Efficiency Analysis of the Generation of Energy in a Biogas CHP System and its Management in a Waste Landfill – Case Study

Abstract

As a waste neutralization facility, the landfill is a kind of bioreactor producing landfill gas or (LFG) - biogas, which should be captured and neutralised for environmental reasons. One of the ways of its utilisation is the combined production of heat and electrical energy in combined heat and power (CHP) cogeneration systems. For that purpose, the assessment of the energy efficiency of a cogeneration unit was undertaken in this work on the basis of the unit performance over the last 5 years. The analysis of the CHP system energy performance demonstrated that the ratios range at the lower limits for units up to 0.5 MW. The lower efficiency of fuel chemical conversion in the CHP plant (0.70) stems from the failure to use the rated thermal and electrical power fully (74.2%), which is caused by the insufficient stream of biogas collected from the landfill (161.46 m3∙h-1). The analysis of the generated energy usage, particularly in terms of heat, has shown a surplus which is not used and therefore is a loss. The proposed solutions in this area should optimize the use of heat generated from the renewable source, i.e. landfill biogas