TY - RPRT A1 - Hartmann, Kilian A1 - Montserrat, Lluch A1 - Spurk, Christoph T1 - HoMethan - Operation of 5 m³ biogas digesters with manure and organic waste in Middle and South America N2 - Traditional small-scale biogas systems are struggling with several problems, e.g. reliability, limitations in the variety of feedstock, and costs. To overcome these problems a bag-reactor system, which includes stirring-units, was designed. The system has a capacity of 200 kg d 1 input and 5.0 m³ d-1 biogas output. Due to standardized components - available world-wide - the system could be built-up within one day. Also, maintenance and repair are manageable due to the standard components. The system could be operated with different feedstocks, does not need water for dilution and no electricity. From 2015 to 2020 a total of 40 of these biogas plants were installed in South/Middle America. The experiences from the plant operators were collected. Analyzes of gas quality and quantity as well as the quality of the residues were done. It shows that the gas production is stable, and the gas could be used for heating and electricity generation. The nutrition value of the residues is 2.5-times higher compared to the input materials, the plant tolerance also increases. It shows that small-scale biogas plants could be adapted to local requirements. It increases the added value in rural areas, reduces the purchase of fertilizers and fuels and reduces emissions. KW - biogas KW - balloon biogas KW - bag reactor KW - small biogas KW - HoMethan KW - Biogasanlage KW - Mittelamerika KW - Südamerika Y1 - 2020 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wilches, Camilo A1 - Nelles, Michael A1 - Hartmann, Kilian T1 - Representative sampling Implementation in Online VFA/TIC Monitoring for Anaerobic Digestion JF - MDPI energies N2 - This paper describes an automatic sampling system for anaerobic reactors that allows taking representative samples following the guidelines of Gy’s (1998) theory of sampling. Due to the high heterogeneity degree in a digester the sampling errors are larger than the analysis error, making representative sampling a prerequisite for successful process control. In our system, samples are automatically processed, generating a higher density of data and avoiding human error by sample manipulation. The combination of a representative sampling system with a commercial automate titration unit generates a robust online monitoring system for biogas plants. The system was successfully implemented in an operating biogas plant to control a feeding-on-demand biogas system. KW - renewable energies KW - biogas KW - process control KW - Erneuerbare Energien KW - Biogas KW - Biogasanlage Y1 - 2019 UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/6/1179 U6 - https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/en12061179 VL - 12 IS - 12/06 SP - 1179 EP - 1186 ER -