Design of an organic waste digester for the production of biomethane
We provided a consultancy to the company Entsorga S.p.A. to design an organic waste digester for the production of biomethane. The structure of the digester consisted of a rectangular tank measuring with a box-like section in reinforced concrete (dimensions of 9m x 9m x 37m), constructed without thermal expansion joints.
The consultancy covered the following issues:
- Definition of design specifications according to the requests of the plant manufacturer;
- Analysis of possible types of foundation (deep piles, superficial with ground improvement);
- Definition of the soil-structure interaction based on the 1D and 2D numerical analyses, conducted by Wesi Geotecnica S.r.l.. These numerical analyses were performed to study the performance of ground improvement using jet grouting;
- Analysis of structural problems: stringent cracking limits to ensure the waterproofing of the concrete, stresses due to thermal variations and sloshing under seismic loading;
- Definition of material characteristics and construction details to guarantee resistance against chemical attacks by the fluid contained;
- Development of FEM models for stress analysis and transient thermal analysis;
- Design and verification of the reinforcement at ultimate and serviceability limit states.
