Polygeneration of bioethanol, biogas, heat and eletricity by Sun Power Plant Project Ltd. „S3P“
Abstract
The objective of this study is to analyse the economic feasibility of fuel-bioethanol production in the region Harmansdorf/Rückersdorf (NÖ), partner of the so called leader region “10 vor Wien". Contrary to common bioethanol production in large-scale plants, this project scrutinises a decentralised small-scale plant that is to be embedded into existing regional structures. The sustainable development of bioethanol as a renewable source of energy requires a holistic approach to feedstock production, energy supply, and utilisation of waste materials. Therefore, several environmental aspects are considered, such as sustainable crop rotation concepts for regional feedstock production, and the thermal utilisation of biogenous residual materials. In particular, an innovative combination of bioethanol- and biogas-plants is to be set up. To close the ecological cycle, the resulting biogas residues are supposed to be reintegrated as fertilisers. From a technical point of view, optimisation has to focus on improving heat integration, as small-scale plants still show rather poor energy efficiency. Another issue is whether the economic efficiency of the total system as well as individual process components can be improved. For example, the state of the art technology for ethanol dewatering is adsorption – in large-scale production, however. As the implementation of an adsorption unit in small bioethanol plants is comparatively expensive, membrane technology emerges as interesting and – due to the modular concept – cheaper alternative. With gas permeation and pervaporation, two membrane separation methods will be investigated theoretically, followed by laboratory experiments with the more promising method. The main emphasis of this study is to cover the energy demand of the bioethanol plant exclusively by exploitation of residual substances of the process. By fermentation of the total amount of distillation residue (stillage) and varying amounts of other biomass (e. g. residues of feedstock harvest) biogas will be produced. Due to the fact that the plant-specific usage of biogas – CHP, biogas boiler or turbine – influences the quantity of heat produced, adequate heat supply has to be ensured by adapting the biogas feedstock for each option, e.g. by changing the ratio of stillage to co-substrates. Different feedstock compositions are to be examined in regard to biogas yield, optimal fermentation parameters, as well as the quality of residual biogas manure in terms of fertiliser. Batch and continuous experiments are conducted for this purpose. Based on simulation data different scenarios of small-scale bioethanol production with innovative energy supplying facilities will be evaluated both energetically and economically. In conclusion a feasility study is elaborated, which points out the most valuable process combination for producing bioethanol in the region Harmansdorf/Rückersdorf – in the most sustainable way. Keywords deutsch: Umweltforschung;Umwelttechnologie; Energieforschung; Erneuerbare Energie, Umweltschutz; Ackerbau; Energiewirtschaft, Biogas, Bioethanol, Agrarökologie; Biologischer Landbau; Energieträger, Nachwachsende Rohstoffe; Agrarökonomie; Agrarpolitik; Landwirtschaftliches Bauwesen; Nachhaltigkeit; English: environmental research,environmental technology, energy research, renewable energy, environment protection, agriculture, energy industry, biogas, bioethanol, agroecology, agricultural cultivation, energy source, renewable raw materials, agricultural economy, agricultural policy,agricultural engineering, sustainability.
keywords renewable energy biogas bioethanol sustainability environmental research environmental technology energy industry
Publikationen
Analysis of methane potentials of steam-exploded wheat straw and estimation of energy yields of combined ethanol and methane production.
Autoren: Bauer, A; Bösch, P; Friedl, A; Amon, T; Jahr: 2009
Journal articles
Project staff
Alexander Bauer
Assoc. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Alexander Bauer
alexander.bauer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-93101, 93150
Sub Projectleader
01.08.2007 - 31.12.2008
Barbara Amon
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Barbara Amon
barbara.amon@boku.ac.at
Project Staff
01.08.2007 - 31.12.2008
Christian Leonhartsberger
Mag.rer.nat. Christian Leonhartsberger
Project Staff
01.08.2007 - 31.12.2008
BOKU partners
External partners
GE Jenbacher GmbH & Co OHG
none
partner
Biogest Umwelttechnik GmbH
DI Martin Schlerka
partner
Christian Carl Ing. GmbH
Alexander Plank, info@ChristianCarl.com
partner
Sun Power Project GesbR
Ing. Karl Holzer, ak.holzer@a1.net
partner