Anaerobic Digestion
How does it work?
Where technology meets agriculture
A quick overview of the Anaerobic Digestion Process
Anaerobic digestion is an amazing natural process! It involves microorganisms that help break down organic waste without needing oxygen. The result? We get renewable biogas, which is a great source of energy, and nutrient-rich fertilizer that's perfect for plants!
Let’s explore the fun stages of this process:
Hydrolysis: This is where the action starts! Enzymes work their magic to break down complex substances like proteins and fats into simpler forms like sugars and amino acids.
Acidogenesis: Next up, acid-forming bacteria take those simpler molecules and transform them into tasty byproducts like volatile fatty acids, alcohols, and gases.
Acetogenesis:Other bacteria convert those volatile acids into acetic acid hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Methanogenesis: Specilized archae consume those end products to create methane [CH₄] and carbon dioxide [CO₂], which form biogas.
The Digestate Dryer
The aim of the dryer is to produce dry fertilizer of up to 90% dry matter. This material is ideal for use as a replacement for chemical fertilisers. The dryer uses heat generated by the CHP units not required in the AD process to produce the finished product
The Huning system consists of a recessed steel hopper with a volume of 80 cubic metres. The material in the hopper is fed via augers into the feed pump which incorporates a chopper to ensure homogenized feedstock into the process.
The Huning
The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units are located within an acoustic enclosure and have a capacity of 499 kW of electricity. They supply power to the grid, and the heat generated is recycled to maintain the necessary temperatures within the anaerobic digestion (AD) process.
The CHP
There are two primary digesters made of cylindrical reinforced concrete. The walls are insulated and heated using thermal energy captured from the heat recovery unit. It contains c2,300 tonnes of bacteria breaking down the waste at a temperature of 30-40c. The digesters are fully sealed and covered by a double membrane for biogas storage.
The 2 Primary Digesters
