Biogas production from sewage sludge as a distributed energy generation element: A nationwide case study for Turkey

Year 2019, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 93 - 97, 30.06.2019

Suleyman Sapmaz , İbrahim Kilicaslan

https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.457466

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Sewage sludge is outcome of
the wastewater treatment process. It contains hazardous biological and chemical
compounds that need to be stabilized. Anaerobic digestion is among the
stabilization methods of sewage sludge. Digestion process destroys organic
fraction of sewage sludge and produces biogas (%65 Methane, %34 CO₂
and etc.). Biogas is burned in internal combustion engines to produce
electricity. Digested residue can be used fertilizer. In this study, the total
electricity production that can be obtained by anaerobic digestion of all
wastewater treatment plants throughout the country is examined. Main objective
of this study is preliminary evaluation of energy potential of biogas from
sewage sludge anaerobic digestion. Since Wastewater Treatment Plants are
distributed in the various regions of a city, above mentioned biogas plants
should be considered as distributed generation equipment. Use of small scale
energy production plants near the consumers is called distributed generation.
Energy transmission losses and related infrastructure cost can be reduced or
delayed by means of distributed generation. Within a smart grid approach,
mentioned plants can support electricity grid. They can also serve as local
emergency power plants. As a nationwide scenario WWTP are evaluated. Biogas
energy capacity potential of 234 plants is calculated. Capacities less than 100
kWe are assumed to be non-feasible due to scale economy. It is evident that 91
plants can be installed with an average capacity of 660 kWe.

Keywords

biogas, sewage sludge, distributed generation, waste to energy

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