Membrane biogas upgrading processes for the production of natural gas substitute

Abstract The biogas processing and production of natural gas substitute have gained importance in recent years. It is often considered to be superior to the production of electricity with internal combustion engines mainly because of the better energy utilisation. The processed biogas in the form of natural gas substitute can be supplied to the already developed natural gas grids and delivered to households and industry. Alternatively, it can be used as a fuel for CNG-vehicles. The present work reviews the literature information that is available on the biogas upgrading processes, the biogas compositions and the permeation of biogas components through typical polymeric membranes. Subsequently, the membrane configurations for biogas upgrading are discussed and thoroughly simulated using numerical modelling. The work proposes basic concepts for the integration of membrane biogas upgrading plants into biogas plants while taking into account the permeate utilisation and the heating requirements of biogas plants. The membrane gas permeation systems provide enough flexibility for heat integration within biogas plants. The expected energy requirement for a single produced cubic meter of natural gas substitute is equal to around 0.3 kWh.

[1]  H. Strathmann,et al.  Removal of organic vapors from air by selective membrane permeation , 1988 .

[2]  A. K. Datta,et al.  Optimization of membrane unit for removing carbon dioxide from natural gas , 2006 .

[3]  Xianshe Feng,et al.  Separation of gasoline vapor from nitrogen by hollow fiber composite membranes for VOC emission control , 2006 .

[4]  G. Karim,et al.  Methane-Carbon Dioxide Mixtures as a Fuel , 1992 .

[5]  K. Sirkar,et al.  Pilot-plant and laboratory studies on vapor permeation removal of VOCs from waste gas using silicone-coated hollow fibers , 2000 .

[6]  T. Matsuura,et al.  Separation of organic vapor from air by aromatic polyimide membranes , 1991 .

[7]  S. A. Stern,et al.  Membrane processes for the removal of acid gases from natural gas. I. Process configurations and optimization of operating conditions , 1993 .

[8]  P. Weiland.  Biogas production: current state and perspectives , 2009, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[9]  D. Marquardt.  An Algorithm for Least-Squares Estimation of Nonlinear Parameters , 1963 .

[10]  Michael Harasek,et al.  Numerical algorithm for modelling multicomponent multipermeator systems , 2009 .

[11]  Rakesh Agrawal,et al.  Gas separation membrane cascades I. One-compressor cascades with minimal exergy losses due to mixing , 1996 .

[12]  S. A. Stern,et al.  Polymers for gas separations: the next decade , 1994 .

[13]  L. Robeson,et al.  Correlation of separation factor versus permeability for polymeric membranes , 1991 .

[14]  T. Matsuura,et al.  Study of volatile hydrocarbon emission control by an aromatic poly(ether imide) membrane , 1995 .

[15]  K. Kimmerle,et al.  Solvent recovery from air , 1988 .

[16]  J. M. Lee,et al.  Vapor permeations of a series of VOCs/N2 mixtures through PDMS membrane , 2002 .

[17]  A. A. Friedman,et al.  Performance of a bench-scale membrane pilot plant for the upgrading of biogas in a wastewater treatment plant , 1998 .

[18]  Michael A. Henson,et al.  Optimization-based design of spiral-wound membrane systems for CO2/CH4 separations , 1998 .

[19]  Richard W. Baker,et al.  Natural Gas Processing with Membranes: An Overview , 2008 .

[20]  William J. Koros,et al.  Performance of natural gas membranes in the presence of heavy hydrocarbons , 2006 .

[21]  Andrew T. Harris,et al.  Porous burners for lean-burn applications , 2008 .

[22]  Donald R Paul,et al.  Natural gas permeation in polyimide membranes , 2004 .

[23]  I-Fan Wang,et al.  Properties of a polyimide gas separation membrane in natural gas streams , 1995 .

[24]  Rakesh Agrawal,et al.  Gas separation membrane cascades II. Two-compressor cascades , 1996 .

[25]  G. D. Zupancic,et al.  Heat and energy requirements in thermophilic anaerobic sludge digestion , 2003 .

[26]  Saija Rasi,et al.  Trace compounds of biogas from different biogas production plants. , 2007 .

[27]  Robert Rautenbach,et al.  Treatment of landfill gas by gas permeation : pilot plant results and comparison to alternatives , 1994 .

[28]  J. Hao,et al.  Upgrading low-quality natural gas with H2S- and CO2-selective polymer membranes: Part I. Process design and economics of membrane stages without recycle streams , 2002 .

[29]  W. Koros,et al.  Relationship between gas separation properties and chemical structure in a series of aromatic polyimides , 1988 .

[30]  S. A. Stern,et al.  Membrane processes for the removal of acid gases from natural gas. II. Effects of operating conditions, economic parameters, and membrane properties , 1993 .

[31]  J. Holm‐Nielsen,et al.  The future of anaerobic digestion and biogas utilization. , 2009, Bioresource technology.

[32]  J. Hao,et al.  Upgrading low-quality natural gas with H2S- and CO2-selective polymer membranes: Part II. Process design, economics, and sensitivity study of membrane stages with recycle streams , 2008 .

[33]  C. D. Houston,et al.  Use of membranes for biogas treatment , 1983 .

[34]  Matthew R. Allen,et al.  Trace organic compounds in landfill gas at seven U.K. waste disposal sites , 1997 .

[35]  Z. Ismagilov,et al.  Catalytic combustion of lean methane-air mixtures , 1999 .

[36]  R. Wimmerstedt,et al.  A comparison of two commercial membranes used for biogas upgrading , 1990 .

[37]  R. Rautenbach,et al.  Oxygen and methane enrichment — a comprison of module arrangements in gas permeation , 1987 .

[38]  D. B. Burrows,et al.  Characterization of Landfill Gas Composition at the Fresh Kills Municipal Solid-Waste Landfill , 1998 .

[39]  G. Eigenberger,et al.  Vapour permeation for the recovery of organic solvents from waste air streams: separation capacities and process optimization , 1996 .

[40]  T. Matsuura,et al.  Separation of volatile organic compound/nitrogen mixtures by polymeric membranes , 1991 .

[41]  Variability of the non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) composition in biogas from sorted and unsorted landfill material , 2008 .

[42]  K. Sirkar,et al.  Removal of VOCs from waste gas streams by permeation in a hollow fiber permeator , 1997 .

[43]  R. W. Spillman,et al.  Economics of gas separation membranes , 1989 .

[44]  T. E. Cooley,et al.  Natural gas cleanup: a comparison of membrane and amine treatment processes , 1988 .

[45]  Martin Miltner,et al.  BIOGAS UPGRADING FOR TRANSPORTATION PURPOSES – OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH AUSTRIA’S FIRST BIO-CNG FUELLING STATION , 2009 .