Name:
Biogas and Composting plant Weißenfels

Location (settlement, country):
Weißenfels, Germany (Saxony-Anhalt)

Brief description of the technology:
Input: Biowaste (including contaminants)
Process: thermophil continuous dry fermentation
Key features: concrete horizontal fermenters, separation unit, CHP generator
Output: Biogas (electric power, heat), compost, liquid fertilizer, separated contaminants

Overall information of Kompgas-plants:
The used fermentation system – KOMPOGAS – is well suited for the integration in existing composting facilities. The KOMPOGAS system – a dry fermentation system – is particularly suitable for such tasks, since no unnecessary water is conveyed through the circuit and the biogenous waste supplied to the facility does not have to be reduced to an unnecessarily fine degree. This allows further use of the existing composting system for curing the fermentation residue without requiring any additional structural material. The new fermentation system can be constructed without imposing any major restrictions on ongoing operations. A complete interruption of operation is expected only for a very short time. During construction of the system, normal operation of the composting facility can continue as usual. The material flow in the existing plant will remain as it is. In the existing processing section, the biogenous waste will be screened to a size smaller than 80 millimetres. The larger fraction will then be freed from non-processible material by manual separation and from ferrous matter by a magnetic separator. It will then undergo size reduction in a screw-type mill, and the two material streams will merge again on a conveyor belt. Finally, the material will be discharged from the existing processing section to be transferred to the belt system of the new fermentation plant. Here, the material will be standardized by screening and size reduction to a particle size smaller than 50 millimetres, and will be placed in intermediate storage in three enclosed holding containers. The fermentation system is designed as a single or multiple line facility, i.e. the material is processed in three horizontal KOMPOGAS core modules with a useful capacity of 950 cubic metres each. The advantage of this approach is a very high operating reliability and a very uniform rate of gas production. The biogas produced during the decomposition process will be converted in a cogeneration unit into electric and thermal energy. The electric power will be fed into the public grid as eco-power (power produced from regenerative biomass). The heat will be used for heating purposes in the facility. The remaining fermentation substrate will then be dewatered, producing fermentation residue and press water. Part of the press water will be returned to the start of the process, and any surplus water will be used as liquid fertilizer or – where no demand for it prevails – will be treated and discharged into the public sewage system. The fermentation residue is to be cured in a section of the existing composting building. At the end of the treatment process, a high-quality compost will be obtained.

Why is it a „Best practice”?
It is a bottom-up project and initiative of private companies and waste management companies from surrounding municipalities.

Possibility for a visit or guided tour (yes / no)?
Yes.

Website:
http://www.awsas.de

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Full document