Method and apparatus for producing biogas

摘要

A method and apparatus for producing biogas from organic matter including a container (1) which is charged with fermentation substrate by a delivery system (13), and at least two stirring mechanisms (2) arranged in the container, the stirring mechanisms having propellers (3) which are rotated and generate mostly horizontal currents of the fermentation substrate in the container. The propeller diameters, the propeller geometries, and the positions of the propellers in the container are selected such that a shared mixing zone of the medium is generated in the container. Data for determining the mean speed and/or the viscosity of the medium in the mixing zone are detected and transmitted to a control unit (4) which varies actuating variables which modify the power input of the stirring mechanism into the mixing zone and/or the composition and/or the flow behavior of the container contents.

主权项

1. A method for producing biogas from organic substances, wherein fermentation substrate is supplied to a container by a feed system; at least two agitator mechanisms are arranged in the container; said agitator mechanisms each have propellers which are rotated via drives and generate mostly horizontal flows of the fermentation substrate in the container; and said propellers each have a propeller diameter, a propeller geometry and a propeller position selected such that a common mixing zone of the fermentation substrate is generated in the container;
said method comprising: measuring floating layer data indicating the presence or absence of a floating layer on the surface of the fermentation substrate in the container; transmitting measured fermentation substrate velocity and/or viscosity data and the floating layer data to a regulating unit for adjusting the introduction of power from the agitator mechanisms into the mixing zone and at least one of the composition of the fermentation substrate and the flow behavior of the container contents; and adjusting said introduction of power from the agitator mechanisms into the mixing zone and at least one of the composition of the fermentation substrate and the flow behavior of the container contents as needed in response to the measured fermentation substrate velocity and/or viscosity data and/or floating layer formation data in order to maintain the fermentation substrate velocity and/or viscosity within target ranges without floating layer formation, wherein when the floating layer data indicates the presence of the floating layer the power introduced to the at least two agitator mechanisms is increased relative to the power introduced to the at least two agitator mechanisms when the floating layer is absent.