This thesis deals with the design of computational model of a biogas plant and its use in the concept of intelligent region with focusing on district heating and cooling network. The introduction contains review of technology used in the biogas plant. This review covers the description of modern biogas plants and determination of the energy and technology parameters for computational model of biogas plant. The next part of thesis describes analyze of the dynamics of the operation and the possibilities of using waste heat from biogas plant. The last and also the most important part is based on design of computational model of a biogas plant and design of connection of a biogas plant to the district heating and cooling network.

PhD (Geography) / Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences / Improved access to modern affordable, sustainable and reliable energy supply is fundamental in the development of any economy and in the achievement of sustainable development goals. However, energy as a resource is increasingly and becoming scare in many countries and subsequently expensive, with a substantial impact on the socio-economic progress, especially in any country that lacks the financial, physical, social and human capital to secure its energy supply. Energy can also be produced though the anaerobic fermentation of biological waste, such as animal excrement, which is methane-rich. Fermentation also produces a nutrient-rich digestate. Biogas can be used for domestic purposes, such as cooking and heating. Furthermore, it can be converted into electricity. Biogas technology is of particular significance in rural households, where energy crisis are common. This thesis therefore aimed at developing an adoption and sustainable utilisation framework of biogas as an alternative source of energy for greenhouse gases emission reduction in the Limpopo Province. The sample involved 72 households with biogas digesters, which were purposively sampled and 128 households without digesters, which were randomly selected. The study was based on the primary data that were elicited using open and closed-ended questionnaires. Empirically, the results of this thesis developed a sustainable, simplified, appropriate and comprehensive framework for biogas adoption and utilisation, including an analysis of important factors that could influence the adoption of this desired technology, for cost-effectiveness and sustainability. / NRF

The main objective of this master’s thesis is to develop design equipment for thermomechanical pre-treatment of biodegradable waste. An important aspect of the design is taking into account current legislation, sanitary conditions for determining the pre-treated biodegradable material, which also serves as a raw material for biogas production. So the device will be used to monitor the impact of thermomechanical pre-treatment of biodegradable waste for biogas recovery. The following describes the processes of anaerobic decomposition of biodegradable materials and technology, whose main task is intensification of anaerobic decomposition of organic materials. The theoretical work are given various methods of processing and utilization of biodegradable wastes, focusing on kitchen waste and sludge from sewage plants. The next section describes the various factors that may affect the stability of the process of biogas generation. This also results in yield and chemical composition of biogas. A key part of this master’s thesis is to develop technical documentation and an approximate calculation of the hot slurry.