Some of the possible income sources from an anaerobic digester are electricity, heat, tipping fee, and digestate. Electricity and heat require someone to want to purchase them, and a way to provide it. Tipping fees can be used when removing waste from a plant, and can increase methane. Digestate is less odorous fertilizer option, and could potentially be sold at enough to cover transport costs. Selling electricity is complicated by the need to be attached to a grid, whether electricity will be sold back at a higher price, and metering. Heat can be used on site, but utilization is a problem. Tipping fees rely on a steady source, and the digester volume has to be larger. Digestate income relies on storage, and a demand for it.

Alternative Energy Sources – A Hog Producer’s Perspective of On-Farm Anaerobic Digesters

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A producer’s perspective on why he chose to put an anaerobic digester on his farm. Anaerobic digesters have the potential to make money for the producer, but they also have a positive environmental impact by reducing pathogens, odor, and harmful gases in manure. As part of the Huron Anaerobic Digester Working Group, there is support available and the community can see the benefit from reduced risk of water contamination.