QUANTALUX, LLC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase II: 8.6

Description

To meet the strong demand for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) by States and utilities the teamat Quantalux is developing an innovative system to produce more RNG using tailgas carbondioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). Our approach is based on methanation catalysts and istargeted to anaerobic digesters at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and dairy farms. Aconservative estimate is that the Quantalux RNGplus system will increase overall RNGproduction by 20%+.Catalytic methanation is well-established for natural gas and coal gas but RNG tailgas CO2poses new challenges given unique trace contaminants in biogas.For example trace amounts ofoxygen (which is present in RNG tailgas) can pose considerable issues for metallic guard beds.In addition dairy biogas contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels as high as 5000 ppm with othersulfuric compounds (COS and CS2) present as well. Ultra-high performance technology isneeded to decrease dairy sulfur compounds before methanation. Before delivery RNGplus mustalso meet strict gas quality regulations to be injected into existing natural gas pipelines.The Quantalux Phase II project will develop the key gas conditioning modules to support biogasmethanation: a guard bed module to remove contaminants and a methanation module to produceRNGplus.Production of RNGplus will result in increased revenue for the facility-owner.