1. Biogas Upgrading with Membrane Technology
2013 International Biomass Conference & Expo –
Gas Conditioning: Clean Up and Systemic Approaches Worth Deploying
Kyle Goehring, Regional Sales Manager
www.eisenmann.com
www.eisenmann.us.com
© Eisenmann AG 2013
© Eisenmann 2013

2. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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3. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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4. Drivers
Most biogas plants generate electricity and heat with a CHP
 The thermal energy cannot always be used close by
Incentives to use biogas as biomethane or CNG for transportation fuel
 More than 250,000 natural gas vehicles in the US
(source: GE)
 12-15% public transit buses in US
(source: CNG Now)
 A natural gas powered bus can displace 1,400 gallons of
diesel fuel a year
(source: CNG Now)
 Natural gas vehicles reduce greenhouse gas emissions
between 20-29%
(source: Natural Gas Vehicle Association)
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5. Advantages of Biomethane
 Decentralized production
 Independent, flexible and storable energy source
 Efficient use according to requirements
 Storage capability for when demand is higher
 Offsets non-renewable sources
(coal, oil, fossil fuel derived natural gas)
 Production creates US jobs and benefits local economies
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6. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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7. Highly Selective Membrane Technology
Offgas Biomethane
CO2 CH4
Biogas
CH4 + CO2
Membrane Function
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8. Flow diagram
biogas cooling desulfurization compressor
and drying
temperature
particle filter control filter
control
membrane membrane biomethane
stage I stage II > 98% CH4
biogas production
pre-treatment membrane offgas CO2
compression stage III < 0.5% CH4
purification
gas separation purified gas
offgas treatment
0.0% CH4
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9. Advantages of Upgrading with Membrane Technology
Biogas upgrading with selective and permeable
membranes offers advantages over other technologies
 Minimized gas recirculation rates
 Lower operating costs
 Low capital expenditure
 Compact modular design
 Rapid system start-up
 Easier system control
 Low methane leakage
 High energy efficiency
 No need for additional chemicals or water
 Injection into the natural gas grid without
further compression
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10. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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11. Case Study: Membrane Technology
Project: Biogas Plant in Switzerland
Limited success with previous biogas upgrading technology
Installed Membrane Upgrading System in 2012
Gas is used to fuel city buses
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12. Site
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13. Facts and Figures
Biogas plant: Volume flow biogas: 123 CFM
Volume flow biomethane: 73 CFM
high solids digestion of biowaste Concentration biomethane: > 96 vol.-%
Utilization:
grid injection and fuel
for public transportation fleet
Membrane room Biogas upgrading plant
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14. Measurement Data
Successful test operation in December 2012
Grid injection since January 26, 2013
concentration [vol.-%]
concentration [vol.-
concentration biomethane [vol.-%]
concentration methane [vol.-%]
concentration CO2 [vol.-%]
concentration CO2 [vol.-%]
%]
Dec 3 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 6 Dec 7 Dec 3 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 6 Dec 7
2012 2012
Biomethane to grid injection: methane > 96 % Offgas to atmosphere: methane leakage < 1.0 %
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15. Operating Data
Specific energy consumption without peripherals
Compressor duty
0.20 kWh/Nm³ biogas
Specific energy consumption with peripherals
Compressor duty
Blower, cooling and air conditioning
0.29 kWh/Nm³ biogas
Operation
Fast start-up and shut-down
Good adjustability
No heat requirement
No operational supplements
Easy handling
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16. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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17. Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Upgrading
Total process chain from a single source.
Plug flow digester CHP / biogas upgrading
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18. Container
Compact and modular design. Turn-key solution.
33 ft
10 ft
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19. Pre-treatment
Requirements for grid injection concerning pollutant gas components and dew point reached.
Heat exchangers Blower Activated carbon filters
Cooling, condensation Pre-compression, drying Fine desulfurization
T = 41°F p = 17.4 PSI, T = 86°F H2S < 10 ppm
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20. Compression
Ensuring the required pressure difference for gas separation.
Oil injected screw compressor
 Stable operation
 No pulsation
 Waste heat from engine used
for container air conditioning
 Internal heat recovery
 Oil deposition
 Heat utilization for temperature control
p = 232 PSI and T = 131°F Detail oil circulation Construction compressor
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21. Purification
Fine purification in order to ensure a long lifetime of the membranes.
Heat exchangers Control filter Particle filter
Temperature control Activated carbon for fine cleaning ISO-filter for fine particulate matter
T = 77 - 86°F Pollutant gas, oil Particles, aerosols (ISO 8573-1)
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22. Gas separation with highly selective membranes
Small recirculation rate minimizing compressor duty
High selectivity facilitating a methane yield greater than 99.5%.
compressor
membrane membrane biomethane
stage I stage II > 98% CH4
vacuum
membrane offgas CO2
stage III < 0.5% CH4
Two-staged upgrading to biomethane Third membrane stage to minimize methane leak
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23. Process Control and Visualization
Automated operation and process control
Walk-in switch cabinet
Process control
 Siemens S7
Remote access
 Monitoring and operation
through internet access
 Failure report notification via
mobile phone
Visualization
 Touch-screen
Biogas upgrading visualization
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24. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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25. Business Study: Waste Collection Vehicles
Fuel costs for waste collection fleets are negatively impacted by
 Low miles per gallon
 Long service routes
 Increasing age of the fleets
Current Situation – 179,000 waste collection vehicles in America
 91% are diesel-fuel
 40% are over 10 years old
 Average 25,000 miles driven annually
Fuel Costs
 Average 3 miles to the gallon
 8,600 gallons of fuel use on average per truck per year
 For a fleet of 100 trucks, the average annual fuel costs would be $3.44 Million
(assuming $4/gallon cost of diesel)
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26. Business Study: Waste Collection Vehicles
Benefits of switching a fleet to natural gas
 Cleaner alternative fuel
 Significant cost savings
At $2/gallon of CNG, on 100 truck fleet: daily savings is $4,800, annual savings is $1.75 M
 ROI: Just over a year with annual fuel savings
(based on average cost of converting diesel engines)
 Cleaner, less noisy truck
 Non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic fuel is not a threat to soil, surface water or ground water
 Up to 90% less air pollution than diesel fuel
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27. Business Study: Waste Collection Vehicles
Example: Waste Management displaces 8 million gallons of petroleum and eliminates over
45,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in just one year by operating 1,400 natural
gas trucks.
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28. Business Study: Waste Collection Vehicles
Assumptions: Diesel - $4 / gallon
CNG - $2 / gallon
Feed Rate of Biogas System 100 tons/day @ 350 days/yr
Methane Production 540,933 SCF (CH4)/day
Methane (HHV) 1,000 BTU/SCF
Upgrading Slip (Loss) 1%
Energy potential of upgraded RNG 535 MM BTU/day
Equivalent Diesel Production 3938 DGE/day
Trucks Fueled by System 164 Trucks per day
Potential Fuel Savings (240 days collection) $ 2,873,000.-/year
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29. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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30. Leading International Supplier
 Environmental technology
 General finishing
 Material handling & conveyor systems
 Process and high-temperature technology
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31. Offerings
 Green, sustainable engineering
 Top quality and reliability
 Modular and custom solutions
 Detailed system and process solutions
 Dedicated industrial service team
 Worldwide reference installations
 Global services
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32. Facts and Figures
 Established 1951; Stuttgart, Germany
 12 locations worldwide
 US location since late 70‘s; Crystal Lake, IL
 3,600 employees
 More than 90 biogas facilities
Founding
Member
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33. Eisenmann Biogas
Since 2003 Since 2008 Since 2012
Agricultural biogas plants Biowaste biogas plants Biogas upgrading plants
Plants in operation: Plants in operation: Plants in operation:
 Germany, 55 plants  Sweden, 1 plant  Switzerland, 1 plant
 Italy, 22 plants  Switzerland, 3 plants
 Czech Republic, 1 plant
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34. Agenda
1 Biomethane Incentives
2 Membrane Technology for Gas Upgrading
3 Case Study: Gas Upgrading
4 Membrane Technology and Anaerobic Digestion Integration
5 US Application
6 About Eisenmann
7 Conclusions and Questions
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35. Conclusions
 There is a rising demand for biomethane to be used as CNG, especially as transportation fuel
 The use of biomethane has many advantages including being a lower cost and clean,
alternative fuel
 Biomethane can be upgraded to pipeline grade natural gas by using highly selective and
permeable membranes
 By using membrane technology,
there is less methane slip
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36. Questions
Green Engineering
Sustainability is in Our System
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37. New Website
Introducing Eisenmann’s New Website
www.eisenmann.us.com/biomass13
Available for download:
 Today’s presentation
 CNG to Fuel your Fleet
(white paper)
 Sustainability in an Urban Environment
(white paper)
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38. Contact
Kyle Goehring
Regional Sales Manager
Phone: (815) 900-1443
E-Mail: kyle.goehring@eisenmann.com
150 East Dartmoor Dr. Crystal Lake, IL 60014
www.eisenmann.us.com
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Eisenmann Corporation Eisenmann Corporation @EISENMANNUSA
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