Simulation of an integrated system for the production of methane and single cell protein from biomass

Miscellaneous · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:7031199

Thomas, M V

A numerical model was developed to simulate the operation of an integrated system for the production of methane and single-cell algal protein from a variety of biomass energy crops or waste streams. Economic analysis was performed at the end of each simulation. The model was capable of assisting in the determination of design parameters by providing relative economic information for various strategies. Three configurations of anaerobic reactors were simulated. These included fed-bed reactors, conventional stirred tank reactors, and continuously expanding reactors. A generic anaerobic digestion process model, using lumped substrate parameters, was developed for use by type-specific reactor models. The generic anaerobic digestion model provided a tool for the testing of conversion efficiencies and kinetic parameters for a wide range of substrate types and reactor designs. Dynamic growth models were used to model the growth of algae and Eichornia crassipes was modeled as a function of daily incident radiation and temperature. The growth of Eichornia crassipes was modeled for the production of biomass as a substrate for digestion. Computer simulations with the system model indicated that tropical or subtropical locations offered the most promise for a viable system. The availability of large quantities of digestible waste and low land prices were found to be desirable in order to take advantage of the economies of scale. Other simulations indicated that poultry and swine manure produced larger biogas yields than cattle manure. The model was created in a modular fashion to allow for testing of a wide variety of unit operations. Coding was performed in the Pascal language for use on personal computers.

• Research Organization: Florida Univ., Gainesville, FL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7031199
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
ALGAE
GROWTH
MANURES
FERMENTATION
METHANE
BIOSYNTHESIS
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BIOMASS
BIOREACTORS
CATTLE
CHICKENS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROCOMPUTERS
PASCAL
SWINE
YIELDS
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ALKANES
ANIMALS
BIOCONVERSION
BIRDS
COMPUTERS
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOWL
HYDROCARBONS
MAMMALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC WASTES
PLANTS
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RUMINANTS
SIMULATION
SYNTHESIS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
090800* - Biomass Fuels- Production- (1990-)