BIOGAS

Submitted To: Sir Rauf Akhter

Submitted By:

Zain Abbaas Khokhar 2011-ME-116

Muhammad Ahmed Shaikh 2011-ME-120 Section - B

Department Of Mechanical Engineering

University Of Engineering And Technology,Lahore

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Letter of Authorization

To whom it may concerns,

This is to certify that Mr. Zain Abbaas Khokhar and Mr. Muhammad Ahmed Shaikh are authorized to research about “Biogas.”

The purpose of this assignment is to integrate the material they have learned about the concerned topic into a coordinated report and presentation and to allow students to think beyond the barriers of primitive textbooks knowledge.

They will make a research report and will discuss about every intricate detail about the renewable energy source biogas. They will be provided with every facility they demand for.

Report will be submitted on December 20, 2012.

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Signature andofficial stamp

Letter Of Transmittal

Sir Rauf Akhter

Department of Humanities,

U.E.T Lahore.

December 20, 2012

Respected Sir,

We have made this research report because many of the people do not know about renewable energy source biogas. This research report on the “Biogas” gives you an idea about the benefits and advantages of biogas. There are many different renewable energy sources but the most beneficial and cheapest is the biogas that is the main reason we are focusing on the biogas. There are also disadvantages along the advantages of everything which are also mentioned in this report but there are very less as compared to the advantages of biogas. In this report we also mention the rapid development and progress of biogas around the world. We also mention its development and its project working in our country “Pakistan”. We

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tried our level best that the reader should get a clear point of view from this research report.

With best regards,

Yours obediently,

Zain Abbaas Khokhar

Muhammad Ahmed Shaikh

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

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Bio-Gas Plant In Edmonton, Alberta Canada

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Biogas-and-Anaerobic-Digesters

Information about Biogas PlantIn Pakistan

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Bio gas is made from organic waste matter after it is decomposed

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………...9 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………10 COMPOSITION OF BIOGAS………………………………………11 GENERAL PROPERTIES OF BIOGAS…………………………...13 BIOGAS PLANT……………………………………………………..13

Parts Of Bio-Gas Generator Or Biogas Plant……………………..15 Operation Of Biogas Plants………………………………………….16

FEED MATERIAL FOR BIOGAS PLANT………………………...19 PRODUCTIVITY OF BIOGAS FEED STOCKS………………….19 APPARATUS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS……..20 TYPES OF BIOGAS PLANTS……………………………………….21 DESIGN OF BIOGAS PLANTS……………………………………...29 FACTORS AFFECTING BIOGAS PRODUCTION………………..33 EFFECT OF METALS ON BIOGAS PRODUCTION……………..34 ADVANTAGES AND APPLICATIONS…………………………….34 DISADVANTAGES…………………………………………………...41 “BIOGAS” A SOURCE OF ALTERNATE ENERGY……………..42 BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN PAKISTAN……………………………..44

o Main Points Of Biogas Potential In Pakistan………………...46

o Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme………………………46o Geographic scope of the project and

partners……………….47o Salient features of the project…………………………………48o Achievements of the project…………………………………...49o List of operational Large size Biogas Plants in

Pakistan……51

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DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE WORLD……………………….55 BEST OPTION FOR FUTURE……………………………………...60 CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………....62 RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………...63 BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………..64 APPENDIX…………………………………………………………….65 RESEARCH TOOL…………………………………………………...67

Executive SummaryBiogas is one of the main sources of renewable energy produced bythe anaerobic fermentation of biomass. This energy is extensivelyused globally as energy source. Biogas is similar to natural gas having methane as a main component except in natural gas it is 99% but methane presence in biogas is 60-65 %. The rest having other gases.

Biogas plants are appropriate to the technical abilities and economic capacity of Third Worldfarmers. Biogas technology is extremely appropriate to the ecological and economic demands ofthe future. Biogas technology is progressive. The economic benefit of a biogas plant is greater than that of most competing investments.

Being an agro-livestock based economy; Pakistan has huge resources of biomass that are available in the form of crop residues, dung and feces, poultry litter, sugarcane and wood.

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Biogas has vast potential as source of energy to overcome the energy crisis. Biogas helps reduce CO2 emission, thus contributing towards reduction in environmental pollution. Its physical properties are comparable with natural gas. Biogas not only fulfill cooking needs but also produces organic fertilizer which is good for the agriculture land in addition to substitute for feed.The Government has formed a council for renewable energytechnology named as Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy technology (PCRET).Which is working for the development of the biogas plants in the country. With the energy crisis in Pakistan getting worse day by day, biogas plants in rural areas can play amajor role in decreasing the burden on the national energy grids.Even in the developed countries like UK, biogas plants are being built and encouraged with the help of government funds and many other incentives. In our neighboring country India, there are almost two million biogas plants. Electricity generation using biomass is one of the most convenient options, approximately 9 Giga Watts of electricity is generated from biomass worldwide.

A biogas plant supplies energy and fertilizer. It improves hygiene and protects the environment. A biogas plant lightens theburden on the State budget and improves working conditions for thehouse wife. A biogas plant is a modern energy source. A biogas plant improves life in the country.Unlike conventional gas power plants bio gas has no environmental hazards and handling aspects.As it is a renewable energy resource hence it is profitable. It is cheaper than all other energy resources so it is best fit for the alternate energy resource in future. Mostly countries are installing the biogas plants on commercial level.

Introduction

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Everyone is talking about biogas - politicians and ecologists, technicians and economists, laymen and experts. Biogas has becomefashionable.Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas.Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of bio fuel. Biogas is produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste,  green waste, plant material,and crops. Biogas comprises primarily methane and carbondioxide and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulphide, moistureand siloxanes.

The energy crisis of the next few years is the shortage of fuel for the daily needs of millions ofpeople. Simple biogas plants are intended to help solve this problem. It is time to set about this task in a "professional" manner in the best sense of this word.Simple biogas plants are complicated enough to require total involvement with their specifictechnology. After all, a biogas plant can only help to solve the problems of the future if it works.Simple biogas plants have been constructed in Third World countries for about thirty years. Wehave been able to learn from the biogas pioneers for thirty years.

Biogas plants are appropriate to the technical abilities and economic capacity of Third Worldfarmers. Biogas technology is extremely appropriate to the ecological and economic demands ofthe future. Biogas technology is progressive.Agriculture has remained the basis of the Pakistan’s economy as it provides employment to 45 percent population and provides input for agro based industry. The major limiting factor is energy which is responsible for the impede in developing

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economies. In Pakistan almost 20% of the foreign exchange is spent on import of fossil fuels. Careful estimates show that by 2050 Pakistan’s energy needs are expected to increase three times while, the supplies are not very inspiring . It is necessary thatany alternate source of energy preferably renewable energy resource must be explored and implemented. Thus biogas is the most favorable, cheaper and easily available resource of the energy. All the rural areas in Pakistan almost have the agro waste which can be used as a raw material for the manufacturing of biogas. Expenses on these conventional resources can be easilyexchanged with a better and efficient resource of renewable energy, i.e. biogas.

In just the past one hundred and fifty years, humans have entered onto a path drastically different than anything we have known in the past. We have developed and embraced modern technologies, and with these a new way of life. This boom in new technologies has been driven and made possible by energy in the form of fossil fuels. Fossil fuelscome from plant and animal matter deposits that are millions and millions of years old. They have very high-energy potentials (onepound of coal contains 13000 Btu and therefore are excellent for our needs. The most utilized of these forms are coal, petroleum and natural gas. All over the world fossil fuels are being extracted at a faster and faster rate as the world's energy demands increase. This presents a large problem because fossil fuels are not renewable within a practical timescale, since they take millions of years to form. According to estimated calculations based on current consumption (not taking into account the escalation of need that the increasing world population would demand) the world's supplies of fossil fuels

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have already peaked and will run out sometime in this century. Another problem with the large-scale use of these fuels are theirnegative effects on the environment. To access and use the energyheld in fossil fuels, we burn them using the heat energy releasedto do work. A variety of pollutants are part of the byproducts ofthis process.These byproducts include carbon dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and etc.Thesesubstances are damaging the atmosphere. Beyond the poisonous qualities many of these have, many are green house gasses, contributing tremendously to the very real and present global warming.On the other hand it is biogas which is produced from theorganic waste materials. Biogas is safe and useful for cooking, heating and lighting.There are not so much harmful byproducts and dangerous gases produced from biogas as there are produced from other fuels so there is no problem of environmental pollution in case of biogas. It can also be a source of electricity. Economic benefits are very evident in this project. Methane gas, an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), since calorific value of methane gas produced is better than the LPG's, electricity that (when the methane is converted mechanically) can light 250houses as it produces 260 kWh per day electric generation on the average of 200 watts per house and liquid fertilizer.

Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by breakdown of organicmatter in the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such as dead plantand animal material, animal fences, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of bio fuel. Biogas is produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, green waste, plant material, and crops. Biogas comprises primarily methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), moisture and siloxanes.

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COMPOSITION OF BIOGAS

Biogas is primarily a mixture of methane (CH4) and inert carbonicgas (CO2).It also contain many other components but the main co ere quantity is very less as compared to methane and carbonic gasso these are the components. The other components include1Nitrogen (N2)2 Oxygen (O2)3 Hydrogen (H2)4 Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S)

Biogas typically has methane concentrations around 50%. Advanced waste treatment technologies can produce biogas with 55–75% methane. The concentration of methane in biogas can be increased to 80-90% by using gas purification techniques. Biogas also contains water vapour. The fractional volume of water vapor is a function of biogas temperature. In some cases, biogas contains siloxanes. These siloxanes are formed from the anaerobic decomposition of materials commonly found in soaps and detergents. During combustion of biogas containing siloxanes, silicon is released and can combine with free oxygen or various other elements. Deposits are formed containing mostly silica (sio2) or silicates (SIxOy). There are many other deposits which are formed during the formation of biogas like calcium, sulfur, zinc, phosphorus. There are many other Practical and cost-effective technologies to remove siloxanes and other biogas contaminants are currently available. These deposits can be removed by chemical or mechanical means. The concentration of carbon dioxide in biogas is around 25-50%.The concentration of nitrogen in biogas is around 0-10%. The concentration of hydrogenin biogas is around 0-1%. The concentration of hydrogen sulphide in biogas is around 0-3%. The concentration of oxygen in biogas is around 0-0.5%

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Typical composition of biogas

Compound Chemical Percentage Formula %Methane CH4

50–75

Carbon dioxide CO2 25–50

Nitrogen N2 0–10

Hydrogen H2 0–1

Hydrogen sulphide H2S 0–3

Oxygen O2 0–0.5

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Graphical representation of typical composition of biogas

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF BIOGAS

• It is non-poisonous in nature.

• It has no offensive smell.

• It burns with a clean blue soot less flame.

• Its critical pressure is 42 atm. And temp. is 82 C.

• Its caloric value is 4700-6000 kcal/m^3 (20-24 MJ/m^3).

• Its thermal efficiency in a standard burner is 60%.

BIOGAS PLANT

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A biogas plant is an anaerobic digester that produces biogas fromanimal wastes or energy crops. Energy crops are cheap crops grownfor the purpose of biofuels, rather than food. Biofuels are liquid, gaseous, or solid fuel made from live or recently dead organic material known as biomass, as opposed to fossil fuels, which are composed of ancient biological materials. Biogas is a type of biofuel created via anaerobic, or oxygen-free, digestion of organic matter by bacteria. A biogas plant is composed of a digester and a gas holder.

The digester is an airtight container in which the waste is dumped and decomposed, and the gas holder is a tank that harnesses the gases emitted by the slurry. Bacteria within the digester tank breaks down the waste and, as it decomposes, gases such as carbon monoxide, methane, hydrogen, and nitrogen, are released. Through a pressurized system, the gas holder conducts the flow of these gases upward into a hole in its drum. The hole is specially designed to allow gases to pass freely into the holder while prohibiting any gases from escaping back into the digester. In a controlled environment, the gases are later combusted, or reacted, with oxygen to create an energy source forsuch processes as heating and vehicle propulsion.

Construction of a biogas plant may vary depending on the amount of gas needed, the amount of waste at hand, and whether the digester is designed for batch feeding or continuous feeding. Batch feeding systems use mostly solid wastes that are added to the tank in installments, and continuous feeding models feed mostly liquids to the digester. A biogas plant may be constructedeither above or below ground, with advantages and disadvantages to both models. An above ground biogas plant is easier to maintain and benefits from solar heating, but takes more care in construction because it must be built to handle the internal pressure of the digester. A below ground biogas plant is cheaper

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to construct and easier to feed, but is more difficult to maintain.

To facilitate fast decomposition with optimal gas production, digesters are often kept between the temperatures of 29°C and 41°C (84.2°F-105.8°F). In an attempt to neutralize the slurry, more acidic carbon dioxide, which is a desired gas, will be created. The slurry within the tank must also be frequently stirred to prevent a hard crust from forming on top of the waste.A crust can trap the gases within the slurry and impede the machinery’s ability to harness the gases.

Biogas is increasingly preferred to fossil fuels, or fuels made from ancient organic matter like coal or oil. Carbon, in small amounts, is a vital component of a healthy atmosphere, but becomes problematic when too much is added into circulation. The carbon contained in fossil fuels has been buried for such a long time that is no longer part of the carbon cycle. When it is released through burning of fossil fuels, it raises the carbon concentration. Biogas, however, comes from live or recently dead organisms whose carbon content is still within the cycle, so burning these fuels does less to upset the carbon concentration in the atmosphere.

In addition to carbon output, biogas fuel is often preferred to fossil fuels because it is a low cost, renewable source of energyand it uses otherwise wasted materials. Biogas is also a valuableenergy source for developing nations, as it can be produced in small-scale sites. Biogas fuel, however, also has its critics. Some argue that energy crops detract from food agriculture and will create a global food shortage. Biofuels may also cause deforestation, water pollution, soil erosion, and a negative economic impact on oil producing nations.

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Parts Of Bio-Gas Generator Or Biogas Plant

Let us see the various parts of this biogas plant or bio-gas generator:

1)Foundation: The biogas plant shown here has been built within the surface ofthe earth underground and it is on the foundation that the whole biogas plant is based. The foundation forms the base of the digester where the most important processes of biogas plant occur. The foundation base of the digester is made up of cement concrete and brick ballast. The construction should be built in such a manner that it should be able to provide stable foundationfor the digester walls and be able to sustain the full load of slurry filled in it. The foundation should be waterproof so that there is no percolation and leakage of water.

2)Digester: The digester is the most important part of the cow dung biogas plant where all the important chemical processes or fermentation of cow dung and production of bio-gas takes place. The digester is sometimes also called as fermentation tank. In this cow dung biogas plant digester is built underground over the foundation. It forms cylindrical shape made up of bricks, sand and cement. Almost at the middle of the height of digester, two openings are provided on the opposite sides for inflow of fresh cow dung and outflow of used cow dung.

3) Dome:The hemispherical top portion of the digester is called as dome. Dome has fixed height, where all the gas generated within the digester is collected. The gas collected in the dome exerts pressure on the slurry in the digester.

4) Inlet chamber: The cow dung is supplied to the digester of the biogas plant via

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inlet chamber, which is made at the ground level so that the cow dung can be poured easily. It has bell mouth sort of shape and ismade up of bricks, cement and sand. The outlet wall of the inlet chamber is made inclined so that the cow dung easily flows to thedigester.

5) Outlet Chamber: Through the outlet chamber the digested slurry from which the biogas has been generated is removed from the biogas plant. A fewsteps are usually provided in the outlet chamber so that some person can go into the pit and clean it. The opening of the outlet chamber is also at the ground level. The slurry from the outlet chamber flows to the pit made especially for this purpose.

6) Mixer: It is the first part of the bio-gas generator, where the water and cow dung are mixed together in the ratio of 1:1 to form the slurry which is fed into the inlet chamber.

7) Gas outlet pipe and valve: The gas outlet pipe is located at the top of the dome where the biogas produced in the digester is collected. The flow of the gasthrough from the dome via gas pipe can be controlled by valve. The gas taken from the pipe can be transferred to the point of use.

Operation Of Biogas Plants

The day-to day operation of a biogas unit requires a high level of discipline and routine to maintain a high gas production and to ensure a long life-span of the biogas unit. Many problems in the performance of biogas plants occur due to user mistakes or operational neglect.

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Often, these problems can be reduced• by less complicated designs that are adapted to the substrate, the climatic conditions and the technical competence of the user,• by high-quality and user-friendly appliances,• by design and lay-out of the biogas for convenient work routine,• by proper training and easy access to advice on operation problems.

Preparation to starting the plantThis preparation stage includes carrying out of impermeability check of digester and gas system. To do this it is necessary to attach a water manometer to the gas system and to close all the vents so that it becomes possible to measure excess air pressure in the digester.

Digester is filled with water up to operational level. Excess airwill be let out through the safety vent. After this manometer reading is taken and filled digester is left for a day. If after a day manometer reading is the same or is changed only insignificantly then the system is considered impermeable.

If the pressure in digester is significantly lower, it is necessary to find and repair the leak. Biogas plant shall be started only when plant as a whole and all its elements can be considered operational and conform to safety regulations.

Starting operationsThe initial filling of a new biogas plant should, if possible, consist of either digested slurry from another plant (around 10%)or fresh cattle dung.

The age and quantity of the inoculant (starter sludge) have a decisive effect on the course of fermentation. It is advisable tostart collecting cattle dung during the construction phase in order to have enough by the time the plant is finished. When the

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plant is being filled for the first time, the substrate can be diluted with more water than usual to allow filling of the digester p to 2/3 of its volume.

Type of substrateDepending on the type of substrate in use, the plant may need from several days to several weeks to achieve a stable digesting process. After diluting substrate with water until homogenous liquid substrate results it is loaded into digester that is filled up to no more than 2/3 of inside volume. The rest of the digester volume is used for biogas collection. The substrate loaded into digester should not be cold – it’s temperature has tobe close to chosen optimal digestion temperature.

Optimization of startup processFor optimization of the initial digestion process several well-known startup methods can be used:• feeding active ferment from other well-functioning digester;• adding reagents, such as lime, carbonic acid, alkali and others;• initial filling of dieter with warm water and gradual addition of manure;• filling digester with fresh manure;• filling of digester with hot gases and gradual feeding of manure.

For proving stable growth of microorganisms during the startup period the heating of the substrate should be gradually increasedfor no more than 2ºС daily until it reaches 35-37ºС. During the heat up process substrate has to be intensively agitated. After 7-8 days bacteria become very active and biogas production starts.

Characteristics of breaking-in periodThe breaking-in period is characterized by:• low quality biogas containing more than 60% CO2

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• very odorous biogas• sinking pH and• erratic gas production

Process stabilizationThe digesting process will stabilize more quickly if the slurry is agitated frequently and intensively. Only if the process showsextreme resistance to stabilization should lime or more cattle dung be added in order to balance the pH value. No additional biomass should be put into the biogas plant during the remainder of the starting phase. Once the process has stabilized, the largevolume of unfermented biomass will result in a high rate of gas production. Regular loading can commence after gas production hasdropped off to the expected level.

Gas holder preparationGas holders can only be prepared for use after acceptance and checkout according to specifications and after examination by State engineering supervision service.

To avoid formation of explosive gas mixture before gas holder is filled with biogas it is necessary to displace air from the wholegas system. Air displacement is normally carried out by filling gas holder with water followed by displacement of water with biogas or non-flammable gases under pressure. Air displacement can be considered as successful if oxygen content of the gas probe from the gas holder does not exceed 5 %.

Outside check has to confirm proper functioning of control equipment of the gas holder (check and safety valves, manometer, pressure reducer). Reliability of the grounding and lightning protection has to be checked with help of grounding measure. Earth-connection resistance has to be less than 4 Ohm.

Gas qualityAs soon as the biogas becomes reliably combustible, it can be

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used for the intended purposes. Less-than-optimum performance of the appliances due to inferior gas quality should be regarded as acceptable at first. However, the first two gasholder fillings should be vented unused for reasons of safety, since residual oxygen poses an explosion hazard.

Biogas production in rural Germany

FEED MATERIAL FOR BIOGAS PLANT

Raw Materials RequiredForms of biomass listed below may be used along with water.

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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)

PRODUCTIVITY OF BIOGAS FEED STOCKS

Feedstock Gas yield per unit mass of feedstock Energy yield (MJ/Kg)

Sewage sludge 0.7 6.17

Pig dung 0.5 8.11

Cattle dung 0.3 2.60

Poultry droppings 0.5 6.11

Paper pulp 0.5 8.11

Gas 0.5 8.14

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0123456789

gas yield per unit mass ...

Graphical view of productivity of biogas feed stocks

APPARATUS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF BIOGAS

The following is the apparatus which is used in the production of biogas. 1. Measuring cylinders2. Beehive for gas collection3. Infra Red thermometers4. Retort Stand

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5. Electronic Weighing Balance6. Biogas Digestor

TYPES OF BIOGAS PLANTS

The most important types of biogas plants are described.1. Fixed-dome plants

2. Floating-drum plants

3. Low-Cost Polyethylene Tube Digester

4. Balloon plants

Fixed-Dome PlantsA fixed-dome plant comprises of a closed, dome-shaped digester with an immovable, rigid gas-holder and a displacement pit, also named 'compensation tank'. The gas is stored in the upper part ofthe digester. When gas production commences, the slurry is displaced into the compensating tank. Gas pressure increases withthe volume of gas stored, and the height difference between the slurry level in the digester and the slurry level in the compensation tank. . If there is little gas in the gas-holder, the gas pressure is low.The costs of a fixed-dome biogas plant are relatively low. It is simple as no moving parts exist. There are also no rusting steel parts and hence a long life of the plant (20 years or more) can be expected. The plant is constructed underground, protecting it

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from physical damage and saving space. While the underground digester is protected from low temperatures at night and during cold seasons, sunshine and warm seasons take longer to heat up the digester.

The basic elements of a fixed dome plant are shown in the figure below.

Advantages1. Low initial cost.

2. The absence of moving parts and rusting steel parts.

3. If well constructed, fixed dome plants have a long life span.

4. The underground construction saves space and protects the digester from temperature changes.

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5. The construction provides opportunities for skilled local employment.

Disadvantages1. Gas leaks occur quite frequently.

2. Fluctuating gas pressure complicates gas utilization.

3. Amount of gas produced is not immediately visible.

4. Fixed dome plants need exact planning of levels.

Fixed-dome plant in Tunesia. The final layers of the

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masonry structure are being fixed.

Floating-Drum PlantsA floating-drum plant consists of a cylindrical or dome-shaped digester and a moving, floating gas-holder, or drum. The gas-holder floats either directly in the fermenting slurry or in a separate water jacket. The drum in which the biogas collects has an internal and/or external guide frame that provides stability and keeps the drum upright. If biogas is produced, the drum movesup, if gas is consumed, the gas-holder sinks back. Water-jacket floating-drum plants are universally applicable and easy to maintain. The drum cannot get stuck in a scum layer, even if the substrate has a high solids content. Water-jacket plants are characterized by a long useful life.

Water-jacket plant with external guide frame : 1 Mixing pit, 11

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Fill pipe, 2 Digester, 3 Gasholder, 31 Guide frame, 4 Slurry store, 5 Gas pipe.

Advantages 1. They are used most frequently by small- to middle-sized farms (digester size: 5-15m3) or in institutions and larger agro-industrial estates (digester size: 20-100m3). 2. The volume of stored gas is directly visible.

3. The construction is relatively easy, construction mistakes do not lead to major problems in operation and gas yield.

Disadvantages1. The steel drum is relatively expensive and maintenance-intensive.

2. Removing rust and painting has to be carried out regularly.

3. Floating drum plants have a shorter life span than fixed-dome plants.

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Floating-drum plant in Mauretania

Low-Cost Polyethylene Tube DigesterIn the case of the Low-Cost Polyethylene Tube Digester model the tubular polyethylene film is bended at each end around a 6 inch PVC drainpipe and is wound with rubber strap of recycled tire-tubes. With this system a hermetic isolated tank is obtained. Oneof the 6" PVC drainpipes serves as inlet and the other one as theoutlet of the slurry. The Low-Cost Polyethylene Tube Digester is applied in Bolivia (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Centro America and Mexico).It is able to work in different altitudes and climate zones. The digester system works with a biogas pressure between 15 - 20 cm water column.

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Scheme of Low-Cost Polyethylene Tube Digester

Advantages1.The polyethylene tubular film biodigester technology is a cheapand simple way to produce gas.

2. Low-Cost Polyethylene Tube Digester is able to work in different altitudes and climate zones.

Disadvantages1. The lower gas pressure (20 cm water column / 19.6 mbar) than in the fixed-dome system or floating drum system.

2. There is a need to protect the tubular polyethylene against e.g. cows, because it could burst when the animal jumps into the digester.

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Low-Cost Tube Digester Altiplano of Bolivia

Balloon PlantsA balloon plant consists of a heat-sealed plastic or rubber bag (balloon), combining digester and gas-holder. The gas is stored in the upper part of the balloon. The inlet and outlet are attached directly to the skin of the balloon. Gas pressure can beincreased by placing weights on the balloon. If the gas pressure exceeds a limit that the balloon can withstand, it may damage theskin. Therefore, safety valves are required. If higher gas pressures are needed, a gas pump is required. Since the material has to be weather- and ultraviolet resistant and specially stabilized. The materials which have been used successfully include RMP (red mud plastic), Trevira and butyl. The useful life-span does usually not exceed 2-5 years.

Advantages1. Low cost.

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2. Ease of transportation.

3. Shallow installation suitable for use in areas with a high groundwater table.

4. Easy to clean.

5. High digester temperatures in warm climates.

Disadvantages1. Low gas pressure may require gas pumps.

2. The plastic balloon has a relatively short useful life-span and is susceptible to mechanical damage.

3. There is only little scope for the creation of local employment.

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Rubber-balloon biogas plants

DESIGN OF BIOGAS PLANTS

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1.Shape And Static Loading

A biogas plant should be watertight. The gasholder must be gaslight. For this reason a biogas plant must have no cracks. Butstructures of masonry or concrete always crack. One can try to keep the cracks small. And one can determine the position where the cracks are to arise. Cracks always arise where the tensile stresses are highest. Tensile stresses arise from tensile forces,flexure, displacements, settling and temperature fluctuations. When mortar or concrete sets, shrinkage cracks also form. Stresses are high where the "external" forces are high. "External" forces are earth pressure, dead weight and applied load. Stresses are highest where the "internal" forces are highest. "Internal" forces are flexural, normal, gravitational and torsional forces. The "external" forces can be reduced by favourable shaping of the structure. The liquid pressure and earth pressure are less in a low biogas plant. This is because both depend directly on the height. The "internal" forces can also be reduced by favourable shaping of the structure. If the "external" forces can act in one direction only, high "internal" forces arise. If, however, the "external" forces can be distributed in a number of directions, small "internal" forces arise. This is the case with all curved surfaces or "shells". Slabs will support a heavier load than beams for a given thickness of material. A curved shell supports more than a flat slab. A shell coned in more than one dimension supports more than

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a shell of simple curvature. Curved structural components are more rigid; the stresses are smaller in them. Just imagine how thick the shell of a hen's egg would have to be if it were shapedlike a cube! Cracks arise where stresses are high. Particularly high stresses - "peak stresses" - arise at pointswhere the stresspattern is disturbed. Such disturbances occur at edges, angles, corners and under concentrated, applied or other loads. Disturbances arise along the line of intersection of surfaces. Cracks form at these points due to peak stresses. Peak stresses always arise at the edges of angular structures. For this reason the gas space of a fixed-dome plant must never be angular. Cracksarise owing to tensile stresses. If a component is under compression, it is free from cracks. The gas space of a fixed-dome plant should therefore always be under pressure at every point. The liquid pressure of the fermentation slurry is directedoutwards. The earth pressure is directed inwards. If the two forces balance reliably, the load on the structure is relieved. In a vaulted shape' the external loading is obtained even if the earth is stiff and cracked owing to drought. A round shape is always a good shape, Because a round shape has no corners. Because its load pattern is more favourable. And because it uses less material. A round shape is often easier to build than an angular one.

2.Bottom Slab

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The bottom slab is loaded at its edge by the weight of the digester wall. In the case of a spherical shell, the weight of the earth load also acts on it. The bottom slab distributes the weight over the ground of the site. The larger the foundation area, the less settlement will be experienced. The more even the loads, the more even the settlement. The more even the settlement, the less the risk of cracking. A "rigid" shell distributes the weight better than a "soft" slab. The weight of the fermentation slurry presses uniformly on the ground. Where the ground is of unequal consistency (e.g., boulders in loamy soil), loads must be distributed within the bottom slab. If the slab is too weak, it will break and cease to be watertight. A "rigid" shell distributes the loads better than a "soft slab". A vaulted shell is the best foundation shape. But a conical shell is easier to excavate. The only implement required is a straight piece of wood. Building material available locally is used for the bottom slab. One of the following will be chosen on grounds of economy:- quarry stone with a cement mortar filling and a cement floor,

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- brick masonry with a cement floor,- concrete.Steel ring reinforcement at the outer edge increases the loadbearing capacity of the bottom. However, such reinforcement is not usually necessary. It is more important for the ground to be firm and clean. If the soil consists of muddy loam, it must first be covered with a thin layer of sand.

3. Spherical Shell Of Masonary Construction

The construction of a spherical shell from masonry is completely problem-free. Every bricklayer can master this technique after once being shown how to do it. Concreting a vault, on the other hand, calls for much more skill and craftsmanship owing to the complicated formwork – the one exception being when the masoned shell is intended to serve as permanent formwork. A spherical shell of masonry is simple to construct because the radius alwaysextends from the same centre. A trammel (A) is the only aid required. Bricks are stacked to get the right height for the

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centre. Lean mortar is used for the stack, which is subsequently demolished (M). No centring is necessary for laying the bricks.

4. Masonry and mortar

The mortar and bricks should have about the same strenght. If thebricks are soft, the mortar must also not be too hard. If a good brick is thrown on to the ground three metres away, it must not break. If the bricks are of poor quality, the walls must be thicker. Mortar consists of sand, water and the binders. Cement gives a solid, watertight mortar. Cement mortar is brittle in masonry construction. Lime gives a soft, sticky mortar. For masonry construction, cement mortar should always include a certain amount of lime. This makes it more workable, and the masonry becomes more watertight.Mixing ratio:

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Masonry mortar 2 (cement) : 1 (lime): 10(sand) or 1 (cement) : 6 (sand)

Rendering mortar 1 (cement) : 4 (sand) better 1 (cement) : 3 (sand)

The most important part of the mortar is the sand. It must be clean. It should not contain any loam, dust or organic matter. Mortar sand with a high proportion of dust or loam "eats up" muchmore cement than clean sand. The bricklayer or works foreman mustcheck the sand before use. Sand may contain not more than 10% dust or loam, otherwise it must be washed. Soda Ice can be used to test whether the sand contains excessive organic matter. The following points are important when rendering:

- The rendering mortar must be compressed by vigorous, circular rubbing.

- All edges must be rounded.

- All internal angles must be rounded with a glass bottle.

FACTORS AFFECTING BIOGAS PRODUCTION

There are many factors affecting the biogas production but some of them are given below.

1. Biogas potential of feedstock2. Design of digester3. Hydraulic retention time4. pH5. Temperature

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Design Of DigestorFloating gas holder type and fixed dome type are the two tested designs, that are being widely employed. The performance of floating dome biogas plant was better than the fixed dome biogas plant, showing an increase in biogas production by 11.3 percent. The observed reduction in biogas yield was due to the loss of gasfrom the slurry-balancing chambers of fixed dome plant.

Biogas Potential Of FeedstockThe different feedstocks like cow dung, buffalo dung, dry animal waste, stray cattle dung, goat waste, and poultry droppings were used for the production of biogas by Dhevagi and he observed that poultry droppings showed higher gas production as compared to other feedstocks. Yeole and Ranade compared the rates of biogas yield from pig dung-fed and cattle dung-fed digesters and reported that the biogas yield was higher in the former. They attributed this higher biogas yield to the presence of native micro flora in the dung.

pHFor increased gas yield, a pH between 7.0 and 7.2 is optimum. Thegas production is significantly affected when the pH of the slurry is decreased to 5.0.The pH is reduced because of the reduction of different organisms present in the slurry. The addition of the sodium hydroxide is to study the effect of alkaline condition on biogas generation. The addition of NaOH shows the increase in the pH of the digestor due to which more volume of gas is produced and if pH is lower then lower volume of gas is produced. When NAOH is added the result obtained shows a, significant increase in volume of gas to that obtained withoutthe addition of sodium hydroxide.

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TemperatureThe biogas production is affected due to the temperature. There is increased in the production of biogas at higher temperature. The digester performance is affected due to higher temperatures. Nagamani and Ramasamy observed that though there was higher production of biogas at 55°C, the process was unstable due to higher production of volatile fatty acids.

Hydraulic Retention Time Hydraulic retention time varied as per the loading rate. Yeole and Ranade reported that an hydraulic retention time of 14 days was optimum for biogas production from cow dung. Gadre investigated the optimum retention time for the production of biogas from cattle dung and reported that 15 Hydraulic retention time was the best for maximum production of biogas from cow dungso production of biogas is increased due to increased in hydraulic retention time.

EFFECT OF METALS ON BIOGAS PRODUCTION

Presence of some metals also influences the biogas production.Theaddition of calcium (5 mM), cobalt (50 µg g– 1 TS), iron (50 mM),magnesium (7.5 mM), molybdenum (10–20 mM), nickel (10 µg g– 1 TS)individually as well as in combination enhanced the biogas production .This enhancement is due to the increased methanogen population in the digesters. The addition of nickel at 2.5 ppm increased the biogas production andthis increased in production is due to the higher activity of nickel-dependent metal-enzymes

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involved in biogas production. The cadmium and nickel at 600 and 400 µg g– 1 of dry matter, respectively, increased the biogas production and methane content. There are many other metals whoseaddition in some quantity can increased the biogas production butin greater quantity these materials can have bad impact on biogasproduction so these metals can be added upto certain limit which is verified by different experiments.

ADVANTAGES AND APPLICATIONSThere are many advantages and benefits of using biogas. The following are the benefits of biogas.

1. Biogas is safe and useful for cooking and heating because of more heat produced the time required for cooking is lesser. Heat energy that one gets from biogas is 3.5 times the heat from burning wood. The annual time saving forfirewood collection and cooking averages to almost 1000 hours in each household provided with a biogas plant. Annually, each biogas plant can save more than four ton's offirewood and 32 liters of kerosene

2. It can also be a source of electricity. Economic benefitsare very evident in this project. When the methane is converted mechanically it can light 250houses as it produces260 kWh per day electric generation on the average of 200 watts per house. In fact, one cow can produce enough manure in one day to generate three kilowatt hours of electricity; only 2.4 kilowatt hours of electricity are needed to power asingle one hundred watt light bulb for one day. In North America, utilization of biogas would generate enough electricity to meet up to three percent of the continent's electricity expenditure.

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Electricity from Biogas in Thailand

3. It is a renewable energy source like solar, tidal, wind, geothermal etc.

4. Methane gas can be used an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), since calorific value of methane gas produced is better than the LPG's.

5. Fossil fuels come from plant and animal matter deposits that are millions and millions of years old. They have very high-energy potentials (one pound of coal contains 13000 Btuand therefore are excellent for our needs. The most utilizedof these forms are coal, petroleum and natural gas. All overthe world fossil fuels are being extracted at a faster and faster rate as the world's energy demands increase. This presents a large problem because fossil fuels are not renewable within a practical timescale, since they take millions of years to form. According to estimated calculations based on current consumption (not taking into account the escalation of need that the increasing world population would demand) the world's supplies of fossil

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fuels have already peaked and will run out sometime in this century so biogas can be used as an alternate energy potential source for these fossil fuels.

6. Another problem with the large-scale use of these fossil fuels are their negative effects on the environment. To access and use the energy held in fossil fuels, we burn themusing the heat energy released to do work. A variety of pollutants are part of the byproducts of this process. Thesebyproducts include carbon dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and etc. These substances are damaging the atmosphere. Beyond the poisonousqualities many of these have, many are green house gasses, contributing tremendously to the very real and present global warming. On the other hand biogas does not contain somuch dangerous gases and is very safe to the atmosphere if it is not exposed to the atmosphere during its production.

7. Biogas could potentially help reduce global climate change. Normally, manure that is left to decompose releases two main gases that cause global climate change: nitrogen dioxide and methane. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) warms the atmosphere 310 times more than carbon dioxide and methane 21times more than carbon dioxide. Furthermore, by converting cow manure into methane biogas instead of letting it decompose, global warming gases could be reduced by ninety-nine million metric tons.

8. Improper waste disposal and the inadequacy of dumping sites further aggravate pollution load on rivers and tributaries from industries and households. This pollution can be reduced by converting these organic waste materials into the production of biogas or methane gas. Biomass energy helps in cleanliness in villages and cities.

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9. Biomass energy is relatively cheaper and reliable.

10. Biogas-slurry is a safe, organic, and nutrient-rich liquid fertiliser, which can be applied directly to crops to increase agricultural productivity. The use of biogas-slurry not only saves money otherwise spent on chemical fertilisers, but reduces the negative effects of such fertilisers on the environment. It is estimated that the application of biogas-slurry may increase productivity as much as 25% when compared to applying manure directly to fields. Each biogas plant produces about five ton's of bio-fertilizer annually, which can replace chemical fertilizer.

biogas-slurry

11. Growing biomass crops use up carbon dioxide and produces oxygen. A recent study by Winrock International, Nepal Biogas Support Program (BSP) and others found that each biogas plant canmitigate about five ton's of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

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12. There is tremendous potential to generate biogas energy.

13. Pressure on the surrounding forest and scrubs can be reduced when biogas is used as cooking fuel. A single biogas system with a volume of 100 cubic feet (2,8 m3) can save as much as 0.3 acres(0,12 ha) of forest (woodland) each year

14. It is a more cost effective means of acquiring energy as compared to oil supplies. As oil supplies are getting depleted day by day, it is becoming a costly commodity

15. Recycling of waste reduces pollution and spread of diseases.

16. If concentrated and compressed, it can also be used in vehicle transportation. Compressed biogas is becoming widely usedin Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany. A biogas-powered train has been in service in Sweden since 2005. In 2007, an estimated 12,000 vehicles were being fueled with upgraded biogas worldwide,mostly in Europe.

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A biogas bus in Linköping, Sweden

17. Health benefits of biogas and the improvement of hygienic conditions.Biogas can have significant health benefits. According to the Integrated Environmental Impact Analysis carried out by BSP** for600 biogas users and 600 non-users, four percent more non-biogas users have respiratory diseases than those who own biogas plants . Qualitative information from various household surveys carried out by BSP has revealed that problems like respiratory illness, eye infection, asthma and lung problems have decreased after installing a biogas plant.

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Health Benefits Of Biogas

Disease Problems in the past Present status of (households) (households)

Yes No Improved Remained same

Eye Infection 72 18 69 3Cases of burning 29 71 28 1Lung problems 38 62 33 5Respiratory problems 42 58 34 8Asthma 11 89 9 2Dizziness/headache 27 73 16 11

According to the Biogas Users’ Survey conducted in 2000 with 100 households, biogas can have positive impacts on the health of itsusers. Out of 42 respondents who had respiratory problems in the past, it was reported that the problem has improved for 34 of them. Similarly, those who had problems like asthma, eye infections and lung problems found that their problems had

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decreased after displacing dirtier fuels with biogas.

The following are the principal organisms killed in biogas plants:o Typhoido Paratyphoido Cholera and dysentery bacteria (in one or two weeks)o Hookworm and bilharzia (in three weeks)o Tapeworm and roundworm die completely when the fermented slurry is dried in the sun.

ECONOMICAL BENEFITS

Economic impact of biogas production on a rural family (average 10-12 members) is Rs. 6000/- per month as additional income by replacing two cylinders of LPG, three mounds of Fuel-wood, dung cakes and cost of chemical fertilizer. Saving of Rs. 3150/month by a rural family is a big economic gain and would lead to poverty reduction in rural Pakistan. In addition adoption of thistechnology will lead to other social changes and health improvement.

Gender Before Biogas

After Biogas

Time spent in Collection of Wood

2:30 hours daily

10 minutes (formixing dung with water

Time spent in 1:30 hours 50 minutes

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cleaning of utensils

daily

Time spent on cooking of meals

3:15 hours daily

2:45 hours

7:15 hours 2:45 hours

Time Saved 4:30 hours / day which could be utilized by working women on other activities such as embroidery, cloth sewing, etc

Employment Opportunities

Biomass Energy development creates new employment opportunities in

a. Manufacturing

b. Construction

c. Plant operation & servicing

d. Fuel supply

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Environmental Benefits

(i) Through promotion of Biogas Technology (B.T) at one hand fossil energy sources are substituted and on the other hand the aerobic processes (open yard manure composting) areavoided which stress the atmosphere by emission of CH4 (greenhouse gas)

(ii) It substitutes firewood as a fuel and helps sustaining favorable soil conditions thus, contributing to combat deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution and climate changes.

(iii) Provides soot-free fuel to meet domestic energy needs.

(iv) Contributes sustaining neat, clean and environment friendly atmosphere.

(v) It helps decrease environment degradation otherwise caused due to excessive use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides

Environment Friendly

Biogas production from biomass with high moisture content isan eco friendly process.

Conventional practices of composting cattle manure and fodder waste has many adverse environment effects.

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Methane produced in conventional composting of biomass escapes in atmosphere and has global warning effect 20 timesmore than CO2 .

H2S released from composting causes undesirable odocer and harmful for human health.

N2 lost in the form of NH3 reduces fertility effect of composted manure.

Pollution Control These effects of pollution in the environment can be avoided

by anaerobic digestion of biomass in biogas plants. Reduces deforestation in rural areas. Reduce indoor pollution / respiratory / eye diseases of

viral / people pacficataely women.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Cost of construction of biogas plant is high

2. Biogas plant requires space and produces dirty smell.

3. It is difficult to store biogas in cylinders

4. Transportation of biogas through pipe over long distances is difficult.

5. Biogas is dangerous in three conditions. Biogas becomes explosive when it escapes from the landfill and mixes with oxygen. When the composition of methane is 5% then it is lower explosive and when the composition of methane in biogas is upto 15% then it is highexplosive. The methane which is present in the biogas is 20 timesmore dangerous than carbon dioxide so if biogas escapes into the atmosphere may significantly contribute to the effects of global warming.If biogas is exposed to the atmosphere it contains

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volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of photochemical smog.

“BIOGAS” A SOURCE OF ALTERNATE ENERGY

Pakistan is spending almost 20 per cent of its foreign exchange on fossil fuels imports. Annually $7 billion is being eaten away in import of conventional energy resources that is equivalent to 40 per cent of total imports by the country, but the country still lacks far behind in tapping the vast potential of alternateenergy resources.3000MW power potential in sugar industryA research conducted by the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, suggests that the country’s energy demand is expectedto increase three fold by 2050, but supply position is not inspiring in anyway. It indicates that Pakistan has almost 3,000 MW power generation potential in sugar industry through biogas, but it is hardly producing some 700MW. Study points out that the renewable and sustainable energy resources are the best substitute to the conventional fuels and energy sources. It estimates that Pakistan has almost 159 million animals that produce almost 652 million kilogram of manure daily from cattle and buffalo only, which can be used to generate 16.3 million-cubic-meters biogas per day and 21 million tonnes of bio fertiliser per year. It can easily compensate around 20 per cent of nitrogen and 66 per cent of phosphorus requirement in the cropfields, the study estimates.

Economic And Social Benefits

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Highlighting the economic and social benefits of biogas generation, the research indicates that a biogas unit of 10-cubic-meter size is anticipated to save almost Rs92,062 per annumon account of conventional fuels spent otherwise. In addition, women’s opportunity cost, with introduction of biogas units reportedly increased; subsequently positively impacting householdincomes. Research highlights that livestock sector in the countryis growing at the rate of four per cent per annum. Energy production by using animal feces is highly sustainable, economically viable and socially acceptable, besides being environment friendly. It points out that Pakistan is anticipated to act as an energy corridor for the region as it holds importantstrategic location by bordering the Arabian Sea, India, China, Iran and Afghanistan. To keep-up this position, the study recommends, Pakistan will have to strive hard for energy self-sufficiency.

Learning from the EUIt indicates that European Union (EU) has legislated that each member country should be producing at least 22.1 per cent of their electricity from renewable resources in order to stick to the commitment of producing energy from best alternative energy sources. Pakistan, by following the same code of conduct may fulfill its energy needs and satisfy the role of being an environment friendly nation. Nearly 70 per cent of the country’s rural population can easily benefit from biogas energy as these plants are low-cost and can be run with a small budget. Research discloses that demand for small biogas power generation units is increasing steadily as this decentralized source of energy can ensure uninterrupted power supply to villages. Though, many agencies like Pakistan Dairy Development Company (PDDC), PakistanCouncil for Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) and Rural Support Programs Network (RSPN) are working to disseminate this renewable energy technology, but the need of a national biogas

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policy is imperative to bring this technology at the farmer’s doorstep and boost its success rate, the study recommends and adds that installations of biogas bottling plants can be an addedopportunity.

10,000 units to be set up in 5 yearsIn addition, the study recommends that Pakistan can also explore biogas potential of citrus pulp, paper industry, slaughter house and street waste. It indicates that poultry waste is ideal substrate to produce biogas. Rice straw, when used for biogas production in comparison with other resources like cotton gin, etc. was found best for methane production but when cotton gin mixed with livestock dung was fermented; it produced more gas in lesser time. Domestic bio-gas generation was initiated in Pakistan in 1959 and a significant number of plants were operational in different parts of the country. The government launched Biogas Support Program (BSP) in 2000, which had achieveda target of installing some 1,200 bio-gas units, whereas another 10,000 units are expected to be set up in the next five years that would tap almost 27 per cent of the country’s biogas potential.

Keeping view the present energy crises, to move an step forward by installing biogas plants of 30MW, 40MW, 60MW and 100MW gas production capacity so as to use this gas for increasing agriculture productivity by running tube wells on biogas and other activities such as lighting, through gas generators and fans during the summer season

PCRET is also gaining successful experience in installation of biogas plant upto 150 cum per day capacity for electric generation and water lifting for the last one year.

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Fuel Equivalent Factor

A 5 cum biogas plant can save per annum different types of fuel.

Fuel Per Annum Per Day

- LPG 558.45 kg 1.53kg

- Kerosene Oil 1131.50 lit 3.1 Lit

- Electricity 2281 kwh 6.25 kwh

- Fuel wood 10196 kg 27.93 kg

- Charcoal 2993 kg 8.2 kg

- Diesel 912.5 lit 2.5 lit

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BIOGAS POTENTIAL IN PAKISTAN

As per recent livestock census, there are 51 million animals (Buffaloes, Cows, Bullocks) in Pakistan. Thus, 19.125 Million M3 biogas can be produced daily by anaerobic fermentation of dung through installation of about 3.825 million family size biogas plants, which could meet the cooking needs of about 50 million people. The total population of Pakistan is about 170 million, out of which 68% reside in the rural areas, which comes to be 98 million. Therefore we can meet the cooking / heating requirementsof 44% rural masses from this single source of energy (biogas) besides, producing 57.4 million Kg of nitrogen enriched bio-fertilizer per day or 21.00 million tons of bio-fertilizer per year, which is an essential requirement for sustaining the fertility of agricultural lands.

PCRET: An Initiator

Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) under took propagation of Biogas Technology as early as in 1976, based on imported Chinese Design and then initially installed 21 familysize units. But afterward due to various factors such as gas pressure variables, lack of craftsmanship, leakage occurring in the dome, hindering good performance of gas produced through fermentation process, the council adjourned the programme.

Thereafter Indian design was adapted with some modifications, suitable to local conditions and afterward a project for

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installation of 1,200 family size biogas plants on public - private cost – sharing basis was launched. In view of prompt and positive response of the people the project ended by installing 35% additional biogas plants than the target originally set forthin PC-1. (Actual 1,604 units installed against target of 1,200 units).

Encouraged by positive public response, PCRET launched another project for installation of 2,500 biogas plants in 2007 with a subsidy component of Rs.17000/- per plant. In the last two years despite various financial constraints, about 2,000 biogas units have so far been installed successfully whereas work on other 500units is in progress.

Originally, biogas plants were constructed for cooking purpose only. But in view of the current energy crises i.e. rise in prices of fossil fuels; increase in electric utility tariff and heavy load shedding which has severely effected the life of common man and the economy, possibilities were further work up for utilization of biogas on commercial scale.

Thus over the period, demand from the public has compelled PCRET to explore ways and means of using biogas for lighting as well asirrigation purposes. Keeping this aspect in view, PCRET came forward to make possible the usage of biogas in generating power for lighting, refrigeration, electric fans, mobile charging, running washing machine and iron for pressing clothes etc. Besides the galloping prices of diesel coupled with its irregularsupply has compelled agriculturist to use biogas as duel fuel (diesel + biogas) for running their tube wells. For this purpose relatively a bigger size biogas plants (10M3, 15M3, 20M3 gas production capacity per day) have been designed and installed in Sialkot, Narowal, Jhang and other places. As per field reports, the success rate of such plants is very high.

Main Points Of Biogas Potential In Pakistan63 | P a g e

• Pakistan is at No. 5 in word ranking of livestock / cattle population. As per2009-2010 livestock census No of cattle =65.00m (cows 34.3m, buffalows = 30.7m)

• Daily dung dropping : 975.00 m kg/day

• 50% Collectability : 487.50m kg/day

• Gas produced : 24.37 m m3/day

• Bio-fertilizer produced : 17.00 m kg/day

or 6.2 m tons/year

• As such 40lac family size biogas plants could be installed whereas only 10,000 units could be installed since 1974.

Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme

Government of Pakistan is currently facing an unprecedented energy crisis. Shortage of energy, including both electricity andgas, is considered to be a major road block to Pakistan’s rapid economic growth and poverty reduction. The prices of both continue to increase due to a sharp increase in their demand, adding to the worries of the crises-hit dwellers. The consumers are facing many difficulties because of gas load shedding. In rural areas LPG is the only alternative to firewood or coal but LPG prices have already jumped to Rs100 per kilogram that makes LPG unaffordable to the rural communities.

In present scenario, it is almost impossible for the Government to provide sui-gas facility to the residents of rural areas. However, the Biogas Plants act as a useful source for providing

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gas facility to the households. Pakistan has a great potential for domestic biogas because of the availability of sufficient animal dung, water, ambient temperature, the availability of construction materials, enough space for plant installation, freedom from floods, and availability of human resources for the construction of plant.

Based on the successful experience of implementing biogas programmes in a number of other Asian countries, Winrock International, UNDP Pakistan and SNV (Netherlands Development Organization) carried out a feasibility study with the collaboration of RSPN for establishing a large-scale household biogas programme in Pakistan in early 2007. The Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP), supported by the Rural Support Programme-Network (RSPN) installed 12 biogas installations of 6m3of the Nepalese GGC 2047 design in Sialkot district and the Foundation for Integrated Development Action (FIDA), also supported by the RSPN constructed 3 GGC 2047 installations (8, 20and 35m3) in Dera Ismail Khan district in June 2007. This study explored that there was a sufficient market for Biogas Plants. Then, a complete plan was designed for implementing the whole setup in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Domestic Biogas programme was started in January 2009 by RSPN with the financial support of SNV and the advisory support of Winrock International. The agreement among parties wassigned in December 2008. Now, the programme is funded by EKN since November 2009. 

Geographic scope of the project and partners

From the geographical prospective, Pakistan has a total of 68,000villages out of these only 4,000 villages are blessed with natural gas. Punjab is the country's most populous region with

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about 56% of Pakistan's total population. Moreover, the central Punjab including Faisalabad, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Okara, Pak patan, Sheikhupura, Hafzabad, Mandi Bhauddin,Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakar etc is considered to be the most potential area for starting the programme. The main Office of Pakistan Domestic Biogas Programme is in Faisalabad which was started in January 2009. However, PDBP has three QCCs (Quality Control Centers) in Jhang, Sargodha and Toba Tek Singh Respectively that were started working in December 2009.

Currently, entities like Biogas Construction Companies (BCC), Training institutes, Local NGOs and Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) are our major stakeholders. Each one is performing its role on demand or supply side.

Prior, there was no commercial biogas sector in Pakistan that is why no commercial BCC was available at start. Now, PDBP has trained many Masons and BCCs. Currently, PDBP has 16 BCCs functioning in four districts of central Punjab. These BCCs have many trained masons working under their companies. They are not only constructing the plants but also giving four years guaranteeto households that involve 3 annual maintenance visits, at which a trained biogas mason of the BCC visit the installation and checks for proper functioning and operation.  They are also playing important role in creating demand through providing successful plants and satisfactory services to existing users. 

In order to train the work force, PDBP signed MOU with GCT (Government College of Technology). It acts as a training institute for our programme. It is not only providing training facilitates but also giving boarding facilities to the Masons andBCCs who come from distant places. Moreover, three teachers of GCT were also trained regarding biogas technology and now they are working as trainer for PDBP.

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PDBP has also signed MOU with different Local NGOs belonging to each operational district. Presently, there are seven NGOs that are working for generating demands for biogas plants. These NGOs have strong contacts in their respective areas that help them to bring demand for us. They also organize different villages meetings for generating awareness regarding Biogas technology. PDBP staff members supervise those meetings in order to ensure proper dissemination of information.

PRSP is also one of the strong partners. They are also arranging different village meetings on large scale in order to create moreand more awareness among people about Biogas uses and effectiveness. Their Social Organizers (SOs) or Field Coordinators (FCs) are playing a vital role in generating demand for biogas plants.

Salient features of the project

The main objective of the national domestic biogas programme is to improve the livelihoods and quality of life of the farmers in Pakistan by establishing a commercially viable biogas sector. Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by feeding animal dung (especially the manure of buffaloes, cattle and sheep) and water into an airtight underground tank known as digester and allowing it to decompose. It is produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.

The programme works by focusing on supply and demand side. The major role players at the supply side are Biogas Construction Companies (BCCs), providing biogas construction and after sales services to households and Training institutes. However, at the demand side of the sector, PDBP has involved different local NGOsand PRSP.

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PDBP offers a rebate (discount) of Rs 7500/- in order to stimulate the demand for domestic biogas plants. This programme is working for domestic users and therefore offering four small sizes of plants that are 4m3, 6m3, 8m3 and 10m3. However, the discount rate is flat for each size. The household who has even two cattle is eligible for having a plant. The production of gas is directly proportional to the size of plant and same case with the number of animals.

The programme is implementing the fixed dome Nepalese GGC 2047 design by training different Masons and BCCs about its structure,procedure and measurements. The trainings were conducted by an expert trainer named Prakash from Nepal. Prakash has also traineddifferent teachers as a trainer of Biogas technology for PDBP andevaluated their performances.

In addition to Biogas Mason Training, the Biogas Mason Refresher training is also planned to keep the certified biogas masons updated with the developments in the programme.

Moreover, for informing users especially females because they arethe prime beneficiaries of the biogas, different user trainings are organized for them. PDBP staff members give instructions to biogas users about using the plant, biogas, appliances and bio-slurry.

The assurance of the quality of plants constructed by BCCs is a big challenge and for this Biogas Technicians visits the plants on two phases i.e. under construction and final inspections. For the first year (2009), they have visited each plant but now from onward visits will be conducted on sample basis.

Achievements of the project

 

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o Constructing 70 Biogas plants in the first year.

o Setting up Offices in four districts in central Punjab

o Development of promotional material such as brochures, flyers, writing material, t-shirts, caps etc.

o Partnerships with the Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) and the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) as well as seven Local NGOs.

o MOU with GCT for acting as training Institute for PDBP.

o MOU with Ministry of Environment, Pakistan.

o Reduction in health problems like respiratory illness, eye infection, asthma and lungs infection.

o Developed Database for keeping record of trainings, BCCs, Households, Plants and stakeholder meetings.

Financial support

This programme is funded by SNV initially for the first year, 2009. From November 2009 the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) has started a 4 years programme to support the construction of 14,000 household biogas plants in central Punjab.  

Future direction  

The aim is to reach 14000 plants up to 4 years.

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For 2010, the goal is to construct 1500 plants till November.

Future Focus is to explore the demand and supply sides by involving other active bodies.

On demand side PDBP will explore

1. Dairy Industries including PPDC (Pakistan Dairy Development Corporation), Nestle Foods and ENGRO Foods

2. Farm input Suppliers covering Pesticide dealers and Fertilizer dealers.

3. Green Government Agencies like Department of Forest, Department of extension and Department of Agriculture.

4. Department of Health.

5. Department of Education.

6. Department of Revenue.

7. Media Agencies

On supply side PDBP will involve

1. More BCCs, Masons and Trainers

2. More LNGOs

3. More Districts like Bhakar

4. Appliances Manufacturers

5. Micro Finance Institutes

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Details of Biogas Plants of various capacities

GasCapacity(cum/day).

Digester Volume(cum)

No. ofCattle

DungRequired Kg/day

GasAvailable for No.of persons(cooking)

Digester

Height Diaft ft

Gas holderHeight Diaft ft

ApproxCost(Rs)

Electri-cityUnits(Kwh)

Bio-manureSlurry dryKg/day kg/day

CO2

Reduction per year (tons)

2 2-5 2-3 40 5 8 4 4 3-6 18000 2.5 28 5 1.683 5 4-5 60 7 10 5 4 4-6 30000 4 42 8 2.524 6-5 6-7 80 10 9 6 4 5-6 36000 5 56 11 3.365 9 7-8 100 12 10 6 4 5-6 45000 6 70 14 4.206 11 8-10 120 15 10 6-6 5 6-0 54000 8 84 17 5.407 13 10-12 140 17 10 7 4-

46-6 60300 9 98 19 5.88

10 16 12-15 200 25 11 8 5 7-6 127000 12 140 28 8.4015 23 15-20 300 37 12 8 5 8-6 152000 19 210 42 12.6020 30 20-25 400 50 14 10 5 9-6 188000 25 280 56 16.6025 30 25-30 500 62 15 11 5 10-6 238000 30 350 70 21.0030 47 35-40 600 75 17 11 6 10-6 316000 38 420 84 25.2035 55 40-45 700 87 17 12 6 11-6 325000 44 490 98 29.4040 63 45-50 800 100 19 12 6 12-0 384000 50 560 112 33.6050 72 60-70 1000 125 20 13 6 13-6 432000 62 700 140 42.0060 90 80-90 1200 150 21 14 6 14-6 488000 86 840 168 50.4070 106 90-

1001400 175 22 15 6 14-6 560000 87 950 196 58.80

80 125 100-110

1600 200 22 16 6 15-6 570000 100 1120 224 67.20

100 155 130-140

2000 250 22 18 6 16-6 600000 125 1400 280 84.20

150 210 180-200

3000 375 25 20 6 20-6 800000 188 2100 420 126.00

200 300 240-250

4000 500 25 23.5

6 22-6 1000000

250 2800 560 168.00

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List of operational Large size Biogas Plants in pakistan

District Lahore

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

01 Dr. Sami, village Barka, Burki

Road

30M3 Generator

5kw

02 Mian Tariq, village Karyal

90M3 Genrator

30 KVA

dual fuel

30:70

03 Mr. Zafaryab Khan, village Burka Barki Road

80M3 Tube-well

District Sheikhupura

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

04 Mr. Mian M. Saeed, Chand Bagh Road

40M3 Generator

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/

Tube-well

District Gujranwala

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

05 Mr. Abdul Qadeer s/o M. Rafique, Basti Arian

30M3 Commercial

Cooking

District Toba Tek Singh

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

06 Mr. Rana Mudassor Iqbal Umer Restaurant, Toba Bypass

20M3 Commercial

cooking

District Jhang

Sr.N Name & Address capac Purpose

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o. ity

07 Mr. Khuda Bux Bharwana, Satiana,

40M3 Generator

5kw

District Pakpattan

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

08 Dr. Maqbool Ahmed, Mohallah Mochipura

15M3 Commercial for Sherbat making

09 Mr. Sajjad Ahmed, village Hajipura

15M3 Tube-well

30:70

10 Mr. Munir Ahmed, village Fazal Garh

10M3 Tulbe-well

30:70

11 Mr. Qudrat Ullah, village Fazal Garh

14M3 Tube-well

30:70

12 Mr. Javed Ahmad, village Fazal Garh

10M3 Tkube-well

District Vehari

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Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

13 Mr. Tariq Mehmood, village Talookpur, Tehsil Malsi

25M3 Peter Engine

Tube-well

District Multan

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

14 Mr. Hasnain Raza, village Larr Sourth, Tehsil jalalpur Pirwala

25M3 Cooking

District Bahawalpur

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

15 Mr. Sarfraz Alhmed, Tehsil Hasilpur

25M3 Cooking

District Lodhran

Sr.No.

Name & Address capacity

Purpose

16 Mr. Arshad, Basti 15M3 Cooking

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Layallpur Tehsil Karor Pacca

17 Bashir Ahmad, Basti Jandwala –do-

15M3 Cooking

18 Mr. Maqsood Ahmad, Rafiqabad, -do-

15M3 Cooking

DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE WORLD

Biogas is being produced and used as a source of energy in many countries. The development of biogas in different countries is discussed below.

United States Biogas is started to become a popular source of energy and is starting to be utilized in the United States. In 2003, the UnitedStates consumed 147 trillion BTU of energy from biogas, about 0.6% of the total U.S. natural gas consumption. According to a 2008 study, collected by the Science and Children magazine, methane biogas from cow manure would be sufficient to produce 100billion kilowatt hours enough to power millions of homes across America. Furthermore, methane biogas has been tested to prove

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that it can reduce 99 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions or about 4% of the greenhouse gases produced by the United States. In Hereford, Texas, cow manure is being used to power an ethanol power plant. By switching to methane biogas, theethanol power plant has saved one thousand barrels of oil a day. Overall, the power plant has reduced transportation costs and will be opening many more jobs for future power plants that will be relying on biogas.

UKThere are currently around 60 non-sewage biogas plants in the UK,most are on-farm. On 5 October 2010, biogas was injected into theUK gas grid for the first time. Sewage from over 30,000 Oxfordshire homes is sent to Didcot sewage treatment works, whereit is treated in an anaerobic digestor to produce biogas, which is then cleaned to provide gas for approximately 200 homes.

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biogas plant in wales

GermanyGermany is Europe's biggest biogas producer as it is the market leader in biogas technology. In 2010 there were 5,905 biogas plants operating throughout the whole country. Usually the biogasplants are directly connected with a CHP which produces electric power by burning the bio methane. The electrical power is then fed into the public power grid. In 2010, the total installed electrical capacity of these power plants was 2,291 MW which is 12.6 per cent of the total generated renewable electricity. Biogas in Germany is mostly produced from crops mixed with manure, the main crop utilized is corn. Organic waste and industrial and agricultural residues such as waste from the food industry are also used for biogas generation. Biogas production

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in Germany has developed rapidly over the last 20 years.

Corn-Mania Biogas in Germany

Indian subcontinentIn India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh biogas produced from theanaerobic digestion of manure in small-scale digestion facilities. It is estimated that such facilities exist in over two million households in India and in thousands in Pakistan, particularly North Punjab, due to the thriving population of livestock. The digester is an airtight circular pit made of concrete with a pipe connection. The manure is directed to the pit, usually directly from the cattle shed. The pit is then filled with a required quantity of wastewater. The gas pipe is connected to the kitchen fireplace through control valves. The combustion of this biogas has very little odour or smoke. Owing to simplicity in implementation and use of cheap raw materials in

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villages, it is one of the most environmentally sound energy sources for rural needs in Pakistan and India. In Pakistan, the Rural Support Programmes Network is running the Pakistan DomesticBiogas Programme[46] which has installed over 1500 biogas plants and aims to develop the Biogas Sector in Pakistan. . In Nepal, the government provides subsidies to build biogas plant.

Biogas plant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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Biotech India Integrated Waste Treatment Biogas Plant

ChinaThe Chinese have been experimenting with the applications of biogas since 1958. China is well known for its rural biogas utilization program. Since the 50th more than 35 million household scale biogas digesters with an estimated annual biogas output of 12 million m3 were installed. The development target is80 million units by 2020, including the climatically colder regions in the northern parts of China. During the last years thetechnology has met high growth rates. This seems to be the earliest developments in generating biogas from agricultural waste. The total number of biogas projects in China is more than that in Germany. However, the production scale, efficiency, and profitability are not as well-developed as Germen biogas industryis.

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Biogas Plant In China

Developing NationsDepending on size and location, a typical brick made fixed dome biogas plant can be installed at the yard of a rural household with the investment between 300 to 500 US $ in Asian countries and up to 1400 US $ in the African context. A high quality biogasplant needs minimum maintenance costs and can produce gas for at least 15–20 years without major problems and re-investments Domestic biogas technology is a proven and established technologyin many parts of the world, especially Asia.Several countries in this region have embarked on large-scale programmes on domestic biogas, such as China and India. The Netherlands Development

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Organisation, SNV, supports national programmes on domestic biogas that aim to establish commercial-viable domestic biogas sectors in which local companies market, install and service biogas plants for households. In Asia, SNV is working in Nepal, Vietnam, Bangladesh,Bhutan, Cambodia, Pakistan and Indonesia, andin Africa; Rwanda, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia,Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Benin and Cameroon.

Biogas Plant In Pakistan

BEST OPTION FOR FUTURE

In view of the prevailing situation, promotion of the biogas technology (B.T.) seems to be one of the best options which could, not only partially offset the fossil fuel and fuel wood consumption but also could facilitate recycling of agro-animal residues as a bio-fertilizer. Moreover, being clean and

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renewable, it would also contribute towards environment protection, sustenance of ecosystem and conservation of biodiversity.

There is however, a tremendous need to promote public awareness, in particular, among youth and women, on the use of bio-energy (biogas) and bio-fertilizer and also to create awareness and know-how about eco-system management, conservation of bio-diversity and sustainable use of natural resources.

Due to mass Social acceptance, the Government of Pakistan has asked PCRET to launch mega project on the biogas technology by installing 25,000 biogas units all over the country to not only cater the needs of cooking but also for agriculture and commercial purpose in order to meet the shortage of gas and electricity in the country. It is hoped that after approval from concerned quarters the project will pave way on mass-scale dissemination of an environment –friendly technology; which apartfrom being green has enormous benefits to the public at the country.

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  Conclusions

With rapid increase in population and industry, energy needs are on rise. Almost 7million m3wood is used for commercial and domestic purpose annually in Pakistan. Biogas energy generation systems are in demand and their number is increasing steadily. They are cheaper and can be run with very low operating cost. This bio energy corridor can work as a good substitute for nearly 70% of country’s population residing in rural areas. Installation of plants to bottle the biogas can be another option. This will decentralize the source of energy and ensure uninterrupted power supply to the villages in Pakistan. At present many agencies like PDDC, PCRET and RSPN are working to disseminate this renewable energy technology. But the need of a National policy is imperative to bring this technology at farmer’sdoorstep and boost its success rate.

If proper steps are taken by the country, there is no reason thatwe can with the developed countries by utilizing renewable energy.

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Recommendations

There are significant social, economic and environmental benefits of biogas technology.The government of Pakistan through PCRET and Alternative Energy Development Board(AEDB)should take the initiative and announce more funds and support for this proven technology to be a part of our ruralsociety. In parallel, the media should raise the level

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of awareness among the rural community by highlighting the benefits of this technology.NGOs and foreign investors should been couraged to invest in this sector too.

However, a biogas plant seldom meets the owner's need for status and recognition. Biogas technology has a poor image ("Biogas plants are built by dreamers for poor people". If you do not want to seem one of the poor, you do not buy a biogas plant. The image of the biogas plant must be improved.

Other wastes like sewage, kitchen, human excreta should alsobe utilized on mass scale in addition to cow dung for funding for production of biogas.

Dependence of petroleum should be minimized and the masses should switch on to get benefit from biogas.

It should be extended to electric generators, tube wells, ironing the clothes, lighting, cooling, using biogas fans.

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Bibliography

1. ftp://trabant.tr.fh-hannover.de/Schwarzes_Brett/Schwermer/KleinbiogasanlagenTD/Literatur_zu_Biogas/Sasse_Biogas_Plants.pdf

2. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Alternative-Energy-Potentials-Biogas-106816.html

3. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-biogas-plant.htm

4. http://pelagiaresearchlibrary.com/advances-in-applied-science/vol1-iss2/AdSSR-2010-1-2-1-8.pdf

5. http://idosi.org/wasj/wasj9(5)/13.pdf

6.http://www.biogasmax.eu/media/r3_report_on_biogas_composition_and_engine_performance__092122100_1411_21072009.pdf

7. http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/11/18/news/profit/biogas-an-answer-to-pakistan%E2%80%99s-energy-crisis/

8. http://www.fluid-biogas.com/?page_id=154&lang=en

9. http://www.pcret.gov.pk/products_file/bio_energy.htm

10. http://rspn.org/our_projects/pdbp.html

11. http://www.economywatch.com/renewable-energy/advantages-of-biogas.html

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12. http://ecovillage.org.in/ecopedia/alternate-energy/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-biogas

13. http://www.hivos.nl/eng/News/News/The-economic-benefits-of-biogas

Appendix

Anaerobic Digestion: it is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.Asthma: is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm.Biodiversity: is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species.Bio-Fertilizer: is a substance which contains living microorganisms which, when applied to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, colonizes the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.

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Biomass Energy: is the energy by any organic materials that can be burned and used as a source of fuel.Critical Pressure: The pressure of a substance at its critical point.Crust: local biology-sensitive structure.Decentralized: is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens.Deforestation: is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest useEnzymes: is a protein formed by the body that acts as a catalyst to cause a certain desired reaction.Fatty Acids: is a carboxylic acid with a long aliphatic tail (chain).Global Warming: is the rise in the average temperature of Earth'satmosphere.Greenhouse Gas: is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range.Integrated: organized or structured so that constituent units function cooperatively.Masons: a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork.Methanogen: are microorganisms that produce methane as a metabolic byproduct in anoxic conditions.Micro Flora: the bacterial population in the intestine.Mixing Pit: A pit in which drill mud is mixed and stored untilthe mud is cured and needed for use as a drill circulation fluid.Offensive: Disagreeable to the senses.Photochemical Smog: It is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere.Renewable energy: it is energy that comes from natural resources.Reside: to live permanently or for a considerable time.Siloxane: is any chemical compound composed of units of the form R2Si O .Slurry: any fluid mixture of a pulverized solid with a liquid (usually water). Erosion: Erosion is the process by which soil

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and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow, and then transported and deposited in other locations.Soot: a black, carbonaceous substance produced during incomplete combustion of coal, wood, oil, etc.Stakeholder: a person, group, organization, member or system who affects or can be affected by an organization's actions.Substrate: the reactant which is consumed during a catalytic or enzymatic reaction.Sustainable: in a general sense is the capacity to support, maintain or endure.Volatile: a measure of the tendency of a substance to vaporize.Quarry: is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted.

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RESEARCH TOOL

We have chosen INTERVIEW as our RESEARCH TOOL. We have conducted interviews of specialist people related to this field.

1 ST INTERVIEW

We have conducted the interview of “Engr. Sami Ullah Shaikh” who is working under the department of “PCRET” which is under the “Ministry of Science & Technology”. He is also the Head of “Biogas” field in Punjab.

Here are some of the highlights of the interview we conducted.

Q. Firstly tell us that Biogas is which kind of gas. How it is made and what’s its composition?

Ans. Biogas is made by the anaerobic fermentation of biomass mainly the cow dung. Methane is the main component of biogas while others gases are also present like carbon dioxide, nitrogenetc. Biogas is very similar to natural gas known as sui gas.

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Q. What is the future of biogas in Pakistan?

Ans. Pakistan is in energy crisis now-a-days. And biogas can fulfill this energy as renewable source.

Q. Which things are necessary for a farmer to install a biogas plant?

Ans. The main component of biogas is cow dung. So, the farmer must contain cows, buffaloes along with water.

Q. Your department install plants in different areas of Punjab, so uptill now which is the biggest plant you have installed?

Ans. Our department is the focal point of installing biogas plants.The biggest plant uptill now is installed in district Lahore which is of 90 cubic metre.

Q. To run the tubewell, which capacity of plant is required?

Ans. To run a tubewell, 50 cubic metre per day capacity of plant is required.It can run on dual fuel which means 70% biogas and 30% diesel, which means 70% diesel can be saved daily by using this plant.

Q. What is the cost of plant that can run tubewell on it?

Ans. The price of 50 cubic metre plant is approximately 4 lakhs.

Q. What is the age of biogas plant?

Ans. The age of plant is 30-35 years if it is maintained properly, i.e. by applying paint on the gas holder of the plant, age of the plant can be enhanced.

Q. How many plants your department has installed uptill now?

Ans. We have installed 5000 family size biogas plants throughout the country.

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Q. How much is saving of the farmer who install the biogas plant?Ans. Biogas can be used in different areas like for running tubewells, for ironing. It can also used for fertilizers purpose, thus farmer can have a lot of saving.

Q. Give specifications of 3 & 5 cubic metre plants, how many people can fulfill their needs and how many cows are necessary for these plants.

Ans. Talking about 3 cubic metre plant, only 3 cows are needed for it and 7-8 people can fulfill their cooking needs by using this plant. And cow dung of 5-6 animals is sufficient for 5 cubicmetre plant and 12-13 people can fulfill their cooking needs.

Q. What do you think about the biogas potential in Pakistan?

Ans. In Pakistan, its utilization is very limited.But now due to energy crisis we are facing, many NGO’s and govt. departments areswitched to biogas as a renewable source to overcome the energy crisis.

Q. We have concluded that in future biogas can be used to overcome this energy crisis?

Ans. Sure, biogas can fulfill the needs of the country in terms of energy.

2 ND INTERVIEW

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We have also conducted the interview of “Akhtar Ali”. He is the Field Manager working under thhe department of “PCRET”.

Here are some of the highlights of the interview we conducted.

Q. Firstly tell us that Biogas is which kind of gas. How it is made and what’s its composition?

Ans. Biogas is made by the anaerobic fermentation of biogredable materials. Methane and carbon dioxide are the main component of biogas while others gases are also present like nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, oxygen etc. Biogas is very similar to natural gas known as sui gas.

Q. What is the future of biogas in Pakistan?

Ans. The future of biogas is very bright in Pakistan. As you knowthat Pakistan is the 5th largest country in livestock. So we can use it to fulfill our energy demands.

Q. Which things are necessary for a farmer to install a biogas plant?

Ans. As you know that the main component of biogas is cow dung. So the farmer must contain sufficient number of cows to run the biogas plant. Sufficient availability of sunlight in that area isalso very important for the biogas so the farmer should built biogas plant in that area where sunlight is sufficient.

Q. What is the age of biogas plant?

Ans. The age of biogas plant is approximately 40 years. It depends upon its maintenance. If it is maintained properly then the age can be enhanced. The age of plant can be enhanced by applying regularly paint on the gas holder of the plant.

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Q. How much is saving of the farmer who install the biogas plant?

Ans. Biogas is the alternative of the sui gas. As the demand and prices of sui gas are raising and increasing day by day so it is difficult for a poor farmer to pay, if he install a biogas plant he will get gas for cooking in free because there are only installment price of biogas after that it is free of cost so knowyou can guess about the savings of the farmer who install the biogas plant.

Q. What do you think about the biogas potential in Pakistan?

Ans. The potential of biogas in Pakistan is very high. But the problem is that its utilization is very limited. The people of Pakistan are not so educated due to which they are unaware about the advantages and benefits of biogas. Pakistan is very blessed country and our country is rich in sunlight. Talking about the animals, as I told you earlier they are present abundantly in Pakistan so the potential of biogas is present. The need of the hour is that we should maximize its utilization so we may able toovercome the energy crisis which is the main problem in our country.

Q. Give some benefits of biogas?

Ans. There are many benefits of biogas. Biogas is safe and usefulfor cooking and heating because of more heat produced the time required for cooking is lesser. Annually, each biogas plant can save more than four ton's of firewood and 32 liters of kerosene. Each biogas plant produces about five ton's of bio-fertilizer annually, which can replace chemical fertilizer. A single biogas system with a volume of 100 cubic feet (2,8 m3) can save as much as 0.3 acres (0,12 ha) of forest (woodland) each year. Methane

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gas can be used an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG),since calorific value of methane gas produced is better than the LPG's.

Q. Give your final conclusion about the future of biogas?

Ans. Due to the present energy crisis, many NGO’s and the govt. departments are looking for biogas, because biogas is a renewableenergy and it is very cheap as compared to other fuels and it hasno environmental hazards. It is easy and safe to use. In short, biogas is a cheap source that can fulfill the energy demands of the whole world.

.

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