PREDICTIVE MODELLING OF AN ANAEROBIC DIGESTOR

Abstract

The increasing dependence on fossil fuels for production Of energy has led to the development of novel energy resources. These resources aim to establish the framework for energ\ impro ement in the coming years. Solar. hydropower, wind, and hiogas seem to be potential sustainable sources that could reduce this dependence signilcantly. Sources that Use indigenous resources qualiI\ to provide energy with very lo emissions of harmful green house gases. Some of these have already lirmlv established themselves as appropriate replacciiiciit to conventional liiels. According to Kumar et al.I 11. 18% of the worlds energy is supplied b\ rene'.\ able sources. This energy ma be used directly or converted to other suitable torni of energy. Thus. the development of' renewable energy resources is a pronlisilig prospect for the future. These energy sources are being used for various applications [21 causing minimum harm to the environment. Both stand alone and grid connected [3] forms of renewable energy are available in the market in the present time. When planning for development of renewable energy * resources, poer generation and cost reduction are two important factors loi' consideration. Optimization models of several types have been proposed in literature 141 concerning emission • reduction, control. forecasting, energy supply etc. for increasing the efficiency of utilization of these sources. Still, due to various socio-economic, political and technological issues. the p'oper dissemination and propagation of renewable energy is hindered. Harnessing these sources at a large scale [5,6] would still require monumental efforts on the part of teclmologists. Kothari et al. [7] has given an excellent review on (lie global situation of waste-to-energy methods with respect to biogas and hydrogen producing technology. It has been stated in the work that to attain sustainability, normally four energy paths are considered. These involve adoption of energy technologies of an advanced nature, current energy use with significant amendments, development of alternative energy methodologies involving waste and b iomass resources and clean routes to energy production. All of these four approaches are instrumental in bringing renewable energy technologies at the fore of the global energy balance.