Aron`s Blog 1

Hello, my name is Aron Hamm. I was hired on as the “Biogas Systems Supervisor” at Grober’s Delft Blue Veal Farm in Cambridge, as well as manure management for the farm. I come from a farming background so the manure management comes naturally to me, but i must admit I was a little green to the renewable energy portion of my job. Prior to obtaining my position with Delft Blue, I was in my second year of a three year Industrial Mechanical Millwright apprenticeship. I was looking a career with a future, that I found interesting, and would allow me to use the skills I’ve obtained as a millwright and through farming both agricultural and livestock. Creating a renewable energy from farm waste via anaerobic digestion is just that.

I’ve had the opportunity to work side by side with the various different contractors since the beginning of construction of the digester project. I was able to learn a great deal about the different types of materials used, and their purpose in the construction of the anaerobic digester.

I lent a helping hand when needed to Midwest Silo as they set up re-bar, heat tubes and poured concrete for the digester and input tank. I was able to ask a lot of questions, and gained some knowledge on their unique process and forms. As you can see in the pictures we have on our site, the digester was poured in 5 separate rings, each 4′ high. Rather than pouring the whole wall all at once like most manure storage tanks. This process makes the walls stronger. Which is necessary for the digester because it has 3 large mixers constantly stirring the contents of the digester.

Cronin Poured Concrete built the digestate storage tank, and they use the single pour forms which is sufficient for a storage tank for couple of reasons: the walls are not as high as the digester, the outside of the tank walls will be backfilled for support, the digestate is not being constantly mixed.

I have a lot more information to share about the project but that`s all for now.