1. Small-scale Solar-Biopower Generation For Rural Central America
Project Updates:
Small-scale Solar-Biopower Generation For Rural Central America
WHA Costa Rica Project Team
November, 2012
Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University
Agricultural Engineering, University of Costa Rica

2. A Solar-Biopower Concept
Integrating wastes utilization with solar and biological technologies will create a novel self-sustainable clean energy generations system for small-medium scale operations
Solar
Energy
Bioenergy
Animal Manure
Fertilizers
Anaerobic
Digestion
Biological
Post-treatment
Other Wastes
Reduced GHG
Clean Water

3. A Solar-Biopower Concept
Benefits of system integration
Overcome the disadvantages of individual technologies
Unsteady energy flow for solar power generation
Low efficiency of mesophilic anaerobic digestion on degradation of organic matter
Higher energy requirement of thermophilic aerobic digestion
Provide sufficient and stable energy for small-medium sized rural community
Solar energy utilization
Improved efficiency of anaerobic digestion on degradation of organic matter
Biogas energy as chemical storage – steady energy flow

4. A Solar-Biopower Concept
System flowchart

5. A Solar-Biopower Concept
Mass balance
Predicted mass balance for the integrated solar-bio system on 1,000 kg of mixed sludge and food wastes
The calculation of mass balance was based on the expected results that will be achieved by this project.
A kg COD destroyed produces 350 L methane gas.

6. A Solar-Biopower Concept
Energy balance
Potential energy generation based on 1,000 kg of mixed influent per day
Maximum daily net energy generation
Time courses of maximum energy generation
Change to figures
Approximately 200% more net energy output (maximum) generated from solar-biopower system with the system under the optimal conditions.
Time courses of potential net energy generation of solar-biopower system

7. Objectives
Optimize local thermophilic anaerobic microbial consortia on mixed waste streams
90% completion
A publication is under preparation
Design and implement a solar-biopower generation system on mixed waste streams
80% completion
The full demonstration system is up and being tested
Evaluate the technical and economic performance of the demonstration system for rural communities in Central America
20% completion
A prototype portable unit has been designed and tested at MSU
The 500 L portable unit is under fabrication
Establish an outreach program in Central America
30% completion

8. Microbial community in anaerobic digestion Unclassified bacteroidetes
Objective 1
Optimize local thermophilic anaerobic microbial consortia
Microbial community in anaerobic digestion
Culture at 45°C, waste ratio of 80:20
Unclassified bacteroidetes
Distribution of phylum Bacteroidetes in bioreactors
1 µm
SEM picture of unclassified bacteroidetes
Pyrosequencing (454) analysis of six reactors. Mixed manure and fiber (50 g/L of COD, three mixture ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30) and two temp. of 25 and 45°C
Neighbor joining tree of the unique Bacteroidetes genera (cluster 78 and 89) from 45°C culture and their closely related species in Silva database.

9. Optimize local thermophilic anaerobic microbial consortia
Objective 1
Optimize local thermophilic anaerobic microbial consortia
Biogas Production on Mixed Waste Streams
Biogas accumulation from manure/food wastes mixture at 50°C digestion (90:10 vs. 80:20)
Biogas accumulation from manure/food wastes mixture at 35°C digestion (90:10 vs. 80:20)

10. Major system components
Objective 2
Design and implement a solar-biopower generation system on mixed waste streams
Major system components
(16) 2x1 m flat-plate solar collector with support
(1) 22 m3 anaerobic digester with a 50 m3 gas bag
(1) 16 kW combined heating and power unit
(4) 100 m2 wetland/sandfilter cells
Solar-bio-reactor
Wetland/sandfilters
Located at Fabio Buadrit Experimental Station, UCR

11. Objective 2
Design and implement a solar-biopower generation system on mixed waste streams
Solar-bio-reactor
Wetland/sandfilters

12. Objective 3
Evaluate the technical and economic performance of the demonstration system for rural communities in Central America
Portable-Scale Solar-Biopower System Design
: Heat flow
: System monitor and control

13. Objective 4 Establish an outreach program in Central America
30% completion
1 workshop (team members from Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua attended) has been held at MSU at the end of 2011
1 seminar conference has been held at UCR in March, 2012
A meeting with industrial sector and university was held during the May visit to Nicaragua (2012)
2 undergraduate students did intern at MSU in 2012
A small-scale demonstration digester unit has been fabricated at UNAN-Leon (Nicaragua).
A group of 13 students from both MSU and UCR will visit the pilot facility at Fabio

14. Thank You !
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