Abstract
The invention relates to a modular, mobile, compact, multi-stage and highly efficient biogas facility, a method for operating a modular biogas facility, and a system for the computer-assisted, decentralized monitoring and control of at least one modular biogas facility. The system can be equipped with modular, local intelligence and a local control unit. The modular biogas facility is provided with a plurality of tanks for accommodating biomass. The tanks can be fluidically connected to one another. Furthermore, at least one gas reservoir is provided for the biogas produced in the modular biogas facility. Each of the tanks is a module in the biogas facility. Each tank can be positioned in a rigid and cuboidal frame, with the cuboidal frame having six side faces. The side faces of the cuboidal frame define an envelope for the tank.
Claims
1. A modular biogas plant comprising: a plurality of modules; a plurality of tanks, for receiving biomass, define a portion of the plurality of modules, wherein the tanks of the modular biogas plant comprise at least two hydrolysis tanks and at least one fermenter tank and being fluidly connected to one another; at least one gas storage for the biogas generated in the at least one fermenter tank of the modular biogas plant; and a plurality of positioning elements is at least provided to the tanks, wherein the positioning elements define six side surfaces which form an envelope for each tank.
2. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of positioning elements is attached to a rigid cuboid frame, which defines the six side surfaces and the side surfaces of the rigid, cuboid frame forms an envelope for the tank.
3. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modules of the modular biogas plant further comprise at least two closable housings, wherein each of the closable housings has the size of the rectangular frame, and wherein each of the closable housings is designed to be accessible on at least one side surface and the remaining side surfaces of the frame are provided with a cladding.
4. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 3 comprising: a first housing which contains a block-type thermal power plant that uses the biogas generated in the modular biogas system as an energy source, and a second housing which has control electronics for the entire modular biogas plant, at least one pump which manages the controlled transport of the biomass within the modular biogas plant, and at least one heating device, which can be connected to the tanks for controlled temperature management within the tanks, wherein the at least one pump is connected to the tanks via a pipe system and a controllable and regulatable valve is assigned to each of the tanks, and wherein the heating device has a pipe system which leads to the tanks, each tank being assigned a controllable and regulatable valve in order to set a required temperature range of the biomass in the tanks.
5. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 3 comprising: a first housing containing a combined heat and power unit that uses the biogas generated in the modular biogas plant as an energy source, a second housing that contains control electronics for the entire modular biogas plant, and a third housing, the at least one pump, which brings about the transport of the biomass within the modular biogas plant, and at least one heating device, which is used for controlled temperature management within the tanks, wherein the at least one pump is connected to the tanks via a pipe system and a controllable and regulatable valve is assigned to each of the tanks, and wherein the heating device has a pipe system which leads to the tanks, each tank being assigned a controllable and regulatable valve in order to set a required temperature range of the biomass in the tanks.
6. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the tanks has a connection for the supply and discharge of biomass, a connection for a supply of biogas and a connection for a discharge of biogas.
7. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fermentation residue storage is provided, which receives fermented residues from the tanks, which are fermenter tanks, of the modular biogas plant.
8. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pressure less gas storage is provided, which at least for receiving biogas from the modular biogas plant, for delivering biogas to the combined heat and power plant and for returning biogas in the tanks, which are fermentation tanks, is formed.
9. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fermentation residue storage is connected to the gas storage for supplying biogas from the fermentation residue storage into the gas storage.
10. The modular biogas plant as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pressure less gas storage is made of a flexible material and defines an end which is connected to a cladding of a transport housing of the gas storage.
11. A method for operating a modular biogas plant which comprises at least a plurality of tanks for receiving biomass, wherein at least two of the tanks are hydrolysis tanks and at least one tank is a fermenter tank and at least one gas storage for the biogas generated in the modular biogas plant, comprising the following steps: batch-wise filling of the hydrolysis tanks with biomass, wherein a first temperature range and a first pH range are predominating in the hydrolysis tanks; transferring the biomass from the at least one hydrolysis tank to the at least one fermenter tank by means of a pump; producing in the at least one fermenter tank biogas from the biomass, transferred from the at least one hydrolysis tank to the at least one fermenter tank, wherein the formation takes place at a second temperature range and a second pH range in the at least one fermenter tank; and monitoring continuously a production rate of the biogas and if the production rate of the biogas in the at least one of the fermenter tanks falls below a predefined value, biomass is supplied from one of the hydrolysis tanks until the production rate is again above the predefined value.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least the hydrolysis tanks and the fermenter tanks have assigned controllable valves and the hydrolysis tanks and the fermenter tanks are connected via pipes to at least one pump, so that the hydrolysis tanks and/or the fermenter tanks can be connected in any combination such that biomass can optionally be supplied to the hydrolysis tanks and/or the fermenter tanks or optionally removed from them.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the hydrolysis tanks and the fermenter tanks are each provided with an inlet and outlet for heating fluid and a controllable valve is provided in each inlet and outlet, so that the hydrolysis tanks and/or fermenter tanks can be fed in a controlled manner with heating fluid.
14. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one fermentation residue storage is provided, which has assigned a controllable valve in a pipe to the fermentation residue storage, so that biomass is supplied in a controlled manner from at least one of the fermenter tank to the fermentation residue storage.
15. A system for computer-aided, centralized monitoring and control comprising: several modular biogas plants, wherein each modular biogas plant has at least two hydrolysis tanks, at least one fermenter tank, at least one pressure less gas storage tank and several housings; at least one data acquisition unit is assigned to several individual and movable modules of each of the modular biogas plants and each of the modules has at least one actuator and/or at least one sensor and/or at least one measuring point, which are communicatively connected to the least one data acquisition unit; a communication device which is assigned to each of the modular biogas plants and delivers data from the data acquisition unit to a cloud or receives data from the cloud; a central control and monitoring unit which is communicatively connected to the cloud in order to monitor the modular biogas plants in a centralized manner and to control them automatically; and a user interface is assigned to each of the modular biogas plants to which messages or warnings can be transmitted from the central control and monitoring unit.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the data acquisition unit is communicatively connected to at least one controller and the controller is communicatively connected to the cloud.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein each of the modules is provided with an intelligent head station and each intelligent head station records data of the respective module, at least partially controls the respective module and is communicatively connected with the cloud, and the controller for the modules is implemented in the cloud.
18. The system according to claim 15, wherein a first housing contains a block-type thermal power plant, which can be operated via the central control and monitoring unit in order to thus ensure that the biogas produced by the modular biogas systems be used as an energy source.
19. The System according to claim 15, wherein a third housing comprises at least one pump which, controlled via the central control and monitoring unit in connection with the controller, carries out the transport of the biomass within each of the modular biogas plants, and comprises at least one heating device which, controlled via the central control and monitoring unit in connection with the controller, holds the temperature in the tanks of each of the modular biogas plants at least within a specified interval.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0064] In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The proportions in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration, in which:
[0065] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a single-stage biogas plant, according to the prior art;
[0066] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a two-stage biogas plant, according to the prior art;
[0067] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the arrangement of the various modules of an embodiment of the modular biogas plant according to the invention;
[0068] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of another arrangement of the modules of the embodiment of the modular biogas plant according to FIG. 3;
[0069] FIG. 5 is a side view of a possible embodiment of a module, which is configures as a and is used in the modular biogas plant according to the invention;
[0070] FIG. 6 shows a front end view of the embodiment of the module according to FIG. 5;
[0071] FIG. 7 is a side view of a further embodiment of a module, which is configured as a tank and is used in the inventive modular biogas plant;
[0072] FIG. 8 shows a front end view of the module according to FIG. 7;
[0073] FIG. 9 shows a rear end view of the module according to FIG. 7;
[0074] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the arrangement of the various modules according to an embodiment of the inventive modular biogas plant;
[0075] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an enclosure or housing, which contains at least one a pump and at least one heating device;
[0076] FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a housing which represents the gas storage;
[0077] FIG. 13 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a module which is used for feeding biomass to hydrolysis tanks;
[0078] FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a tank which is used in the inventive modular biogas plant;
[0079] FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the inventive system, with which the individual modular biogas plants communicate with a central control and monitoring system;
[0080] FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the inventive system, with which the individual modular biogas plants communicate with a central control and monitoring unit; and
[0081] FIG. 17 shows a schematic representation of the communication between the individual modular biogas plants with the cloud (according to the embodiment of FIG. 15), which is part of the inventive system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0082] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure.
[0083] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a single-stage biogas plant 200 according to the prior art. The biogas plant 200 comprises a conveying 201 with which biomass 3, which is to be processed in the biogas plant 200, is initially transported into a fermenter container 204. The biomass 3 can be agitated in the fermenter container 204 with at least one agitator 203, in order to improve the fermentation process in the fermenter container 204. From the fermenter container 204, the biomass 3 arrives in a fermentation residue storage 206. Here, the fermentation of the biomass 3 can be continued. The biomass 3 can also be moved here in the fermentation residue storage 206 with the at least one agitator 203.
[0084] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a two-stage biogas plant 200 according to the prior art. In contrast to the single-stage biogas plant 200 (see FIG. 1), the two-stage biogas plant 200 is provided with two hydrolysis containers 202. With the conveyor 201, the biomass 3 is first transferred in the batch-method into one hydrolysis container 202 and then into the other hydrolysis container 202. The batch-method means that when the hydrolysis container 202 are filled alternately, for example, one hydrolysis container 202 is filled on one day and the other hydrolysis container 202 on the other day. Both hydrolysis containers 202 can also be provided with an agitator 203. The biomass 3 passes from the hydrolysis container 202 into the fermenter container 204. Agitators 203 are also provided here. After the end of the fermentation process or a decrease in the formation of biogas, the biomass 3 is transferred from the fermenter container 204 to the fermentation residue storage 206. Another production of biogas can possibly take place in the fermentation residue storage 206. The biomass 3 in the fermentation residue storage 206 can also be moved with agitators 203.
[0085] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show different embodiments of the setting of the inventive modular biogas plant 100. It can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the modular biogas plant 100 comprises a plurality of modules 1. The modules 1 are all of the same size. The same size is of particular advantage, as this makes the transport and production of the individual modules considerably easier and thus lowers costs. In addition, the fact that the modules 1 are equal in size enables them to be stacked or combined. Some of the modules 1 of the modular biogas plant 100 are designed as tanks 10. Another module 1 of the modular biogas plant 100 can be designed as a first housing 31. Likewise, a further module 1 can be designed as a second housing 32 and yet another module 1 can be designed as a third housing 33. In the housings 31, 32, 33 elements for controlling the modular biogas plant 100 as well as for generating energy from the biogas produced by the modular biogas plant 100 can be accommodated. Another module 1 of the modular biogas plant 100 is a transport housing 34. In the transport housing 34 a gas storage 20 can be accommodated for transport. For the operation of the modular biogas plant 100, the flexible gas storage 20 can be rolled out of the transport housing 34 and thus comes to rest on a portion of the footprint 4 of the modular biogas plant 100, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0086] It goes without saying for a person skilled in the art that the embodiments of the modular biogas plant 100 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are only to be regarded as examples and therefore do not restrict the invention. It goes without saying for a person skilled in the art that the number and arrangement of the individual modules 1 can be changed with regard the performance of the modular biogas plant 100.
[0087] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a possible embodiment of a module 1, which is designed as a tank 10 and is used in the inventive modular biogas plant 100. In the embodiment of a tank 10 shown here, the latter has a plurality of positioning elements 25. The positioning elements 25 essentially serve to set up the tanks 10 in a stable and secure position on a surface (not shown) at an installation site provided for this purpose. The positioning elements 25 define a virtual, cuboid frame 12 which defines six side surfaces 14. The side surfaces 14 of the virtual, cuboid frame 12 form an envelope for the tank 10. All of the connections that are possible or required for the tank 10 and are adequately described in FIGS. 7 to 9 are located within the envelope.
[0088] FIG. 6 shows an end view of the embodiment of the module 1 (tank 10) according to FIG. 5. The positioning elements 25 define the virtual, cuboid frame 12, which has six side surfaces 14. The front view also shows that none of the connections of the tank 10 protrude beyond the envelope defined by the side surfaces 14.
[0089] FIG. 7 shows a side view of an embodiment of a module 1, which is a tank 10 for an embodiment of the inventive modular biogas plant 100. In the embodiment shown here, the positioning elements 25 for the tank 10 are attached to a rigid frame 12. The tank 10 is surrounded by the rigid frame 12. The frame 12 defines six side surfaces 14 which, as the virtual frame 12 of FIGS. 5 and 6, form an envelope for the tank 10. As can be seen from FIG. 5, no connections or add-on parts of the tank 10 extend beyond the side surfaces 14. This has the advantage that no prefabricated connections or add-on parts of the tank 10 can be damaged during transport. The rigid frame 12 for the tanks 10 is cuboid and has the same size as all other modules 1 of the modular biogas plant 100. In the embodiment shown here, the rigid frame 12 has lower positioning elements 25 and upper adjusting elements 26. As a result of the interaction of the upper positioning elements 26 of a lower module 1 with the adjusting elements 25 of an upper module 1, the modules 1 can be stacked securely.
[0090] As can be seen from FIG. 5, a manway 17 is provided in the upper region of the tank 10 on its side. The position of the manway 17 shown here is not mandatory. The manway 17 can be positioned as required. It goes without saying that the manway 17 is closed with a cover (not shown) during the operation of the modular biogas plant 100. At a front end 10V of the tank 10 a flange connection 18 for a gas pipe, a flange connection 19 for a pressure pipe, a flange connection 8 for a suction pipe and a flange connection 9 for gas injection are provided. The flange connections 8, 9, 18 and 19 described here can be equipped with the appropriate pipes (not shown) depending on the needs and function of the tank 10. The flange connections 8, 9, 18, 19 are pre-fabricated so that the assembly can be done quickly and easily during the set-up of the modular biogas plant 100. The embodiment shown here shows a possible arrangement of the connections. However, the invention is not limited to the number and arrangement of the connections shown here. Furthermore, a pipe section 6 for an agitator (not shown) can be provided at the front end 10V of the tank 10. If necessary, an agitator (not shown) can thus be inserted into the tank 10 at this point.
[0091] At the rear end 10H of the tank 10 an inspection glass 16 and a filling level probe 15 are provided. The maximum filling of the tank 10 can be censored via the filling level probe 15. Likewise, a flange connection 13 is provided for a feed screw (not shown), with which biomass 3 can be brought into the respective tank 10. A pressure sensor 11 is also provided. The position and number of the sensor system is only one example of many possibilities and is not to be understood as a limitation of the invention.
[0092] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the front end 10V of the tank 10 as shown on FIG. 5. Here, too, it can be clearly seen that the side surfaces 14 of the rigid frame 12 represent an envelope for the tank 10. In addition to the flange connection 18 for the gas pipe, the flange connection 19 for the pressure pipe, the pipe section 6 for the agitator, the flange connection 9 for the gas injection and the flange connection 8 for the suction pipe a heating pipe 7 (with inlet flow and outlet flow) is provided. As already mentioned in the description of the other drawings, the arrangement of the connections described here is merely an example and is not to be regarded as a limitation of the invention. Via the heating pipe 7 the interior of the tank 10 or the biomass 3 located therein can thus be brought to the required temperature interval for the respective process.
[0093] FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the rear end 10H of the tank 10. Here the inspection glass 16, the filling level probe 15, the flange connection 13 for the screw and the pressure sensor 11 are visible.
[0094] The embodiment of a tank 10 for the modular biogas plant 100 described in FIGS. 5 to 9 should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. It goes without saying for a person skilled in the art that the tanks 10 with different connections for the inlet and outlet pipes and the sensors and probe heads, respectively, can be designed. The exemplary embodiment described in FIGS. 5 to 7 is only to be understood as an example and should not be interpreted as a restriction of the invention.
[0095] FIG. 10 shows a further possible embodiment of the set-up of a modular biogas plant 100. In the embodiment shown here, the modular biogas plant 100 is made up of seven modules 1. Four of the modules 1 are designed as tanks 10. Three of the modules 1 are closed housings 31, 32, 33, which are designed in the form of standard containers (ISO sea containers with standard dimensions). It goes without saying that the invention is not intended to be restricted to standard containers. As can also be seen from FIG. 10, that the modules 1 are all the same size. As already mentioned in the description above, each of the tanks 10 is accommodated in a cuboid frame 12 and has the same size the as that of the housings 31, 32 or 33. The embodiment of the modular biogas plant 100, shown here, is configured a power under 100 kWh, which should not be regarded as a limitation of the invention.
[0096] FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of the internal structure of an embodiment of a module 1 of the modular biogas plant 100. The module 1 shown here is a third housing 33, has at least one pump 41 for the biomass 3 and at least one pump 42 for the cooling fluid/heating fluid of the heating device 40. In the embodiment shown here, two pumps 41 for the biomass 3 and two pumps 42 for the cooling fluid/heating fluid are provided. For this purpose, one of each of the pumps 41 or 42 is provided as a redundant pump, which steps in if the current pump 41 or 42 fails. Pipes 45 lead from the tanks 10 to the pump 41 for the biomass 3. After the pump 41 for the biomass 3, pipes 46 lead to the tanks 10. In each of the pipes 45 and 46 are provided with controllable valves 44. With the controllable valves 44 it is possible to fill or empty the tanks 10 of the modular biogas plant 100 in any desired manner. The heating device 40 is also accommodated in the third housing 33. The heating device 40 comprises a heat exchanger 43, which receives cooling water from the motors of the modular biogas plant 100 and sends the cooling water back to the motors. Via the heat exchanger 43, heating pipes 47 lead from the tanks 10 to the at least one pump 42 for the heating fluid. Heating pipes 48 lead from the pump 42 for the heating fluid to the tanks 10. In the heating pipes 47 from the tanks 10 and in the heating pipes 48 to the tanks 10, controllable valves 44 are provided. Through these controllable valves 44 the heating power can be distributed to the selected tanks 10 as required. A plurality of measuring points 49 are also provided for process automation in the third housing 33. The information from the measuring points 49 reach a central control and monitoring unit 120 which is provided in the second housing 32. Furthermore, the third housing 33 can be supplied with air for cooling the pumps 41 and 42, respectively. It is also possible to discharge exhaust air from the third housing 33. Corresponding measuring points 49 are also provided for the supply air and the exhaust air.
[0097] FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of a further module 1 of the inventive modular biogas plant 100. The module 1 is the flexible gas storage unit 20. The biogas is transported to the gas storage unit 20 and from the gas storage unit 20 to the various consumers via a plurality of pipes 53. The transport of the biogas takes place without pressure or in a low pressure range. In the pipes 53 to the gas storage 20, the biogas is fed via a dehumidifier 51. The condensate from the dehumidifier 51 is collected and can be returned to the fermenter. Likewise, the condensate can also be removed from the gas reservoir 20. The pipe 53 from gas storage 20 leads the biogas to consumers. At a switch 54, the biogas can be directed to various consumers, such as, but without limitation of the invention, an oven for cooking or the gas engine (block-type thermal power plant), a gas torch 52 or another consumer (not shown here, like an oven, stove, boiler, burner or heater, etc.). Controllable valves 44 are provided in the pipe 53 for the excess pressure and in the pipe 53 to the gas flare 52. Likewise, a plurality of measuring points 49 are assigned to the pipes 53 and the controllable valves 44. With the corresponding measuring points 49, for example, the supply of the amount of biogas into the gas storage 20 can be determined. The corresponding measuring points 49, the consumption of biogas at the gas flare 52 can be determined. In addition, the amount of biogas that goes to the gas engine or the amount of biogas that is fed to a consumer, such as a burner or an oven for cooking, is determined with the measuring points 49. A corresponding intervention from a central control and monitoring unit 120 (see FIGS. 15 to 17) in the gas recycling is thus possible and, in parallel, also enables a bookkeeping of the flows of the biogas.
[0098] FIG. 13 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a further module 1 that can be part of the modular biogas plant 100. The module 1 is a feeder 35 here. The feeder 35 comprises a funnel 62 into which the biomass that is to be fed to the modular biogas plant 100 is filled. Via a worm 63 the biomass is reduced to small pieces and fed to the feeder 35 together with water, so that a certain type of sludge is formed, which represents a pumpable mass. The feeder 35 (also called feeding module) is supplied with the feed materials and the recirculate together with water, process water or rainwater. As a result, a pumpable substrate mixture is generated, which is then fed to the process in the modular biogas plant 100. The supply of fresh water, industrial water or rainwater and the supply of recirculate is regulated with corresponding control valves 44. A webcam 61 can be assigned to the feeder 35, which can optionally be equipped with image recognition software in order to automatically recognize feed materials. Via the webcam 61, it is thus possible to see from the central control and monitoring unit 120 (see FIGS. 15 to 17) which biomass is entering the feeder 35. The amount of biomass fed to the feeder 35 can be recorded by appropriate sensors. This is also used for supervision and can thereby possibly avoid malfunctions in the modular biogas plant 100. Several measuring points 49 for process automation are also assigned to the feeder 35, to control the supply of fresh water and the supply of recirculate, as well as the removal of sludge for hydrolysis. These measuring points 49 enable a controlled and trouble-free operation of the feeder 35 and thus also of the entire modular biogas plant 100.
[0099] FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a further module 1 of the modular biogas plant 100. The module 1 shown here is a tank 10. A heater 39 for the tank 10 is connected to a heating pipe 47 to the tank 10 and to a heating pipe 48 from the tank 10. The heating pipes 47 and 48 are communicatively connected to the pump 42 (see FIG. 11) for the heating fluid. Generally, there are heating pipes 47 and 48 and the heat exchanger (cooling fluid/heating fluid) are defined for each module 1 and connected to the heating system with pump 42 and the heating control with a controllable valve and temperature sensors (both not shown). Feed sludge can be fed to the tank 10 for the production of biogas. Furthermore, the tank 10 is connected with a pipe 45 to the tank 10 and with a pipe 46 from the tank 10. Via pipe 45 and 46, hydrolysis sludge can be supplied to or removed from the tank 10 by means of the pump 41. The biogas formed in the tank 10 can be withdrawn without pressure or with low pressure and supplied to the gas storage 20 (not shown here) are. A plurality of measuring points 49 are also provided here, which monitor the transport of the sludge, the heating fluid, the biogas, etc. and report accordingly.
[0100] FIG. 15 shows schematically the communicative connection of several modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N with a central control and monitoring unit 120. Each of the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N communicates via assigned communication links 101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . , 101.sub.N with a cloud 110. The cloud 110 communicates via communication links 102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . . . , 102.sub.N with the central control and monitoring unit 120. The communication links 102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . . . , 102.sub.N between the cloud 110 and the central control and monitoring unit 120 are assigned to the individual modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N to be monitored. The control signals, commands, warnings, etc. generated by the central control and monitoring unit 120 can be sent from the cloud 110 via the communication links 101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . , 101.sub.N to the individual modular plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N. The central control and monitoring unit 120 is also provided so that the individual modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N are operated individually and automatically form the central control and monitoring unit 120. The schematic illustration in FIG. 15 shows a type of modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N. which are connected to the central control and communication unit 120 via the cloud 110. This is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. It goes without saying for a person skilled in the art that different types and embodiments of the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N can be operated and monitored via the central control and monitoring unit 120. If the communication with the superordinate central control and monitoring unit 120 does not come about, the local control 103 can also continue to operate the respective modular biogas plant 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N. After a period to be defined, operators and responsible persons are informed via SCADA, visualization and as well as means of communication that there is a problem with the communication to the higher-level central control and monitoring unit 120.
[0101] FIG. 16 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the inventive system, how the individual modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N communicate with a central control and monitoring unit 120. In this embodiment, each of the modules 1 is provided with an intelligent head station 105. Each intelligent head station 105 can acquire data from the respective module 1, can at least partially control the respective module 1 and is communicatively connected to the cloud 110. The controller 103 for the modules 1 of the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N is implemented in the cloud 110. The control signals, commands, warnings, etc. generated by the central control and monitoring unit 120 can be sent from the cloud 110 and the controller 103 to the individual intelligent head-end stations 105 of the individual modules 1 via the communication links 101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . , 101.sub.N of the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N. The central control and monitoring unit 120 is also provided so that the individual modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N are operated individually and automatically by the central control and monitoring unit 120. The representation of the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N with four tanks 10 is only used for description and is not to be interpreted as a limitation of the invention. According to the invention, a plurality of biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N can be managed by the central control and monitoring unit 120.
[0102] FIG. 17 shows a schematic representation of the communication between the individual modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N with the cloud 110 and the central control and monitoring unit 120. Each of the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N supplies data and parameters to the respective local control and data acquisition unit 104. A respective communication device 106 is connected to the respective control and data acquisition unit 104. The respective communication device 106 communicates with the cloud 110 via a firewall 107 and the internet 109. The cloud 110 itself then communicates with the central control and monitoring unit 120. Instructions, commands, messages, etc. arrive from the central control and monitoring unit 120 via the cloud 110 and the Internet 109 and the firewall 107 at the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N. Likewise, each of the modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N has at least one user interface 108 assigned. The user interfaces 108 can for example receive via a W-LAN messages and/or warnings generated from the central control and monitoring unit 120. With the user interface 108 the messages and/or warnings can be made available or displayed to the operator of the local modular biogas plants 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N. The operator is thus informed centrally whether an error occurs in the respective local biogas plant 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N. which, for example, requires current intervention by the operator himself. It is also possible for the operator to know and be informed in advance about any upcoming repairs or the replacement of components of the modular biogas plant 100.sub.1, 100.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N.
[0103] The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. It goes without saying for a person skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0104] 1 Module [0105] 2 Biomass [0106] 3 Footprint [0107] 6 Pipe section [0108] 7 Heating pipe (inlet flow and outlet flow) [0109] 8 Flange connection for suction pipe [0110] 9 Flange connection for gas injection [0111] 10 Tank [0112] 10H Rear end of the tank [0113] 10V Front end of the tank [0114] 11 Pressure sensor [0115] 12 Virtual cuboid frame, rigid frame [0116] 13 Flange connection for feed screw [0117] 14 Side surface [0118] 15 Filling level probe [0119] 16 Inspection glass [0120] 17 Manway [0121] 18 Flange connection for gas pipe [0122] 19 Flange connection for pressure pipe [0123] 20 Gas storage [0124] 25 Positioning element [0125] 26 Upper positioning element [0126] 31 First housing [0127] 32 Second housing [0128] 33 Third housing [0129] 34 Transport housing [0130] 35 Feeder [0131] 39 Heater [0132] 40 Heating device [0133] 41 Pump [0134] 42 Pump [0135] 43 Heat exchanger [0136] 44 Controllable valve [0137] 45 Pipe [0138] 46 Pipe [0139] 47 Heating pipe from the tanks [0140] 48 Heating pipe to the tanks [0141] 49 Measuring point [0142] 51 Dehumidifier [0143] 52 Gas torch [0144] 53 Pipe [0145] 54 Switch [0146] 61 Webcam [0147] 62 Funnel [0148] 63 Worm [0149] 100 Modular biogas plant [0150] 100.sub.1, 10O.sub.2, . . . , 100.sub.N Modular biogas plant [0151] 101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, . . . , 101.sub.N Communication link [0152] 102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, . . . , 102.sub.N Communication link [0153] 103 Control [0154] 104 Data acquisition unit [0155] 105 Intelligent head-end station [0156] 106 Communication device [0157] 107 Firewall [0158] 108 User Interface [0159] 109 Internet [0160] 110 Cloud [0161] 120 Central control and monitoring unit [0162] 200 Biogas plant [0163] 201 Conveyor [0164] 202 Hydrolysis container [0165] 203 Agitator [0166] 204 Fermenter container [0167] 206 Fermentation residue storage
