AD design and operating strategies for energy demand matching in the face of non-uniform feedstock availability and composition

Supervisor: Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Dr Davide Poggio, Professor Derek Ingham and Professor Lin Ma.

In the urban environment at the household to institutional-scale the availability and composition of waste biomass feedstocks, suitable for biogas production, is likely to vary on a variety of timescales. This raises issues about how the AD system can be designed to meet the local energy demands and to be resilient to these changes in feedstock quantity and composition.

This research will use a combination of modelling and experimental work to investigate and optimise the algorithms for optimal process control. The research will benefit from the available experimental facilities including laboratory-scale digesters, excellent analytical facilities, expertise in the computer modelling of AD process kinetics, mass balance and operational strategies and links with industry through our collaborative work.

For further information contact Professor Derek B Ingham (d.ingham@sheffield.ac.uk).