Gas Treatment & Generation · Engineered by SorbiTech

Biogas Upgrading Unit

Name: Biogas Upgrading Unit
Brand: SorbiTech

PSA biogas upgrading unit using carbon molecular sieve to separate carbon dioxide from methane and deliver grid quality bio methane from anaerobic digester biogas or landfill gas.

Capacity / Flow 50–2,000 Nm³/h raw biogas

Design Standards ASME VIII · ATEX/IECEx · EN 16723-1 grid biomethane

Inlet Conditions 50–60 % CH₄ · 40–50 % CO₂ · H₂S removed upstream

Outlet Specification Bio methane 95–98 % CH₄ · grid injection ready

Operating Pressure (bar) 6–10

Quick Answer

A Biogas Upgrading Unit separates carbon dioxide from methane in anaerobic digester biogas or landfill gas using carbon molecular sieve in a pressure swing adsorption cycle. Outlet bio methane meets pipeline grid quality at 95 to 98 percent methane, ready for grid injection, CNG vehicle fuel, or LNG feedstock.

Pressure Swing Adsorption for Bio Methane Production

The SorbiTech Biogas Upgrading Unit converts raw biogas (50 to 60 percent methane, balance carbon dioxide) into grid quality bio methane at 95 to 98 percent methane purity. The duty uses SorbiTech carbon molecular sieve in a multi vessel pressure swing adsorption cycle: the CMS pore is tuned to admit carbon dioxide faster than methane, so the carbon dioxide is captured under pressure and the methane passes through. The captured carbon dioxide is vented or fed to a sequestration system depending on the project carbon credit scheme.

Inlet Conditioning and Hydrogen Sulphide Removal

Raw biogas carries hydrogen sulphide, siloxanes, ammonia, and water that must be removed upstream of the CMS bed. The SorbiTech inlet conditioning package includes a chiller for water removal, a SorbiTech pellet activated carbon guard bed for hydrogen sulphide and siloxanes, and a particulate filter. The conditioned gas reaches the CMS bed dry, clean, and at the contracted feed pressure.

Scope of Supply

The complete package includes:

Inlet chiller, condensate separator, and water trap
Activated carbon H₂S and siloxane guard bed
Particulate filter and bypass
Multi vessel CMS PSA train (typically four to six vessels)
Bio methane buffer tank and gas analyser (methane and CO₂)
Bio methane compressor for grid injection pressure (if required)
Off gas handling (vent, sequester, or combustion)
ATEX or IECEx zone certified controls

Bio Methane Markets and Applications

The upgraded bio methane is injected into the natural gas grid (largest market in Europe under EN 16723-1), compressed for CNG vehicle fuel (largest market in the Indian subcontinent), or liquefied as small scale LNG. Project economics depend on the regional renewable gas incentive, the feed gas hydrogen sulphide and siloxane load, and the avoided cost of flaring or venting. See the industrial gas sector.

Delivery and EPC

Delivered turnkey by SorbiTech with civil, mechanical, and electrical scope, or as a packaged plant on SorbiTech fabrication scope. Sites range from sewage treatment plants (digester biogas) to landfills (collected landfill gas) to agricultural digesters (manure and crop residue).