A biogas plant offers an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable way to generate energy. One of the most crucial aspects of running a plant is how the digester is fed – it has a direct impact on your gas yield. But how do you feed solid materials in a way that’s suitable for the bacteria doing the work? This is where the concept of “liquid feeding” often comes into play.
With an integrated digester feeder system like Vogelsang's solid matter feeder, you can prepare and mix solids with a liquid component in the most effective way. This process not only boosts gas production but also helps cut energy costs. How exactly does it work, and what technology makes it possible? Let’s take a closer look!
What does liquid feeding of a biogas plant actually mean?
“Liquid feeding” is the process of turning biomass into a smooth, pumpable mixture before it enters the digester. Usually, this involves blending it with slurry or recycled liquid from the digester itself.
The result is a uniform feed slurry – sometimes called a bio-suspension – that can be fed straight into the fermentation chamber, helping the bacteria do their job more efficiently.
The benefits of liquid feeding for you
One of the biggest advantages of liquid feeding is the lower energy requirement, which translates directly into reduced energy costs. By conditioning the biomass in a way that’s more bacteria-friendly, liquid feeding of solids can produce significantly more biogas than traditional dry solid feeding.
With dry solids, chunks often float on the surface or clump together in the bio-suspension. This isn’t ideal – breaking up these lumps with mixers takes time, consumes energy, and rarely solves the problem completely, all of which reduces your gas yield.
Because the biomass enters the digester in liquid form after mashing, it can be mixed with the digester contents using far less energy. The mashing process alone already boosts gas yield, and if the coarser components are further processed, this pushes the yield even higher.
In short, the benefits stack up on multiple levels:
- No formation of floating and sinking layers
- Nutrients are more accessible
- Viscosity reduction
- Reduced energy consumption by mixers
- Better mixing of bio-suspension
- Easier outgassing
All these factors contribute to better utilisation of the energy in your biomass. The increasing biogas yield ensures efficient operation of your plant.
Make the Most of Vogelsang’s Technology Solutions
Vogelsang machines offer the most efficient way to feed solids into your biogas plant. With the liquid feeding option, solids are prepared in a bacteria-friendly form before they even reach the digester – helping you get the most from every batch.
The CC-Mix: Your efficient liquid feeding system
The highly efficient CC-Mix provides cost-effective feeding for solids that are flowable to slightly pasty. It handles everything from corn silage and animal feed to fruit and vegetable scraps, making it a versatile solution for boosting your gas yield.
Thanks to its efficient mixing with a liquid phase, the CC-Mix blends biomass exceptionally well, creating a smooth, homogeneous bio-suspension. In short, the CC-Mix delivers:
- Simple integration thanks to its compact design
- Separation of heavy material before the pump using a stone trap
- Feeding of multiple digesters from a single system
- Easy maintenance, with QuickService making parts replacement straightforward on site
The PreMix: Your 4-in-1 liquid feeding system
The PreMix was designed to handle a wide variety of substrates. From manure and soft food scraps to bulky fruits and even dry materials like straw, it can manage them all with ease.
With the PreMix, a single unit takes care of all four stages: separating heavy matter, mashing, processing, and pumping. Key features include:
- Reliable processing of a wide variety of substrates in a manner suitable for bacteria
- Separation of heavy material and maceration of solid matter upstream of the pump unit
- Minimal space requirement and easy integration thanks to compact dimensions
- Feeding of multiple digesters with a single system
- Easy maintenance and uncomplicated parts replacement on site thanks to QuickService
Feed liquid too!
Vogelsang’s innovative technologies include a scientifically tested catalyst to maximise your biogas plant’s gas yield. Using liquid feeding with the latest Vogelsang equipment makes your plant more efficient and cost-effective, delivering higher gas yields, lower energy costs, and smoother operation. Added benefits include integrated protection against foreign objects and a host of other practical advantages.
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