- A
- Advanced Anaerobic Digestion:
- Anaerobic digestion with thermal hydrolysis to improve kinetics and overall process performance.
- Anaerobic Digestion:
- Biological process where microorganisms degrade organic matter in the absence of oxygen, generating biogas and digestate.
- B
- Biogas:
- Mixture of gases, mainly CH4 and CO2, produced during the anaerobic digestion of organic matter and used as a renewable energy source.
- Biosolid:
- Stabilised fraction of the anaerobic digestion process, susceptible to agronomic valorisation when it meets health and regulatory requirements.>
- C
- CAPEX:
- Capital investment necessary for the design, manufacture, supply and implementation of a technology.
- Co-digestion:
- Anaerobic digestion of different, combined types of organic waste to improve energy performance.
- Corrective Maintenance:
- Technical actions aimed at correcting faults, breakdowns or unforeseen incidents affecting the normal plant operation.
- Critical Stock:
- Spare parts inventory whose immediate availability is needed to ensure the operational continuity of a facility, minimising downtime.
- D
- Digestate:
- Anaerobic digestion product, composed of the residual solid and liquid fraction after the organic matter conversion into biogas.
- E
- Energy Balance:
- Quantitative assessment of energy flows in and out of a process, used to optimise thermal integration and overall energy performance.
- Energy Integration:
- Thermal flows optimisation to maximise energy recovery and minimise external consumption.
- Energy Valorisation:
- Conversion of organic waste into useful energy, normally in the form of biogas or electricity.
- F
- Flash:
- Also known as steam explosion, it is the partial vaporisation that occurs in the thermal hydrolysis processes, caused by a sudden decompression.
- H
- Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT):
- Period during which the waste remains within a process or reactor; a key parameter for system sizing and performance.
- I
- In-line Steam Injection:
- Heat transfer system that allows organic waste to be heated directly in the pipe by means of steam condensation, optimising efficiency.
- M
- Mass Balance:
- Analysis of mass flows throughout a process that allows equipment sizing, yield evaluation and estimation of biogas and biosolids production.
- N
- Non-condensables:
- Gases generated during the thermal process that not condense and must be properly managed.
- O
- OPEX
- Operating costs associated with a facility operation, including energy, consumables, maintenance and personnel.
- Organic Loading Rate (OLR):
- Organic matter fed to a process per unit volume and time, measured in kg VS/m³·d, and a key parameter for system sizing.
- Organic Waste:
- Biodegradable material of urban, industrial or agri-food origin, susceptible to valorisation.
- Organic Waste Valorisation:
- Set of processes aimed at transforming waste into resources through energy and material recovery.
- P
- Pasteurisation / Hygienisation:
- Thermal process typically operating at 70°C for 30–60 minutes, when the primary objective is sanitary rather than energy-related.
- Polanco Process:
- Continuous thermal hydrolysis technology developed by teCH4+ and named in tribute to its creator, Fernando Fernández-Polanco.
- Predictive Maintenance:
- Maintenance strategy based on variable monitoring and data analysis to anticipate failures before they occur.
- Preventive Maintenance:
- Set of periodic planned actions to ensure correct equipment operation and extend its useful life.
- S
- Solubilisation:
- Transformation of particulate organic matter into soluble fraction, increasing its availability for anaerobic microorganisms.
- Steady State:
- Operating regime in which process variables remain constant over time, facilitating control and operational stability.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- International reference framework defining environmental, social and economic objectives, to which teCH4+ technology contributes through measurable technical results.
- T
- Thermal Hydrolysis:
- Thermal process that subjects organic waste to high pressures and temperatures to solubilise particulate organic matter and facilitate its subsequent biodegradation.
- Turnkey Plant:
- Project delivered as a fully operational plant, including engineering, supply, transport, assembly, commissioning and start-up.
