The influence of mixing inside the fermentation reactors during the study of biogas efficiency of the substrates in mesophilic technology

¹ Poznan University of Life Sciences, Institute of Biosystems Enginering, Wojska Polskiego 50, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
² Poznan University of Life Sciences, Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Wojska Polskiego 48, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
³ Faculty of Technical Sciences University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Department of the Electrotechnic Energetics Electronics and Automatics, Oczapowskiego 11, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
⁴ Lublin University of Life Sciences, Department of Process Engineering, Gleboka 28, 20-612 Lublin, Poland

^* Corresponding author: kamil.kozlowski@up.poznan.pl

Abstract

Along with the development of environmental friendly technologies, an increasing interest in generating the electricity and heat from renewable sources has been observed in Poland. Perfect example of such installations are agricultural biogas plants, where methane fermentation produces high-energy gas fuel i.e. biogas. Before investing, it is necessary to perform a detailed studies of the biogas efficiency of the substrates used. The proper run of fermentation process, as well as the high biogas production related to the operation, depend on many factors, including the mixing inside the reactor. The DIN 38 414-S8 standard, commonly used in the tests, assumes the mixing of the whole eudiometric sets, used in accredited laboratory units, which due to their uniform construction may cause problems. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of laboratory mixing in the fermentation reactor on the biogas efficiency of the maize straw. The experiment tests were performed in the Laboratory of Ecotechnologies, in the Poznan, in accordance with the current standard DIN 38 414-S8.The obtained research results confirmed the effect of mixing inside the fermentation reactors on the biogas efficiency of the maize straw.