BIOGAS

Presented by: Daniella Jacques

Presented to: Mme Neena and
classmates
Date: 2014-01-29
What is Biogas?
A gaseous fuel (60% Methane, and 40 %
CO2 and other), produced by anaerobic
digestion process of organic waste.
Project:Home Biogas Generator:
Discussed orally with the help of live model:
Process (steps taken demonstrate using model)
Encountered problems & solutions
What would I do differently?


How a Biogas Plant works:
What is occurring:
A biochemical process of 4 stages:
1. Hydrolysis
2. Acidogenesis
3. Acetogenesis
4. Methanogenesis
(Stage 2 & 3 are, by some
viewed as one stage)
1. Hydrolysis
Begins when the water is mixed, and
almost all oxygen has left the feedstock
Is the enzymatic breakdown of fats,
proteins, carbohydrates, and oils, into
amino acids, simple sugars, and fatty acids
Feedstock is now in a chemically accessible
state
2. Acidogenesis
It is the Fermentation state
Acid-forming bacteria oxidize the
compounds produced during the
Hydrolysis stage
This oxidization produces: carbon dioxide,
hydrogen, ammonia, and organic acids

3. Acetogenesis
Conversion of organic acids into acetic
acids
Acetic acids are the food source for the
final stage of decomposition

4. Methanogenesis
Creation of methane-producing microbes
(methanogens)
Methanogens combine hydrogen & carbon
dioxide to create methane
Slow process & extremely sensitive to
temperature, pH levels, and presence of
oxygen
How much can be produced?
Impossible to determine an exact amount
Depends on numerous variables such as
temperature, quantity and quality, errors,
etc
Rule of thumb: A well managed generator
may produce approximately its own
volume of biogas each day.
- 1 cubic foot of methane = 1055000 J
- Biogas(60% of CH4)=633000 J cubic foot
Disadvantages
If released in a non-combusted form, its a
potent greenhouse gas and could
potentially carry diseases (transferred
from the manure etc)
Explosive; if in large quantities
Initially : a large facility is costly due to the
hardware changes but is cost efficient in
the end
Advantages
Reduces 2 of the largest sources of manmade methane:
live stock manure (key ingredient of Biogas) & landfills
(contains organic waste)
Can be produced during anaerobic digestion sewage
treatment
Can connect directly to a grid or CHP station, travels
through pipelines
Natural gas substitute
Resulting products: renewable energy & fertilizer
Small Biogas facilities are cost efficient and are used in
third world countries to eliminate pollution and produce
energy
Examples:
Projects/Companies:
Synenergy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDaFEgNGm4
Biogas Energy Inc.
Biogas Energy Solutions - Kenya
Johnson Controls (US)
Biogas Europe
GE Power and Water Distributed Power
AMERSCO
And many more
A little taste:
In 2011 there were approximately 180
operational biogas systems on American
livestock farms which were able to produce
enough electricity for 47 000 homes.