THE FITEC DESIGN APPROACH
At Fitec Biogas, we aim to offer the best value proposition to our clients. Value means the intersection between fair capital cost and high operational efficiency. We design to that point in all our projects and for all our clients, whether it is a food waste or a farm waste facility. That’s what client-focused designs mean, and why Fitec is known for designing and delivering highly reliable systems that provide long-term value with low lifecycle costs.
At the introductory stage of a project, we begin with quantity and characteristics of feedstock information. We draw on our in-depth knowledge of plant operations and database of detailed feedstock characteristics to get started. Our engineering team completes an iteration of different designs and presents these to the client. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Variables such as truck clearance, minimum winter temperatures and cost of using process water as well as parameters such as budgets and local permitting are all taken into consideration, but there are also more complex considerations within the process flow. Many decisions must be made regarding equipment sizing and heating requirements to find the optimal situation for a given size project. At Fitec, we believe the client’s input is key to identifying the correct prioritization. This iterative process is a learning experience for both Fitec and the client, and through this experience, the site layout and process flow are optimized and finalized.
Rushing through these steps results in mismatches between client expectations and the end product. Examples of problems, which only begin to appear after a year or two of operation, include excessive equipment wear, excessive electrical and heat consumption, larger pumping systems than necessary, sedimentation of digesters and lower than expected gas production. These problems can all be avoided with proper design.
Anaerobic digestion systems are considered infrastructure and should have a lifetime of 20 years or more. A properly designed system should not need to be fixed or upgraded in that timespan. When time and care is taken to complete the design thoroughly, all aspects of project completion flows more smoothly, right through to operations, because all parties are on the same page and there is agreement as to what is being done and why. As a testament to this design philosophy, all Fitec plants that we have built over our 20 years are successfully operating AS-DESIGNED and AS-BUILT, with no process changes and no equipment changes.
Though it can be tempting to shortcut the design process stage, or copy and paste the design from an existing project that is similar, it never pays. Dealing with equipment shortfalls, downtime and having to turn away feedstock can all be avoided by investing in a proper design up-front. At Fitec, we’re dedicated to providing you honest information and helping you find success in the anaerobic digestion industry.
Contact Fitec today to experience the Fitec Difference and get started with your custom biogas solution!
