Biogas

BIOGAS PLANT
Biogas
• Biogas is a clean and efficient fuel.

• It is a mixture of:
– Methane (CH4)
– Carbon dioxide (CO2)
– Hydrogen (H2)
– Hydrogen sulphide (H2S)
• The chief constituent of biogas is methane (65%).
Production of Biogas - The biogas plants
There are two types of biogas plants in usage for
the production of biogas. These are:
• The fixed- dome type of biogas plant
• The floating gas holder type of biogas plant
Fixed dome type
of Biogas Plant
Raw materials required
• Forms of biomass listed below may be used along

with water.
• Animal dung
• Poultry wastes
• Plant wastes ( Husk, grass, weeds etc.)
• Human excreta
• Industrial wastes(Saw dust, wastes from food
processing industries)
• Domestic wastes (Vegetable peels, waste food
materials)
Construction
The biogas plant is a brick and cement structure having the
following five sections:
• Mixing tank present above the ground level.
• Inlet tank: The mixing tank opens underground into a
sloping inlet chamber.
• Digester: The inlet chamber opens from below into the
digester which is a huge tank with a dome like ceiling.
The ceiling of the digester has an outlet with a valve for
the supply of biogas.
• Outlet tank: The digester opens from below into an
outlet chamber.
• Overflow tank: The outlet chamber opens from the top
into a small over flow tank.
Working of Fixed Dome type Biogas Plant
• The various forms of biomass are mixed with an equal
quantity of water in the mixing tank. This forms the slurry.
• The slurry is fed into the digester through the inlet
chamber.
• When the digester is partially filled with the slurry, the
introduction of slurry is stopped and the plant is left
unused for about two months.
• During these two months, anaerobic bacteria present in
the slurry decomposes or ferments the biomass in the
presence of water.
• As a result of anaerobic fermentation, biogas is formed,
which starts collecting in the dome of the digester.
Cont..
• As more and more biogas starts collecting, the pressure
exerted by the biogas forces the spent slurry into the
outlet chamber.
• From the outlet chamber, the spent slurry overflows
into the overflow tank.
• The spent slurry is manually removed from the
overflow tank and used as manure for plants.
• The gas valve connected to a system of pipelines is
opened when a supply of biogas is required.
• To obtain a continuous supply of biogas, a functioning
plant can be fed continuously with the prepared slurry.
Advantages of fixed dome type of
biogas plant
• Requires only locally and easily available
materials for construction.
• Inexpensive.
• Easy to construct.
Floating gas holder
type of biogas
plant
Construction
The floating gas holder type of biogas plant has the following
chambers/ sections:
• Mixing Tank - present above the ground level.
• Digester tank - Deep underground well-like structure. It is
divided into two chambers by a partition wall in between.
• It has two long cement pipes
i) Inlet pipe opening into the inlet chamber for introduction of
slurry.
ii) Outlet pipe opening into the overflow tank for removal of spent
slurry.
• Gas holder - an inverted steel drum resting above the
digester. The drum can move up and down i.e., float over
the digester. The gas holder has an outlet at the top which
could be connected to gas stoves.
• Over flow tank - Present above the ground level.
Working
• Slurry (mixture of equal quantities of biomass and

water) is prepared in the mixing tank.
• The prepared slurry is fed into the inlet chamber of the
digester through the inlet pipe.
• The plant is left unused for about two months and
introduction of more slurry is stopped.
• During this period, anaerobic fermentation of biomass
takes place in the presence of water and produces
biogas in the digester.
• Biogas being lighter rises up and starts collecting in the
gas holder. The gas holder now starts moving up.
Cont..
• The gas holder cannot rise up beyond a certain level. As
more and more gas starts collecting, more pressure begins
to be exerted on the slurry.
• The spent slurry is now forced into the outlet chamber
from the top of the inlet chamber.
• When the outlet chamber gets filled with the spent slurry,
the excess is forced out through the outlet pipe into the
overflow tank. This is later used as manure for plants.
• The gas valve of the gas outlet is opened to get a supply of
biogas.
• Once the production of biogas begins, a continuous supply
of gas can be ensured by regular removal of spent slurry
and introduction of fresh slurry.
Disadvantages of floating gas holder
type biogas plant
• Expensive
• Steel drum may rust
• Requires regular maintenance
Advantages of biogas as a fuel
• High calorific value

• Clean fuel
• No residue produced
• No smoke produced
• Non polluting
• Economical
• Can be supplied through pipe lines
• Burns readily - has a convenient ignition
temperature
Uses of biogas
• Domestic fuel
• For street lighting
• Generation of electricity
• If compressed, it can replace compressed
natural gas for use in vehicles
Applications
A biogas bus, Sweden The Biogas Train “Amanda”

Sweden
Advantages of biogas plants
• Reduces burden on forests and fossil fuels

• Produces a clean fuel - helps in controlling air
pollution
• Provides nutrient rich (N & P) manure for
plants
• Controls water pollution by decomposing
sewage, animal dung and human excreta.
Limitations of biogas plants
• Initial cost of installation of the plant is high.

• Number of cattle owned by an average family
of farmers is inadequate to feed a biogas
plant.
Recent Developments
• With the many benefits of biogas, it is starting to become a
popular source of energy and is starting to be used in the
United States more.
• On 5 October 2010, biogas was injected into the UK gas grid

for the first time. As of September 2013, there are about 130
non-sewage biogas plants in the UK.
• Germany is Europe's biggest biogas producer and the market

leader in biogas technology.
• To create awareness and associate the people interested in

biogas, the Indian Biogas Association was formed. India's
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy offers some subsidy
per model constructed.
Conclusion
Biogas is a clean source of energy. Biogas
plants have been in operation for a long
period of time, especially in rural areas around
the globe. The research organizations should
focus on newer efficient low cost designs. The
governments can play important role by
introducing different legal frameworks,
education schemes and the availability of
technology and simultaneously creating more
awareness and providing more subsidies.
Thank You

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What are the two main types of biogas plants discussed?

What are the main components of a fixed dome biogas plant?

BIOGAS PLANT

• Biogas is a clean and efficient fuel.

• Forms of biomass listed below may be used along

• Slurry (mixture of equal quantities of biomass and

• High calorific value

A biogas bus, Sweden The Biogas Train “Amanda”

• Reduces burden on forests and fossil fuels

• Initial cost of installation of the plant is high.

• On 5 October 2010, biogas was injected into the UK gas grid

• Germany is Europe's biggest biogas producer and the market

• To create awareness and associate the people interested in

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