Munters Mass Transfer equipment for biogas

An experienced European manufacturer of biogas to biomethane upgrade units once again sought Munters' support, this time for their internal components in a new green project in Italy. Key components in the process needed to be selected, and Munters had the equipment, experience, and industry knowledge to get the job done.

The Munters Solution

The European customer has a proven, proprietary technology for converting biogas into biomethane. Originally produced from OFMSW (Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste), the biogas is then upgraded to renewable and CO2-neutral biomethane, an energy source that helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Biomethane has many sustainable applications, from vehicle fuel and combined heat and power to use in the natural gas grid after final conditioning. The carbon balance is negative because the recovered CO2 can be reused as a raw material in many areas and even meets food-grade standards.

Biogas is typically compressed for the selective removal of CO2 and is then recovered as biomethane from the top of the absorption column. A CO2-enriched solution then exits the bottom of the absorption tower and is fed to a regeneration column where the absorbed CO2 is released and recovered with high purity from the top of the regeneration column. The manufacturer aims to achieve maximum capacity levels with minimal space usage. This project aligns with European climate goals and the use of renewable energy.

Thanks to deep application knowledge and a proven track record as an international supplier of mass transfer equipment, Munters was able to help our European customer enhance their biogas-to-biomethane process while also reducing their carbon footprint. Some of the initiatives included:

Internal components for the absorber and stripper were selected after extensive discussions with Munters' engineers.
The third-generation tower packing with Munters Medal-Pak was selected, offering high mechanical strength and a large effective interfacial area.
Other selected internal components included Munters Riser Deck Distributors, which promote liquid crossflow and improve distribution quality. Support Plates, SPM522, were also supplied for efficient gas injection. "Accurate hydraulic calculations and detailed technical support during the design phase of the projects led to the correct selection of column internals," said Pablo Ruiz, Munters Field Sales & Key Account Manager EMEA Process Industry.

Medal-Pak™

Medal-Pak (formerly sold as IMTP®) offers the best of both worlds in terms of performance (i.e., low pressure drop and high efficiency). It can be effectively used in both high-pressure and vacuum columns. Other benefits include a large effective interfacial area, high mechanical strength, and low cost. The monolithic construction prevents the problem of "opening" at the ends, which can occur with ring-shaped packings. Medal-Pak is available in various sizes to offer multiple combinations of efficiency and pressure drop. Medal-Pak can be manufactured from various metals, including but not limited to carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, etc.

Riser deck distributor/redistributor (model DRD503/RRD504)

The Riser Deck Distributor is a deck-type distributor where the orifices are located on the base/deck of the distributor. Gas risers between the orifices promote liquid crossflow, thereby improving distribution quality. This type of distributor is typically supplied in multi-piece construction, and all connections are sealed with gaskets. Attachment is done via clamps to a rim/support ring welded to the column wall. This distributor can be equipped with anti-migration rods in the risers to eliminate the need for a bed limiter. Redistribution risers are capped to prevent bypassing of liquid through risers from falling liquid from the packed bed above.

Selection criteria:

Column diameter > 600 mm (24 inches)
Maximum turndown ratio 2:1
Liquid flow rates > 5 m3/m2 hour /2.0 GPM/f2)
Low fouling

Support plate (model SPM522)

Model SPM522 is a gas injection-type support plate, designed for towers with a diameter typically smaller than 900 mm (36 inches). This type of support plate is designed in multi-piece or single-piece construction, depending on whether the support plate will be installed through a column manhole or a column body flange. The slot size is based on the size of the packing to be supported. These support plates rest freely on a rim/support ring or can be directly bolted/clamped to a tray support ring.