Anaerobic digester gas

Spiegel, R. J. Preston, J. L., Test results for fuel cell operation on anaerobic digester gas. Journal of Power Sources 2000,86, 283-288. 

Early expectations of very low emissions and relatively high efficiencies have been met in power plants with each type of fuel cell. Fuel flexibility has been demonstrated using natural gas, propane, landfill gas, anaerobic digester gas, military logistic fuels, and coal gas, greatly expanding market opportunities. Transportation markets worldwide have shown remarkable interest in fuel cells nearly every major vehicle manufacturer in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East is supporting development. 

There is the possibility of using other available fuels such as light distillates, ethanol, anaerobic digester gas, biomass, and refuse-derived fuel. However, these fuels apply to niche market applications. Fuel cell application here, if practical, will evolve from and after widespread uses. Users may require an alternate fuel, probably natural gas. 

FuelCell Energy NG, anaerobic digester gas MCFC 1.5-300 Stationary Commercial... 

HydrogenSource NG, methanol, anaerobic digester gas PEMFC Stationary/ transportation Commercial... 

Products and Uses Methane gas produced from animal manure by bacterial anaerobic digestion. Gas is then used as an energy source. Automobiles have been developed that use this fuel, for instance. 

Fuel delivery systems include hydrogen (electrolyzers, bottles, pipelines, reformate and others), natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, anaerobic digester gas (ADG), diesel, bio-diesel, gasoline, landfill methane, and jet fuels... 

Spiegel RJ, Preston JL (2003) Technical assessment of fuel cell operation on anaerobic digester gas at the Yraikers, NY, wastewater treatment plant. Waste Manag 23 709 717... 

The modem MCFC system has a high efficiency typically above 50 % and very low emissions. Since it operates at high temperature (about 650 C) it can be used for cogeneration, combined heat and power, and distributed electricity generation. Most applications have so far been for stationary plants in hospitals, hotels, and resorts where the fuel is natural gas. The MCFC has been demonstrated to run on propane, coal gas, and anaerobic digester gas [90, 94, 96, 97]. Plants have been published for integrated coal gasilier/MCFC systems. 

Fuel choice for this application is based on consumer demand. Anaerobic digester gas, natural gas, biogas, direct hydrogen and even heavier fuels such as kerosene and coal oil can all be used. In terms of impact on efficiency from using different fuel types, what we are seeing is that different fuels are not impacting, more than a percentage point or two, overall efficiency levels. 

The Yonkers facility is the one of the first commercial fuel cell project in die world to run on anaerobic digester gas produced during sewage treatment Soluticms such as EPA s patented filtration system, which removes ccmtaminants such as sulfides and halogen conqxiunds from the anaerobic digester gas, have made fuel cells powered by anaerobic digester gas possible. 

Spiegel, R.J, Thomeloe, S.A, Trocdola, J.C, Preston, XL. 1999. Fuel cell operation on anaerobic digester gas conceptual design and assessment. Waste Manage. 19(6) 389-399. 

In natural gas fuel, some of the sulfur compounds are present naturally (from the wellhead) while other compounds are added as an odorant for leak detection. In other fuels such as anaerobic digester gas or coal bed methane, all sulfur present is naturally occurring. In either case, many different types of inorganic and organic sulfur-containing molecules may be present and sulfur levels must be reduced to sub-ppm level. A desulfurization system for natural gas and other fuels depends on the concentration as well as the nature of the sulfur compounds. Desulfurization can be accomplished by any of the following processes ... 

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