Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Hydrogen and Electrons from Manure Philip Goodrich PE Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering University

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Hydrogen and Electrons from Manure

Philip Goodrich PEDepartment of Biosystems and Agricultural EngineeringUniversity of MinnesotaSt. Paul, MN [email protected]

R. Vance Morey, David Schmidt, Paul Burns, Matt Drewitz, Dennis Haubenschild, Amanda Bilek, David

Nelson, Richard Huelskamp

Advancing Utilization of Advancing Utilization of Manure Methane DigesterManure Methane Digester

Funding for this project was recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources

from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund ($204, 375)


OutlineOutline

BackgroundObjectiveWhat we have doneWhy we did it our waySome resultsWhere we go from here


BackgroundBackground

Have a well operating digester on an 800 cow dairy herd

Biogas is being converted to electricity by 130 kW engine generator

Digester is producing excess biogas


Haubenschild Dairy Farm Energy Haubenschild Dairy Farm Energy ProductionProductionPrinceton, MinnesotaPrinceton, Minnesota

Milk Production + Crop Production + Electrical Production + Future

Hydrogen Production

= Farm Income Diversification


View of digester, barn and engine generator building at time of installation in 1999.

Digester Winter 2005



Methane Digester Breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen to biogas, which isCH4 --methane, CO2 --carbon dioxide, H2S --hydrogen sulfide, H2O --water vapor.


Plug-Flow Digester - A small “plug” of slurry is pumped into one end each day, causing a comparable amount to flow out of the other end into the storage basin in the background.


Engine Generator set:

Internal combustion

engine with 135 kW 240 VAC

electrical generator.

Caterpiller 3406


Biogas Production Used in Generator

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

09/17/99 09/16/00 09/16/01 09/17/02 09/17/03 09/17/04

Date

Biogas Produced

(ft3/day)


OpportunityOpportunity

Complete side-by-side testing of technologyObserve odor reduction benefits of systemCompare emissions of two technologiesDo something that had not been done

before


ObjectiveObjective

Evaluate the feasibility of a fuel cell to convert biogas (methane) to electricity.

Next step may be to produce hydrogen for farm use from biogas.


Procedures to Achieve ObjectiveProcedures to Achieve Objective

Develop biogas gas cleanup system

Install fuel cell on digesterTest the fuel cellMonitor systems for energy,

consumption and emissions


ChallengesChallenges

Hydrogen sulfide removal– Initial concentration ~3000 ppm– Need concentration < 25 ppb

Moisture removal– Need dry gas

Carbon dioxide removal– Need concentration < 50,000 ppm (5%)


Types of Fuel CellsTypes of Fuel Cells

Proton Exchange Membrane -Low temp

Solid Oxide -High temperature

Molten Carbonate -High Temperature


Biogas


A fuel cell is similar to a car battery in that it produces electricity through

electrochemical reactions. A fuel cell produces electricity as long as the hydrogen

fuel source and oxygen passes through it.

Heat is also produced and can be utilized for space heating and hot water needs.

Electricity conversion efficiency is around 25%

The energy resources for hydrogen can be biogas, natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, and other hydrogen based liquids or gases.



The building at the left houses the 135 kW engine generator and the building on the right houses the fuel cell and instrumentation. One barn is to the right rear of the picture


Fuel Reformer

5 kW Plug Power™ Fuel Cell

Fuel Stack

Inverter & Battery Bank


Cost per kilowatt is very high.$10,000 -->20,000 per

kW

Biogas must be cleaned up to strict specifications. Adds cost and complexity while consuming energy.

Fuel cell is an emerging technology.

Comparing Electrical Generator Technologies

Engine Generator System

Cost per kilowatt is low. $500 -->1000 per kW

Biogas can be used directly from the digester with no cleanup.

ICE is mature technology.

Fuel Cell System


Greenhouse emissions and particulates are very low.

System is very quiet.

Few moving parts.



Greenhouse emissions of CO2, SO2, CO and particulates are significant.

Noise level is very high and sound mitigation is necessary.

Many moving parts, most moving in a hot environment needing oil and cooling.

Fuel Cell System


Cost of maintenance is unknown.

Fuel cell technology is continuously improving at a rapid rate.



Maintenance is well known.

Technology is mature and changing slowly.

Fuel Cell System


Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEM)

Advantages•Could buy one from a vendor with experience•Less expensive than others•Made in lower capacity

Disadvantages•Low temperature water for heating•Critical on gas quality•Lots of gas cleanup needed


Biogas Clean UpBiogas Clean Up








Gemini Gas Monitor



Emissions from Haubenschild Generator Emissions from Haubenschild Generator Compared to Plug Power™ Compared to Plug Power™ Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel CellProton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell

( 800ppmv) 4.18 g/kWh

(2960ppmv) 25.5 g/kWh

(277ppmv) 3.34 g/kWh

(20460ppmv) 53 g/kWh

( <1 ppmv) 0.014 g/kWh

(<1 ppmv) <.0023 g/kWh

(<1 ppmv) <0.030 g/kWh

(1790 ppmv) 14.5 g/kWh

Fuel CellEngine Generator

CO

NOx

SOX

CX HY

Where we are nowWhere we are now

Fuel cell runs ok on cleaned up gas

Need to get more stable cleanup system

Not getting value for electricity


Where do we go next?Where do we go next?

Compress, transport and sell methaneMake hydrogen and sell hydrogen

More value and less regulated


Environmental and Economic Benefits

1) reduced reliance on fossil fuels 2) reduced odors and emissions 3) reduced soil and water pollution 4) supports rural economy


Project Participants

Philip R. Goodrich PE, David Nelson PE, Richard Huelskamp, David Schmidt PE, R. Vance Morey from Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering,

University of Minnesota.

Dennis Haubenschild from Haubenschild Farms, Princeton MN

Matthew Drewitz, Paul Burns, from Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Other participants in this project include:

• Amanda Bilik, The Minnesota Project, • Verlyn Johnson and Blanca Martinez, BAE • Henry Fischer, East Central Energy. • Rob Lowen, Plug Power, Inc. • Jamie Tooley, CES-Landtec Engineering• Don White, Donaldson Corp• David Thimsen, EPRI• Claudio Martinez & Stephan Becerra ,John Deere Co


Thank you

Advancing Utilization of Manure Methane Digester

Funding for this project was recommended by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources from the Minnesota Environment

and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Documents

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Hydrogen and Electrons from Manure Philip Goodrich PE Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering University