Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines
The study examines decentralized waste treatment in an urban setting with a high-density population of 2500 inhab./km<sup>2</sup>. The co-digestion of food and garden waste was assumed by using several mid-size digesters, while centralized biogas and digestate valorization was considered...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Eng |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/4/3/127 |
| _version_ | 1797580319362121728 |
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| author | Rubén González José García-Cascallana Javier Gutiérrez-Bravo Xiomar Gómez |
| author_facet | Rubén González José García-Cascallana Javier Gutiérrez-Bravo Xiomar Gómez |
| author_sort | Rubén González |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study examines decentralized waste treatment in an urban setting with a high-density population of 2500 inhab./km<sup>2</sup>. The co-digestion of food and garden waste was assumed by using several mid-size digesters, while centralized biogas and digestate valorization was considered. The studied configuration generates electricity and thermal energy, covering 1.3% of the residential electricity demand and 3.2% of thermal demand. The use of double-turbocharged engines under the most favorable scenario aids cities in reaching sustainability goals. However, the location of treatment plants is a factor that may raise social discomfort and cause a nuisance to citizens. Locating waste plants near residential areas causes discomfort due to possible odors, gaseous emissions, and housing market distortions. Such problematic aspects must be addressed for the decentralized alternative to work. These factors are of great relevance and must be given a practical solution if the circular economic model is to be implemented by considering the insertion of waste streams into the production system and generating local energy sources and raw materials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:49:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a24a897ddc94d66b76a37b665e717a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-4117 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:49:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Eng |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a24a897ddc94d66b76a37b665e717a42023-11-19T10:30:00ZengMDPI AGEng2673-41172023-08-01432204222510.3390/eng4030127Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency EnginesRubén González0José García-Cascallana1Javier Gutiérrez-Bravo2Xiomar Gómez3Department of Electrical, Systems and Automatic Engineering, School of Industrial, Computer and Aeronautical Engineering, Campus de Vegazana s/n, University of León, 24071 León, SpainDepartment of Chemistry and Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering Area, Campus de Vegazana s/n, University of León, 24071 León, SpainDepartment of Chemistry and Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering Area, Campus de Vegazana s/n, University of León, 24071 León, SpainDepartment of Chemistry and Applied Physics, Chemical Engineering Area, Campus de Vegazana s/n, University of León, 24071 León, SpainThe study examines decentralized waste treatment in an urban setting with a high-density population of 2500 inhab./km<sup>2</sup>. The co-digestion of food and garden waste was assumed by using several mid-size digesters, while centralized biogas and digestate valorization was considered. The studied configuration generates electricity and thermal energy, covering 1.3% of the residential electricity demand and 3.2% of thermal demand. The use of double-turbocharged engines under the most favorable scenario aids cities in reaching sustainability goals. However, the location of treatment plants is a factor that may raise social discomfort and cause a nuisance to citizens. Locating waste plants near residential areas causes discomfort due to possible odors, gaseous emissions, and housing market distortions. Such problematic aspects must be addressed for the decentralized alternative to work. These factors are of great relevance and must be given a practical solution if the circular economic model is to be implemented by considering the insertion of waste streams into the production system and generating local energy sources and raw materials.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/4/3/127energycombined heat and power enginesanaerobic digestiondigestate valorizationlocal waste treatment |
| spellingShingle | Rubén González José García-Cascallana Javier Gutiérrez-Bravo Xiomar Gómez Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines Eng energy combined heat and power engines anaerobic digestion digestate valorization local waste treatment |
| title | Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines |
| title_full | Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines |
| title_fullStr | Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines |
| title_short | Decentralized Biogas Production in Urban Areas: Studying the Feasibility of Using High-Efficiency Engines |
| title_sort | decentralized biogas production in urban areas studying the feasibility of using high efficiency engines |
| topic | energy combined heat and power engines anaerobic digestion digestate valorization local waste treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/4/3/127 |
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