AERZEN and biogas:impressive growth, decades of expertise, convincing references

Whether oil-free or oil-injected - the customers can rely on customised product solutionsAERZEN and biogas: impressive growth, decades of expertise, convincing references

AERZEN VMX compressor in a container of EnviTec Biogas

Biogas plants make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and are becoming increasingly important due to the growing demand for energy and the pursuit of energy independence. For decades, AERZEN has been contributing to the growing demand for products in this sector.

Biogas is produced during the fermentation of biomass such as animal manure, waste, energy crops and renewable raw materials. The resulting raw biogas mainly consists of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). After desulphurisation, the raw biogas can be used to generate electricity and heat, or it can be processed into biomethane by removing the non-combustible components such as CO2. The biomethane, which has the same quality as natural gas, can then be fed into natural gas networks or used as fuel in natural gas vehicles. The most common treatment processes are membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption (PSA).

AERZEN’s solutions for the biogas sector

With a comprehensive portfolio of biogas compressors and blowers, AERZEN is an essential part of the biogas eco-system. Whether via oil-free or oil-injected compression, AERZEN always offers the optimal solution for the respective treatment process and for the specific requirements of the customers. Oil-free blower and compressor packages are designed for pressures of up to 3.5 bar(g), while oil-injected compressors can reach pressures of up to 15 bar(g).

Why choose AERZEN as a partner for biogascompressors?

The AERZEN strengths lie in its many years of experience, the international presence, the wide-ranging product portfolio and the high level of process reliability. AERZEN has extensive expertise in the biogas market. This is proven by numerous references and positive feedback from the customers.

Shared successes with EnviTec Biogas

Since 2014, AERZEN has been a reliable partner of EnviTec Biogas, Europe’s leading manufacturer of biogas- and gas treatment plants. EnviTec can look back on numerous successfully completed projects with customised solutions. They deliver complete systems consisting of the biogas plant, the EnviThan gas treatment plant and our compressors. Together with EnviTec, AERZEN has already completed numerous projects in Europe, China and the USA. A prime example of the excellent partnership between EnviTec Biogas and AERZEN is the Lincoln biogas plant in Auburn, New York, which was equipped with extensive biogas technology from EnviTec. Liquid manure from the surrounding dairy farms is converted directly into biogas using two digesters on site. The raw biogas is then processed into biomethane in the biogas treatment plant by means of a membrane separation process and also fed into the grid on site. The EnviThan gas treatment technology was developed for this purpose. The treatment system is operated with a final pressure of up to 15 bar(g) by the AERZEN VMX 250. 85 million gallons of liquid manure – that’s approximately 320,000 cubic metres – are processed and upgraded to 274 SCFM of biomethane (SCFM stands for standard cubic feet per minute and refers to the gas flow of biomethane).

“Our long-standing cooperation with AERZEN has always been characterised by reliable and cooperative handling. We are pleased that AERZEN has taken a major step forward in development with its new series, which is specially designed for biogas. This new series is a cost-effective solution which meets our requirements. We are very satisfied with the cooperation and will continue to rely on AERZEN in the future.”
Stefan Laumann, Head of Gas Treatment at EnviTec Biogas

Projects in Brazil with the customer Gruen

AERZEN customer Gruen offers turnkey solutions for biogas treatment and is particularly active in the Brazilian biofuel sector. The solution offered by Gruen includes a complete process with biogas pre-treatment as well as CO2 and N2 removal and provides additional options for CO2 liquefaction, CH4 liquefaction or compression to 250 bar. The company relies on customised technologies with low energy consumption through low pressure PSA systems. The process begins with the collection of raw biogas, which comes from landfill sites, sugar cane plants or animal manure. The biogas is desulphurised and then fed to the oil-free AERZEN screw compressors, where it is compressed from near-atmospheric pressure to 3.5 bar(g). The compressed gas is then fed into the PSA process, in which methane is separated from CO2 and other gases.
The result is high purity biomethane that can be efficiently used either for energy production or for other applications in the biofuel sector. AERZEN is characterised not only by its technical expertise, but also by its well-established local presence in Brazil. Alexander Röpke, the founder of Gruen, explains: “Gruen works with adsorption materials that are sensitive to oil impurities in the gas. That’s why we were looking for an oil-free compression technology that still offers the advantages of a screw compressor, such as a compact design and low operating costs.” The low-pressure process designed by Gruen Biogas achieved its best results using AERZEN machines. The RKR C18Z-G (VM30) and C27Z-G (VM45) machines are currently being installed, initially together with an acoustic hood and, in the case of the latest projects, in a special container in which three machines are being installed and delivered directly to the installation site in Brazil.
So far, 15 AERZEN compressors have been delivered, with a further 20 to follow later this year. Rainer von Siegert, General Manager Aerzen Brazil, reports: “We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with Gruen to jointly drive the Brazilian biogas market forward and realise sustainable energy solutions with maximum efficiency.”

“Even though Brazil is a country of clean energy, we continue to look for new sustainable energy alternatives, and Aerzen Brazil wants to be part of it.”
Rainer von Siegert, General Manager Aerzen Brazil

EnviTec container with EnviThan gas treatment technology and AERZEN compressor

Container with three C27Z-G biogas compressors (VM45)

Further information

2C/3C series from AERZEN: efficient, application-optimised, compact. For the conveying and compression of gases, AERZEN offers specially developed multi-stage screw compressors.