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Exploring Oregon's Methane Project: Experience, Technology, and Economic Potential

The Oregon Methane Project, led by Mike Gamroth from Oregon State University, focuses on innovative anaerobic digestion processes for manure management and renewable energy generation. This research evaluates various digester types—plug flow, complete mix, and covered lagoons—highlighting their effectiveness and suitability for different manure types. Emphasizing the dual benefits of energy production and environmental sustainability, the project addresses economic aspects, operational maintenance, and the importance of matching technology to manure quality. Through partnerships and research initiatives, it aims to optimize nutrient balance and provide valuable insights for farmers.

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Exploring Oregon's Methane Project: Experience, Technology, and Economic Potential

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  1. Oregon’s Methane Project -Experience and Potential Mike Gamroth Oregon State University Dept. of Animal Sciences

  2. The process • Anaerobic digestion – like the rumen • Longer retention • Methane collection • Methane use • Heat, hot water • Combustion engine electricity “Methane digester”

  3. Basic concepts • Decomposition of organic material • Oxygen-free environment • Numerous strains of microorganisms • Biogas • Methane 50-80% • CO2 20-50% • Other gases

  4. Ambient temperature • Covered lagoon • Lowest output • Mesophilic • Around 100º F • More forgiving • Thermophilic • Highest output, lower retention time

  5. Digester types • Plug flow • Suited to scraped manure • Most common on dairies • Long rectangular tanks • Heat added, in-ground or insulated • Retention time (RT) 15 to 20 days

  6. Digester types • Complete mix • Typically upright round tanks • Benefits from regular feeding • Can handle “wetter” manure • When co-digesting, mixing important

  7. Digester types • Covered lagoon • Lowest cost, simplest to operate • Best suited to warm climates, wet manure • Lowest gas output • Often will be “seasonal”

  8. Digester types • Biofilm • Can augment any digester • A place for bacterial activity • Reduces retention time

  9. Economics 101 • A thrifty digester system can payback in 7 to 10 years • Initial cost • Operation costs • Value of energy, tax credits • Other benefits – odor control, solids sales

  10. Benefits of digestion • Generate energy from biomass • Odor reduction • More readily available nitrogen • Pathogen reduction $65 $68 $80 $83

  11. Why there aren’t more… • Poor design • Lack of skills, time • Excessive maintenance, operation time • Diminishing returns over time • Lack of interest • Out of business EPA and Meyer, et al

  12. Keys to success • Know your manure quality • Match the digester technology with the manure • Select a tested design and keep it simple • Take advantage of incentives • Monitor the system daily • Line up operation and maintenance backup

  13. Resources • http://www.epa.gov/agstar/index.html • Our project: • Energy Trust of Oregon • Oregon Beef Council • Oregon Dairy Farmers Association • Amanda Green (360) 751-4190

  14. A partnership of Cal-gon Farms and Portland General Electric

  15. The system • Scraped manure • Piston pump to feed digester • Digester effluent through a screw-press screen • Liquids stored in lagoon • Solids in covered bunker

  16. Uses • Lagoon liquids mixed with water and irrigated onto field corn • Solids are sold off the farm and used as bedding • Recycling lagoon liquids through separator when not used for digester

  17. Research project • Questions about the farm’s nutrient balance • Questions about the start-up and stabilization of the digester • Received money from a grant program to sample the digester during start-up and for a two month period during operation • Evaluate solids as a soil amendment

  18. Ending Svc Date kWh # Days Avg kWh/day 5/30/2002 8527 31 275 7/30/2002 12301 32 384 8/29/2002 14817 30 494 9/28/2002 17886 30 596 10/29/2002 23115 31 746 11/27/2002 19614 29 676 8/3/2003 271677 336 660 Electrical Output Cal-Gon Farms Biogas Project Generation Record (based on PGE bills)

  19. Basic results

  20. Exporting solids to reduce nutrient loading 1 Average of 51 separators, Willamette Valley, 1995

  21. Solids plots

  22. DAF separation 90%+ P removal

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