Biogas Resources

[Onoff]

Would anyone have a good link to DIY / home biogas production. This for heating and possible generator use.

This on the basis of someone having a herd of cows so an infinite manure supply!

I'm aware of the Nepalese biogas build details and the one from Mother Earth News.

I've seen a small plant for such at one of the zoo's/animal parks.

@Fraserb maybe?

Thanks

 

[8ob]

The Indians have slurry tanks under their kitchens and literally pipe off the top to a cooker burner. No doubt there will be a migtube vid of one along very shortly.

Bob

 

[Barking Mat]

Apologies, second time this evening, I'm blaming, erm... Me.

 

[Onoff]

The Indians have slurry tanks under their kitchens and literally pipe off the top to a cooker burner. No doubt there will be a migtube vid of one along very shortly.

Bob

Yes, for my Gurkha friends in their 50s and 60s it was the norm. In their words, "mum would sling a few shovels of buffalo dung in, with the gas produced she'd cook and we'd have lights to do our homework".

A lot of these plants fell into disuse with mandatory electrification. They said the government just came along and put a meter connection to everyone's property.

 

[Brad93]

This on the basis of someone having a herd of cows so an infinite manure supply!

I'm aware of the Nepalese biogas build details and the one from Mother Earth News.

I've seen a small plant for such at one of the zoo's/animal parks.

@Fraserb maybe?

Thanks

So basically you want to build a small CHP.

I've been involved in some big commercial projects, Thames water THP. The waste was human not bovine though.

And a small setup at a timber processors, that was just burning the wood chip.

Heat generation is one thing but generation requires a turbine and a boiler. You're getting into expensive territory in terms of construction and also certification then.

 

[Brad93]

Micro combined heat and power

Micro combined heat and power systems generate heat and electricity for your home at the same time, from the same energy source.

energysavingtrust.org.uk

Interesting, apparently there are some Fuel Cell technologies available.

 

[Brad93]

Quite a large plant for 7kw!

 

[Onoff]

You're getting into expensive territory in terms of construction and also certification then.

I'm more your blue plastic barrel kinda guy. Maybe 3 cascaded IBC tanks etc.

 

[julianf]

Would anyone have a good link to DIY / home biogas production. This for heating and possible generator use.

This on the basis of someone having a herd of cows so an infinite manure supply!

I'm aware of the Nepalese biogas build details and the one from Mother Earth News.

I've seen a small plant for such at one of the zoo's/animal parks.

@Fraserb maybe?

Thanks

People always think of these things running of faeces, but, of course, that has already had a fair bit of the energy removed from it.

I have been told that a fair amount of the maize grown around here goes direct to biogas plants, skipping the cows altogether. I don't know if that is true, or your standard anti-green propaganda.

I went to a larger plant a few years back. Sticks in my memory as it was quite fearful. Artic lorries coming in full of human food waste. A pit with concrete sides and hosed down (slippery) floor all around it with the food layer some feet below me, and i was there, on the edge, pouring in "stuff" to the hole.


I don't think its so hard if you have some space. Sure, loads of science for a pro setup, but DIY you can just use cut IBCs to store the gas, akin to the old gas towers, with the water seal at the base. But how many cubic feet of gas etc that you need to make it worth while, i have no idea.

I knew more about it about a decade ago, but have forgotten it : ( I figured there were easier ways for me, personally, to get energy.

One last thing (not as if anything ive said prior has been useful, mind!) -

People have, in the past, accepted the waste product from biodiesel makers to biodigesters. Im told, given the right conditions, its energy output is good.

 

[Onoff]

For instance:

Nepal Biogas Plant -- Construction Manual

 

[Popcorn]

MadMax 3 Beyond Thunderdome mind that was Pigs__t

 

[Onoff]

When I was a kid anyone with solar on their house was considered verging on being a hippy type. I mean why would you when coal, gas, oil was so cheap?

 

[julianf]

For instance:

Nepal Biogas Plant -- Construction Manual

The ones in far off places are often to be able to cook / boil water - which is good and all that, but the whole time/money thing here is different. Its not worth building some big contraption with x value of land and x value of materials, and x ongoing labor cost just to cook your dinner each night. It kind of has to be bigger / better to break even.

I think (although i may be wrong) that i read about the gas being used to supplement an engine (generator) fuel by sucking it into the air, and relying on the govenor to regulate down the other fuel accordingly. I may be making that up though!

I used to know one of these "ill go on holiday to india on charity money" sorts, and i spoke with them a fair bit about it, but they were more of a salesman than an engineer, so it was always troubled.

 

[Onoff]

MadMax 3 Beyond Thunderdome mind that was Pigs__t

Thunderdome is apt!

 

[Onoff]

The ones in far off places are often to be able to cook / boil water

& gas lighting.

 

[Onoff]

I think I have the plans for this one somewhere as well:

Make a Biogas Generator to Produce Your Own Natural Gas – Mother Earth News

Transform grass clippings, food waste and livestock manure into renewable energy via a homemade biogas generator.

www.motherearthnews.com

 

[Onoff]

Its not worth building some big contraption with x value of land and x value of materials, and x ongoing labor cost just to cook your dinner each night.

Like it's not worth growing your own veg because of the effort required. The time could be better spent at a paid for gym followed by a posh coffee?

Sorry, but I think as a nation we've been spoilt for too long and have forgotten what's real.

 

[500e]

@ Parm may have some input re h&s
Was reading something a couple of days ago that there has been a big safety problem even with smallish systems
Think a couple of large ones told improve or shut, may have been in the Times think there was an accident that started the purge

 

[julianf]

Like it's not worth growing your own veg because of the effort required. The time could be better spent at a paid for gym followed by a posh coffee?

Sorry, but I think as a nation we've been spoilt for too long and have forgotten what's real.

You are speaking to someone who heats their home on kitchen waste and cast offs from the building trade.

Its not about unwillingness to put on effort. It's about where best to spend your resources, both human and material.

And, yes, we also grow a small proportion of our food.


I'm not suggesting that you don't do *somthing* - far far from it. Just that there are way more efficient ways to get the same gains here.

I suspect that even with an unlimited supply of low grade waste, your material input (concrete etc) to get a reasonable output may not be that environmentally pleasing. I mean I may well be wrong, like I say, I've forgotten most of what I did know on it.

Remember, in our society, there is "waste" all over the place, whist in some parts of the developing world, people eek out a living by pulling plastic bags out of landfill sites for recycling.

My point is that a small digester running on animal waste makes sense in a society that is so "lean", but, in ours, where there is higher value (in terms of energy) waste lying about all over the place, maybe it doesn't make so much sense to focus your time / materials on the low output processes.

Again, I'd encourage any of this sort of activity wholly, but, if you want gains, rather than a hobby, maybe focus on a higher energy feedstock than one that an animal has already sucked most of the energy from?

But, sure, if you go for it regardless, I'll be watching with both interest and encouragement.

 

[Onoff]

Put bluntly, if a sack of free cow manure could give me a tank of free hot water it's a no brainer.