DVO’s patented Two-Stage Mixed Plug Flow™ differs from traditional anaeorbic digestion¹ technologies that feature above-ground tanks, according to Steve Dvorak, owner and founder of DVO, Inc. The DVO anaerobic digester, built by Andgar of Ferndale, Washington, is designed to hold approximately 1,400,000 gallons of manure and organic waste. Each day, the digester will receive 55,000 gallons of solid and liquid waste from Four J Farm Dairy, a nearby dairy farm with approximately 2,000 head of cattle.

“The Calgren facility and Four J Farm Dairy will not be the only ones to benefit from the addition of DVO’s anaerobic digester,” said Steve Dvorak, owner and founder of DVO, Inc. “Our digesters reduce the environmental impact from farm waste greenhouse gas emissions by over 90 per cent, pathogens in the digested waste are greatly reduced --  often to the point of non-detection -- and up to 97 per cent odor reduction is achieved as biogas is burned.”

Biogas, one of the many valuable byproducts of the anaerobic digestion process, will replace thousands of gallons of natural gas currently being used by the Calgren on-site cogeneration facility to produce 55 million gallons of ethanol each year. Biosolids, another beneficial byproduct of anaerobic digestion, will be sent back to Four J Farm Dairy to be used as a high-quality and low pathogen count cattle bedding. Liquid nutrients from the digestion process will also make its way back to the farm to fertilize growing crops.

 

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