Biogas prediction and design of a food waste to energy system for the urban environment

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion applied to the organic waste produced in urban environments could provide a critical solution to growing garbage problems while simultaneously reducing external energy requirements. As landfills across Canada and the rest of the world are filled to their limits, a carbon-neutral process which can locally generate electricity and heat while providing up to 50% volatile solid reduction is something to be seriously considered. This paper investigates the feasibility of urban anaerobic digestion, presents four techniques for biogas estimation – ultimate analysis, yield from molecular formula analysis, a novel computer simulation technique using Anaerobic Digestion Model #1 (ADM1), and a literature review of experimentally determined biogas yields. In addition, a case study for small-scale anaerobic digestion system design is presented for an urban building.