Walker Dairy Methane Digester for Process Heat and Power

COMBINED HEAT AND POWER FOR: Dairy Farm

Overview

Walker Dairy Farm has installed a methane

digester that uses manure produced on the farm to

generate up to 300 kW of electricity for use on the

farm or to send back to the grid. The farm is

committed to reducing their environmental impact

while creating their own energy. Doing this

reduces their energy reliance on the grid as well

as reducing their overall energy costs. The Application

The site is operating one 300kW synchronous

Guascor engine-generator with gas

conditioning equipment, piping and controls

installed in a designated building next to the

digester. All the electrical loads at the farm

have been consolidated into a single 3-phase,

277/480 volt electrical service in order to

accommodate the generator system. Biogas

from the digester is used in the engine-

generator or flared. In the event of a utility

power outage, a protective relay

automatically isolates the unit from the utility

grid, allowing the system to keep running and

produce electricity for farm use.

Quick Facts Location: CHP Equipment: Fort Ann, NY Guascor SFGLD240 (National Grid) engine-generator

Installation Date: Heat Recovery Application:

May 2012 Process Heat

Operating Experience: Type of Fuel:

Beginning 6/2012 Digester Gas

Generating Capacity: Cost Savings:

300 kW

“We are witnessing an energy revolution

that can be replicated across the fields of

New York and the country.”

- Charles Schumer.,

U.S. Senator from NY

Web Links and Further Information:

Developer/Engineer: http://www.rcmdigesters.com/ Equipment Manufacturer: http://www.guascorpower.com/eng/index.php

DG/CHP Resources: http://dg.nyserda.ny.gov/

Schematic of Walker Dairy’s Methane Digester

Walker Dairy’s Methane Digester CHP System and Equipment The system at Walker Dairy consists of a manure digester from which biogas is used in the engine/generator or

flared. Reduction in H2S is done by injecting oxygen into the digester; the H2S then bonds to the oxygen and

remains in the manure. Methane gas will rise above the manure level with reduced H2S. Saturated gas is passed

through a plate heat exchanger (HX) where the exhaust heat is transferred to water to heat the digester and for

milk house water heating.

Guscor Biomethane Engine-Generator Installed at Walker Dairy

Summary of Benefits • Reduces carbon footprint

significantly

• Fully self-sufficient in the event

of power grid failure

• Reduces manure disposal and

odor

Prepared for NYSERDA by:

CDH Energy Corp.

Cazenovia, NY 13035

315-655-1063

www.cdhenergy.com

dgchp_data@cdhenergy.com

Economics and Environmental Benefits

The CHP System at Walker Dairy is estimated to reduce farm electric costs by 50%. CHP efficiency

can be twice that of conventional utility power. It is expected that Walker Dairy will see a dramatic

reduction in energy costs, as well as reducing their total carbon footprint. Another benefit to the

manure digester is a greatly reduced manure odor issue, resulting in less environmental impact and

lower aesthetic impact. Monitored data are being collected from the site and are available in an hourly

format on NYSERDA’s DG/CHP website starting from June 2012.

Engine Exhaust

Milk House

Hot Water

Digester

S1

Flare

Pressure Relief

G1

G2

CO2 Sampling H2S Scrubber

Engine/Generator

Effluent

Tank

Barn

Seperator

Manure

Collection Pit

HX