Safety Considerations at Anaerobic Digestion Plants

Anaerobic digestion is a collection of processes which naturally breakdown organic matter to eventually produce biogas - a methane rich gas which is burned to produce both heat and electricity. The methane can also be used as vehicle fuel or injected into the gas grid. The industry is growing fast and is forecast to continue to do so with many farmers adding bio-gas plants alongside their everyday farming activities.

This environmentally-friendly, cost-effective solution to converting waste into renewable energy isn’t without its hazards. There are many important health and safety issues to consider and potential risks to mitigate when operating a biogas plant such as explosion, fire, poisoning and surface water leakages.

Operating in a hazardous environment
A by-product of one of the main stages of anaerobic digestion is ammonia. Upon contact with the skin ammonia is corrosive and requires flushing of the area with a large amount of water for at least 15 minutes, at a temperature of between 25-30°C. Emergency safety showers must be installed in this environment within 15 metres of the hazard to provide immediate relief in the event of an accident. The Hughes temperature-controlled emergency safety shower (model shown STD-TC-100KS/11K) is ideal where ammonia is present as it is able to maintain the water within this temperature range and can also be used to supply heated water to another safety shower in the vicinity.

Biogas produced by anaerobic digestion is extremely corrosive due to its composition of combustible gases. When specifying emergency safety showers for these plants choose a safety shower with stainless-steel pipework for improved corrosion resistance and durability. In addition, ensure the safety shower is suitable for hazardous areas and is ATEX certified. Hughes products can be configured to meet ATEX and IECEx requirements ensuring they are suitable for use in environments where there is the potential risk of explosions. Our CompEx certified electricians are supported by qualified electrical design engineers providing you with complete peace of mind that our products meet the rigorous safety and electrical standards needed.

To discuss more solutions for your own site, contact the Hughes sales team for a quotation.