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8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs

Compurison umong iIIerent Models oI
BIOGAS Plunts


Absar Saleh
SP09-BEC-001
Department Of Chemical Engineering,
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, LAHORE


8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
CONTENTS

OTypes of Biogas Plants.
Oigures of Biogas Plants.
OComparison Table of the Biogas Plants.
OSummary of the entire comparison.
OConclusion.
OReferences.







8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
OTYPES O BIOGAS PLANTS

Generally three tyes oI basic biogas plants are existing all over the world. The most abundant countries in producing
biogas are United states oI America, United Kingdom, Germany, Indian Subcontinent and China.
The Currently working biogas plants are;
loating Gas Holder Type Biogas Plant.
ixed Dome Thpe Biogas Plant.
ixed Dome type With Expansion Chamber Biogas Plant.

Basic Experimental Setup of all three biogas plants is briefly described below:
I. loating Gas Holder type Plants:
This type oI plant basically comprises oI an under ground brick masonry digester connected with an inlet and outlet
covered by a Iloating steel gas holder Ior gas collection. Gasholder moves up and down guided by a central guide pipe
depending upon accumulation and discharge oI gas. Floating gas holder made oI mild steel alone accounts Ior some 40
percent oI the total plant cost and accordingly these plants are much more expansive than Iixed dome type. The gas holder
is separated Irom the digester. A partition is provided in digester to encourage circulation. The Iloating gas holder
provided at the top oI the digester helps to keep the pressure constant. The gas holder rises when the pressure is increased
due to production oI gas and allows the generated gas to let out through the gas supply pipe. It lowers when pressure is
decreased to stop the supply oI the biogas.


8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
II. ixed Dome Type Biogas Plant:
In Iixed dome digester , the gas holder and the digester are combined. Gas is stored in the upper part oI the digester. Upper
portion oI digester pit itselI acts as a gas holder. Displaced level oI slurry provides requisite pressure Ior release oI gas Ior
its subsequent use. The pressure inside the digester varies as the gas is collected. Fixed dome digester is usually built
below the ground level and is suitable Ior cold regions. AAs the plant does not involves any steel parts, it can be built with
local materials and hence its construction costs are low.
III. ixed Dome With Expansion Chamber type Biogas Plant:
It has a curved bottom and hemispherical top which are joined at their bases with no cylindrical portion in between.
Displaced slurry Iollowing digestion moves to the outlet displacement chamber as there is no displacement space on the
inlet side. An inlet pipe connects mixing tank with the digester. This type oI biogas palnt is very cheaper as compared
with the other two types oI Biogas plants.









8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
OIGURES O THE BIOGAS PLANTS


1. loating Gas Holder Type Biogas Plant.



8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
. ixed Dome Type Biogas Plant.




8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
. ixed Dome type With Expansion Chamber Biogas Plant.







8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
OCOMPARISON TABLE O DIERENT MODELS
Properties

loating Gas Holder
Type Biogas Plant
ixed Dome Type Biogas
Plant
ixed Dome with
Expansion Chamber
Type Biogas Plant
Experimental Setup The digester oI this Plant
is a deep well shaped
masonry structure. In
these is a partition in
middle oI the digester.
Digester oI this plant is a
shallow well shaped
masonry structure. No
partition wall is provided.
Digester id made oI two
segments oI two spheres
one each Ior the top and
Bottom.
Biogas Holder Gas Holder is generally
made oI the mild steel. It
is inverted into the
digester and goes up and
down with the Iormation
and utilization oI gas.
Gas holders the integral
part oI the masonry
structure oI the plant.
Slurry Irom the gas storage
portion is displaced out oI
the digester with the
Iormation oI gas and comes
back when it is used.
The structure described
above includes digester
and the gas storage
chamber. Gas is stored in
the same way as in the
F.D type plant.
Gas Pressure Remains Constant about
10 cm oI water.
Varies Irom 0-90 cm oI
water.
Varies Irom 0-75 cm oI
water.
Maintenance Cost OI maintenance is
high because gas holder
is to be prevented Irom
corrosion.
Cost oI maintenance is low. Cost oI maintenance is
low.


8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
Life Span iIe span is short. iIe span is comparatively
long.
iIe span is between the
other two plants.
Extra features IdentiIying the deIects in
gas holder is easy.
Space above the gas holder
can be used.
Ther is no moving part
so no recurring
expenditure.
Required work place Requires relatively less
excavation.
Requires more excavation
work.
Requires high excavation
work.
Construction Digester can be
constructed locally. The
gas holder needs
sophisticated workshop
Iacilities.
A trained mason using
locally available materials
can build entire plant.
Entire plant can be build
by a trained mason using
locally available
materials.
Installation Cost Installation cost is very
high. Over Rs. 6900.00
(Indian Currency)
It is Cheaper then previous
and the plant costs about
Rs.5400.00 (Indian
Currency)
It is much Cheaper than
both plants and its plant
design costs Rs.4000.00
(Indian Currency).






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8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
OSUMMARY O THE ENTIRE COMPARISON.
From the study oI entire comparison oI the biogas plants we got the basic construction aspects and the experimental setup
oI a biogas plant that is generally an underground construction oI a biogas digester with local materials such a as bricks,
sand, cement etc. the instrumentation needed Ior the construction oI the biogas plant are;
O An underground digester may be made oI bricks, stones, concrete etc
O An inlet pipe with a substrate receptacle,
O An outlet pipe oI exhauster slurry,
O A Iloating gas dome Ior gas collection,
O A gas outlet pipe
Raw material supplied to the biogas plant can be cow dung ,human waste, wheat crops, sewage, paper waste, Iield grass
and other cellulosic materials.
O CONCLUSION
Using the described methods oI the biogas plants operation the third type oI biogas plant which is Iixed dome type with
expansion chamber is more Ieasible and economically Iavorable than that oI other two types oI biogas digester palnts to
get the beneIits oI renewable energy produced Irom gas at our campus.



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8lomass Converslon 8esearch CenLre Comparlson of Lhe blogas lanLs
OREERENCES
O Biomass Ior Renewable energy, Fuels and Chemicals (2006), Donald Klass
O Bio Renewable Resources (2004), Robert C Brown
O Renewable Energy Resources (2005), G N Tiwari and M K Ghosal
O Stewart, D and Mceod, NewZealand Journal oI Agriculture, sept.1980
O ikipedia: http://www.wikipedia.com/
O Microgy: http://www.microgy.com/technology.htm
O Feasibility oI an campus biogas operation at the university oI aterloo (2April 005)
O Research Journal : andIill Biogas and its use Ior Energy Generation, University oI Sao Paulo
O OIoeIule, Akuzuo U. , Nwankwo, Joseph I , Ibeto, Cynthio N, (Biogas Production Irom paper easte and its blend
with cow dung), Advances in applied sciences research 2010
O Pelagia research ibrary: http://www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com
O Oumer Salim Mohamed Kaba, 2007 , Pilot Project Ior the installation oI domestic biogas
O Academic journals: http://www.academicjournals.com/INGOJ
O Journal oI achievements in materials and manuIacturing engineering (2009) JAMMEP.Vindis,B.Mursec, M.
Janzekovic, F. Cus
O Uzodinma, E.O. and OIoeIule,A.u. , (Biogas production Irom blends oI Iield grass with animal waste)
O Technical note series, KARI Techniacal Note.10,january2003 (biogas Production)