BIO-GAS PLANT FOR VIT CHENNAI

Title page Introduction Use of Biogas in campus Site selection construction Design Production procedure Composition of biogas Remaining stuff utilisation Smell n labour Increasing efficiency Parametric studyCompost pits INTRODUCTION
In context of the challenges in the global climate protection, the existence of renewable energies has to be further enhanced. Biogas, in this regard, has to play an outstanding and useful role. Biogas can be produced by using various organic substrates and

offers a unique opportunity of energy supply and utilisation. Additionally, biogas offers a great chance for rural areas in developing countries like India. Decentralized manner of biogas utilization in rural areas offers a significant solution to energy demand. Linked with agricultural residue, it is a boon to our farmers. So, increasing biogas production and utilisation has enormous positive effects for economic development and employment in India. A biogas plant is an anaerobic digester of organic material for the purposes of treating waste and concurrently generating biogas fuel. The treated waste is a nutrient-rich, nitrogen-rich fertilizer while the biogas is mostly methane gas with inert gases including carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Biogas plants are a preferred alternative to burning dried animal dung as a fuel. The calorific value of biogas is about 6 KWh/m3 this corresponds to about half a litre of diesel oil. The net calorific value depends on the efficiency of the burners or appliances. Methane is the valuable component under the aspect of using biogas as a fuel. Biogas is able to substitute almost the complete consumption of firewood in rural households. 1m3 biogas (approximately 6 kWh/m3) is equivalent todiesel, kerosene (approx. 12 kWh/kg) 0.5 kg or wood (approx. 4.5 kWh/kg) 1.3 kg or cow dung (approx. 5 kWh/kg dry matter) 1.2 kg or coal (approx. 8.5 kWh/kg) 0.7 kg. The biogas generated from small and medium sized units (up to 6m3) is generally used for cooking and lighting purposes. Large units produce this gas in large quantities and can be used to power engines and generators for mechanical work or power generation. PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS IN OUR CAMPUS The purpose of the project is to design a biogas plant in our campus in an attempt to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity production. Our campus produces around 1500 kilograms of food waste everyday including both the hostels and the canteen. This food waste could be

digested in a plant and enough electricity could be generated to supply power to at least half the canteen. The initiation of the project would mean that the tons of waste generated wouldnt be sent to the dumps. Also, its a sustainable and environment friendly solution to prevent air and water pollution caused by dumping of the food waste and instead converting it into renewable energy. The factors considered for the design were the qualitative and quantitative availability of waste, the equipment required, site selection for the project and operational parameters that have to be maintained for efficient production of biogas. The amount of food waste generated would increase next year when the strength of our campus increases. So, there is always a growing potential for the production of biogas in our campus.

CONSTRUCTION SITE SELECTION

Production of biogas is a natural process and availability of optimum conditions ensure increased efficiency. Site selection plays a very important role in deciding the outcome of the project. The following

factors need to be considered before selecting the site for the installation of the digester: A sunny site should be selected to keep the digester near 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). To make plant operation easier and to avoid wastage of raw feedstock the plant must be as close as possible to the feedstock supply (Kitchen in the hostel) and water source. Gas pipe length should be kept as short as possible. A longer pipe increases the risk of gas leaks because of the increased number of joints; the cost of a longer pipe is also a factor. Therefore, the plant should be as close as possible to the point of use to facilitate proper operation. The edge of the foundation of the plant should be at least two meters away from any other structures to avoid risk of damage during construction. The plant should be at least 10 meters away from groundwater wells or surface water bodies to protect water from pollution. Foul smell emerges from these plants during their operation so they should be located away from the main blocks of our campus.

DESIGN OF THE PLANT The design process types of biogas plants and the types of slabs depending upon the loading condition.

Types of biogas plants (depending upon the type of dome)

Figure 1 Simple biogas plants A Floating-drum plant B Fixed-dome plant C Fixed-dome plant with separate gasholder. D Balloon plant E Channel-type digester with folia and sunshade.

Source: Biogas plants by Ludwig Sasse.

The major types of plants are the floating-drum type and the fixeddome plant. FLOATING-DRUM TYPE PLANT:
Floating-drum plants (Figure 2) consist of a digester and a moving gasholder. The gasholder floats either direct on the fermentation slurry or in a water jacket of its own. The gas collects in the gas drum, which thereby rises. If gas is drawn off, it falls again. The gas drum is prevented from tilting by a guide frame. Advantages: It is simple and its operation is easily understood. Constant gas pressure is maintained and the volume of stored gas is visible directly. Disadvantages: The construction cost of floating-drum is high and many steel parts are liable to corrosion, resulting in short life up to 15 years.

Figure 2 1. Mixing tank with inlet pipe. 2. Digester 3. Overflow on outlet pipe 4. Gasholder with braces for breaking up surface scum 5. Gas outlet with main cock 6. Gas drum guide structure 7. Difference in level = gas pressure in cm WC 8. Floating scum in the case of fibrous feed material 9. Accumulation of thick sludge. 10. Accumulation of grit and stones 11. Water jacket with oil film.

Source: Biogas plants by Ludwig Sasse

FIXED-DOME PLANTS A fixed-dome plant (Figure 3) consists of an enclosed digester with a fixed, non-movable gas space. The gas is stored in the upper part of the digester. When gas production commences, the slurry is displaced into the compensating tank. Gas pressure increases with the volume of gas stored; therefore the volume of the digester should not exceed 20 m. If there is little gas in the holder, the gas pressure is low.
Figure 3 1. Mixing tank with inlet pipe. 2. Digester 3. Compensating and removal tank 4. Gasholder 5. Gas pipe 6. Entry hatch, with gaslight seal and weighted 7. Difference in level = gas pressure in cm WC 8. Supernatant scum; broken up by varying level 9. Accumulation of thick sludge 10. Accumulation of grit and stones 11. Zero line: filling height without gas pressure.

Source: Biogas plants by Ludwig Sasse

Advantages: Construction cost is low; it has no moving parts and no rusting steel parts and hence long life (20 years or more). Its construction is underground affording protection from winter cold and saving space. Disadvantages: Plants are not often gaslight and results in cracks; gas pressure fluctuates substantially and is often very high with low digester temperatures.

In spite of these disadvantages, floating-drum plants are always to be recommended in cases of doubt. Water-jacket plants are universally applicable and especially easy to maintain. The drum won't stick, even if the substrate has high solids content. Floating-drums made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic and high density polyethylene have been used successfully, but the construction cost is higher than with steel. Floating-drums made of wire-mesh-reinforced concrete are liable to hairline cracking and are intrinsically porous. They require a gaslight, elastic internal coating. PVC drums are unsuitable because not resistant to UV.

FUNCTIONING OF A BIOGAS PLANT

The feed material is mixed with water in the mixing tank. Impurities which tend to clog the plant are removed here. The fermentation slurry flows through the inlet into the digester. The digester should be designed in such a way that the slurry should fall onto the centre of the digesters bottom slab. The bacteria from the fermentation slurry are intended to produce biogas in the digester. Production of biogas is a time consuming process. Retention time plays an important role in deciding the amount of biogas produced. The bacteria needs time to multiply and to spread throughout the slurry. The digester must be designed so that only fully digested slurry can leave it. Partitions ensure that the slurry in the digester has long flow paths. The bacteria are distributed in the slurry by stirring with a stick or stirring facilities.

PROPERTIES AND COMPOSITION OF BIOGAS

Biogas is comparatively lighter than air and has an ignition temperature of approximately 700 C (diesel oil 350 C; petrol and propane about 500 C). The temperature of the flame is 870 C. It consists of about 60 % methane (CH4) and 40 % carbon dioxide (CO2). It also contains small proportions of other substances, including up to 1% hydrogen sulphide (H2S). The methane content and hence the calorific value is higher the longer the digestion process. The methane content falls to as little as 50% if retention time is short. If the methane content is considerably below 50 %, biogas is no longer combustible. The first gas from a newly filled biogas plant contains too little methane. The gas formed in the first three to five days must therefore be discharged unused. The methane content depends on the feed material. Some typical values are as follows: Cattle manure 65% Poultry manure 60% Pig manure 67% Farmyard manure 55% Straw 59% Grass 70% Leaves 58% Kitchen waste 50% Algae 63% Water hyacinths 52%