Continuous Dry Fermentation

The invention consists in a process and a device for the continuous liquefaction of
biomass. An upward flow in the ambient liquid of the fermentor brings the biomass to
the surface. Feeding of new biomass and removal of waste material can be performed
at any time, so that continuous fermentor operation permits constant biogas output.
Compared with common farm-based digesters the reactor loading can be increased by
at least factor two to three while yielding the same amount of gas.

Description
The invention permits continuous fer-
mentation of stackable biomass (con-
taining more than 25% dry matter con-
tents) with minimal handling. Continuous
mixing of the input material is not neces-
sary, since the invention uses a property
of biomass: the upward flow of solid ma-
terials in an ambient liquid. Thanks to this
property, the novel fermentor requires
very little operating energy. Selection of
various parameters permits regulation of
both the fermentation speed and the
methane output.
Moreover, using the pre-fermented am-
bient liquid in an extra fermentor in-
creases the methane output.
At present, the only dry fermentors that
are available – with either vertical or
horizontal vats – use mechanical, pneu-
matic or hydraulic devices to mix the
biomass. Such fermentors have a num-
ber of disadvantages, however: they are
complicated, fragile, and expensive to
operate. The new dry fermentor is en-
tirely free of these disadvantages.

UASS (Upflow Anaerobic Solid State) reactor for continuous dry fermentation.

Contact Main Characteristics Advantages

ZukunftsAgentur
Brandenburg GmbH  Constant biogas output thanks to  High productivity and stability of the
Brainshell continuous fermentor operation biogas production process
Dr. Petra Köhler  Simple construction  Compared with common farm-based
Steinstrasse 104-106
14480 Potsdam
 Use of natural flotation properties for digesters the reactor loading can be
Germany solid material transport increased by at least factor two to
Tel. + 49 (0) 331.660.3166  The fementor can be coupled with a three while yielding the same amount
Mo. + 49 (0) 173.627.7227
methane reactor to increase gas yield of gas.
Fax + 49 (0) 331.660.3202
koehler@brainshell.de form of the ambient liquid  Low energy consumption, since the
www.brainshell.de fermentor requires no mixing of the
biomass
January 2010
Offer No. 05-44
Continuous Dry Fermentation

Applications Business Advantages

Up to now, no entirely satisfactory solu-
tion was available for continuous dry
fermentation. We can therefore expect
that the users will readily welcome the
novel, simple and robust fermentor.
The device is fed with stackable biomass,
without prior processing, including bio-
mass from renewable resources.
According to Fachagentur Nachwach-
sende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) at the end of
2009 approximately 4.500 mainly farm-
based biogas plants will be installed in
Germany for energy production, with an
installed electrical capacity of about
1.650 MW el. Compared to 2001 the 15-
fold installed capacity was realized. The
average installed capacity increase from
60 kW el 1999 to 125 kW el in 2004 and
360 kW el in 2009. At the same time qual-
ity of biogas plants improved.
 Reactor loading can be increased by
at least factor two to three compared
with common farm-based digesters
while yielding the same amount of gas
 Direct use of heaped biomass (without
prior processing)
 Low-cost device and low operating
costs
 Optimisation of gas and energy pro-
duction
Patent Information
Patent status
German, European and US patents have
been applied for.
Development maturity
The process has been tested in a lab
prototype and pilot plant scale.

Conditions of use
The patent can be licensed nationally
and internationally.

Brainshell Contact
ZukunftsAgentur
Brainshell is an independent consulting agency specializing in intellectual property Brandenburg GmbH
services for businesses. Brainshell
Dr. Petra Köhler
Brainshell manages and markets the patent portfolios of all colleges, universities, and Steinstrasse 104-106
14480 Potsdam
research institutes in the State of Brandenburg. We offer entrepreneurs opportunities to Germany
utilize outstanding R&D solutions “invented in Brandenburg.” Tel. + 49 (0) 331.660.3166
Mo. + 49 (0) 173.627.7227
Fax + 49 (0) 331.660.3202
koehler@brainshell.de
www.brainshell.de

January 2010
Offer No. 05-44