Combining thermal model and kinetics: Implications in dynamic simulation of anaerobic digesters.

In this study, ADM1-based kinetics were combined with a thermal model that accounts for various heat transfers inside and through the reactor's boundaries. Computing the energy of bioreactions based on kinetic rates prevented an overestimation of approximately 20% in the heat demand of the heat exchanger, compared to calculations using feedstock degradation heat. This also improved the representation of the digester's thermal and reactional inertia.

Soil PM emission potential under specific mechanical stress and particles characteristics.

Soil can be resuspended in the atmosphere due to wind or mechanical disturbances, such as agricultural activities (sowing, tilling, etc.), producing fine particulate matter (PM). Agriculture is estimated to be the third PM-emitting sector in Europe, emitting more than the transportation sector.

Evaluation of particulate matter (PM) emissions and its chemical characteristics during rotary harrowing operations at different forward speeds and levelling bar heights.

Particulate matter (PM) is an air pollutant which poses a considerable risk to human health. The agricultural sector is responsible of the 15% of the total anthropogenic emissions of PM (PM fraction with aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm) and soil preparation activities have been recognized as one of the main drivers of this contribution. The emission factors (EF) proposed by European environmental agency (EEA) for tilling operations are based on very few studies, none of which has been made in Italy.

A floating coverage system for digestate liquid fraction storage.

Anaerobic digestion is booming in the nations of Europe. In fact, Italy alone has approximately 500 plants in operation or in some phase of start-up. Previous studies have made evident the potential that lies in digested manure residual biogas.

Residual biogas potential from the storage tanks of non-separated digestate and digested liquid fraction.

Biogas plants daily produce enormous volumes of digestate that can be handled in its raw form or after mechanical separation. In Italy, effluents are usually stored within aboveground, uncovered tanks, which make them potential emitters of biogas into the atmosphere. The purpose of this study was to estimate the amount of biogas emitted to the atmosphere during the storage phase of non-separated digestate and digested liquid fraction.