Biogas plant in Kežmarok
Our company has been seeking for several years to find an opportunity for building a biogas plant with full use of both types of generated energy. We managed to build such biogas plant in Kežmarok. This plant is located at land of approx. one hectare and is close to an agricultural cooperative and at a distance of around 700m from the dairy plant where a cogeneration unit with an output of 999 kWel is installed. This plant is interesting given the fact that links between the operation of a biogas plant and an industrial production facility is a peculiarity in Slovakia. It is worth mentioning the good cooperation with farmers who are involved in this cycle. This where it all starts and ends: from the transformation of agricultural residues and biomass to biogas up to the use of the residues of biogas production – digestate for the purposes of fertilisation.
Given the chance to install the cogeneration unit directly at the place of heat consumption in the dairy plant, it is possible to use the maximum of generated heat. The dairy plant uses the heat from the cogeneration unit, the heat generated in the flue gas boiler in the form of steam, as well as heat from the cooling of the cogeneration unit turbine. Heat is thus produced at several technological levels and is used to the maximum extent possible, which means significant operation energy saving for the operator.
A standard level of heat generation consists of a motor block which combusts biogas produced by anaerobic fermentation in fermenters. Such heat has the form of hot water and is used for pre-heating the feed water for steam gas boilers, technological water heating, and the heating of buildings. Part of hot water is used for the heating of fermenters and storage areas used for the biogas plant operation. It is supplied from the dairy plant boiler-room by means of a caliduct.
The entire project is based on saving attained through power and heat generation with the help of biogas which replaces natural gas. Another benefit for the operator is the possibility to dispose of waste from dairy production (acid whey), for the disposal of which the operator would otherwise need to pay to the customer.