Lecture 7-8

BIOGAS
TECHNOLOGY
 What is Biogas?

•Biogas is a gas mixture which is generated

when organic compounds are fermented in
the absence of air (anaerobic fermentation).

•This gas mixture is mainly made of carbon

dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). Methane is
a combustible gas, which means it can be
burned.
 Biogas Plants
• Biogas plants are biogas generating systems
• Biogas formed after decomposition of organic
wastes in biogas plants is piped or transported to
homes for cooking and heating, and used on a
large scale in many countries of the world today
• The Biogas plants are considered to be the cheap
sources of energy in rural areas
• Biogas is also used for running engines for shaft
and electrical power generation with little or no
pollution
 Manufacturing Process
• Biogas is produced in a no oxygen environment or in an
anaerobic environment, when certain bacteria decompose
organic material
• The whole process is referred to as anaerobic digestion (AD)
• AD effectively treats the organic fraction of waste which has
many benefits.
• The process not only leads to a healthy and clean environment,
but also produces a renewable energy source like methane
• The by-product produced during the process is a solid residue
which is high-grade manure. In a biogas plant, biomass like
vegetable wastes, animal excreta, and weeds undergo
decomposition in the absence of oxygen and form a mixture of
gases
• This mixture is the biogas which is used as a fuel for cooking
heating, lighting and power generation.
 Types of Biogas Plants

•Floating gas-holder type

•Fixed dome type
•Bag type
 Floating Gas-holder Type
• A digester tank or a well is made of concrete and it called the
digester tank (T), which has two parts: the inlet and the outlet.
• The inlet is from where slurry is transported to the tank, which
has a cylindrical dome (H) made of stainless steel.
• This dome floats on the slurry and collects the gas generated.
• That is why such a biogas plant is known as floating gas holder
type.
• Fermentation of the slurry takes place about 30 to 50 days.
• The pressure inside (H) increases when more gas is formed by
bacterial fermentation.
• The gas is then transported out through outlet pipe V.
• The decomposed matter moves into the next chamber in tank T.
• By using the outlet pipe this is then removed to the overflow
tank, which is used as manure for cultivation purposes.
Floating Gas-holder Type
 Fixed Dome Type

• A well and a dome are made out of concrete,

which is called the digester tank (T).
• Since the dome is fixed, this gas plant is
known as fixed dome type.
• The manufacturing process is similar to the
floating holder type biogas plant, where the
slurry expands and overflows into the
overflow tank F.
Fixed Dome Type
 Bag Type Biogas Plant

• The bag-type biogas plant is a portable unit.

• Made of rubberized nylon fabric, such a plant
can be easily placed at any location.
• The appropriate type is selected on the basis of
technical requirements like distance between
kitchen and cattle shed, location, availability of
dung and water, preferences of the
beneficiaries etc.
Bag Type Biogas Plant
 Components of Biogas Plants

• Inlet pipe: The water dung mixture is moved into the digester
through the inlet pipe/tank.
• Mixing tank: The feed material like dung is gathered in the mixing
tank. Using sufficient water, the material is thoroughly mixed till a
homogeneous slurry is formed.
• Digester: Inside the digester, the slurry is fermented. Biogas is
produced through bacterial activity.
• Gas holder or gas storage dome: The biogas thus formed gets
collected in the gas holder. It holds the gas until it is transported for
consumption.
• Outlet pipe: The slurry is discharged into the outlet tank. This is done
through the outlet pipe or the opening in the digester.
• Gas Pipeline: The gas pipeline carries the gas to the utilization point
like a stove or lamp.
 Biogas Plant Construction

Important criterion for biogas plant construction

includes:

•The amount of waste material available for

processing

•The amount of gas required for a specific use

 Application Areas
• Cooking: One of the most common use of biogas is
for cooking using a burner. A biogas plant with a
capacity of 2 m3 is enough for providing cooking
fuel to a family of four to five people.

• Lighting: Another use of biogas is lighting gas

lamps. The biogas required to power a 100 candle
lamp (60 W) is 0.13 m3 per hour.

• Power generation: This gas is also used to operate

a dual-fuel engine. It can replace up to 75% of the
diesel.
 Benefits of biogas plants

• A non-polluting and renewable source of energy is

created in biogas plants.
• It is an excellent way of energy conversion.
• Biogas plants produce enriched organic manure. This
can be used as fertilizers.
• Biogas as a source of clean gas provides improvement
in the environment, sanitation and hygiene.
• The biogas plants provide a source for decentralized
power generation.
• Most important of all, such plants provide employment
generation in the rural areas.
 The Precautions
• The plant must be tested to make sure it is water-tight
and gas-tight.
• Enough fresh material must be added before it is used
every day.
• There must be a water source to provide enough water
to clean the livestock pens regularly, to provide fresh
material for the fermentation chamber system. (Each
liter of manure needs 1 - 3 liters of water).
• The plant must be equipped with a safety valve or U-
shaped barometer.
• Chemicals such as detergents or pesticides must not be
put into the fermentation chamber.
 The Precautions

• After fresh manure and water is added to the

fermentation chamber, the valve should be opened so
the gas can escape. At this stage, the gas is mainly
carbon dioxide. This should be done once or twice,
before the biogas plant comes into use for biogas
production.
• The gas from the fermentation chamber is not used
directly, but is stored in an auxiliary gas tank protected
by a safety valve. It is this auxiliary gas tank, not the
main gas tank, which is connected to any domestic
appliances.
 COMPARISON
Floating Gas Holder Fixed Dome Type
• More initial cost
• Repair and maintenance during
operation is high
• Steel gas holder needs to be replaced
due to corrosion effect
• Life of digester is expected to be 30
years and that of gas holder is 5-8
year
• Drum which is exposed over the
ground does not allow the use of
space over the plant for other
purposes
• Capital investment is comparatively
less
• As there is no moving parts, the
maintenance cost is minimum
• Steel gas holder is not required
• The life of the plant is expected to be
comparatively more
• As the unit is underground, the space
above the plant can be used for other
purposes
• Because of metallic gas holder, • Effect of low temperature is less
the low temperature during
winter affects gas production

• It is most suitable for dung,

other organic material may clog
the inlet pipe
• The construction of the digester
is simple, therefore no special
trained person is required but the
fabrication of gas holder require
workshop facility
• It could be easily modified and
adopted for the use of other type
of organic wastes
• Construction of dome portion of
the unit is a skilled job and only
trained mason can do it
• Requires relatively less excavation • Require more excavation work
work during installation

• The location of defects in the gas • The location of defects in the gas
holders and its repair is easy and can holders and its repair are difficult
be done in workshop

• Release of gas is at constant pressure • Release of gas is at variable

because of fixed weight of steel gas pressure and it may cause the
holder and hence the efficiency of reduction in efficiency of gas
the plant is higher appliances

• In areas of high water table, • Construction of the plant is

horizontal plants may be installed difficult in high water table areas
 Formulae Biogas Problems
• md = Ʃ mdi ni
md = Total mass of dung/biodegradable material, kg
mdi = Mass of dung/biodegradable material of one animal/crop, kg
ni = No. of animals

• Vb = md Vu
Vb = Volume of biogas produced per day, m3/day
Vu = Volume of gas per kg of dung, m3/kg

• Vc = ms/ds
Vc = volume of daily charge, m3/day
mc = mass of charge = md + mw
mw = mass of water, kg
dc = density of charge, kg/m3
• Vd = Vc * Tr
Vd = Volume of digester, m3
Tr = Retention time, days

• Vdt =Vd * (x+1)

Vdt = Total digester volume, m3
x = Fraction for biogas accumulation

• Vdt =π* D2/4 *H

D = digester diameter, m
H = Height or depth , m
 Numerical Problem-1

Design a biogas plant for a farmer having 20

dairy animals. Assume dung production per
animal in a day as 11 kg, density of dung as
500 kg m-3. One kg cow dung produces 0.1 m3
of gas.
 SOLUTION
Total quantity of dung available (md) = Ʃ mdi ni
=11*20
= 220 kg/day
Total biogas produced a day (Vb) = md Vu
= 220 kg/day *0.1 m3/kg
= 22 m3/day
Volume of daily charge (Vc) = (md + mw)/dc
= (220+220)/500
= 0.88 m3/day
Volume of digester (Vd) = Vc * Tr
= 0.88*30
= 26.4 m3
Total volume of digester with gas (Vdt) =Vd * (1+x)
= 26.4*(1+0.10)
= 29.04 m3
 SOLUTION
Vdt = π* D2/4 *H
when D = H (assumption)
Vdt = π* D2/4 *D
D = (4 Vdt/π)1/3
D =(4*29.04/3.14) 1/3
D = 3.33 m
H =3.33 m
 Numerical Problem-2

Design an appropriate size of biogas digester suitable

for a family of 7 persons having 5 cows. The gas is
required for cooking of food. One kg of fresh dung
produces 0.05 m3 of gas and cooking requirement is
0.24 m3/person. Assuming that one cow produces 10
kg dung per day and retention time is 20 days.
 SOLUTION
Total quantity of dung available (md) = Ʃ mdi ni
=10*05
= 50 kg/day
Total biogas produced a day (Vb) = md Vu
= 50*0.05
= 2.50 m3/day
Volume of daily charge (Vc) = (md + mw)/dc
= (50+50)/1000
= 0.10 m3/day
Volume of digester (Vd) = Vc*Tr
= 0.10*20
= 2 m3
Total volume of digester (Vdt) =Vd*(1+x)
= 2*(1+0.10)
= 2.20 m3
 SOLUTION

when D = H (Assumption)
D = (4 Vdt/π)1/3
D = (4* 2.20/3.14) 1/3
D = 1.405 m
H = 1.409 m
Gas required for the family cooking = 0.24*7
= 1.68 m3/day
Hence as per requirement of gas and availability of dung, a 2 m3
digester will be appropriate design which can produce 2.50 m3 of
gas per day.
 Numerical Problem-3

Design an appropriate biogas plant for a farmer

having a pair of bullocks, 5 buffalos and 500 poultry
birds. Make rational assumptions.
 SOLUTION
Total quantity of dung available (md) = Ʃ mdi ni
= 2*12+5*15+500*0.18
= 189=190 kg/day
Volume of daily charge (Vc) = (md + mw)/dc
= (190+190)/1090
= 0.35 m3/day
Volume of digester (Vd) = Vc*Tr
= 0.35*30
= 10.5 m3
Total volume of digester (Vdt) =Vd*(1+x)
= 10.5*(1+0.10)
= 11.55 m3
 SOLUTION

when D = H (Assumption)
Diameter of digester (D) = (4 Vdt/π)1/3
= (4* 11.55/3.14)1/3
= 2.45 m
Height of digester (H) = 2.45 m
 Numerical Problem-4

A farmer intends to design a power plant having 500

cows, one kg of fresh dung produces 0.05 m3 of gas.
Assuming that one cow produces 10 kg dung per day
and retention time is 30 days.
How many hp we can generate if the dual combustion
engine runs at 40:60 diesel-biogas ratio. Assume
engine consumes biogas @ 0.6 m3/hp/hr.
 SOLUTION
Total quantity of dung available (md) = Ʃ mdi ni
=10*500
= 5000 kg/day
Total biogas produced a day (Vb) = md Vu
= 5000*0.05
= 250 m3/day
Total biogas produced per hour = 10.4 m3/hr

Specific gas consumption of engine = 0.6 m3/hp/hr

hp generated by biogas = 10.416/0.6
= 17.33 hp with biogas
Total capacity of dual combustion engine at 40:60 diesel-biogas ratio
= 17.33 (40/60+1)
= 28.88 hp
 Numerical Problem-5

Design a biogas plant for tube well operation at a farm having

100 animals (cows and buffalos); one kg of fresh dung for
both produces 0.05 m3 of gas. Assuming that one animal
produces 10 kg dung per day and retention time is 30 days.
The height to diameter ratio of the digester should be 1.50.
Specify the engine size of the tube well from this biogas. If the
tube-well operation is 6 hours per day and engine consumes
biogas @ 0.30 m3 hp-1hr-1 at 70:30 biogas-diesel ratio. Take the
density of slurry as 1090 kg m-3(Take 1:1 ratio for dung and
water for slurry). Take biogas plant efficiency as 70%.
 SOLUTION
Total quantity of dung available (md) = Ʃ mdi ni
=10*100
= 1000 kg/day
Total gas produced a day (Vb) = md Vu
= 1000*0.05
= 50 m3/day
Volume of daily charge (Vc) = (md + mw)/dc
= (1000+1000)/1090
= 1.835 m3/day
Volume of digester (Vd) = Vc* Tr
= 1.835*30
= 55.045 m3
Total volume of digester (Vdt) =Vd*(1+x)
= 55.045*(1+0.10)
= 60.55 m3
(Note: 10% provision will be given for sedimentation)
 SOLUTION

(when H = 1.5 D)
D = (4 Vdt/1.5 π)1/3
D = (4* 60.5/1.5*3.14) 1/3
D = 3.716 m
H = 1.5 *3.716 m
= 5.575 m
 SOLUTION
Total gas produced a day (Vb) = md Vu
= 1000*0.05
= 50.0 m3/day
Total biogas produced@70% efficiency = 35 m3/day
Total biogas produced @70% efficiency per hour = 1.458 m3/hr
Specific gas consumption = 0.30 m3/hp/hr
hp generated by biogas = 1.458/0.30
= 4.86 hp
It means that if the engine runs continuously during 24 hours, 4.86 hp engine
can be operated daily.
It means that if the engine runs continuously during 6 hours, 19.44 hp engine
can be operated daily for 6 hours.