I came across a good presentation on

See developments on ABR technology: Fermenter Technology - M-ABR

1. Biogas ABR-technology has a lot of innovative potentials:
◦ Simplicity and robustness
◦ Maximize efficiency
◦ Substrate invariance

2. Promising ABR-technologies are already introduced in waste-water treatment, but have to be adapted to the prerequisites in agriculture (dry matter content, .

I hope the presentation is of interest to you too.

Best regards,
Detlef SCHWAGER

Dear Colleagues,

Turning a potential problem into a significant benefit

I found the following nice example costs or profits comparisons:
of 3 large different WTP's in Stanford, USA by Prof. McCarty (creator of ABR, 1981). He is explaining the benefits of renewable energy (bio-fuels) in waste water treatment systems (CH4) and connected CO2-reductions via Anaerobic WTP-Systemes.

by e.g. treatment of 10.000 kg BOB5/day:
1. Aerobic + sludge- incineration costs: 178.000 US/annum
2. Aerobic + Anaerobic Digestion sludge = Bio-Gas usage by CHP profits 299.000 US/annum
3. Algae production in Wast-water ponds --> Anaerobic Digestion of Algae (Biomass) + sludge = more extended Bio-Gas usage by CHP profits 378.000 US/annum (WTP Sunnyvale)

Profits only by feeding the grid with excess electrical power. Sale of heat is not included!


(1 h 12 min)
2007 Colloquium on Water - Prof. Perry L. McCarty
Climate Change Implications of Waste Treatment" Abstract: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that four percent of the equivalent anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in the world result from methane and nitrous oxide produced from wastewater, solid wastes, and animal manure. However, if such methane gas is collected and used as a biofuel, not only would the methane emissions decrease, but also the need for fossil fuels could be decreased as well. Indeed, the potential to produce methane from wastewater treatment might be exploited to a greater extent than it has at present to turn a potential problem into a significant benefit for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. How might wastes best be handled in the future to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and how might this change our current practices? These questions will be explored in this seminar.

Additional see: forum.susana.org/forum/categories/62-wg-...temsq-aka-ecosannass
Resource-Securing-Sanitation-Systems:
...First equation (with the help of a BORDA e.V.- spreadsheet) concludes, that a minimum of 10.000 p.e. would be required, to make an investment for a possible service provider viable (this is under typical German conditions, with CHP installation cost 5.000 EUR/kWel). The surplus sludge of existing sewage treatment plant would mainly be used. This calculation is based only on sale of renewable electrical power generated. But selling additional heat for warming up buildings, might lower the number to 5.000 p.e. (by my educated guessing). Having Phosphate in future included would make smaller "re-use systems" viable too.
...

Regards,
Detlef SCHWAGER