Vaisala released the new CARBOCAP® MGP262 multigas instrument as a unique accurate solution to optimize biogas upgrading process in order to increase efficiency and revenue. It is the world’s first in situ instrument that measures off-gases optically with Vaisala’s CARBOCAP® technology. Compact, robust and reliable, this off-gas methane and CO2 measurement instrument for use in the biomethane production process provides continuous measurement data for greater biomethane yield, process efficiency, and environmental benefits.
“The new Vaisala MGP262 provides high-quality data to determine greenhouse gas composition from the off-gas in the biogas upgrading process. The data can be used to optimize the process more efficiently, resulting in greater profits lower emissions, and less wasted resources,” says Product Manager Antti Heikkilä, Industrial Measurements, Vaisala.
When Slipping methane results in slipping profits
When biogas is upgraded to biomethane, methane is separated from carbon dioxide and other gases that are present in the raw biogas. In the upgrading process, carbon dioxide passes into the off-gas but methane remains in the main gas stream and can be used as a renewable fuel. However, a small amount of methane slips into the off-gas stream.
Heikkilä continues: “Methane slip is a process where methane is not captured but lost into the atmosphere. As methane is a harmful greenhouse gas, approximately 20 times worse than carbon dioxide, minimizing this slip needs to be taken seriously. If methane slip is not controlled, the environmental benefits of using biomethane gas are reduced, and so is the yield. The MGP262 provides the ability to control the upgrading process and lets our customers focus on producing the best-quality biomethane possible. An optimized and efficient biomethane recovery process both enables greater profits and brings greater benefits for the environment.”
A sustainable end-to-end measurement solution for the biogas industry
The new MGP262 follows Vaisala’s award winning MGP261 multigas measurement instrument, which provides continuous methane, carbon dioxide, and humidity readings directly in the biogas process pipeline. The MGP262 monitors the backend of the upgrading process. Together they provide accurate and reliable in-line measurements to help optimize biogas production and biomethane upgrading end-to-end.
The MGP262 has high chemical resistance and its metal casing is IP66 rated. The instrument is also Ex certified up to Zone 0 inside pipes and Zone 1 outside, which makes it ideal for inline installations in explosive atmospheres. With its autocalibration functionality, low maintenance needs, and low lifetime costs, the MGP260 series offers an optimal way to monitor the entire biogas production process and continuously ensure its efficiency.
