TY - THES

T1 - Experimental investigation and 2D modelling of single-stage oil-cooled biogas methanation

AU - Jeremic, Marija

N1 - embargoed until 01-12-2029

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions has accelerated interest in biogas as a renewable energy source. Methanation of biogas, a process that converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methane, is essential for upgrading biogas to biomethane, a cleaner alternative to natural gas. However, conventional methanation processes face challenges in efficiency and stability, especially under varying operational conditions. This thesis addresses these challenges by investigating and optimizing single-stage biogas catalytic methanation with oil cooling through experimental and computational methods. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory methanation pilot plant at the Chair of Process Technology and Industrial Environmental Protection, Montanuniversität Leoben. The study focused on key operational parameters, such as gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) ranging from 4000 to 12000 h-1, pressure between 6 and 12 bar, and oil cooling temperature between 290¿ and 320¿. Following the experimental phase, a detailed reactor model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software to simulate the methanation process under the tested conditions. Although some deviations were observed between the experimental data and the model predictions, the model successfully captured the overall process trends. These deviations offer valuable insights for refining the model and enhancing its predictive accuracy. This research identifies the optimal conditions for biogas methanation and highlights opportunities to improve the simulation model, contributing to the development of more efficient and stable biogas upgrading technologies.

AB - The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions has accelerated interest in biogas as a renewable energy source. Methanation of biogas, a process that converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methane, is essential for upgrading biogas to biomethane, a cleaner alternative to natural gas. However, conventional methanation processes face challenges in efficiency and stability, especially under varying operational conditions. This thesis addresses these challenges by investigating and optimizing single-stage biogas catalytic methanation with oil cooling through experimental and computational methods. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory methanation pilot plant at the Chair of Process Technology and Industrial Environmental Protection, Montanuniversität Leoben. The study focused on key operational parameters, such as gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) ranging from 4000 to 12000 h-1, pressure between 6 and 12 bar, and oil cooling temperature between 290¿ and 320¿. Following the experimental phase, a detailed reactor model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software to simulate the methanation process under the tested conditions. Although some deviations were observed between the experimental data and the model predictions, the model successfully captured the overall process trends. These deviations offer valuable insights for refining the model and enhancing its predictive accuracy. This research identifies the optimal conditions for biogas methanation and highlights opportunities to improve the simulation model, contributing to the development of more efficient and stable biogas upgrading technologies.

KW - Biogas-Methanisierung

KW - BioSNG

KW - Power to Gas

KW - Erneuerbares Erdgas

KW - Reaktormodellierung

KW - biogas methanation

KW - bioSNG

KW - Power to Gas

KW - renewable natural gas

KW - reactor modelling

M3 - Master's Thesis

ER -