Study visit 2 - Incineration and biogas plant (Uppsala)

Study visit 2 counts as one visit consisting of both visit "a" and "b" below.
You need to take part in both these to pass Study visit 2.

Visit "a": Digital study visit to Waste Incineration at Uppsala Värme

Date: Thursday  10th of February through Teams link Incineration Links to an external site.
Time: 09:00-10:30 

Company: Vattenfall Värme AB, Uppsala

Guide: Mikael Gidstedt

    - The first hour (09:00-10:00) will be a presentation by a guide from Vattenfall, and the following half hour (10:00-10:30) will be given for questions so please prepare some of interest to you.

     - NOTE: In order to better use the Q&A time, you are encouraged to prepare questions before the digital visit. You do this by sending your questions to Jiechen (jiechenw@kth.se) no later than 7 Feb. The questions collected beforehand will be first answered during the Q&A on 10 Feb. 

Description: The plant incinerates waste to recover energy for heating. 

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Visit "b": Physical study visit to Anaerobic digestion at Kungsängens biogas plant at Uppsala

Date Thursday 10th of February 
Time: 11:30-16:00

Company: Uppsala Vatten;

Guide: Stina Bengtsson (Email: Stina.Bengtsson@uppsalavatten.se )

   -    DEPARTURE: The bus will depart from KTH, Lindstedtsvägen 3, at 11:30. Boarding starts at 11:15. 
   -    On-site visit: Biogas plant on farm (Kungsängens gård; Address: Östra vindbrovägen 6). We will arrive at the place around 13:00. For now, we planned for two groups (max 20 per group). Time: group 1: 13:00-14:00 and group 2: 14:00-15:00
   -    RETURN: We depart from the farm latest 15:00. Depending on traffic, we should be back at KTH around 16:00.
   -    Rules of security: We want to remind that you are visiting a workplace where heavy traffic can occur. It is important that the following rules are followed: a) Safety vests will be handed out. Keep these on during the entire visit. b) Always follow the guides’ instructions and do not leave the group during the tour. c) Smoking is not allowed at the facility.
    -   Others: a) Plan your own time for lunch! b) Remember to bring suitable clothing! The visit takes about 1 hour and is outdoors. c) Please prepare with questions. d) There will be masks and disinfectants provided in case you want to use.    

     -   NOTE: Registration for the study visit is needed. Please sign up through the doodle here Links to an external site. no later than 14:00, Thursday 3rd Feb. In addition, due to new regulation from the company, if you are a citizen of a country other than Sweden, the social security number of these visitors is needed. So for those who are not a Swedish citizen, please leave your social security number together with your name (format: Name_ social security number) when you fill the doodle!  We will keep your information confidential and only share with the company for this study visit.  

Description: At Kungsängen, food waste and other organic waste is anaerobically digested and the gas converted to bio-gas and bio-fertiliser. More information about the plant can be found on: https://www.uppsalavatten.se/om-oss/vara-anlaggningar/biogasanlaggning/ Links to an external site. 

Slides from the visit: Download digital visning biogas.pdf

  

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Task connected to the visit to be submitted on Canvas on assignment “Task Study Visit 2”:

Based on your notes from the visits, sketch a process-flow diagram of the visited plants. A process-flow diagram uses “boxes” for processes and “arrows” for flows of material and energy.

Below are some questions to bear in mind when analysing a process:

  • What are the material inputs and outputs?
  • What are the energy inputs and outputs?
  • Where do materials come from and where do they go?

You should include key processes and cleaning steps. If possible, quantify the flows (e.g. 1 ton waste going in, 200 kg of ashes going out sent to special landfill). It is not necessary to describe the processes (e.g. “combustion in moving-grate furnace” or “combustion” are both equally fine).

The main flows and processes should be included for a “pass”.

Software tip: the examples provided on Canvas/Files/Assignments ( Download Example of flowcharts.docx

) have been made using the freeware “yEd” but you are free to use any software you like (e.g. draw.io,…) and even “paper and pencil”!