Monitoring conditions of methane production in anaerobic digestion processes

The complexity of the anaerobic digestion process requires the monitoring of different parameters in anaerobic digestion plants in order to guarantee stability and good performance of the system. The state-of-the-art of monitoring strategies in anaerobic digestion systems (parameters, devices, methods, measurement techniques) are presented in this document together with strategies in a development stage. A survey amongst the actors in the field (plant operators, technology suppliers, experts, insurances makers) in France and Europe has allowed identifying those monitoring strategies that are indeed in use. The survey has also allowed gathering the feedback from plant operators regarding process failures. Based on these pieces of information, the research and development perspectives concerning the monitoring of anaerobic digestion processes have been proposed in this document, being the main aim the improvement of process performance and the risk minimization of process failures. (authors)