Utilising methane, anyone made an outdoor lamp?

[mart]

I was looking on you tube at the experiments with methane gas, and methods of utilising this gas that comes from decomposing waste and excrement. I’ve not found anything online yet to work out the amount of “matter” that would be required to produce X amount of gas over Y period of time etc.

Years ago, to prevent the build of this explosive gas in the sewers, sewerage destructor lamps were installed on the hilliest parts of cities - the base of the lamp going down in to the sewer.
Eighty-four of these street lamps were erected in Sheffield between 1914 and 1935.
　

 

[rtbcomp]

Not sure of the production of methane, but here's one of the lamps you mentioned, not far from me https://www.flickr.com/photos/30120216@N07/7154138101/

 

[captain-destructo]

you should mabe try looking on mother earth website you may find something on there

 

[bigegg]

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G1881

gives some figures for the entire process - in American(!)

for a range of animals.

approx 12cu ft of gas per lb of "volatile solids" - which is about 1/3 of the actual "waste" - and this is produced over 8-12 days at 68F

 

[bigegg]

This is the google search, btw:

"generating methane - how much from a tank"

 

[captain-destructo]

hmm interesting
http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/biogas-generator-zm0z14aszrob.aspx#axzz3Gc0O2UP0

 

[bigegg]

I like motherearthnews, but it soooooooooo sloooooooooooow to load (and I'm on a 100mBs fibre connection!)

 

[mart]

I’ll check the links that have been posted.

“sewer gases were drawn from the sewer below and burnt off along with the town gas to produce mainly carbon dioxide”.

I’m trying to work out the purpose of burning the methane with town gas. Not sure if it was required to make the methane burn better, or to produce Co2 instead of some other less desirable end product?
　

 

[brightspark]

I’ll check the links that have been posted.

“sewer gases were drawn from the sewer below and burnt off along with the town gas to produce mainly carbon dioxide”.

I’m trying to work out the purpose of burning the methane with town gas. Not sure if it was required to make the methane burn better, or to produce Co2 instead of some other less desirable end product?
　

well maybee the town gas was used as a pilot light as the sewer gas wouldnt be at a constant regulated pressure .the tip near us is all piped up and theres a flare stack that burns the methane off the flames 6 foot long

 

[rosinante]

2 pints bitter and a pack of scratchings = 1 cu ft gas , add sprouts for more flammability, empirical fact
HTH
Chris

 

[rtbcomp]

well maybee the town gas was used as a pilot light as the sewer gas wouldnt be at a constant regulated pressure ...........

Spot on. The streetlamp was a conventional lamp with a hollow stem, the gasses were drawn up from the sewer by convection. They were kept burning 24 hours a day.

 

[Cyberprog]

2 pints bitter and a pack of scratchings = 1 cu ft gas , add sprouts for more flammability, empirical fact
HTH
Chris

The collection hose will be uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it after a while.

 

[Shox Dr]

The town live stock market and abattoir collected the methane produced by the waiting aminals, running a pump, [I think to supply gas lights] and an engine powering a generator. I believe it's been removed

 

[CompoSimmonite]

The Fowlchurch waste disposal site at Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands used to be a landfill site. At one side of the current depot is a wired off area with pipes pointing upwards. If you arrive at the tip on a overcast winters day you can see the methane, being produced by the landfill, burning off !

 

[Shox Dr]

Why do they not put it to better use?

 

[brightspark]

by the time they collected it piped and stored it it wouldnt be economical

Why do they not put it to better use?

because it has 2 many contaminants .its only about 60 percent methane the rest is other.contains nitrogen hydrogen co2 and other nasties it can be used and piped off if the contaminants were removed or used on site as is for heating . theres a flare stack at ici wilton the flames massive it lights the sky up and can be seen over 60 miles away it cant be used or stored theres that many nasties in it

 

[bigegg]

I used to work at a landfill site at swillington nr leeds.
They had methane powered generators scattered across the site.
Good place for a kip on a cold winter's day.

allegedly.

 

[garethp]

Why do they not put it to better use?

Some landfill sites do, a few years back I was on a landfill site down west Cumbria and I'm sure they had plant that burnt the gas in a turbine to power a grid tied genny. I think the conversation started with "what the hell is that?!?"

 

[normspanners]

There ya go a little gas engine in stripdown from my local tip
ps that is only one side its a vee16

 

[mr migwire]

our local council has a new system in place at the landfill site up the road which among other things is used to heat the local hospital, its one of the few things they have got right....

http://www.chpa.co.uk/fife-council-...-and-power-from-anaerobic-digestion_1546.html