Description of the Reactor

Ambientalia’s AmBiogas dry digester consists of parallelepiped modules of the following sizes:

• working width from 5 to 7 metres;

• max length 50 metres;

• height of internal structure in reinforced concrete biocell 5 metres;

• height beneath false ceiling 4.8 metres.

The technical section for management of the aerobic and anaerobic phase is an integral part of the reactor and measures as follows: width 2 metres, length 2 metres, height 2 metres.

The reactor structure is in reinforced concrete treated with resins to ensure that gases do not escape. The frontal hatch is of the swinging type, with upwards opening by means of pneumatic pistons, and built in very thick GRP sandwich panel with reinforcements in steel and marine ply which make it extremely tough. All the finishes have reinforcements in AISI 304 stainless steel.

Sealing is guaranteed by an inflatable gasket, while opening is controllable solely by AmbiControl management software.

As described above, the false ceiling is mobile by means of pneumatic cylinders; all along the perimeter there are special closures in suitable synthetic material that guarantee the maintaining of both temperature and humidity from the reactor to the false ceiling. The latter is in sandwich panel, insulated with exposed material in fibreglass. During loading and emptying operations the false ceiling is raised in such a way as to facilitate the work of the mechanical shovel. Before commencing the anaerobic process the false ceiling is lowered, leaving a cavity between it and the biomass.

To maximise the working volume and at the same time protect the hatch from the thrust of the loaded material, there is a removable restraining wall with manual positioning.

Heaters, fed with hot water, are sunk in the flooring to favour heating the mass and the establishment of mesophilic conditions suitable for anaerobic micro-organisms. This is why the bed, the false ceiling and the hatch are insulated.
Thanks to the gradient of the floor the percolates emitted by the biomass flow into drain grilles and are conveyed to an underground storage tank. The tank is maintained in an anaerobic phase.

A trap on the conduits guarantees sealing of gas. The reflux taken from storage is previously heated, with an exchanger fed by the cogenerator, and sprinkled on the biomass with a twofold function: microbic inoculation and maintenance of the mesophilic temperature. The nozzles employed are anti-blocking.

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