Biogas: Difference between revisions

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== Digesters ==
== To think about ==
* [[CEB Vaults|Guastavino masonry]] or plain CEBs to build biogas digester and holding tank for stored biogas. One holding tank could be used for the storage of biogas and [[Compressed Fuel Gas|Compressed fuel gas]].
* Biogas production may need insulation or earth sheltering when used in cold climates witch could oterwise lead to breakdown of microbial populations.  With CEB-blocks and insulation and option of heating, this is a design issue.
 
* Biogas can contain some sulfur (that smells like rotting eggs) and it is then not recommended to be used in engines for a prolonged time. The sulfuric acid can accumulate in the engine oil and it will need replacing and or cleaning after a while. To avoid some of this do not feed the digester with objects that generate this gas like plasterwalls.. There exists some additive that can limit this but should not be needed in this case. When used for direct burning like with a gas-nozzle for cooking it can be used directly. But some don't like that smell when cooking.  


* Biogas need cleaning (upgrading) to remove as much as possible of the contained sulfur and carbon dioxide for use in engines for gas-car transportation or electrical generation. It is preferable need to be upgraded first to limit corrosion and wear of motors. It is also possible to recover some heat from the motor and feed the carbon dioxide to the green house. Howto, more to come....


== Challenges ==
* Compressing into gas cylinders if needed for mobile transportation and more easy handling.
* Biogas production may need insulation or earth sheltering when used in cold climates witch could oterwise lead to breakdown of microbial populations.  With CEB-blocks and insulation and option of heating, this is a design issue.


* Biogas can contatin some sulfur (that smells like rotting eggs) and it is then not reccomended to be used in egines for a prolonged time. The sulfuric acid can accumulate in the engine oil and it will need replacing and or clening after a while. To avoid some of this do not feed the digester with ojects that generate this gas like plasterwalls.. There exists some addetive that can limit this but should not be needed in this case. When used for direct burning like with a gas-nozle for coocking it can be used directly. But some dont like that smell when cooking.
* Create smaller pieces of bulky biomass before it go into the digester to make it more effective, Could be using the [[Hammer Mill|hammer mill]]


* Biogas need cleaning (upgrading) to remove as mutch as possible of the contained sulfur and carbon dioxide for use in engines for gas-car transportation or electrical generaton. It is perferable need to be upgraded first to limit corosion and wear of motors. It is also possible to recover some heat from the motor and feed the carbon dioxide to the green house. Howto, more to come....


* Compessing into gascylinders if needed for mobile transportation and more easy handeling.
== Biodigester ==
A sealed container that carries out the anaerobic digestion process. It needs to be able to separate and remove the liquid and gas phases and have an entrance/exit for the substrate. Sometimes heated and stire the content to produce even more.
Some new digesters have a step before the liquid is exiting the digester there it is heated up to 70 degree Celsius to remove some more of possible pathogens that could have survived.
* [[CEB Vaults|Guastavino masonry]] or plain CEBs to build biogas digester and holding tank for stored biogas. One holding tank could be used for the storage of biogas and [[Compressed Fuel Gas|Compressed fuel gas]].


* process bulky biomass before it can go into a digester, using [[Hammer Mill|hammer mill]]
 
== Cleaning or upgrading ==
This refers to remove sulfur and carbon dioxide to make it higher energy value and make it usable in engines.
...




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==Simple Open Source Biogas System==  
==Simple Open Source Biogas System==  
[http://www.supergas.dk/ Supergas] - In 1996-97 [http://www.superflex.net/ Superflex] collaborated with biogas engineer Jan Mallan to construct a simple, portable biogas unit that can produce sufficient gas for the cooking and lighting needs of an African family. The system has been adapted to meet the efficiency and style demands of a modern African consumer. It is intended to match the needs and economic resources that we believe exist in small-scale economies. The orange biogas plant produces biogas from organic materials, such as human and animal stools. For a modest sum, a family will be able to buy such a biogas system and achieve self-sufficiency in energy. The plant produces approx. 3-4 cubic meters of gas per day of the dung from 2-3 cattle. This is enough for a family of 8-10 members for cooking purposes and to run one gas lamp in the evening.
[http://www.supergas.dk/ Supergas] - In 1996-97 [http://www.superflex.net/ Superflex] collaborated with biogas engineer Jan Mallan to construct a simple, portable biogas unit that can produce sufficient gas for the cooking and lighting needs of an African family. The system has been adapted to meet the efficiency and style demands of a modern African consumer. It is intended to match the needs and economic resources that we believe exist in small-scale economies. The orange biogas plant produces biogas from organic materials, such as human and animal stools. For a modest sum, a family will be able to buy such a biogas system and achieve self-sufficiency in energy. The plant produces approx. 3-4 cubic meters of gas per day of the dung from 2-3 cattle. This is enough for a family of 8-10 members for cooking purposes and to run one gas lamp in the evening.
== Applications and Product Ecology ==
* biogas for cooking, heating
* electrical generation and heating at the same time
* [[CEB Vaults|Guastavino masonry]] or plain CEBs to build biogas digester and holding tank for stored biogas. One holding tank could be used for the storage of biogas and [[Compressed Fuel Gas|Compressed fuel gas]].
* methane for the production of [[Direct Reduced Iron|Direct reduced iron]] from rust or high-grade iron ore.
* compressed biogas for transportation / internal combustion engine
* liquid slurry from biogas tank can be used to fertilize [[duckweed]] pond 
* solid contents coming out of digester can be composted (vermicompost, BSF compost, [[biochar]] compost)
* when biogas is burned inside a greenhouse, the CO2 enrichment can provide a boost to plant growth (CO2 concentrations up to 1500ppm are beneficial). This is effect widely used by commercial growers, but unfortunately they are using mostly fossil methane. 
* various uses in [[:Category:Metalworks|metallurgy]]
* process bulky biomass before it can go into a digester, using [[Hammer Mill|hammer mill]]




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* [http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Biofuel p2pfoundation Category:Biofuel]
* [http://p2pfoundation.net/Category:Biofuel p2pfoundation Category:Biofuel]
* [http://diy-biogas.org/ DIY Biogas] - Germany
* [http://diy-biogas.org/ DIY Biogas] - Germany


==See Also==
==See Also==

Revision as of 20:15, 30 January 2013

Main > Energy > Biofuel


Cooking with biogas

A gas produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.

Electric generator from biogas

Applications

  • Used for cooking, heating, electrical generation
  • Production of Direct reduced iron from rust or high-grade iron ore.
  • Compressed and cleaned biogas for transportation with internal combustion engines
  • Liquid slurry from digester tank can be used to fertilize duckweed pond
  • Solid contents coming out of digester can be composted (vermicompost, BSF compost, biochar compost)
  • The CO2 contained in biogas can be used in inside a greenhouse and can provide a boost to plant growth (CO2 concentrations up to 1500ppm are beneficial). This is effect widely used by commercial growers, but unfortunately they are using mostly fossil methane.
  • Various uses in metallurgy


To think about

  • Biogas production may need insulation or earth sheltering when used in cold climates witch could oterwise lead to breakdown of microbial populations. With CEB-blocks and insulation and option of heating, this is a design issue.
  • Biogas can contain some sulfur (that smells like rotting eggs) and it is then not recommended to be used in engines for a prolonged time. The sulfuric acid can accumulate in the engine oil and it will need replacing and or cleaning after a while. To avoid some of this do not feed the digester with objects that generate this gas like plasterwalls.. There exists some additive that can limit this but should not be needed in this case. When used for direct burning like with a gas-nozzle for cooking it can be used directly. But some don't like that smell when cooking.
  • Biogas need cleaning (upgrading) to remove as much as possible of the contained sulfur and carbon dioxide for use in engines for gas-car transportation or electrical generation. It is preferable need to be upgraded first to limit corrosion and wear of motors. It is also possible to recover some heat from the motor and feed the carbon dioxide to the green house. Howto, more to come....
  • Compressing into gas cylinders if needed for mobile transportation and more easy handling.
  • Create smaller pieces of bulky biomass before it go into the digester to make it more effective, Could be using the hammer mill


Biodigester

A sealed container that carries out the anaerobic digestion process. It needs to be able to separate and remove the liquid and gas phases and have an entrance/exit for the substrate. Sometimes heated and stire the content to produce even more. Some new digesters have a step before the liquid is exiting the digester there it is heated up to 70 degree Celsius to remove some more of possible pathogens that could have survived.


Cleaning or upgrading

This refers to remove sulfur and carbon dioxide to make it higher energy value and make it usable in engines. ...


Construction of underground digester with bricks. This is common in rural India and China

Simple Open Source Biogas System

Supergas - In 1996-97 Superflex collaborated with biogas engineer Jan Mallan to construct a simple, portable biogas unit that can produce sufficient gas for the cooking and lighting needs of an African family. The system has been adapted to meet the efficiency and style demands of a modern African consumer. It is intended to match the needs and economic resources that we believe exist in small-scale economies. The orange biogas plant produces biogas from organic materials, such as human and animal stools. For a modest sum, a family will be able to buy such a biogas system and achieve self-sufficiency in energy. The plant produces approx. 3-4 cubic meters of gas per day of the dung from 2-3 cattle. This is enough for a family of 8-10 members for cooking purposes and to run one gas lamp in the evening.


External Links


See Also