Design, Construction and Implementation of a Pilot
Scale Anaerobic Digester at the University of Missouri’s
Swine Teaching and Research FarmBy:
Brandon HarveyResearch Assistant, Agricultural Systems Management
Teng LimAssistant Professor, Agricultural System Management
Kevin RohrerEngineer, Martin Machinery
Purpose of Project
• Establish a pilot scale, on-farm anaerobic digester
– Potential Renewable Energy Production
– Manure Management
– Economic Viability
– Odor Control
Purpose of Project
• Research will provide information for small to medium sized farms seeking:
– Viable energy alternatives
– Practical manure management practices
– Air quality improvements
University of MO-Swine Farm
Located approx. 5 miles from campus
Consist of 2 barns-Research-Teaching
West - trailer courtEast- several homesSouth- University FarmNorth- Undeveloped land
Construction Details
• Finishing Barns• Valve Control & Manhole• Dual Tank Design• Heat Exchanger• Gas Systems• Water Heaters• Control Panels
Finishing barns
Chopper pump
Scraper system
Existing
Lagoon
Modified water heater
Back-up natural gas
heater
Positive displacement
pumpManhole
Mixing tank
Digester 2
Digester 1
Biogas Bladder
Condensate Trap
Shelter Flare
Valve Control Box
Radiant Heat
Pressure relief
Flow meter
Mixing tank
Iron Sponge
Heat Exchanger
Anaerobic Digester System
Finishing barns
Finishing Barns
• 136’*42’ finishing barn• 85 Hogs per room (50-250 lbs.)• 1.1 gallon/day manure per hog• 8’ deep pit• Plug flow system
Finishing barns
Chopper pump
Scraper system
Existing
Lagoon
Modified water heater
Back-up natural gas
heater
Positive displacement
pumpManhole
Mixing tank
Digester 2
Digester 1
Biogas Bladder
Condensate Trap
Shelter Flare
Valve Control Box
Radiant Heat
Pressure relief
Flow meter
Mixing tank
Iron Sponge
Heat Exchanger
Anaerobic Digester System
Valve Control & Manhole
Chopper pump
Manhole
Valve Control Box
Finishing barns
Chopper pump
Scraper system
Existing
Lagoon
Modified water heater
Back-up natural gas
heater
Positive displacement
pumpManhole
Mixing tank
Digester 2
Digester 1
Biogas Bladder
Condensate Trap
Shelter Flare
Valve Control Box
Radiant Heat
Pressure relief
Flow meter
Mixing tank
Iron Sponge
Heat Exchanger
Anaerobic Digester System
Digester
• 3, 2500 gallon reinforced fiberglass tanks• Flexibility:
• Single stage two-stream parallel replication• Dual stage single-stream experiment
Positive displacement
pump
Digester 2
Digester 1
Heat Exchanger
Mixing tank
Fiberglass Tanks
• Digester Tank– Reinforced fiberglass– 2500 gal– Heating tubes – Nozzle mixer– Anti-foaming sprayer
Finishing barns
Chopper pump
Scraper system
Existing
Lagoon
Modified water heater
Back-up natural gas
heater
Positive displacement
pumpManhole
Mixing tank
Digester 2
Digester 1
Biogas Bladder
Condensate Trap
Shelter Flare
Valve Control Box
Radiant Heat
Pressure relief
Flow meter
Mixing tank
Iron Sponge
Heat Exchanger
Anaerobic Digester System
Gas Systems
Iron Sponge
Biogas Blower
Iron Sponge Media
Gas Bladder• Biogas rated plastic
• 12’*15’*5’ inflated
• Housed in wooden structure
• Weighted to maintain line pressure
Finishing barns
Chopper pump
Scraper system
Existing
Lagoon
Modified water heater
Back-up natural gas
heater
Positive displacement
pumpManhole
Mixing tank
Digester 2
Digester 1
Biogas Bladder
Condensate Trap
Shelter Flare
Valve Control Box
Radiant Heat
Pressure relief
Flow meter
Mixing tank
Iron Sponge
Heat Exchanger
Anaerobic Digester System
Water Heaters
Biogaswater heater
Back-up natural gas
heater
• 1 Hog produces 2000 BTU of methane per day
• 2000 BTU*170 hogs= 340,000 BTU/40000 = 8.5 hrs.
• Natural gas to supplement when needed
Control System
Control Panels
Control Panel w/ touch screen
VFD controllers on reverse side
Greenhouse
What was Learned
• Design/ Implementation:– Complex – Time Consuming
• Significant Consideration:– Barn manure capacity– Maintaining manure freshness/ solids
content– Project management
Future Plans
• Currently– Awaiting startup (May 1, 2013)– Awaiting manure VSS test to determine loading
rate– Awaiting system test trails
Future Plans
• Improved design efficiency of heat-exchanger• Effects of feedstock characteristics• Co-digestion• Feedstock pre- treatment on biogas
production• Characterizing greenhouse gas emissions from
untreated manure and AD- treated manure
Summary
• Purpose of Project
• Project Design/Construction
• What was learned
• Future Plans
Acknowledgements
MU- College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
MU- Commercial Agriculture Program
Dr. Tim Safranski
Dr. Joe Zulovich
University Field Operations
Questions?
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