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Biogas Production Principle

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Biogas_plant_sketchBiogas is generated when bacteria degrade biological material in the absence of oxygen, in a process known as anaerobic digestion. Since biogas is a mixture of methane (also known as marsh gas or natural gas, CH4) and carbon dioxide it is a renewable fuel produced from waste treatment.

Anaerobic digestion is basically a simple process carried out in a number of steps that can use almost any organic material as a substrate – it occurs in digestive systems, marshes, rubbish dumps, septic tanks and the Arctic Tundra.

Humans tend to make the process as complicated as possible by trying to improve on nature in complex machines but a simple approach is still possible, as I hope you see in this website.

Conventional anaerobic digestion has been a “liquid” process, where waste is mixed with water to facilitate digestion, but a “solid” process is also possible, as occurs in landfil sites.

As methane is very hard to compress I see its best use as for stationary fuel, rather than mobile fuel. It takes a lot of energy to compress the gas (this energy is usually just wasted), plus you have the hazard of high pressure. A variable volume storage (flexible bag or floating drum are the two main variants) is much easier and cheaper to arrange than high pressure cylinders, regulators and compressors.

I think biogas is best used directly for cooking/heating, light (pdf) or even absorption refrigeration rather than the complication and energy waste of trying to make electricity from biogas. You can also run pumps and equipment off a gas powered engine rather than using electricity.

There are many advantages of biogas over wood as a cooking fuel:-

* Less labour than tree felling
* Trees can be retained
* Biogas is a quick, easily controlled fuel
* No smoke or smell (unless there is a leak – then you need to know
anyway!) so reduced eye/respiratory irritation
* Clean pots
* Sludge is a better fertiliser than manure or synthetic fertilisers (and
is cheaper then manufactured products)
* Reduced pathogen transmission compared to untreated waste

(c) http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/basic/

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20 COMMENTS

  1. @arnel 
    I just stumbled on your response and would want to collaborate with you in setting up my own bio gas plan, taking advantage of your years of experience. Kindly revert to me on my personal e-mail: [email protected] or call 234-1-8080336919. I look forward to your collaboration in this regard. Thank you

  2. @t r ramesh babu 
    Tramesh I am so sorry I only stumbled on your above response today. I am interested in your Poultry waste solution bio-gas. Kindly revert to me on it. I have tried reaching you on  the stated phone number without success. Please revert on my personal e-mail: [email protected] or call 234-1-8080336919. I look forward to getting your response. Thank you

  3. I would like to proposed using biogas to fuel our kitchen in my little island. for my proposal i would like to have a design of simple to complex biogas chambers to put forward. any suggested designs?
    I am using my Grade Six science students to propose it as a project.

  4. Bio gas is a great source of alternative energy for heating. There are many companies who now provide gorgeous heaters with the bio gas. These heaters are particularly popular for rented homes as they are easily transportable and can look fantastic, just like an open fire yet it is using bio energy.

  5. Bio gas is a great source of alternative energy for heating. There are many companies who now provide gorgeous heaters with the bio gas. These heaters are particularly popular for rented homes as they are easily transportable and can look fantastic, just like an open fire yet it is using bio energy.

  6. What are all the factors to be considered to construct a biogas cleaning ( which one is suitable method either water scrubber or chemical (Zeolite) )and compressing. What is minimum pressure required to compress the biogas?

  7. Hello friends,
    I am really impressed by this system of biogas energy and would like to apply to the univeristy im working, can u pls send me the system design for biogas

  8. I AM INTERSTED IN SETING UP A GAS PLANT. I HAVE THE REQUISITE SITE FOR GENERATION OF BIOGAS. I HAVE MANY PERSONS AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ARE READY TO PAY FOR AND USE THE GAS WHEN PRODUCED. I WOULD NEED YOU TO PARTNER WITH ME IN THIS BUSINESS. KINDLY LET ME KNOW HOW TO PROCEED AND THE EQUIPMENT I NEED TO GET AS WELL AS WHERE I CAN EASILY GET THEM AND THEIR COST, IF POSSIBLE. THANKS.

    EPHRAIMS

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