project showcase:
Kompogas slo llc | san luis obispo
Desulfurization in biogas plant with ScavengeAir™system and filter material UgnCleanPellets®.
German manufacturer of exhaust air purification and gas desulfurization systems
UGN-Umwelttechnik GmbH
has been offering innovative solutions for effective and cost-efficient exhaust air treatment and gas desulfurization and is the developer of
UgnCleanPellets® – a cellulose-based filter material for a diverse range of applications.
UGN already distributes its products in several countries.
Exclusive sales partner for the North American market
Since 2019, Green Gas Services – as part of the Alder Construction family – has been a pioneering player in the North American market for biogas upgrading and treatment solutions.
What began as operational and service support for gas upgrading systems in sewage treatment plants, waste recycling centres and oil and gas production facilities has rapidly evolved. Today, Green Gas Services offers comprehensive turnkey solutions – from planning and development to the manufacture of customised gas upgrading systems.
Client project showcase
Kanadevia Inova AG
Kompogas® SLO parent Kanadevia Inova is a global leader in energy recovery technology and turnkey plants, with 90+ years of experience and over 1,600 projects worldwide, including 450+ Wet AD, 100 Kompogas® Dry AD plants, and 110+ gas upgrading systems.
info@kanadevia-inova.com
www.kanadevia-inova.com
Project Showcase “Kompogas SLO LLC in San Luis Obispo”
Desulfurization of biogas produced by a waste digester
To optimize the processes at the new anaerobic digestion plant, a desulfurization system was installed at the same time. The plant treats 250 cfm (425 Nm³/h) of biogas with a hydrogen sulfide content of 400–600 ppm. The aim was to completely remove hydrogen sulfide from the biogas to prevent corrosion damage to downstream plant components such as the gas engine (CHP).
To achieve this, the ScavengeAir™ system was used in combination with the innovative filter material UgnCleanPellets®. UgnCleanPellets® are an environmentally friendly adsorbent for biogas systems. The pellets, produced from iron oxides and harmless compounds, remove H2S using hybrid biological-chemical reactions.
At the heart of the plant is a reactor (Ø 2 m, height 3.3 m, usable volume 5 m³) filled with UgnCleanPellets®. Depending on the volume flow and hydrogen sulfide load, a single loading lasts approximately six months. The result is an annual requirement of approximately 5–10 m³ or 2,5–5 tons of material.
When compared to activated carbon, pellets have a significantly smaller carbon footprint with annual CO₂ savings of approximately 34 to 68 tons. This becomes even more substantial when you consider the increased loading capacity of the pellets, which is 10–20% higher than that of activated carbon, depending on the application.
How the system works
The biogas flows through the UgnCleanPellets® where the hydrogen sulfide is chemically and biologically converted into elemental sulfur. As the saturated gas cools the liquids condense and lowers the humidity. This reduces the energy requirement for gas drying by 40–60 %.
The system features piping, air metering for oxygen control, condensate discharge, and fresh water wetting. The PE100 plastic reactor and control system are fully automated and integrated into the central biogas plant controls.
How the ScavengeAirwork™system with UgnCleanPellets®
Every biogas plant requires a customised desulfurization concept to ensure efficient operation. Our ScavengeAirwork™ systems provide an efficient and cost-reducing alternative to activated carbon.
The ScavengeAirwork™ systems are instead made for external biogas desulfurization systems chemical final desulfurization which has proven a reliable process for reducing high hydrogen sulphide loads to less than 5 ppm.
UgnCleanPellets® – A real alternative to activated carbon
The UgnCleanPellets® use the energy contained in the raw, humid biogas for the desulphurisation process. Therefore, the gas does not require prior drying. This makes our UgnCleanPellets® a price-competitive and efficient alternative for gas treatment by means of activated carbon.
| Benefits at a glance | UgnCleanPellets | Activated carbon |
|---|---|---|
| Use of the energy contained in the warm and humid biogas | +++ | — |
| Targeted removal of H2S | +++ | — |
| No corrosion inside the digester and downstream plant components | +++ | — |
| Proper removal of H2S from the digester | +++ | +++ |
The CO2 footprint of UgnCleanPellets® S was calculated according to DIN EN ISO 14067, and the results were independently verified.
This is a Renewable Energy Solutions (RES) Project
Expansion and Support
This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.
German Energy Agency (dena)
The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its foundation in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena’s shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany. www.dena.de/en
German Energy Solutions Initiative
With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets. www.german-energy-solutions.de/GES/Navigation/EN/Home/home.html
Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme)
With the RES programme, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany. www.german-energy-solutions.de/GES/Redaktion/EN/Basepages/Services/dena-res.html
