Design virtual model of electricity supply from biogas
station
Ladislav Novosad, Zdenek Hradilek
VSB – Technical University of Ostrava
Department of Electrical Power Engeneering
Ostrava – Poruba, Czech Republic
ladislav.novosad.st@vsb.cz, zdenek.hradilek@vsb.cz
Abstract—The article deals with the operation of biogas stations,
especially in terms of power supply to a 22kV distribution grid.
The article includes a draft model the objective of which
is to simulate power supply to the aforementioned 22kV grid.
The main objective of the model is to verify the stability of power
supply. Furthermore, this model will be used for automatic
analysis of the data obtained through long-term measurements.
These measurements were carried out at three different biogas
stations located in the Czech Republic. Therefore, the article
describes the basic operating principles of the model biogas
station and describes the functionality of each block of the model.
Moreover, it describes the acquisition, processing and evaluation
of measured data. Finally, the article concludes with verifying
the functionality of the model biogas station and placing other
options of its use and extension, possibly its combination with
other renewable energy sources. The result of such a cooperation
of several models should subsequently clarify the possibilities
of connecting biogas stations to the 22kV distribution grids,
or outline the possibilities of power supply during outages
and other extraordinary conditions in the distribution grid.
Keywords—virtual biogas station model; electricity;
measurement database; renewable source; co-generation unit;
distribution grid.
I. INTRODUCTION
During recent years, there have been increased shares of
electricity produced from renewable energy sources (RES) in
distribution grids. The vast majority of these sources operate in
the distribution grid (DG) in a decentralized manner. It brings
new challenges particularly related to the very physical nature
of these sources; typically, for example, a dependence on
weather regarding photovoltaic and wind power plants. A
question then is how should be a thus created system safely and
stably operated or developed. For the above reason, it is
necessary to know the characteristics of different renewable
energy sources, including biogas stations (BGS) as well.
Therefore, the present article deals with the issues of BGS
operation.
Thus, the main objective of the article is a description of the
virtual model of the BGS electric output and using it to
simulate the time dependence of the output power supplied to
the DG. The outcome of such a model will subsequently be a
waveform of supplied power to DG. For the above reasons, the
article will address only the electrical parts of BGS.
This research was supported by the SGS grant from VSB -
Technical University of Ostrava (No. SP2017/54).
978-1-5090-6406-9/17$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
The model itself provides two primary outputs and consists
of two basic units:
• Evaluation of the data obtained from the BGS
measurements
• Simulation of BGS output electric power
II. EVALUATION OF THE DATA OBTAINED FROM THE
BIOGAS STATION MEASUREMENTS
This part of the model will deal with automated processing
and evaluation of measured data. These data were obtained
through long-term measurements which were performed at
three different biogas stations. All three BGSs are farm type
and are located in the Czech Republic (Loděnice BGS,
Tošanovice BGS, Hodoňovice BGS).
III. MEASURED DATA
The measurement done at all three biogas stations was
carried out using a digital automatic measuring instrument – a
BK ELCOM ENA 330 grid analyser. This instrument was used
to record the effective values of phase voltages and currents,
and each measured quantity was recorded at one-minute
intervals.
Voltage was always measured on the busbars of main
distributor (MD); current was measured indirectly using
flexible coils – AmpFLEX. The remaining quantities, such as
active, reactive and apparent powers, were automatically
calculated and stored in the measuring instrument memory.
The electricity produced was led into the main BGS distributor
in case of all three of the BGSs. The produced power was
subsequently supplied to a 22kV distribution grid through a
0.4/22kV transformer station. [1,2,3].
The measurements yielded a large amount of data which
were adjusted to the required form prior to their use. This
adjustment was made using MS Office Excel. Given that
measurement times for each of the BGSs were different, the
data were shortened to a total period of 30 days of
measurement. The first and the last day of measurement were
always omitted from the total amount of data because of the
incomplete data on the day of connecting the measuring
instrument. [1,2,3]
 IV. ENTERED DATA EVALUATION
The aim of this model part is to create a comprehensive
description of each BGS operation. The outcome of the model
evaluation will be both graphical information – diagrams and
waveforms of selected quantities – and statistical information –
the number of outages, decreases, total operating time, etc. – as
well as the juxtaposition of individual measurements at various
BGSs. The evaluation program itself allows for a comparison
of each measured BPS.
The calculation of the evaluation is done in MS Excel using
a Macro add-in for mathematical statistics and Flash
Application.
Examples of evaluation model outcomes can be seen in the
following figure.[4,5,6]

Fig. 2. Model window with the graphical part

From the output of the statistical model - evaluation of

measurement data - can be obtained especially following basic
information:
• total measurement time
• duration of decrease active power (shutdown of one or
more cogeneration units)
• total time complete black-out
• time of trouble-free operation
• the number of complete outages
Fig. 1. Model window with the evaluation part
• the number of dips supply active power to the
After entering the processed data into the application, a distribution grid
choice of output options is made. For example, it is possible to
generate only diagram dependencies or statistical data. After
running the program, an automatic evaluation of entered data is
done (see the Figure).
 From the graphical output of the model - data evaluation can The model itself is composed of the following basic blocks:
then get a graphical waveforms of measured data:
1) Information of BGS
2) Simulation time
• the course of the overall active power P (kW) (The
overall course consists of the sum of performances in 3) Measured data
various stages (P1 + P2 + P3)). 4) Model evaluation
5) Simulation model
• courses of voltage U 6) Model outputs
• courses of current I 7) Measured data evaluation outputs

• courses of the total reactive power Q A. Information of BGS

• courses of total apparent power S
• power factor
• histograms of quantities current and voltage
V. SIMULATION OF OUTPUT ELECTRIC POWER
Another purpose of the model is to create a simulation of
electric power supply course from the BGS. The model itself
will be processed in MS Office Excel using MACRO add-ins.
A restriction of 60,000 rows of processed data, i.e. 1000h
(41.66 days) on a simulator, or rather its evaluating parts,
emerges from the program used.
The simulator will consist of several basic functional units,
see the following diagram.
This block will be used to set the basic parameters of the
model biogas station. In terms of electrical quantities, these
parameters include the size (installed electrical power) and the
number of co-generation units (CGU) located in the BGS, their
type, the consumption of biogas and other operational
information.
B. Simulation Time
Basic time data on the total simulation time of CGU
operation will be entered in this segment. The first draft
simulator assumes the maximum simulation time of about 0–30
days. This time will be subsequently expanded if necessary.
C. Calculation Model Part
This part of the model is designed for the actual
calculation/generation of the electric power supply simulated
course from the BGS. Basic input information for the
calculation part is retrieved from information on BGS,

Fig. 3. Simplified diagram of the principle of the model operation

 reliability data or measurement data. Given that the basic
data on the reliability of the CGU operation are not available
currently, the evaluation results of the three BGSs will be used
for calculations. The result of this section will therefore be a
data set which can be characterized and represented as virtual
supplied power from BGS.
Thus created course can be considered as a theoretical
course of power supply from CGU and can be used for other
simulations, e.g. in combination with electric power renewable
sources.[7,8,9]
Fig. 4. Example of graphical output simulation active power
VI. CONCLUSION
The article deals with a model biogas station, more
particularly its first part which is formed by a program for
automatic evaluation of the measured data from BGS. Using
this program, a lot of information about the BGS operation and
especially the stability of power supply from BGS to 22kV grid
can be obtained from the pre-adjusted data using this program.
At the same time, the evaluation part of the model will provide
important information on the BGS operation for the BGS
simulator itself.
The research on the BGS operation will continue with the
completion and debugging of BGS simulator. The result of
such a simulation should therefore be a comprehensive set of
data or a graphical dependency describing the course of power
supply from BGS to 22kV grid. Due to the measured power
characteristics at three different BGSs, it can be assumed that
the course will be nearly constant in terms of the power course
dependency on time. Despite this fact, the model described
above will be realized in order to verify these assumptions.
These results can then be further combined with other
renewable energy sources and the connection of BGS TO DG
can be addressed in terms of possible support services. The
cooperation with PVP is primarily expected, thus providing
additional options of network stabilizations for 22kV level.
REFERENCES
[1] Data measured in BGS – TOZOS Tošanovice
[2] Data measured in BGS – Hodoňovice
[3] Data measured in BGS – Loděnice
[4] L. Novosad, Z. Hradilek, “Power Analysis of Co-Generation Units at
Biogas Station”, Proceedings of the 16th International Scientific
Conference on Electric Power Engineering (EPE) 2015 Dlouhé Stráně,
2015, ISBN 978-1-4673-6788-2
[5] L. Novosad, Z. Hradilek, “Analysis of Energy Balances Three Biogas
Stations in Czech Republic”, Proceedings of the 16th IEEE International
Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering, 2016
[6] M. Dummer, M. Litschmannova, “Statistika I.”. Statistika I. VSB –
Technical university of Ostrava, 1997, 80-7078-496-2
[7] Z. Hradílek, “Elektroenergetika průmyslových a distribučních zařízení,”
1.vyd. VŠB – TU Ostrava. 2008. ISBN 978-80-7225-291-6.,p.315, 2008.
[8] K.M.A. Islam, T. M. Khan, M. M. Rahman, M. S. Munna, “2015 3rd
International Conference on Green Energy and Technology (ICGET)”,
2015, Pages: 1 - 6, DOI: 10.1109/ICGET.2015.7315105
[9] M. Spacek, Z. Hradilek, P. Moldrik, “Cooperation between photovoltaic
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Scientific Conference on Electric Power Engineering (EPE),2015,
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