GTI and the City of Tulare celebrate 25 years of converting waste to energy - case study
Energy conservation has always been extremely important to both the City of Tulare and the wastewater treatment facility. Since biogas can be used as fuel to generate electricity, the city wanted a means to reliably collect biogas from the BVF® reactor to recover the energy while also controlling odors and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
To address the City of Tulare’s needs, Geomembrane Technologies Inc. (GTI) designed, manufactured, and installed a floating gas collection cover over the complete 4 acre surface of the city’s digester. The cover is designed to be gastight so that it contains all the biogas generated by the BVF® reactor, thereby eliminating odors.
GTI’s cover is chemical- and UV-resistant to withstand the tough environment of the digester and the California sun. The cover is strong and stable, allowing personnel to walk across the BVF® reactor for operations and maintenance. Rainwater that pools on the cover surface is collected and drained.