PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGAS

ABSTRACT The operating costs and investment in microgeneration plants are high, and the maximum efficiency of the process should be targeted such that farmers can obtain the best financial returns. In this study, the efficiency of a microbiogas plant was estimated using a methodological analysis tha...

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Main Authors: Cristela M. Siebert, Samuel N. M. de Souza, Doglas Bassegio, Deonir Secco, Waldir M. Machado Junior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola 2025-04-01
Series:Engenharia Agrícola
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-69162025000100313&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Cristela M. Siebert
Samuel N. M. de Souza
Doglas Bassegio
Deonir Secco
Waldir M. Machado Junior
author_facet Cristela M. Siebert
Samuel N. M. de Souza
Doglas Bassegio
Deonir Secco
Waldir M. Machado Junior
author_sort Cristela M. Siebert
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The operating costs and investment in microgeneration plants are high, and the maximum efficiency of the process should be targeted such that farmers can obtain the best financial returns. In this study, the efficiency of a microbiogas plant was estimated using a methodological analysis that involved a biodigester mass balance and plant energy balance. The plant had two biodigesters and an engine generator. The biodigesters under study were considered low tech. The results showed 65% utilization of the volatile solids present in the substrate by the biodigesters, producing biogas with an average methane concentration of 57%. The equipment necessary for the operation of the system consumed 19.45% of the energy produced, and most of this energy was used for the transportation of substrates. The energy balance of the plant indicated an energy efficiency of 27.24% during the production process. The hydraulic retention time, pH, intermediate/partial alkalinity ratio, and organic loading rate indicate that reactor A is underutilized, has a low nutrient supply, and may result in low methane production. These indicators suggest that biogas production and quality can be improved by better distribution of substrates among the digesters.
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language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Sociedade Brasileira de Engenharia Agrícola
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spelling doaj-art-66c7df1f35a34b2e8cc23c8959228ad12025-08-20T02:10:39ZengSociedade Brasileira de Engenharia AgrícolaEngenharia Agrícola0100-69162025-04-014510.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v45e20240078/2025PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGASCristela M. SiebertSamuel N. M. de Souzahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3581-902XDoglas BassegioDeonir SeccoWaldir M. Machado JuniorABSTRACT The operating costs and investment in microgeneration plants are high, and the maximum efficiency of the process should be targeted such that farmers can obtain the best financial returns. In this study, the efficiency of a microbiogas plant was estimated using a methodological analysis that involved a biodigester mass balance and plant energy balance. The plant had two biodigesters and an engine generator. The biodigesters under study were considered low tech. The results showed 65% utilization of the volatile solids present in the substrate by the biodigesters, producing biogas with an average methane concentration of 57%. The equipment necessary for the operation of the system consumed 19.45% of the energy produced, and most of this energy was used for the transportation of substrates. The energy balance of the plant indicated an energy efficiency of 27.24% during the production process. The hydraulic retention time, pH, intermediate/partial alkalinity ratio, and organic loading rate indicate that reactor A is underutilized, has a low nutrient supply, and may result in low methane production. These indicators suggest that biogas production and quality can be improved by better distribution of substrates among the digesters.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-69162025000100313&lng=en&tlng=enenergy balancebiodigesterefficiencymicrogeneratorbiogas production
spellingShingle Cristela M. Siebert
Samuel N. M. de Souza
Doglas Bassegio
Deonir Secco
Waldir M. Machado Junior
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGAS
Engenharia Agrícola
energy balance
biodigester
efficiency
microgenerator
biogas production
title PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGAS
title_full PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGAS
title_fullStr PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGAS
title_full_unstemmed PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGAS
title_short PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF AN ELECTRICITY MICROGENERATION PLANT USING BIOGAS
title_sort performance assessment of an electricity microgeneration plant using biogas
topic energy balance
biodigester
efficiency
microgenerator
biogas production
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-69162025000100313&lng=en&tlng=en
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AT samuelnmdesouza performanceassessmentofanelectricitymicrogenerationplantusingbiogas
AT doglasbassegio performanceassessmentofanelectricitymicrogenerationplantusingbiogas
AT deonirsecco performanceassessmentofanelectricitymicrogenerationplantusingbiogas
AT waldirmmachadojunior performanceassessmentofanelectricitymicrogenerationplantusingbiogas