Reliable Weighing System for a Consistent Input Mix for Anaerobic Digestion

ABSTRACT

The organic fraction of municipal solid organic waste (MSBW) is treated in dedicated plants through two processes: anaerobic digestion and composting, obtaining respectively biogas and compost. However, given the heterogeneous composition of the incoming waste, and due to practical difficulties in correctly sorting it before reaching the plant, a pre-treatment phase is required to obtain quality end products. This process is currently carried out by an automatic overhead crane, to then be mixed with the green waste (all waste from agriculture) and obtain the final mix to be fed into the digesters. A2A is therefore looking for new weighing systems for the green and organic fraction to understand the efficiency of the separation line and hence the quality of the incoming raw material to obtain a homogeneous and quality feed material, improving the final biogas and compost.

This Theoretical Challenge requires only a written proposal.

 

OVERVIEW

Anaerobic digestion plants are those plants in which organic matter is degraded by microorganisms in anaerobic conditions, obtaining biogas and digestate, from which biomethane and compost or fertilizers are obtained respectively.

Anaerobic digestion plants receive two different types of waste: municipal solid waste (called MSW) and green waste, which are treated simultaneously on two lines or sequentially if there is only one line in the plant. These reach the pre-treatment section where, by means of an automatic bridge crane, they are chopped and screened, obtaining two fractions: the under screen and the over screen. The under screen is then directed to the digester, and its quality determines the final quality of the products of the plants (biogas and compost).

However, to date these two components are not weighed, as current measurement systems are not sufficiently reliable, and therefore the mix, theoretically homogeneous, of the input mixture is not currently known precisely. A2A is therefore looking for waste weighing systems that can be integrated with a reversible conveyor belt, to understand the efficiency of the separation line and hence the quality of the incoming raw material to obtain a homogeneous and quality feed material and thus improve the final biogas and compost.

This is a Theoretical Challenge that requires only a written proposal to be submitted. The Challenge award will be contingent upon theoretical evaluation of the proposal by the Seeker.

To receive an award, the Solvers will not have to transfer their exclusive IP rights to the Seeker. Instead, Solvers will grant to the Seeker a non-exclusive license to practice their solutions. 

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on 03-Nov-2022.
Late submissions will not be considered.

 

ELIGIBILITY

Employees of A2A Group and their families are not eligible to receive awards for this Challenge.

ABOUT THE SEEKER

The A2A Group is the largest Italian multi utility, at the forefront of territorial services and technological solutions. We design smart and sustainable cities, with respect for the citizens, we are protagonists of energy transition, and we implement the principle of the circular economy in all of our activities. With a far-reaching strategic plan, we manage the generation, sale and distribution of electricity and gas, district heating, waste collection and recovery, e-mobility, public lighting, and the integrated water services.

 

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