Design and Construction of Biogas Plant
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF STUDY
The need to reduce the present high concentration on the conventional energy sources with all its attendant problems has given a great motivation for this project which will help to:
- To construct Biogas plant
- To produce biogas from cow dung
- To use the gas produced to generate heat
CHAPTER TWO
INTRODUCTION
Biogas production and utilization has become a major part of the rapidly growing renewable energy sector. Over the years, there has been a fast development in biogas technology and an explosive growth worldwide in agriculture, industries and municipalities.
Biogas plant is a biogas generating system. Biogas typically referred to as a gas produced by the action of biological breakdown of organics matter in the absence of oxygen that is, it originates from biogenic material and is hence a type of biofuel.
Biogas formed after decomposition of organic waste in biogas plant is piped or transported to homes for cooking and heating, and is used on a large scale in many countries of the world today. It is considered to be the cheapest renewable source of energy. It can also be utilized in modern waste management facilities, where it can be used to power any type of heat engine to generate either mechanical or electrical energy.
A variety of organic waste can be used for biogas production such as; organic waste from household and industries, sludge from waste water treatment plant, manure, residue from farm land and crops of different types. This alternative digester feeds makes biogas potential superior to all other biofuel and without putting food production to jeopardy. Biogas technology can spare the world from the need of chemical fertilize and produce manure that can pave way for the introduction of dependable organic farming worldwide.
CURRENT LITERATURE REVIEW
The rising cost of petroleum product is a serious problem facing most developing countries of the world including Nigeria. Again excessive energy demands from both rural and urban areas imply that other natural sources energy has to be explored. Hence, conversion of agricultural wastes into biogas could be a leeway to solving some of these energy problems.
As part of the action for combating global warming, loss bio diversity, ozone depletion, eutraphication and desertification which result from the emission of green house gas and burning of fossil fuel, biogas has been developed as one of the non-polluting and renewable source of energy and also the effluent waste can be use as source of fertilizer which eliminate the chemical fertilizer.
According to “.U. Ofoefule and E.O. Uzodinma (2009)” cassava peels (CP) cow dung (CD), poultry dropping (PD) and swine dung (SD) were used for experiment in proportion and it was that CP; CD has fastest onset of flammable gas production. The overall result indicate that the low biogas yield and slow onset of gas production/flammability of digested cassava peels can enhance significantly when combined with animal waste which was done in this project.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN
BIODIGESTER
Construct a 90L capacity digester and charge initially with 20kg of cow dung and daily charge of 0.5kg of cow dung digester.
MEASURE OF GAS
Measure of gas produce by displacement of water in a gas storage/purification tank (100L capacity)
TEST OF GAS
The gas will used to generate heat in a fabricated biogas stove.
COLLECTION OF SAMPLE
The biomass used was collected from the local albattoir along Bemi/Okene express road.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION OF RESULT
The analysis of the data presented above show that the generator performed satisfactorily within reasonable limit.
- Temperature 41O c achieved has aided the digestion of cow dung. The daily temperature of the digester was taken and the value shows that the Temperature was relatively stable.
- Methane gas and other natural gases are known to have calorific value as high as 40 to 50m/kg shows the some impurities existed such could include carbon dioxide (Co2) gas.
- It was determined from the design, that 24.8kg of cow dung can provide the gas to satisfy the daily need of a family of six. Hence, the mass of 26kg of cow dung actually loaded can produce the desired biogas needed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
The production and utilization of biogas has be a major part of the rapidly growing renewable energy source sector and over the years, there has been a fast development in biogas technology and an explosive growth worldwide in agriculture, industries municipalities.
Domestic biogas plant produce renewable fuel from organic biomass and are primarily used in developing countries and rural area as alternative to using fossil fuels, whose combustion contributes to global warming. Biogas is a carbon neutral fuel that is produced when bacteria degrade biological material in the absence of oxygen, a process know as anaerobic digestion, or fermentation of bridgeable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, or municipal wastes. The fuel primarily consists of methane (CH4 or natural gas) and carbon dioxide (CO2) mixed with trace gases and be used to generate electricity for cooking and heating when it is burned.
Being part of the actions for combating global warming as a result of ozone depletion, eutrophication and desertification which result from the emission of green house gases and burning of fossil fuel, biogas has been developed as one of the non-polluting and renewable source of energy.
Biogas technology can spare the world from the need of chemical fertilizer produce manure that can pave way for the introduction of dependable organic farming worldwide.
CONCLUSION
The major aim of this project is to provide an alternative source of energy to the already existing ones mainly for domestic purpose. I can say that to a considerable extent this aim was achieved.
However, some problems were experiences during the production and performance test. It was observed that the feeding opening (hopper) was too small because this, the dung takes a lot of time and cause use of hand instead of pouring the dung.
Since waste material that is harmful to health and the environment serves as the digester feedstock, the digester becomes a means of controlling environmental pollution and improving sanitation.
It is hope that, the generation and use of biomass becomes more attractive and viable in meeting our energy demand in the twenty-first (21st) century.
RECOMMENDATION
From the forgoing, the following recommendations are made.
- Further study should be conducted on the production and use of biogas.
- Government should, as matters of urgency provide funds to assist the research.
- A sanitization programme should be organized to educate the public, especially rural dwellers on the need to make use of biogas.
- The government should subsidize the cost of production of a biogas plant so as to encourage people to embrace its production.
- Each community should build and operate its own digester rather than leaving it to individual family in other to reduce cost.
REFERENCES
- Amanda and Michael.E. (2008) “Cow Power: The Energy and Emissions benefits of Converting Manure to Gas”
- IzahL .A. (2008). Environmental Engineering (pp.2)
- IzahL.A (2008): the Engineering Telescope Vol 3 No. 11, July-Dec. 2008. pp 76-81.
- Richard, B. (1994). “In Situmethane Enrichment in Ethnogeny Energy Croop Digesters” Biomass and Bioenergy pp212-275.
- Richards B. and Cummings R. (1991). Methods for kinetic analysis of methane fermentation in high solids biomass digesters. Pp.26-65.
- T.F Yen. (1975): “Recycling and disposal of solid wastes. Annarbo publication U.S.A. Pp 45.
