BIOGAS

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Biogas is the CH4/CO2 gaseous mix evolved from

digesters.
To utilise this gas, the digesters are constructed
and controlled to favour methane production and
extraction

Simple oil drum batch

digester

Indian gobar gas digester

Chinese dome for small-scale

use

Some organic material, e.g. lignin, and all inorganic inclusions

do not digested in the process.

Properties
Molecular formula
CO2
Molar mass
44.01 gmol1
Appearance
Colorless gas
Odor
Odorless
Density
770 kg/m3 (liquid at 56 atm and 20 C)

1.977 kg/m3 (gas at 1 atm and 0 C)

Properties
Molecular formula
CH4
Molar mass
16.04 gmol1
Appearance
Colorless gas
Odor
Odorless
Density
0.656 g/L at 25 C, 1 atm
0.716 g/L at 0 C, 1 atm

How much gases are produced for every kg of raw material ?

The temperature ranges

(1) psicrophilic, about 20 0C,
(2) mesophilic, about 35 0C
(3) thermophilic, about 55 0C.
In tropical countries, the digestion is psicrophilic, with average
temperature btw 20 - 30 0C. (retention times at least 14 days).
In colder climates, the process is slower, the digesters is heated
by using part of the biogas output.
Few digesters operate at 55 0C (unless the purpose is to digest
material rather than produce excess biogas).

162
1/162

44
3(1/162)

16
3(1/162)

3(1/162)x44

3(1/162)x16

3(1/162)x44
1.98

3(1/162)x16
0.7

0.4

0.4

BIOGAS biochemical processes

hydrogenesis.
Insoluble biodegradable materials, e.g. cellulose,
polysaccharides and fats, are broken down to
soluble carbohydrates and fatty acids
( about a day at 25 0C in an active digester).
acidogenesis
Acid forming bacteria produce mainly acetic and
propionic acid
( takes about one day at 25 0C).

methanogenesi
s
Methane forming bacteria complete the digestion to a
maximum 70%CH4 and minimum 30%CO2 with trace
amounts of H2 and perhaps H2S
( about 14 -20 days at 25 0C)

The methane forming bacteria are sensitive to pH, so

conditions should be mildly acidic (pH 6.67.0) but not
more acidic than pH 6.2.
Nitrogen should be present at 10% by mass of dry input
and phosphorus at 2%.

Question example:
During anaerobic digestion, glucose is
transformed into methane through a
series of steps. The overall reaction is
(CH2O)6 3CH4 + 3CO2.
Calculate the percentage of methane
produced.

ANSWER:
Percentage >>> original is 100%
MW : 180
16
44
Moles: 100/180 (100/180)x3x16
26.67
73.33

(100/180)x3x44

CH4 = 27 %
CO2 = 73%
For every 100 kg of glucose, it will produce 27 kg of CH 4 and 73 kg
CO2

BIOGAS : Digester volume

The volume of fluid in the digester is

m0 the mass of dry solid

the density of dry matter in the fluid , =(50
kg/m3).
The volume of the
digester is

tr is the retention time in the digester (820

days).

Gas volume & energy output

c is the biogas yield per unit dry mass (0.24 m3/
kg)
The volume of biogas is

Energy output

Hb the heat of combustion

per unit volume biogas
(20MJ/m3

Typical parameters of animal

waste

Example -1
By using the table given, calculate the volume of a biogas
digester suitable for the output of 6000 pigs, assuming a
retention time of 20 days.

ANSWER

(2) Calculte the power available from the digester of example 1.

(assume a burner efficiency is 0.6.
Biogas volume :

Energy output

1 J = 2.8. 10 -7 kwh