Objectif To build up and operate a demonstration centre for the energy conversion technologies of agricultural, urban and industrial wastes from the bench-scale to the demonstration-scale, taking into account technical, economic and environmental performances.1. The Demonstration centre is constructed and has been operational since 1981.2. Examination of pig slurries in Italy yielded the following data. Chemical composition is relatively independent of the breeding rations and modes. Undiluted daily volume of pig manure represents 9-12% of the body weight, i.e. from 1.4 to 14.0 litres per day. The major factor which will affect the performance is the dilution.3. Examination of cattle manure in Italy yielded the following data. Chemical composition of cattle manure varies with the mode of breedings both quantitatively (from 5% (calves) to 12% (dairy cows) volatile solids), and qualitatively. Little dilution occurs.4. Poultry manure in Italy can be obtained either from laying hens in cage or from broilers in sheds or on ground. The former is rather liquid (17% volatile solids) whereas the latter is solid (60% volatile solids).5. Potentially available for biomethanation in Italy are 71 kt, 15 kt and 4 kt fresh material, respectivelyfrom cattle, pigs and poultry representing a potential of 3 Gm3 biogas per year, equivalent to 1.8 Mt. o.e. per year.6. The influence of the preceeding data on net energy yield by biomethanation was then assessed, supposing once-through (CSTR) continuous methane digesters, 10 days mean retention time and mesophilic conditions (35 deg. C). Dilution of fresh material must be reduced either by lowering the washings or by mixing with higher solids-containing manure in large-scale biogas plants. Design data were estimated for two similar farms. With fresh manure of 5% and 2% total solids concentration, respectively 15-30% and 35-70% of the produced biogas must be recycled for digester-heating purposes. The latter methane digester is 50% larger than the former one. Decreasing the temperature from 35 deg. C to 28 deg. C should result in a decrease in performance of biogas production.7. Performances of biomethanation and/or toxic effects in biomethanation were evaluated by incorporatinga known biodegradable compound into the complex biomass substrate. The assay was applied to waste water from olive pressing and to fruit-distillery slops, to the centrifuged wine lees distillery slops and concentrated piggery waste and to manure from fattening bulls.8. Common pratices in pig health caring have no effect on biomethanation.9. Seventeen other agricultural and agro-industrial wastes were quantitatively identified in Italy, representing a potential of 5 Gm3 biogas per year.10. Forty-two potential biomass substrates in Italy were analysed for their C/N/P ratios.11. Mixing devices, namely mechanical stirrers, liquid recirculation systems and gas lifts, were compared in pilot-scale methane digesters.The innovative character of the present project was to build up a tool to materialize a novel way of approach of biomethanation.A Demonstration Centre, covering an area of 16.000 m2, including laboratories and a pilot plant was constructed in the vicinity of Broni, near Milan, Italy. The Centre possess the equipment, including methane digesters of 1, 2 and 10 m3 of working volume, for the evaluation of physico-chemical parameters of raw materials in view of their potential biomethanation and possibly their bioconversion into ethanol, for the design of biogas plants including automation of the plant, for the follow-up of (full-scale) methane digesters, of their running conditions, of their performances and of the end-uses both of the produced biogas and of the digested slurries including the recovery of aminoacids there from. The data will be used to optimize biogas plants both from the technical and from the economic standpoints. Programme(s) ENG-ENALT 1C - Programme (EEC) of financial support for projects to exploit alternative energy sources, 1979-1984 Thème(s) 1.7 - PRODUCTION AND USE OF BIOGAS Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement DEM - Demonstration contracts Coordinateur Ebiatech SpA Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Viale Isonzo 14 20135 Corteolona Milano Italie Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée
