Providing Onsite Waste to Energy Conversion
Advanced Anaerobic
Digestion Technologies
Our Mission:
Onsite Power Systems is dedicated to provide economically and environmentally
sound solutions for organic waste recovery while creating alternative renewable
fuels and value added products.
The company will take a leadership role in developing advanced anaerobic
digestion technologies while shaping new models for resource recovery,
renewable energy, and environmental sustainability.
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APSdigesterSummary11_05_05
Advanced Anaerobic Phased Solids (APS) Digestion Technology
Onsite Power Systems, Inc. (OPS) is a privately held company, which has
acquired the exclusive licensing agreement to an advanced anaerobic digester
process, patented by the University of California Regents (UC Regents), patent #
6,342,378. This Anaerobic Phased Solids (APS) digester process incorporates a
new, high-rate bioconversion technology developed by Dr. Ruihong Zhang in the
Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at the University of California,
Davis (UC Davis).
Dr. Zhang’s process exhibits significant
advantages
over
existing,
anaerobic
digestion technologies. These advantages
stem from several innovative design features
that allow optimum environmental conditions
for the system’s microorganisms, resulting in
significantly shorter retention time with an
expedient and efficient conversion of organic
feedstock into biogas and beneficial valueadded byproducts.
Anaerobic Digestion is not new; it has existed about as long as life has been
present on earth. Anaerobic digestion, a naturally occurring process, is the
bacterial breakdown of organic materials and by definition, is an anaerobic
process meaning that it proceeds in the absence of oxygen. Anaerobic digestion
is currently a worldwide-accepted technological process incorporated in the
digestion systems of sewage and municipal wastewater plants with thousands of
these systems currently in operation.
Compared with existing anaerobic digester systems, the APS digester is:
o
o
o
o
Capable of handling non-homogeneous solids
Requires less material handling equipment
Exhibits lower operational energy consumption
Requires smaller digester tanks resulting in reduced capital investments
The APS process compared with the most recently proposed digester for solid
waste conversion, sequential batch anaerobic composting (SEBAC) reactors
(Chenowyth, 1991), has demonstrated superior performance in terms of its ability
to process more solids per unit digester volume, producing a higher methane
content biogas at a more constant rate (Zhang & Zhang, 1998).
Additionally, as reported in the above referenced literature, the conventional
plug-flow digesters and completely mixed digesters used in the past for digestion
of solid wastes were found to be energy intensive in operation and exhibited
problematic material handling characteristics.
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The APS can process waste streams with a high
percentage of solids, typically 30% in comparison
with other anaerobic digesters that typically handle
up to 5% solids such as in wastewater treatment
digesters. This allows the APS system to digest a
wide variety of biomass materials including food
processing waste, agricultural crop residues, animal
waste streams, and municipal green waste.
.
Depending upon the type of biomass material, the
APS can convert 60 to 90% of the organic solids to
biogas. Any remaining solids have a value as a soil
amendment or fertilizer additives.
The APS process offers significant advantages over existing, anaerobic
digestion technologies. These advantages stem from several innovative design
features that allow optimum environmental conditions for the system’s
microorganisms, resulting in significantly shorter retention time with an expedient
and efficient conversion of organic feedstock into biogas and beneficial valueadded byproducts
Potential Market for APS Digester Systems in California
Information on available organic waste presented in a recent draft report from
the California Biomass Collaborative (2003) and information provided by
California Integrated Waste Management Board reveals an estimated 6.7 million
dry tons (approximately 22 million wet tons) per year of organic wastes are
produced in California.
This volume of organic wastes can daily produce enough biogas fuel supply to
generate approximately:
o 895,000 Kg of biohydrogen per day or
o 1,363,000 gallons of gasoline equivalent bio-CNG per day or
o 9,680 megawatt-hrs of renewable electricity per day, 365 days a year.
Multiple APS Digesters will reduce State’s reliance on imported oil. Placed
in strategic locations throughout the state of California, APS digesters, codigesting municipal food and green wastes mixed with animal and other
agricultural wastes, can provide multiple distributed energy generation sites
decreasing California’s vulnerability to grid failure, while providing environmental,
and economic benefits to the State.
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APSdigesterSummary11_05_05
APS Systems Providing: Biohydrogen - Biomethane - Biofuels
Biohydrogen and biomethane are two types of gaseous biofuels that the APS
digester produces from organic wastes; in particular from food processing waste,
pre and post consumer food waste and cheese whey permeate. The biogas
produced is a medium quality fuel ranging in energy value from 580 to 650 Btu
per standard cubic foot, which is approximately 60% of the energy value of
pipeline natural gas.
During the conversion of waste to biogas, approximately 20
to 25 % of the energy produced can be in the form of
biohydrogen, with the remaining energy in the form of
biomethane. This separate co-production of biohydrogen
and biomethane yields biofuels for specific uses and by
blending the two gases; the formation of one efficient
burning biofuel (Hythane) is attained
When the demand for biohydrogen and Hythane is low,
the two biofuels may be mixed to produce a clean burning
biofuel to operate CNG vehicles or fuel a fuel cell or an
internal combustion engine for electrical generation.
Additional processing will yield pipeline quality natural gas.
Biohydrogen, a Benefit to California’s Hydrogen Economy
Presently, commercial hydrogen primarily extracts from petrochemical
resources, releasing sequestered carbon dioxide (CO2), a green house gas, in
the process.
Hydrogen extracted from organic material (biohydrogen) is truly a renewable
resource, developed without releasing sequestered carbon dioxide during its
extraction process. Clean combustion of hydrogen & biohydrogen yield highenergy (142 kJ/g) without producing carbon dioxide.
During the early stages of development of the California’s
“Hydrogen Highway” infrastructure, the demand for pure
biohydrogen as a vehicle fuel will be lower than the demand
for other automotive fuels such as compressed natural gas
(methane gas). However, the number of automobiles requiring
biohydrogen fuel will increase with time and the APS
digester’s flexibility to produce biohydrogen, methane and/or
Hytane demonstrates it can be a principle factor in the early
establishment of the “Hydrogen Highway”.
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APSdigesterSummary11_05_05
Biohydrogen – Biofuels Development Project
The Biohydrogen and biofuels development project is designed to
demonstrate the ability to develop the hydrogen economy and the California
Hydrogen Highway program based on utilizing renewable fuel sources.
The focus of this project is to:
o Advance the current research
o Develop design and operational parameters
o Demonstrate a commercial system for stable, predictable and practical
production of biohydrogen, methane and other biofuels
o Demonstrate how these systems will play a critical role in the
development of the renewable hydrogen economy.
The project will involve design modifications to
the existing APS digester demonstration system
located at UC Davis. The design will allow for the
processing of various organic waste materials for
the production of biohydrogen. Additionally, the
biohydrogen will be either blended for Hythane
production, or will be fully converted to methane
to operate a fuel cell or internal combustion
engine.
Formation of the Biohydrogen – Biofuels Project Team
The establishment of a unique teaming arrangement allows the development
of an APS Digester Biohydrogen – Biofuels project at the UCD campus.
The Team
o OPS is providing the design, construction, and functional configuration of
the APS digester system.
o Air Products, Inc. is sponsoring the biohydrogen production, laboratory
studies and will be providing the biohydrogen and biofuels system
design including the production equipment.
o UC Davis is providing the biological engineering, set the operational
parameters, and perform operational system monitoring.
o Eco Soul is providing the public outreach and educational programs in
sustainable practices, resource recovery and renewable energy.
The biohydrogen project collaborative team brings with it a strong, multidisciplinary team of experts with interrelated capabilities and resources to insure
the successful development of this project.
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APS Digester Development & Commercialization
First phase pilot digester development was started in 1999 when OPS
constructed a (1,800-gallon total reactor volume) pilot APS digester plant at the
old wastewater treatment plant on the UC Davis campus and successfully
demonstrated the scalability of the system from the 4-liter laboratory reactors.
System design testing of:
•
•
•
•
Material handling
Circulation system
System components
Computer controls
System analysis of:
•
•
•
•
Gas production
Material processing
Process controls
Hydraulic mixing
Second phase pilot digester development started in 2000 when OPS
dismantled the 1,800-gallon Pilot plant and constructed a larger 14,000-gallon
total reactor volume pilot APS digester plant at the site of the new UC Davis
wastewater plant. The primary function of the second phase pilot system was the
evaluation of a variety of commercially available equipment and components.
Engineering evaluation of
commercially available:
•
•
•
•
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APSdigesterSummary11_05_05
Material handling systems
Material processing
equipment
Circulation system
• Pumps
• Valves
• Controls
Drain system valves,
pumps and piping
Small Scale APS Digester Commercial Demonstration System
The California Energy Commission issued a grant to Dr. Zhang and UC Davis
in July 2004 for the amount of $995,000 (contract #500-02-004) to demonstrate,
validate performance and commercialize the APS anaerobic digester technology.
OPS grant participation involves a construction contract and research
agreement with UC Davis (K010611-01). The contract directed OPS to construct
a 50,000-gallon total reactor volume, commercial demonstration digester system
to be located on the UC Davis campus at the current OPS pilot digester site.
The designs and techniques incorporated in the commercial APS digester
system presently under construction at UC Davis follows commercially proven,
industry standards. There are no dependencies upon unproven technological
developments to successfully achieve the anticipated system operation. The
complete system will be constructed using commercially available components.
Demonstration system design allowances have been incorporated for future
demonstration of various other technologies that will enhance the APS system.
Some of the planned technologies include a reformer for biohydrogen production,
compressed natural gas system (CNG) and a non-combusting fuel cell power
generator. Additionally, a small liquefier for the production of liquid hydrogen
(LH2) and/or liquefied natural gas (LNG) may be added to the system.
The OPS research agreement specifies that OPS will have the first rights to all
intellectual property developed during the execution of the agreement. Currently
OPS and Dr. Zhang, the primary research scientist, have filed one patent
disclosure and have a second potential patent disclosure in process.
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APSdigesterSummary11_05_05
The OPS Opportunity
The UC Regents/UC Davis patented technology offers OPS the opportunity to
position itself as a leader in providing efficient anaerobic digester technologies in
the rapidly developing national bio-industry. One of the primary driving forces of
this new bio-industry is recovering organic biomass waste as a source of
renewable, sustainable energy.
The economic and technical viability of
large-scale commercial APS digester
systems, validated with the completion
and operation of the system at UC
Davis, allows OPS to actively market
the APS digester technology and
establish commercial projects. Current
waste disposal regulations provide
OPS an excellent opportunity for the
commercialization of the APS digester
technology.
Based upon planned projects and forecasted sales projections, OPS is in a
strong position to capture a sizeable portion of a new and profitable biomass
market, positioning itself as a leader in this rapidly developing, industry.
Through strategic business developments, OPS will take a leadership role in
shaping new models for resource recovery, renewable energy, and
environmental sustainability.
APS Digester Systems Providing Sustainable Solutions
Tomorrow’s world will heavily rely upon renewable resources, advanced
food production systems, and new industrial technologies that will bring about
fundamental changes in waste management and resource recovery.
Anaerobic digestion is currently accepted globally as a necessary and viable
technological process. OPS’s APS digester system advances this process to a
new level, offering immediate and viable solutions to customer’s problems while
creating lucrative business opportunities to its investors.
For information regarding project development, business development and
investment opportunities, contact:
David Konwinski
Onsite Power Systems, Inc.
Website - www.onsitepowersystems.com
Email - onsitepower@comcast.net
(559) 271-2970
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