1. Sustainability in an Urban Environment
through Anaerobic Digestion
Biocycle 2012, Portland, OR

2. Introducing EISENMANN
EISENMANN is a leading international
supplier of
general finishing
environmental technology
material handling & conveyor systems
process and high-temperature technology
EISENMANN specializes in...
plant engineering
highly flexible systems integration
market and technology leader for individual
components and entire systems
service provider with a broad service offering
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3. Introducing EISENMANN
EISENMANN offers …
reference installations worldwide
custom and modular solutions
global services
detailed system and process solutions
top quality and reliability
EISENMANN facts & figures …
established in Stuttgart, Germany in 1951
12 locations worldwide
US location Crystal Lake, IL since late 70‘s
Global workforce of approx. 2,800 employees
More than 90 Biogas facilities built to date
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4. Market Drivers
Green Waste - Organics Diversion
 Organic wastes make up
>24% of materials sent to landfills
in US
 Eliminating methane emissions
from compostable organics is
equivalent to removing 20%
emissions from US coal fired
power plants
 US Congress is actively debating
new policy to promote Anaerobic
Digestion Project Development
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5. Objective
Organic waste diversion concept in an urban environment
Case study of implementing an
anaerobic digestion / biogas
system into an urban vertical
farming operation in the Chicago
stock yards.
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6. Plant Chicago is a nonprofit organization by founder John Edel, dedicated to bringing sustainable,
urban agriculture to vacant industrial buildings, while improving health and vitality and creating
green-collar jobs.
 Repurposing 93,500 sq.ft. retired meatpacking facility
into net zero energy vertical farm
 Aquaponics growing system (combining aquaculture
with hydroponics)
 Incubation of sustainable foods businesses offering low
rent, low energy cost
 Licensed shared kitchen rentals
 Creation of 125 jobs in Chicago’s economically
distressed “Back of the Yards” neighborhood
 Diversion of over 10,000 tons of food waste from
landfills
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7. Concept
Closed resource loop
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8. Principles of Biogas production – Input materials
Organic input substrates supplied from:
 Agriculture
 Food processing facilities
 Restaurant waste
 Yard waste and grass clippings
 Waste management facilites
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9. Biogas Yield
Organic input substrates can vary greatly and result in different gas qualities and quantities.
Substrates have an important influence on plant technology selected for anaerobic digestion
systems.
Source: AEBIOM Roadmap to Biogas 2010 9

10. Principles of biogas production
What is Biogas ?
1 2 3 4
Hydrolysis Acidogenesis Acetogenesis Methanogenesis
Acidification phase Acetic acid formation Methane formation
Composition of Biogas
Component Fraction
Pre-treatment Output Digested
Anaerobic fermentation Methane 40 - 75%
substrate
(in 4 phases)
Carbon dioxide 25 - 55%
Water vapor 0 - 10%
Trace gases 0 - 5%
Substrate input to
Substrate input to
anaerobic
pre-treatment
fermentation
Agricultural
fertilizer
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11. Technology
High solids horizontal fermentation plant
Properties… electrical
energy
High dry matter content in the digester: biowaste cogeneration unit
conditioning
Total solids content ≥ 15% and
separator
above thermal
energy
compost
Distinctive features… main digester pump
Robust, durable plant technology
compost
All substrates can be utilized without the fertilizer
need of slurrying
Fully automated, continuous feed liquid substrates
final storage tank
system
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12. Plant Rendering
Phase I: 5,000 TPY
Phase II: 10,000 TPY
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13. Utilizing biogas output
Combined heat and power (CHP) unit
Biogas-driven turbine powers generators to produce
electricity and steam for the building
Functions…
Generation of electricity – used for growing lights and
general electrical needs of the building
Generation of heat – heat created from turbine used to
heat the digester, adsorption chillers, building and
industrial processes, etc.
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14. Biogas Plant – Key Data Phase I
Overall Plant Footprint: 80 ft x 170 ft
Capital expense: ~ US $ 2,500,000.-
Input:  5,000 tons per year (13 t/day) of organic waste
Offtake:  2 MMBtu/hr of Biogas
 200 kW electric @ 29% efficiency
 1 ton/day of press-cake for composting
 8 tons/day of liquid soil amendment to replace fossil fuel
based fertilizer
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15. Milestones
July 1st 2010 - Acquisition of building
September 2010 - Begin renovation
October 2010 - First permanent tenant move in (Thrive Artesian Kombucha Teas)
January 2011 - First kitchen/bakery operational
February 2011 - Plant Chicago NFP was founded
December 2011 - Purchase decision for Biogas Plant
April, May 2012 - Finalizing of permitting for Biogas plant construction
June 2012 - Begin construction of Biogas Plant
January 2013 - Biogas plant startup
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16. Why Anaerobic Digestion at the Plant-Chicago
Sustainable Urban Agriculture in Food Desert
Net Zero Energy System
Reduction of Green House Gas emmissions by utilizing
waste streams in onsite Biogas plant
Economic benefit by creating Renewable Energy for a
Microgrid
Use of digestate rather than fossil fuel based fertilizer
Reducing Carbon footprint by eliminating waste collection
truck traffic
The Plant offers free tours every Monday, Tuesday and
Saturday at 2 PM (www.plantchicago.com)
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17. Promoting the use of Biogas and Anaerobic Digestion
O 148 Members from the U.S., Germany, Italy, Canada and the UK
O All Industry Sectors Represented
Key Industry Goals:
O Promote biogas markets, technologies and infrastructure
O Achieve policy parity
O Promote as a best practice for environmental stewardship and
greenhouse gas reduction
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www.americanbiogascouncil.org

18. Contact
EISENMANN Corporation
Environmental Technology / Biogas
Thomas F. Gratz
150 E. Dartmoor Drive
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014
E-mail: thomas.gratz@eisenmann.com
Internet: http://www.eisenmann.com
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