Model-based assessment of partially upgraded biogas and the decentralized utilization for mobility in agriculture

ABSTRACT: Since almost 100 % of worldwide farm machinery is operated on fossil fuels, the agricultural sector shows a great demand for the implementation of environmental power train concepts. Taking the general immediate vicinity between biogas plants and farms into account, a promising approach is given by the decentralized utilization of biogas as fuel for agricultural vehicles. The aim of the study is to provide a model based assessment system of the production, storage, and consumption of partially upgraded biogas as tractor fuel. In contrast to common upgrading systems, the methane enrichment is reduced to a certain extent enabling a suitable combustion process operating the vehicle engine. Through extensive market research of commercially available technologies, upgrading, storage and fueling concepts have been developed and evaluated for technical and economic feasibility. The evaluation includes model based investigations of several processes for the upgrading and storage system. An overall model summarizing the process-related design, peripheral sub-processes, safety requirements and economic analysis, conceived as an evaluation tool represents the key purpose of the research project. The following explanations are focused on the modeling approach for the methane enrichment process.