Classification of biogas

plants
Biogas plants are mainly classified as:
continuous and batch type (as per
process)
The dome and drum types
Different variations in the drum type

Continuous type biogas

plant
In this plant the supply of gas is
continuous and the digester is fed
with biomass regularly.
Continuous digester plant process is
of two types
(a) single stage process
(b) double stage process

Single
stage
process
The entire process of
conversion of
complex organic
compounds into
biogas is completed
in a single chamber
This chamber is
regularly fed with raw
materials while the
spent residue keeps
moving out .
in this we get
serious problems with
agricultural residues
when fermentated in
a single stage
continuously .

Double stage
process
In this stage acidogenic
stage and methogenic stage
are physically separated
into two chambers.
The first stage of acid
production is carried out in a
separate chamber and only
the diluted acids are fed into
the second chamber where
bio methanation takes place
And the biogas can be
collected from the second
chamber.

Batch type biogas plant

Batch type plants are appropriate
where daily supplies of raw waste
materials are difficult to be obtained.
The feeding is between intervals ,the
plant is emptied once in the process of
digestion is complete.
A batch loaded digester is filled to a
capacity sealed and given sufficient
retentation time in the digester.

 Gas production is uneven because

bacterial digestion starts slowly,
peaks and then tappers off with
growing consumption of volatile
solids
This difficulty can overcome by
using minimum two digesters so that
at least one is always in operation .

Mains features of batch type plant

Gas production in batch type is
intermittent depending upon the clearing
of the digester.
It needs several digesters or chambers for
continuous gas production ,these are fed
alternately.
Batch plants are good for long fibrous
materials.
This plant needs additional fermented
slurry to start the digestion process.

Dome and drum type

plants
As there are many types of biogas
plants mainly two types of plants are
usually used they are .
(1) Floating gas holder digester
(2) fixed dome digester

Floating gas holder digester

Fixed dome digester

 The floating gas holder which is used in

India is known as KVIC plant .
The fixed dome digester is called Chinese
plant.
They can be constructed above or
underneath the ground ,in floating gas
holder the gas holder is separated from the
digester .
In fixed dome digester , the gas holder and
the digester are combined.

Different variations in drum type

There are two main variations in
floating drum design..
(1) floating drum with
water seal.
(2) floating drum without
water seal.

Floating drum type biogas plants

Fixed dome plant

Advantages of floating drum plant

it has less scum troubles because
solids are constantly submerged
no separate pressure equalizing
device needed when fresh waste is
added to the tank
In it, the danger of mixing oxygen
with the gas to form an explosive
mixture is minimized
No problem of gas leakage
Constant gas pressure

Advantages of fixed dome type plant

It has low coast compared to floating
drum because it uses cement but not
steel
In this type heat insulation is better
as construction is beneath the
ground.
No maintenance.