A Temperature-based Methane Oxidation Performance Model For Field High-rate Methane Biofilters
Date
2019-01-03
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Abstract
High rate methane biofiltration (HMBF) technology is a promising bioprocess to attenuate methane (CH4) rich waste gas from oil well and battery sites as an alternative to flaring and venting. Typically, the field performance of an HMBF is evaluated through its CH4 removal capacity, which is calculated by manually measuring the CH4 input and output. This approach is accurate for an instance of gas emissions. However, to determine HMBF performance over extended periods of time, continuous measurement techniques are required. This research uses temperature as a proxy to determine the CH4 oxidation in remote, field HMBFs. A physically based model was developed to back calculate CH4 oxidation rate based on the temperature change inside the filter bed. The model performance was calibrated and validated through actual data obtained from an actively aerated field HMBF, which was designed, constructed and operated for 420 days in an oil battery site in Hanna, AB. An empirical model was also developed using the data collected. The HMBF was highly successful in treating solution gas with a recorded maximum CH4 oxidation of 1657 g/m3.day. The temperature-based model showed high agreement with the actual results obtained from the HMBF yielding an R2 value of 0.77 and can be used to measure daily and cumulative GHG emission reductions achieved through an HMBF during any stage of operation. The empirical model developed also had a good fit with the temperature-based model and could be used to design and size future HMBFs and determine the best inlet flow conditions in which to operate an HMBF. The effect of inlet loading rate, air to CH4 ratio, temperature, moisture content and air-filled porosity on HMBF performance and the changes to filter bed conditions due to CH4 oxidation were studied. It was found that while inlet loading rate drives the CH4 oxidation rate, other parameters play an important role to sustain high CH4 oxidation over long periods of time.
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Keywords
methane, methanotrophy, methane biofilter, high rate methane biofilter
Citation
Gunasekera, S.S. (2019). A Temperature-based Methane Oxidation Performance Model For Field High-rate Methane Biofilters (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.