KSB, the world’s most experienced supplier of pumps and mixers, announced that biogas systems that implement a combination of its hybrid mixers and slow speed agitators can reduce mixer energy requirements by 50 to 75 percent.

KSB’s mid-sized hybrid mixers are engineered specifically for biogas production. These versatile tools are an important part of an optimized mixing procedure that can reduce energy costs, increasing energy output and revenues for the plant.

A complete mixing solution
Biogas production is a growing segment of the renewable energy industry. Raw materials (aka substrates) such as liquid manure, field silage, and other agricultural waste or byproducts are blended and fermented with bacteria to produce a clean, natural gas that can be used to generate electricity. Environmentally friendly fertilizer byproducts with a reduced nutrient load are also produced.

Proper mixing is critical for efficient biogas production. The system should be able to handle large flow volumes, creating consistent flow throughout the entire tank at sufficient turbulence levels to disperse solids. This type of flow — known as shear flow distribution — can be maximized by customizing the layout and configuration of mixing equipment based on the types of substrate used and the expected mix of liquid and solids.

KSB provides mixers optimized for each mixing task to ensure a specific flow volume and deliver enough thrust to move the medium through all sections of the fermenting tank. Use of multiple, properly positioned mixing units, each of which processes the reduced, diluted material created by other units, can help to prevent short circuiting flow paths and support the best possible transformation process.

Improve flow, reduce energy use
In biogas plants that depend primarily on traditional high speed mixers (turbulence generators) to moisten and disperse floating solids and to prevent sedimentation, approximately 10 percent of produced energy goes into running the plant. Sixty percent of that power is typically devoted to running the plant mixers.

In contrast, plants that implement a system combining hybrid mixers and slow speed agitators enjoy a much more efficient and profitable operation. Using KSB hybrid mixers and agitators as individual parts of a well-designed biogas production system creates a complete mixing solution — one that uses the right mixing design for each part of the digesting process.

The interactive performance of these components can reduce mixer energy requirements by 50 to 75 percent. This means more overall energy output and higher revenues.

KSB slow speed agitators accelerate the bulk flow of the substrate throughout the reactor and generate local shear flow to release gas bubbles from fermenting liquid. These slow speed agitators are much more energy-efficient than traditional turbulence generators and can handle large flow volumes while delivering high thrust.

KSB hybrid mixers, which are specifically designed for use in biogas applications, combine all the benefits of an agitator with the turbulence-generation of a traditional mixer. If substrate viscosity increases, hybrid mixers can adjust the conveying action to offset the increase and maintain optimal flow.

To learn more about KSB’s hybrid mixers and their use in biogas production, visit KSB in Booth #519 at the upcoming Water Environment Federations Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), Oct. 1-3, 2012 in New Orleans. (Seewww.weftec.org for registration information.)

About KSB in USA
KSB Inc. began operations in the U.S. and Canadian markets in 1974 and has specialized in highly engineered pump products for industrial and utility power plant services, environmental applications, and water and wastewater processing. KSB’s 140 years of experience in centrifugal pump development and design ensure that KSB pumps incorporate quality features that provide efficient performance and the highest level of safety. KSB Inc. is ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certified. Seewww.ksbusa.com for more information.