Cooking Gas Made From Animal & Kitchen Waste

Who can use 1 if there is 1 kg of kitchen waste everyday like family of 4 or more, school or monastery. 2 if you own more than 1or 2 cow or 5 pigs or chickens. Bio Digester: How it works When dung from cow, pig and kitchen waste are mixed in ratio of 1 to 5(dung 1 water 5! and exposed to heat without oxygen(air tight! in a container( "io#$igester!, %ethane (cooking! gas is produced along with other useless gases. &ll harmful 'acteria such as e#colie are killed during the process and slurry(discharged out, effluent! that comes out of the "io $igester is organic fertili(er for crops or kitchen garden. Ratio: Bio waste to Water "io waste(dung of cow, pig, chicken, waste food! ratio to Water varies from location to location due to climate dryness, temperature, evaporation rate etc. %ost agreed upon ratio of $ung to Water is 'etween 1 2 to 1 5 ie )or *+, part of $ung &dd -W* part Water. */ for *+, part of $ung &$$ 5 part of Water. 0owever, there should not 'e any solid material floating on the top of the slurry due to less water content. Watch out for 1 -emperature )or optimum result temperature is maintained 'etween 12#234. 1 5tarting dung, inoculators, must 'e fresh. $ung should not 'e 6 days or older. 1 p0 level %ethane gas is produce when p0 level is from 6 to 2.5. that is slurry is alkaline. 7f there is gas and no flame, then test the outlet slurry with litmus paper which is sold at any pharmacy shop. 1 $o not use 5oapy water, /ain water, pesticide and anti'iotics in the mix. -hese will kill 'acteria that helps generate %ethane gas. 1 &void direct sunlight or ultraviolet lights, that can kill 'acteria.

Cost -u'ular 8lastic "io $igester(-8"$! which is made from 8lastic in the shape of -u'e, not rigid pipe, is the cheapest and easy to construct. 4ost of 19meter -u'ular 8lastic or polythene is less than /s. 499 7ndian. -8"$ can last upto 4 years if handled carefully. Digester Type -here are : main types of "io $igesters # )ixed $ome, )loating $ome and -8"$. -8"$ is the cheapest and $o#it#;ourself easy. 1 Balloon type -8"$ was developed 'y 4*+$/7- in 29<s. Note: -u'ular 8lastic or -u'ular 8olythene is not same as plastic pipe= What you need 1 8olythene -u'e of radius of 29#199cm diameter, 19 meters long and thickness as thick as you can get in the market. thicker the 'etter, any color is good. 1 2 4eramic or 2 8>4 pipes of 1meter length and 4 inch $iameter. 1 & 8>4 pipe, rigid or flexi'le hose, 1cm or 1.2 cm diameter for carrying gas to kitchen. 1 /u''er 'ands cutout from old -yre tu'es to tie pipes to polythene tu'e. for air tight assem'ly. Pit %ark the trench site with pegs and rope for clear dimensions. 8it must 'e level. 5ite must have easy access to water and easy flow for slurry (effluent!. 8repare a 8it 65cm wide, 65cm deep and 'ottom width is 59cm. ?ength of the trench depends on num'er of cows. ?ength of 2m to 19m long is good for 2 cows or 2 pigs. %ore animals may need longer trench. -rench walls(side and 'ottom! must not have roots or stone sticking out. +o plants will grow from side of the walls and puncture the -u'ular 8olythene. -rench must 'e level. -his is technical importance.

8it is wider at top then 'ottom to allow for expansion of 8olythene -u'e as gas 'uilds up.

7n some countries due to shortage of land, -8"$ can 'e put out on ponds as it can float too. )rom market get hold of -u'ular 8olythene, any color, 29 meter long, 29 #199cm $iameter and thickness is as much thick as availa'le(thicker the 'etter!. +ote, if it is really thick, then 19meter long is good else 'uy 29 meter long and cut it into half. insert 19meter half into the other half. you end up with 19meter long dou'le thick -u'ular 8olythene. Technical "oth ends of -8"$ are fitted with two 4eramic or 8>4 (4 inch $iameter and 1m long! pipes, pvc#& and pvc#". 8>4#&, 7nlet, is from where manure and water mix in a 'ucket is fed. -he other 8>4#", *utlet, is for slurry out. -wo ceramic pipes are tied at 45 angle with ru''er 'ands cutout from an old tyre inner tu'e. +o air should escape from -8"$.

8>4#& marked 2 is at higher level than 8>4#" marked 4 inside the slurry. -his offset is kept 'etween 5#19 cm is an essential design part to push 5lurry out 'y accumulated @as pressure. as pipe & small hole(1 cm or 1.2cm diameter, whatever gas pipe si(e! is punctured at a'out 1meter from the 8>4#&. 7t is fitted with water pipe now used as gas pipe for gas#line to kitchen. 7t is made air tight at the Aoints with pvc assem'ly as shown in $iagram or some suita'le method.

@as pipe is fitted to kitchen 5tove for cooking. -o avoid children and animal stepping on gas pipe, gas pipe is hanged overhead= !ir "ut -wo pipes and @as pipe el'ow are fitted 'efore -8"$ is placed in the trench. &lso push out all the air from outlet pipe 'y closing the inlet and gas pipe and using gentle sBuee(e. "est way to push out air is to lay down the -8"$ on a flat surface free from nails or sharp edges. /un a smooth wooden plank across the -8"$. When all the air is out, close all the opening temporarily and transfer -8"$ to its resting place#trench.

#ayout 19meter -8"$ is laid down with inlet (closed!, outlet (closed! and @as pipe (closed! facing up. $eed the TPBD 7nitially, fresh dung not older than 6 days and water mix is fed through 8>4#&, which is open now, until -8"$ is filled 2C: or some slurry content leaks out the other end# outlet is also open. 0owever, gas pipe is closed at this stage. "oth ends of 8>4#& (2!and 8>4#"(4! must 'e su'merged inside the slurry or else gas will escape through them. $ung to water ratio can go from 1 2 to 1 5 depends on how much water content is left inside the -8"$ cham'er. 7n hot and dry climate, water evaporates at faster rate. @as will fill up the remaining -8"$ in a day or two. 0owever, everyday, 1 to 2 'uckets (29 liter! of dung and water mix poured into the -8"$ through inlet. "ther issue 5ince it is 8olythene 5heet, it must 'e protected from 5un (ultraviolet will kill 'acteria!, animals, sharp o'Aects, kids and rats. -o increase pressure, if it is low due to cooking, put a small weight(2#4 kg! on -8"$. 5 cu'ic meter of -8"$ reBuires 1D kg of 4ow dung(1 or 2 cows! and 43 liters of water every day. 7deal working temperature is 'etween :5#494 'ut must 'e a'ove 194. Retention Ti%e (/-!

-ime elapsed since manure is fed into $igester until slurry comes out at the other end. 49 days is ideal time for fermentation, $o not confuse /- with %ethane @as production. %ethane @as is ready to use in 2 days time since initial Estartup manure feedF. 0igh altitude and cold climate like -i'et and "olivia, a'ove -8"$ is housed within a @reen house. 8ut up a frame()1! higher than -8"$ on one side along the length of the -8"$ and another frame()2!. -hrow a transparent plastic sheet over frames )1 and )2. -hat will keep -8"$ within 25#:54. 8ut stone on side to make @reen house air tight. &lternatively, use one side of the house wall as frame )1. 5uch -8"$ should last for :#4 years if maintained well. !&oid: 5oapy water, /ain water, pesticide and anti'iotics. "eside cooking @as, slurry is good organic fertili(er for kitchen garden or crops. eneral $ata provided here are collected from other field research. -here is no precise data that can 'e used optimally. 0owever, most data points to a general working data. )or instance, 29kg of dung from -hailand may have different outcome than "angladesh as cows are fed differently. Benefits "esides providing cooking gas, it eliminates indoor smoke and related lung disease. )ire wood are gathered 'y children, who skip class, and women. -hey are exposed to danger of rain, snake and cold. &/-7 G &ppropriate /ural -echnology 7nstitute, 7ndia http CCwww.arti#india.orgC -his device is modified to feed kitchen waste only and left over food. 4oncept is the same. 7nlet to feed kitchen waste. *utlet for discharge. $igester unit and a @as 4ham'er.

7n 7ndia and +epal there are 'ig 8>4 $rums and "itumen 4ontainers ($rums! that are fa'ricated as $igester and @as 4ham'er. &/-7 digester use -wo $rums. $rum & is $igester which is in upright position. $rum ", 'it smaller, is inserted into $rum & upside down to collect gas. $rum " is effectively @as 4ham'er. @as cham'er, $rum ", must move up and down freely as gas pressure 'uilt. Whole structure depends on how these two drums are made &7/ -7@0- at a! 7nlet '! *utlet c! @as pipe connection d! $rum & and $rum " fits snugly.

+ote 7n &/-7 design outlet is at higher position than the inlet. 7nlet is at the very 'ottom of the $rum &. Construction )rom market get one 1999 ?iter capacity 8lastic -ank and one 359 ?iter plastic -ank. 8>4 pipes for connections, inlet and outlet. $eed 1#1.5 kg of kitchen waste and 15 ?iter of water everyday. %ix with hand thoroughly 'efore feeding the digester. 'ffluent >ery Watery effluent fit for crops, flower and kitchen @arden. Retention ti%e 42 G 32 hours &/-7 $rum design "io $igester are fed only Hitchen waste#'read and cake can also 'e used. -his is a maAor difference and critical in working of the digester. +* animal waste or dung are used. &/-7 "io digesters has less foot print and therefore can 'e put out on /oof top or 'ackyard. &rti tecnichian charge /s. 2599 to 3999 and depends on material cost. &nother configuration of a'ove design is to seal air tight : $rums.

&'ove two "7* $igesters are now more common due less skill reBuirement, less cost and fast#whole proAect can 'e done in a day. ( $i)ed Do%e Digester: 7t is considered as an investment. 7t can last upto 29 years. 7nvestment and skill reBuired is significant. 4heap and unskilled la'our can fail this proAect and waste of investment. Watch out for "eside $ung, p0, temperature and general warnings, $ome 4onstruction suffers from 1 4ement in the market may 'e adulterated. 1 5killed and technical la'our is essential. 1 "ricks are not standard and porous. 1 initial investment is su'stantial. 1 @ood foundation is necessary. %ay have to cast in 7ron. 1 $ome is made air and water tight. 1 Whole proAect depends on. &ir and Water tight structure. any leakage will fail the proAect. 1 Weak and 5trong /ing concept is understood well and taken care of. 7f fixed $ome is caste in reinforced concrete(iron rods and cement mix! with su'stantial increase in investment may eliminate Weak link. $oundation )irst lay and compact 19cm thick of 4I6 cm si(e 'roken 'ricks. +ext lay : cm thick layer of 1I2 cm si(e stone.

&dd concrete mix of 5cm thick. concrete mix ratio is 1 cement 2 sand : small stones (1I2cm diameter!. Note: 7f foundation earth is soft and wet ('ad!, &'ove concrete mix must have 7ron 'ars (2mm diameter! cast in checked pattern with gap of 29cm. 7f mountain water or ground water is likely then plastic sheet or proper drainage is dug out to drain water out from foundation. Brick technical $ome "io $igester walls are 19cm thick, same thickness as the 'ricks. 0igh Buality "ricks are used with ratio of 1 cement to 4 sand mix. 7t is to ensure $ome walls can withstand high pressure @as and 5lurry material. $ome is made water and air tight. *nner wall coating: Technical 4ement and sand ratio, mortar, is kept strict. 1 cement to : sand ratio. 5and must 'e washed first. &fter first coat is done. wait for 1#2 hours and do a second coat. $o not ignore waiting time. 7t is part of the procedure. 7n the mean time do some other work . -his will ensure water tight and air tight. &ny leakage will render $ome (investment! useless. 7n fixed $ome $igester construction, slurry(manure, water mix! and @as 4ham'er are not separate 'ut housed in one. +ain points for $DD constructions are: 5killed construction is very important. -here is a chance for crack at the line where %anure 5lurry and @as cham'er meet due to @as pressure which is upward and slurry gravity acting downward. Weak,Ring and -trong,ring Concept Weak /ing and 5trong /ing constructions techniBue are applied at 5lurry and @as Aunction. 7ntake(manure feed! tu'e must sit within the weak ring. $ome wall su'merged inside slurry will not let air escape 'ecause 5lurry itself coat the dome wall. 0owever since @as 4ham'er is pushed upward 'y accumulation of @as and slurry push $ome foundation down due to gravity, Aunction where 5lurry and @as 4ham'er meet is su'Aect to opposite force and therefore it cracks. 4racks compromise air tight and water leak. )$$ failure is eminent and failure rate is also high.

7nlet tu'e and outlet tu'e must 'e fitted during $ome construction. *nce $ome is constructed making holes for inlet and outlet later will introduce cracks in the $ome. 7nner wall su'merged under the slurry may 'e plastered with water#proof paint with help of wooden trowel instead of steel. Wooden -rowel leaves imperfection which is good for 'acteria growth. >acvina is fixed /einforced 4oncrete construction and inner corners are made angular with 5cm thick mortar and cement to make >acvina air and water proof. 7nvestment is high. . $loating Do%e Digester /$#D0 7n )loating $ome $igester, @as cham'er floats up and down as gas accumulates. @as cham'er is made of metal or reinforced concrete. 7n )?$ Weak#5trong /ing concept is eliminated and therefore possi'ility of crack is eliminated. 0owever, air and water tight must 'e ensured for success of the proAect. &ny leakage or cracks will render proAect failure. How to %ake as Cha%1er float yet air tight @as cham'er should float either in a separate water tank surrounding the $igester or in the slurry itself. 5uch techniBue reBuires skill and extra investment. Juite a few -i'etan settlements in 5outh 7ndia have installed )loating and )ixed $ome "io $igester and almost all failed due to poor workmanship, ill design. @as leaked or cracks appeared. Note: failure rate for fixed and floating $ome $igester is high due to 1 su'standard cement, 1 wrong concrete mix to save money or lack of knowledge, 1 5tartup feed did not work and therefore a'andoned, 1 Weak#ring and 5trong /ing concept did not follow during construction that result cracks at later stages. Weak link is where gas cham'er and slurry meets. 1 inlet and outlet pipes are installed during the $ome 4onstruction and not after. 1)loating @as 4ham'er is too heavy and @as leaked.

*%pro&ed Chulla/-to&e for wood 1urning0 )or those who are not interested in "io @as digester, yet want to save fire# wood and tree can use improved 4hulla or 5tove. -hese improved 4hulla are efficient way of cooking meals as they do not reBuire wood as its main source of fire#wood. &ny small twigs, dung, rice hulls, 4hili twigs, corn co' etc. can work as fire#wood. 7t is easy to construct. )ollow the diagram.

/ef 5earch for "io $igester 4*+$/7vacvina 7mproved 4hulla 5mokeless chulla &/-7 http CCwww.arti#india.orgC @aneshnagar, 8haltan#"aramati /oad, 8haltan 415 52:, %aharashtra, 7+$7&. 8hone 9D1#92166#24D234