Anaerobic Digestion Pumps – 6 Ownership & Maintenance Tips

Anaerobic digestion pumps are an essential piece of equipment used in anaerobic digestion systems. These pumps help to move the waste materials and other liquids through the system and ensure that the anaerobic digestion process runs smoothly.

Proper maintenance and ownership of anaerobic digestion pumps are crucial for ensuring that the system works correctly and that the waste materials are processed as efficiently as possible. If a pump is down, and any backup pump is not functional, the ability of the whole plant to make biogas is in jeopardy. We think that this is so essential that it is not a “tip”. Users just have to maintain their equipment. This should be common knowledge but sadly it is often neglected.

In this article, we will discuss 6 tips for proper ownership and maintenance of anaerobic digestion pumps.

We will look at the importance of regular maintenance, the types of pumps available, and how to select the right pump for your needs. We will also discuss how to ensure proper operation and how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise.

By following the following anaerobic digestion plant operating tips, you can ensure that your anaerobic digestion system runs smoothly and efficiently. Biogas is a renewable energy source that is created through the process of anaerobic digestion. The mostly methane gas created through this process must be stored in tanks or digesters for later use.

Tip 1 – Take a Pressure Reading of your System when it is Set-up & Working

If you're not sure what to do when your anaerobic digestion plant pump starts making strange noises, or if your system's pressure is dropping, it's a good idea to take a pressure reading.

This will tell you how well the pump is creating the pressure the system needs to work as intended.

If the pressure reading is low, it might mean any one or more of a number of things has gone wrong.  Or, it might simply indicate that the anaerobic digestion pump needs to be serviced.

If the pressure is high, it might mean that something is blocking the water at some point in the pipe system.

But, you won't know whether the system is either high in pressure or low unless you have recorded the normal, healthy, plant operating pressure in order to make a good comparison.

Therefore, remember this tip above all the others and make sure you record the pumping system characteristic pressures at commissioning handover!

Tip 2 – Pick an Anaerobic Digestion Pump that has an Easy Warranty Process

When choosing a pump, consider the warranty process.

Some pumps offer easy warranty processes, such as online registration or a toll-free number. This can save time and hassle if there are any issues with the pump.

Tip 3 – Only Buy High Construction Quality Anaerobic Digestion Pumps

There are three main aspects to the construction quality of anaerobic digestion pumps: materials, design, and manufacturing.

Tip 4 – Only Buy Professional-grade Pumps

If you are looking to buy an anaerobic digestion pump, make sure to only buy professional-grade pumps. These pumps are typically more reliable and last longer.

Don't be fooled by descriptions of low-cost pumps on mainstream seller websites.

Those national suppliers of multiple brands seldom offer any professional-grade anaerobic digestion pumps. Go to a recognised professional maker for all your biogas plant pumps. They tend to be more expensive, but they are worth the investment.

Tip 5 – Base Purchasing Decisions on the Cost Over the Lifetime of the Ownership

When making purchases, base your decision on the cost over the lifetime of the ownership.

This will help you to avoid making costly mistakes down the road.

For instance, if you are intending on purchasing a car that you will use for only a few months, most of us would look for a cheaper car that has low mileage on the clock.

Conversely, if you plan on running your anaerobic digestion plant for many years, invest in a better more up to date. and well-serviced pump model.

Tip 6 – Always Know How to Turn your Anaerobic Digestion Pump on Manually

Always know how to turn your pump on manually in case of a power outage. This will help to prevent the loss of water pressure in your home.

Summary and Conclusion

Summary: Anaerobic digestion pumps are important components of anaerobic digestion systems, used to transfer waste and other materials throughout the system. Proper maintenance of these pumps is essential for the long-term efficiency of the system.

This article provides six tips for owners and maintainers of anaerobic digestion pumps and is a good guide to successful AD plant operation. However, a reader suggested the following slightly different list:

1. Monitor for signs of wear and tear;
2. Use the right type of pump for the job;
3. Pay attention to motor speed;
4. Keep the pump clean;
5. Use the appropriate lubricants; and
6. Perform regular maintenance.

Read More (ADBA Press Release):

Landia: The Company that Provides Anaerobic Digestion Pumps and Mixers of all Kinds

The innovative Danish pump and mixer product developer, Landia, is notable for still being a family-owned company, probably uniquely for the manufacture of anaerobic digestion pumps. This is despite the fact that it was founded way back in 1933. Its claim to fame originates right back in 1950, when the company invented the first really workable electric pump for pumping difficult fluids, by being the first to incorporate the inclusion of rotating knives, within a pump.

From that day to the present, Landia has concentrated on the provision of products for the “dirty”, water pumping and mixing sector, by developing new products to serve each developing market as they evolve within the water and waste water, and farming sectors.

Unsurprisingly, although it may be, Landia's equipment also excels in the clean water sector, as well, but it is in the AD equipment market that Landia has identified a need for new products.

While interest was been growing worldwide in renewable energy from biomass through the Anaerobic digestion process over the last 5 years, Landia was quietly developing new products to meet the emerging demands for specialist pumping and mixing equipment, within this emerging industry.

The product that they came up with, took the company right back to its roots, and drew on their long-standing skills to produce a new range of bladed pumps, which it has named its “Chopper Pumps Range”.

The Landia Chopper Pump, we understand, is in heavy demand despite the current economic downturn, and is increasingly used all over the world. It combines the functions of pumping with a very robust chopping action.

Designing anaerobic digestion pumps, suitable for pumping such materials is notoriously difficult. However, users have attested to the fact that this pump reliably provides long term blockage-free running, at a low running cost, and even when handling highly variable feedstocks on-farm and in the digestion of MSW wastes, and sewage works sludges.

The video below showers a Landia chopper pump configured in their Gasmix system, to provide a digester with mixing, and scum removal. The result is that these anaerobic digestion pumps provide an improved gas yield from enhanced digestion rates.

Landia Anaerobic Digestion Pumps Have Global Reach and Wide Application

Landia competes successfully internationally, with over 75% of Landia’s business being exported.

Landia pumps, mixers and process units are also in successful use across numerous other industries in facilities which include sewage treatment plants, anaerobic digestion and biogas plants, agricultural biogas digesters, and fish processing factories, plus having interests in the food and brewing sectors.

Right across the waste management and biogas industry Landia shows its experience and skills as specialist designer/manufacturer.

In fact, the company prides itself on high-quality products and providing a backup service to its customers which they think, with a good measure of justification, is second to none in its industry niche.

Visit Landia’s website for more information on the Chopper Pump.

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Verder Anaerobic Digestion Pumps Used in the Recovery of waste food and the production of biogas

A famous Norfolk brewery producing excellent quality genuine ales has introduced a biogas digestion process producing high-quality biomethane that can be delivered to natural gas users through the national gas grid.

Food waste is collected at the side of the dock and processed into waste from supermarkets and breweries. The organic material is inserted in a feed-inlet when the rotor chopper breaks down the raw material in the process.

Not only does the AD process provide benefits from waste reduction but a side effect can be the production of carbon dioxide at the same time as they produce biogas.

A Verderflex Pump moves crushed slurry out of holding tanks into heated exchangers to raise the temperature before entering the main Anaerobic Digestion facilities.

Progressive Cavity Pumps are Used in Anaerobic Digester Applications

Biogas plant operators produce composts from a variety of organic materials for the energy generation process.  Some anaerobic digestion process liquids are extremely viscous, some abrasive, and some require mild handling – all are generally classed as; “not easy to pump”.

The progressive cavity pump technology is a type of pump that has evolved over time. New progressive cavity pumping technology, which allows the movement of waste materials throughout the anaerobic digestion process, has been incorporated into this process as a significant part of the overall process by a number of plant operators.

Pumps that are contained and low-maintenance were an attractive fit for bio-waste because they moved solid waste (food waste, sludge, slurry, and so on) quickly and efficiently. What is the Process? When microorganisms break down organic material (biomass) in the absence of oxygen, this is referred to as anaerobic digestion (AD).

Verderflex pumps have proved to meet these challenges. For example, a fish processing company in northern France fillets fish and prepares the rest for pet food as well as frozen blocks for shark bait and lures using Verder pumps.

Verderpro progressing cavity pumps are being used for the pumping of fish waste to produce biogas.p

Anaerobic Digestion Pumps for Biogas production

Anaerobic digestion produces renewable power but to be useful that power has to be produced reliably to be truly valuable. AD, the process of fermenting manure, food waste, and crops to produce biogas that can be used to generate energy, is a market that Verder technical sales engineers have been regularly specifying and supplying pumps to.

Pumps are critical components of the anaerobic digestion process, and it is critical to have equipment that performs at its peak performance. As you are no doubt aware, costs can add up quickly over the course of a year, with parts and pumps frequently needing to be replaced due to the nature of the digestate and the amount of time it is exposed to.

Biogas is generated primarily by removing air from a substance and allowing digestion to occur over a one to two-month period.

Moreover, well-run plants use many microorganisms. The Verderflex hose pump is a very good pump that is suitable for anaerobic digestion.

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[Article first published 13 November 2014.]