3 patent applications filed with the DPMA– patent applications filed for industrial furnaces, digestion plants and filter/pump systems
Wastewater & biogas plants

Plan gas formation. Coordinate storage and CHP.

Backes combines biological process dynamics, gas storage, pressure control, heat input and energy generation in a continuously reconciled plant model. This turns reactive operation into predictive process control.

Patent application filed
Aerial view of a wastewater plant with digesters, biogas storage and energy generation
Starting point

Biological processes respond with time delay.

Between substrate input and usable gas formation lie reactions distributed over time. Their duration and intensity change with composition, temperature, biological activity and the current operating state.

Classical operating strategies often react only after pressure, storage level or measured gas flow have already changed. As a result, gas production, storage, heat demand and energy use are often coordinated only after the fact.

Technical plant operation at digesters with digital analysis Operating data in plant context
System view

Digestion, storage, heat and power as one overall system.

The method links biological gas formation, gas network, storage, CHP and heat management. Decisions are therefore not only based on the current measured value, but also on the expected development of the overall system.

Schematic cycle of wastewater treatment, digestion, gas utilization, heat and power
Process chain: water → digestion → gas → energysimplified system view
Model-based process control

A digital process model, continuously reconciled with the plant.

The digital process model represents the time-dependent gas-formation dynamics and is continuously reconciled with real measurements. Forecast and plant state therefore remain consistently linked.

01

Connect plant data

Combine substrate, gas, pressure, storage, temperature and energy data consistently over time.

02

Represent process dynamics

Account for delays and time-distributed reactions of the biological process in the model.

03

Forecast gas availability

Predict expected gas availability as well as possible storage and operating states.

04

Coordinate energy pathway

Derive coordinated setpoints for CHP, pressure control, heat and feed.

Process intelligence

Many signals. One reliable picture of the gas supply.

The analysis connects biological, hydraulic and energy-related variables. This makes relationships, forecast deviations and trade-offs between gas utilization, heat demand and operational safety more transparent.

  • Gas-formation rate as a key planning variable
  • Evaluate storage and pressure development predictively
  • Align CHP operation with heat demand and gas supply
  • Avoid flaring events and unfavorable part-load operation where possible
Digital model and data analysis of a wastewater and biogas plant Digital twin & analytics
Operational value

More foresight for stable and efficient operation.

The specific value depends on plant configuration, data quality, storage size and operating strategy and is evaluated on a project-specific basis.

01Detect gas surpluses earlier

Expected gas formation becomes visible before pressure or storage level have already started to rise.

02Stabilize CHP operation

Power scheduling can be aligned more closely with expected gas supply and heat demand.

03Reduce flaring operation

Predictive measures can help avoid critical storage and pressure situations.

04Assess deviations faster

Comparing model and measurements makes changing process conditions more traceable.

Patent application filed

Patent application filed: controlling digestion and energy together.

A patent application has been filed with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office for the method for controlling and actuating a digestion plant with gas storage and energy utilization. The approach combines gas-formation forecasting, storage and pressure development, and energy use in a coordinated process control concept.

Safety remains independent.
Mechanical and electrical protective devices, overpressure and underpressure protection and plant-specific safety chains are not replaced by the model-based layer.
Technical first discussion

How predictable is your gas utilization?

We review existing data, time dynamics and the coupling between digestion, gas storage, heat demand and energy utilization.

Discuss biogas project