Pine Island Farm Anaerobic Digestion System Sheffield, Ma
Using new technology to lay a foundation of sustainability for the Aragi Family Farm​
SECOND ENGINE INSTALLATION
IN 2017 PINE ISLAND FARM INSTALLED A SECOND 225KW GUASCOR ENGINE. BY ADDING A SECOND GEN-SET THE FARM HAS BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE MORE ELECTRICITY AND HEAT WHILE REDUCING FLARING OF EXCESS GAS. THE FARM HAS DOUBLED KILOWATT CAPACITY SINCE PRODUCTION BEGAN IN 2011. NOW WHEN OVERHAULS ARE DUE, THIS ADDITIONAL ENGINE IS USED WHILE THE FIRST IS HAVING OVERHAULS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE WORK CONDUCTED. THIS RESULTS IN CONTINUED PRODUCTION OF KILOWATTS AND CRITICALLY MAINTAINING THE HEAT NEEDED FOR THE DIGESTER.
BIOLOGICAL SCRUBBER
ALONG WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE SECOND GENERATOR TRACES OF IMPURITIES WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN THE BIOGAS NEEDED TO BE REMOVED, (SUCH AS WATER VAPOR, CO2 AND H2S ). A BIOLOGICAL SCRUBBER FOR CLEANING H2S WAS INSTALLED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SECOND ENGINE WAS BEING INSTALLED. THIS SCRUBBER HAS INCREASED GAS PRODUCTION BY 20% AND HAS ALLOWED THE FARM TO STOP FEEDING AIR DIRECTLY INTO THE DIGESTER & PRODUCE A HIGHER QUALITY OF GAS WITH LESS CORROSION TO THE DIGESTER. IT HAS ALSO HELPED WITH THE REDUCTION OF PATHOGENS TO THE DIGESTER. THE PROCESS IS OPTIMIZED BY THE SOPHISTICATED DESIGN OF THE SCRUBBER UNIT BY CONTROLLING AIRFLOW THROUGH RESIDUAL OXYGEN CONCENTRATION IN THE TREATED GAS THROUGH THE GAS QUALITY METER. FOR THE BEST ACTIVITY OF BACTERIA THE TEMPERATURE IS CONTROLLED BY THE HEAT EXCHANGER AND THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL. SPENT NUTRIENT SOLUTION IS AUTOMATICALLY DISCHARGED INTO THE SLURRY STORAGE TANK WHERE IT IS MUCH NEEDED FOR CROP NUTRIENTS, REDUCING THE NEED FOR CORN STARTER.