A

PRESENTATION
ON BIOGAS AS
FUEL
Submitted to:
RICHA MISHRA
Asst. Proffessor
IC ENGINES
 INTRODUCTION TO BIOGAS

Biogas is the product of fermentation of man and animals'

biological activity waste products 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)
and carbon dioxide it is a renewable fuel produced from
waste treatment.

The most important component of biogas, from

the calorific point of view, is methane, CH4. The other
components are not involved in combustion process, and
rather absorb energy from combustion of CH4 as they leave
the process at higher temperature than
the one they had before the process.
Biogas refers to a mixture of different gases produced by
the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of
oxygen. Biogas can be produced from raw materials such
as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant
material, sewage, green waste or food waste. Biogas is
a renewable energy source.
PROPERTIES OF BIOGAS AS FUEL FOR
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
 In its pure state, it is color less, odorless,
tasteless. For safety reason, an odorant is
added so that any leak can be easily detected.
 The composition of bio gas is never
constant. Methane is by far the largest component,
its presence accounting for about 50% to 70% of the
total volume.
 The biogas will rise if escaping, thus dissipating from
the site of a leak.
 This important characteristic makes biogas safer
than other fuels.
 Biogas has very high octane number approximately 130. By
comparison, gasoline is 90 to 94 & alcohol 105 at best.

 Biogas has a very slow flame velocity, only

.290 m/s. at its highest. The range of flammability is
4 to 14% which can give good combustion efficiency.
MODIFICATION OF INTERNAL
COMBUSTION ENGINES
 Diesel engines can be modified to
operate on biogas in two different
ways:
􀂃 Dual fuel operation with ignition
by pilot fuel injection,
􀂃 operation on gas alone with
spark ignition.
THE DUAL FUEL ENGINE
In this case, the normal diesel fuel injection system still supplies a
certain amount of diesel fuel. The engine, however sucks and
compresses a mixture of air and biogas fuel which has been
prepared in external mixing device. The mixture is then ignited by
and together with the diesel fuel sprayed in. The amount of diesel
fuel needed for sufficient ignition is between 10% and 20% of the
amount needed for operation on diesel fuel alone.

 Operation on diesel fuel alone is possible when biogas is not

available
 Any contribution of biogas from 0% to 85% can substitute a
corresponding part of diesel fuel.
MODIFICATION OF A DIESEL ENGINE INTO
A GAS OTTO ENGINE

This modification involves a major operation on the

engine and the availability of certain parts, which will
have to be changed. These alterations are:
􀂃 removal of the injector pump and injector nozzles
􀂃 reduction of the compression ratio to ε = 10...12
􀂃 mounting of an ignition system with distributor
ignition coil, spark plugs and electric supply (alternator)
􀂃 provision of a mixing device for the supply of an
air/fuel mixture with constant air/fuel ratio.
Advantages of Biogas
1. Biogas is Eco-Friendly
2. Biogas Generation Reduces Soil and Water Pollution
3. Biogas Generation Produces Organic Fertilizer
4. It’s A Simple and Low-Cost Technology That Encourages A
Circular Economy.
5. Healthy Cooking Alternative For Developing Areas
Disadvantages of Biogas

1. Few Technological Advancements

2. Effect of Temperature on Biogas Production : In cold climates,

digesters require heat energy to maintain a constant biogas
supply.
3. Contains Impurities: If the generated bio-fuel was utilized to
power automobiles, it can corrode the metal parts of the
engine.
4. Less Suitable For Dense Metropolitan Areas: Another biogas
disadvantage is that industrial biogas plants only makes sense
where raw materials are in plentiful supply (food waste, manure).
For this reason, biogas generation is much more suitable for rural
and suburban areas.