Biogas GICON EN

GICON Biogas Process
two-stage dry-wet fermentation with split hydrolysis
High-performance fermenter with effective
utilization of the reactor volume due to the
GICON Process.
Filling of a percolator
with agricultural machinery
04
Process flow diagram
of the GICON Biogas Process
Simple solution - enormous impact
The GICON Biogas process with most of its major process steps was developed at BTU
Cottbus (Prof. Busch et. al.) in cooperation with GICON and has been patent-protected
several times, including internationally (Patent DE 10 2204 053 615.5, additional patent
applications for design details and process variations). It has been designed to operate in
two steps, with a systematic separation of microbiological decomposition steps. During
the first step (hydrolysis), organic components are eluted from the substrate matrix and
converted into organic acids and other water-soluble decomposition products. This
watery solution (hydrolysate), containing organics, is fed into the second step, the methanization,
which is designed as a packed bed vessel. Due to the immobilization of methane-forming
microorganisms on the surface of the packing material, large methaneforming
potentials will be available at any given time. Thus, short residence times of
the hydrolysate can be achieved, a solution which poses a unique option for the controlla-bility
of the biogas production. The environmental conditions (temperature and pH,
among others) are controlled and optimized separately in both process steps. By applying
the innovative GICON biogas process, major disadvantages of conventional facilities
are omitted.
Since movement of the solid substrate does not occur during the operation, the system
is robust with respect to possible impurities content. This is especially important for feedstocks
such as biological wastes and landscaping-generated wastes. The use of the
organic fraction of household waste is also possible and has already been successfully
tested. Cleaning and maintenance of the percolation step can occur between substrate
charging cycles without interruption of the biogas generation process.
batch-wise addition and removal of feedstock
multiple percolators
in a garage setup
percolation
percolation
stabile by-product appropriate,
for example, for composting
percolate
= hydrolysate
percolate return
hydrolysate vessel
-buffer storage-
methane
production
control
hydrolysate
methane reactors
return
waste water, liquid fertilizer
biogas
70-80% CH 4
packed bed
aeration and
polishing pool
sludge
liquid
effluent