Clients
Kevin Martin
Category:
Web & App Developement
Date:
20 August, 2021
DEMO 2, situated in Isola della Scala, Veneto Region (Italy), collaborates with an existing anaerobic digestion of 1000 kW capacity (Fig. 6). DEMO 2 is designed to optimize the management of digestate derived from a mix of manure and energy crops, introducing innovative processes for enhanced resource recovery and sustainable agricultural practices.
Within the existing plant, the digestate undergoes an initial mechanical separation through a screw press, resulting in distinct liquid and solid fractions.
The liquid fraction undergoes further refinement through a sieving process, followed by treatment in a ceramic filter. This step ensures the reduction of suspended solids, enhancing the quality of the liquid stream.
The clarified liquid from the ceramic filter undergoes an advanced reverse osmosis (RO) process. This transformative step yields a ‘purified’ stream known as permeate and a nutrient-rich concentrate. The concentrate, exhibiting characteristics akin to vinasses obtained from distillation, holds promise as a recognized fertilizer. The RO concentrate undergoes testing for potential soil amendment or fertilizer use, while the RO permeate, essentially water, can be integrated into the feedstock of the anaerobic digestion unit or used for irrigation purposes.
Acknowledging the challenges associated with full-scale RO use for digestate treatment worldwide, particularly membrane fouling and clogging issues, DEMO 2 proposes an innovative solution. Sequential filtration steps are employed to systematically remove suspended and dissolved solids, overcoming obstacles and augmenting the overall performance and efficiency of the RO system
The solid fraction of the digestate, possessing a 30% dry matter content, undergoes a crucial phase of aerobic stabilization. This process results in the creation of a material rich in stable carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, serving as a valuable carbon sink at the soil level.
The DEMO 2 plant, designed to handle an average of 20 tons per day of digestate, demonstrates an efficient resource utilization process. It produces a solid fertilizer (3 tons per day), RO condensate (3.3 tons per day), and RO permeate (2.3 tons per day).
The preliminary designs of DEMO 2 provide visual insights into the layout and integration of various process units, emphasizing the project’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
DEMO 2 represents a significant leap in sustainable waste management and agricultural practices, showcasing a holistic approach to digestate valorization while addressing challenges associated with advanced treatment technologies on a full scale. This endeavor aligns with global efforts to advance environmental responsibility and resource optimization in the realm of anaerobic digestion.
Clients
Kevin Martin
Category:
Web & App Developement
Date:
20 August, 2021
- Objective: Mechanical separation of the entire digestate into liquid and solid fractions.
- Objective: Reduction of suspended solids in the effluent from the screw press liquid fraction, characterized by a dry matter content around 4%.
- Objective: Filtration of liquid effluent from the sieving process with a pilot-scale ceramic filter.
- Achieves filtration at a high precision of 0.2 µm, ensuring the removal of finer particulate matter.
- Objective: Treatment of liquid effluent from the ceramic filter, with the ability to recover 70-80% of water from the treated stream (around 50% of the initial digestate mass).
- Utilizes a pilot-scale double cartridge reverse osmosis system for efficient water recovery.
- Objective: Aerobic stabilization of the solid fraction with a 30% dry matter content to produce a material rich in stable carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
- The stabilized material can operate as a carbon sink at the soil level, enhancing soil fertility and structure.
- Objective: Design and installation of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system by UNIVR for real-time monitoring and control of DEMO 2 plant operations.
- SCADA Translates raw system data into Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to ensure optimal performance and efficiency.
During the implementation phase, the final construction and integration of these new demo components will be accomplished, resulting in a fully operational demo plant. This integrated approach underscores the commitment to sustainable digestate management, resource recovery, and soil enhancement.
