Dr.
Reema Singh
MBT 2nd Semester
Environment Biotechnology
Biogas is a clean and efficient fuel.
It is a mixture of:
◦ Methane (CH4)
◦ Carbon dioxide (CO2)
◦ Hydrogen (H2)
◦ Hydrogen sulphide (H2S)
The chief constituent of biogas is methane
(65%).
There are two types of biogas plants in usage
for
the production of biogas. These are:
The fixed- dome type of biogas plant
The floating gas holder type of biogas plant
Fixed dome
type of Biogas
Plant
Forms of biomass listed below may be used
along with water.
Animal dung
Poultry wastes
Plant wastes ( Husk, grass, weeds etc.)
Human excreta
Industrial wastes(Saw dust, wastes from food
processing industries)
Domestic wastes (Vegetable peels, waste food
materials)
The biogas plant is a brick and cement structure
having the following five sections:
Mixing tank present above the ground level.
Inlet tank: The mixing tank opens underground
into a sloping inlet chamber.
Digester: The inlet chamber opens from below into
the digester which is a huge tank with a dome like
ceiling. The ceiling of the digester has an outlet
with a valve for the supply of biogas.
Outlet tank: The digester opens from below into an
outlet chamber.
Overflow tank: The outlet chamber opens from the
top into a small over flow tank.
The various forms of biomass are mixed with an
equal quantity of water in the mixing tank. This
forms the slurry.
The slurry is fed into the digester through the inlet
chamber.
When the digester is partially filled with the slurry,
the introduction of slurry is stopped and the plant is
left unused for about two months.
During these two months, anaerobic bacteria
present in the slurry decomposes or ferments the
biomass in the presence of water.
As a result of anaerobic fermentation, biogas is
formed, which starts collecting in the dome of the
digester.
As more and more biogas starts collecting, the
pressure exerted by the biogas forces the spent
slurry into the outlet chamber.
From the outlet chamber, the spent slurry
overflows into the overflow tank.
The spent slurry is manually removed from the
overflow tank and used as manure for plants.
The gas valve connected to a system of pipelines
is opened when a supply of biogas is required.
To obtain a continuous supply of biogas, a
functioning plant can be fed continuously with
the prepared slurry.
Requires only locally and easily available
materials for construction.
Inexpensive.
Easy to construct.
Floating gas
holder type of
biogas plant
The floating gas holder type of biogas plant has the
following chambers/ sections:
Mixing Tank - present above the ground level.
Digester tank - Deep underground well-like
structure. It is divided into two chambers by a
partition wall in between.
It has two long cement pipes
i) Inlet pipe opening into the inlet chamber for introduction
of slurry.
ii) Outlet pipe opening into the overflow tank for removal of
spent slurry.
Gas holder - an inverted steel drum resting above the
digester. The drum can move up and down i.e., float
over the digester. The gas holder has an outlet at the
top which could be connected to gas stoves.
Over flow tank - Present above the ground level.
Slurry (mixture of equal quantities of biomass and
water) is prepared in the mixing tank.
The prepared slurry is fed into the inlet chamber
of the digester through the inlet pipe.
The plant is left unused for about two months
and introduction of more slurry is stopped.
During this period, anaerobic fermentation of
biomass takes place in the presence of water and
produces biogas in the digester.
Biogas being lighter rises up and starts collecting
in the gas holder. The gas holder now starts
moving up.
The gas holder cannot rise up beyond a certain level.
As more and more gas starts collecting, more
pressure begins to be exerted on the slurry.
The spent slurry is now forced into the outlet
chamber from the top of the inlet chamber.
When the outlet chamber gets filled with the spent
slurry, the excess is forced out through the outlet
pipe into the overflow tank. This is later used as
manure for plants.
The gas valve of the gas outlet is opened to get a
supply of biogas.
Once the production of biogas begins, a continuous
supply of gas can be ensured by regular removal of
spent slurry and introduction of fresh slurry.
Expensive
Steel drum may rust
Requires regular maintenance
High calorific value
Clean fuel
No residue produced
No smoke produced
Non polluting
Economical
Can be supplied through pipe lines
Burns readily - has a convenient ignition
temperature
Domestic fuel
For street lighting
Generation of electricity
If compressed, it can replace compressed
natural gas for use in vehicles
A biogas bus, Sweden The Biogas Train “Amanda”
Sweden
Reduces burden on forests and fossil fuels
Produces a clean fuel - helps in controlling
air pollution
Provides nutrient rich (N & P) manure for
plants
Controls water pollution by decomposing
sewage, animal dung and human excreta.
Initial cost of installation of the plant is high.
Number of cattle owned by an average family
of farmers is inadequate to feed a biogas
plant.
With the many benefits of biogas, it is starting to
become a popular source of energy and is starting to
be used in the United States more.
On 5 October 2010, biogas was injected into the UK
gas grid for the first time. As of September 2013,
there are about 130 non-sewage biogas plants in the
UK.
Germany is Europe's biggest biogas producer and the
market leader in biogas technology.
To create awareness and associate the people
interested in biogas, the Indian Biogas Association was
formed. India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
offers some subsidy per model constructed.
Biogas is a clean source of energy. Biogas
plants have been in operation for a long
period of time, especially in rural areas
around the globe. The research organizations
should focus on newer efficient low cost
designs. The governments can play important
role by introducing different legal
frameworks, education schemes and the
availability of technology and simultaneously
creating more awareness and providing more
subsidies.
Thank You
