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How Does a Biogas Generator Model Work for 3 Organic Wastes?
- Written By: Saman Shoaib
- Last Updated: July 1, 2023
Biogas is a renewable energy source that holds great potential for sustainable energy production. It is produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, such as agricultural residues, animal manure, and food waste. Biogas generators are designed to harness this energy by converting organic wastes into biogas, which can be used for cooking, heating, and electricity generation.
So, if you are eager to learn how a biogas generator model works for different organic wastes, then this DIY guide is for you. Let’s move to know about this!
What is Biogas?
It is known as a source of renewable energy, and it’s made mostly of methane (60-70%) and a mixture of CO2 (carbon dioxide), H2S (hydrogen sulfide), NH3 (ammonia), and SO2( sulfur dioxide). This gas is formed when biological matter (usually cow manure) is decomposed in an environment with no oxygen present by bacteria.
It has been popular as a source of energy for over 200 years, To produce biogas, the individual has to first build an anaerobic (no oxygen present) digester, or an enclosed tank (usually made of steel), where specific types of organic wastes are placed for bacteria to decompose them. It is produced naturally in the environment in deep soils, lake bottoms, and wetlands.
Why Do You Need to Generate Biogas?
It’s a disaster waiting to happen, and sooner rather than later. The different types of wastes contain all kinds of harmful chemicals, antibiotics, nutrients and pathogens which can harm the surrounding area in any number of ways (for example, by getting into the source of drinking water, crops, or harming the surrounding wildlife).
One of the biggest issues with filling up our landfills is that it creates huge amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas. Methane traps heat in the atmosphere at a rate higher than carbon dioxide does (86x more), resulting in more rapidly escalating climate change.
It’s clear that something needs to be done. We need to;
- Reduce the wastes we personally contribute to landfills.
- Find other methods for what we’d usually rely on non-renewable sources of energy.
By creating biogas from food waste, both of these issues are solved in one go.
See the DIY Hacks to Create Biogas from Organic Waste!
If you have to start work on a green project in your school or create something sustainable household for consumers, you can generate biogas with this amazing and easy-to-opt DIY method. Interestingly, this biogas generator model can work for several organic wastes. But here you will get to know about THREE ones. So, let’s get started!
Materials And Equipment
- Digester seed material
- Digester feed stock Animal dung, vegetables)
- 20-liter water can
- 1/4″ plastic tubing – possible use in the gas collection system
- Medium size Tyre tube for gas storage
- Tub for mixing water feedstock
- PVC Pipe 3/4″ 2.5 ft
- T-valve
- Valve
- Super Glue
- Fine Sand
- Soldering Iron
- Black Color Paint
Procedure
Make the biogas digester according to the given diagram
Important Note:
The biogas plant is a digester, and it involves the production of highly combustible methane gas. While constructing a prototype, keep in mind the following precautions.
- The container must be airtight, as we know that it’s a digester that digests the biological waste anaerobically (strictly in the absence of air).
- Do not use transparent or translucent containers. If it is transparent, paint it black because it keeps the temperature steady, and sunlight encourages the growth of algae which retards biogas production.
- Use standard gas fittings (i.e gas pipes, gas nosels) as it is a highly flammable gas
- Use animal manure per container’s dimensions (i.e. in the case of 20 l container 18 or 17 l of a mixture in ratios of 50% dung and 50% water is prescribed)
- For the first time. use animal dung after any other biological waste that may include plant waste; dried dung, dried leaves, paper etc. But keeping in view that it must be mixed in a ratio of 50% with water and shaken well.
How Biogas Generator Model Work for 3 Different Organic Wastes
There are THREE different organic ways that use to generate biogas very profoundly. See the details about them.
Agricultural Residues
Agricultural residues, such as crop residues and straw, are abundant sources of organic waste. Biogas generator models that utilize agricultural residues typically involve a two-stage process:
1. Hydrolysis
During the hydrolysis stage, the agricultural residues are broken down into simpler organic compounds, such as sugars and amino acids, by hydrolytic bacteria. This process is facilitated by maintaining an optimal temperature and pH level in the biogas digester. The hydrolysis products serve as substrates for the next stage.
2. Methane production
In the methane production stage, methane-producing bacteria, known as methanogens, convert the hydrolysis products into biogas. These bacteria operate under anaerobic conditions, and they produce methane (CH4) as a metabolic byproduct. The methane-rich biogas is collected and can be used for various applications.
Animal Manure
Animal manure is another significant organic waste source that biogas generators can efficiently process. The decomposition of animal manure is carried out by a similar two-stage process as agricultural residues: hydrolysis and methane production.
1. Hydrolysis
In hydrolysis, bacteria break down complex organic compounds in the manure into simpler compounds. The temperature and pH conditions are regulated to ensure optimal bacterial activity. This stage produces volatile fatty acids, ammonia, and other compounds.
2. Methane production
The methane production stage follows, where methanogens convert the hydrolysis products into biogas. The volatile fatty acids and other compounds serve as the methanogens’ substrates, producing methane as a metabolic byproduct. The biogas is then captured and can be utilized for energy production.
One advantage of using animal manure as a feedstock is its high nutrient content. The digested slurry, known as digestate, is rich in nutrients and can be used as a fertilizer for agricultural purposes, closing the nutrient cycle.
Food Waste
Food waste is a significant problem worldwide, but it also presents an opportunity for biogas production. Biogas generator models designed for food waste focus on breaking down complex organic compounds found in the waste and maximizing methane production.
1. Conversion of Anaerobic Bacteria to Organic Matter
The process starts with the pre-treatment of food waste, where it is shredded or pulped to increase the surface area for microbial action. This enhances the efficiency of the subsequent stages. The pre-treated waste is then introduced into the digester, where anaerobic bacteria break down the organic matter.
2. Hydrolysis
Without oxygen, hydrolytic bacteria begin the process by breaking down complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into simpler compounds. These compounds then undergo further degradation by acidogenic bacteria, producing volatile fatty acids, alcohols, and other intermediate products.
3. Methane production
Finally, the methanogens convert the intermediate products into biogas, primarily methane and carbon dioxide. The biogas is captured and can be used for energy production or upgraded to biomethane for injection into natural gas pipelines or as a transportation fuel.
Get Wondered to Know the Key Benefits of Biogas!
On that note, when it comes to the benefits of using biogas from food waste, you might be pleased to know that there are so many other benefits to doing so, all of which could really affect and improve your entire lifestyle!
Using biogas from organic waste will impact your
- Personal environmental impact, from cutting down your reliance on non-renewable sources of energy. Not only will you be generating a renewable energy source, but you’ll be less responsible for contributing to landfills.
- Your energy bills. Using biogas to cook or even power your home means a reduced energy bill. In fact, just one cook (powered by up to 6 liters of organic food waste) will give you enough natural energy for up to 2 hours.
- By saving the environment by using any methane (the harmful greenhouse gas that is released from landfills) for conversion to biogas, your carbon footprint and personal responsibility for atmospheric emissions decrease drastically.
- Agricultural intentions. The digestate produced by biogas from food waste can be used as fertilizer to continue growing your own organic crops. You could even sell the natural fertilizer produced at a local farmers’ market, thereby creating a whole new revenue stream you might not have previously considered.
- Complete energy independence. And what better situation could you be in than that?
The above benefits are so easy to achieve. You just need the correct reactor, and you could be creating your own biogas from food waste in your very own backyard in just a matter of clicks!
Conclusion
In a nutshell, a biogas generator model from organic waste is a promising solution that addresses two major environmental challenges: reducing the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills and generating renewable energy. By transforming food waste into biogas, we can reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy sources and promote a more sustainable future.
This process has the potential to not only provide a source of energy for communities but also create new opportunities for waste management and resource recovery. As we strive towards a more sustainable world, biogas generation from food waste is an innovative and promising step forward.