Commentary - February 2022

Anaerobic digesters can be manufactured from epoxy-coated steel, glass-coated steel, or stainless steel (AISI 316 or 304) – or a combination of these materials.

There is a misconception that epoxy-coated anaerobic digesters are not as good as glass and stainless steel products. We believe they are if you specify our unique advanced epoxy fusion bonded biogas tanks.

This depends on the size of the tank. There is no hard and fast rule per cubic metre because each biogas plant is unique.

It is important to consider the lifetime cost of the tank and how the low maintenance benefits of bolted steel digesters can far outperform similar welded and concrete tanks that need more frequent maintenance.

Email us to discuss the cost of anaerobic digestion tanks.

Up to 5,000ppm H₂SO₄ sulphides and pH 2-11 depending on the temperature and concentration of the effluent. They operate up to 60 degrees C (140 degrees F).

Tanks in biogas plants can be designed for:

• cyclonic wind – more than 155mph/hour (249km/hour)
• heavy snow loads – over 4.0kN/m²
• up to seismic zone IV (severe intensity zone).

This all depends on the size of tank of course. Typically, a 3,000m³ tank will take around 30 days to construct.

A biogas plant construction crew is three to five people depending on the tank size and the installation location.

Anaerobic digesters always have concrete foundations. We can seal using a flat-to-base system for smaller tanks, a rebate-style system or an embedded starter ring system.

This depends on where the tanks are sited. In hot countries some operators specify insulated tanks but, in turn, some don’t. It’s down to project specific requirements.

The thickness of insulation for each tank is determined by the

• hydraulic retention time (HRT), ie, the time when productivity could start to decline (while the organic fermentable substrate remains in the digester)
• type of process; thermophilic or mesophilic.

We have supplied tanks with insulation as thin as 50mm and as thick as 150mm. Thicker insulation is available but we have rarely been asked to supply this.

Ultimately, the insulation specification is the responsibility of the biogas plant designer.

Typical delivery time (ex-works) is 8 to 10 weeks from drawing approval. The time from build to operation is the responsibility of the main contractor tasked to complete the construction of the biogas plant.

Warranties for AD tanks are typically one to two years but we can offer extended periods depending on the biomass being digested and the requirements of the project.

Balmoral Tanks is a global leader in the manufacture of anaerobic digestion tanks. Projects include some of the world’s largest digesters for multi-tank biogas plants.

Balmoral has decades of experience and, since 2018, the company has invested more than $27 million in its 150,000sq ft state-of-the-art design and manufacturing facilities. They represent the most technically advanced production facilities in the industry – supported by unrivalled levels of expertise and service.

For this reason, many biogas project co-ordinators, investors, designers and EPC contractors choose to specify Balmoral-built tanks for their AD plants.