2 Biogas Methane Renewable Energy eBooks on CD

On Offer Here Are Two Wonderful eBooks On One CD

(PDF file format)

BOOK 2.   Biogas Plant Designs (80 pages)

Book 1 - 3 Cubic Meter Biogas Construction Manual

Construction time and labour resources required to build a 3-CUBIC METER BIOGAS PLANT will vary depending on several factors. The most important consideration is the availability of people interested in doing this project. The project may in many circumstances be a secondary or after-work project. This will of course increase the length of time needed to complete the project.

The construction times given here are at best an estimation based on limited field experience. Skill divisions are given because some aspects of the project require someone with experience in metalworking and/or welding. Make sure adequate facilities are available before construction begins.

A biogas digester is the apparatus used to control anaerobic decomposition. In general, it consists of a sealed tank or pit that holds the organic material, and some means to collect the gases that are produced. Many different shapes and styles of biogas plants have been experimented with: horizontal, vertical, cylindrical, cubic, and dome shaped. One design that has won much popularity, for reliable performance in many different countries is presented in this book.

It is the Indian cylindrical pit design. In 1979 there were 50,000 such plants in use in India alone, 25,000 in Korea, and many more in Japan, the Philippines, Pakistan, Africa, and Latin America. There are two basic parts to the design: a tank that holds the slurry (a mixture of manure and water); and a gas cap or drum on the tank to capture the gas released from the slurry. To get these parts to do their jobs, of course, requires provision for mixing the slurry, piping off the gas, drying the effluent, etc. In addition to the production of fuel and fertilizer, a digester becomes the receptacle for animal, human, and organic wastes. This removes from the environment possible breeding grounds for rodents, insects, and toxic bacteria, thereby producing a healthier environment in which to live.

Some applications for the biogas:

• Gas can be used for heating, lighting, and cooking
• Gas can be used to run internal combustion engines with modifications
• Effluent can be used for fertilizer.

Some advantages:

• Simple to build and operate
• Virtually no maintenance--25-year digester lifespan
• Design can be enlarged for community needs
• Continuous feeding
• Provides a sanitary means for the treatment of organic wastes. 
  

3 CUBIC METER CONSTRUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.              WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT IS USEFUL

II.             II. DECISION FACTORS
Applications
Advantages
Disadvantages
Considerations
Cost Estimate

III.            III. MAKING THE DECISION AND FOLLOWING THROUGH

IV.           IV. PRECONSTRUCTION CONSIDERATIONS
By-Products of Digestion
Location Size
Heating and Insulating
Digesters
Materials
Tools

V.            V. CONSTRUCTION
Prepare Foundation and Walls
Prepare the Gas Cap Drum
Prepare Moisture Trap
Prepare Mixing and Effluent Tanks

VI.           VI. OPERATION
Output and Pressure

VII. VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF BIOGAS AND DIGESTER BY-PRODUCTS
Engines
Fertilizer
Improvised Stove
Lighting

VIII. MAINTENANCE
Possible Troubles

 IX. TEST GAS LINE FOR LEAKS

 X. DICTIONARY OF TERMS

XI. CONVERSION TABLES

XII. FURTHER INFORMATION RESOURCES A Listing of Recommended Resource Materials Useful Information for Methane Digester Designs

APPENDIX I. DECISION MAKING WORKSHEET

APPENDIX II. RECORD KEEPING WORKSHEET

Book 2 - Biogas Plant Design

This is a wonderful document complete with illustrations, drawings and photos like the image below.

Before building a biogas plant, there are different circumstances which should be considered. For instance, the natural and agricultural conditions in the specific countries are as important as the social or the economic aspects. To consider the most important factors, we provide a checklist for the planning procedure, a planning guide and a checklist for construction of a biogas plant.

Failure or unsatisfactory performance of biogas units occur mostly due to planning mistakes. The consequences of such mistakes may be immediately evident or may only become apparent after several years. Thorough and careful planning is, therefore, of utmost importance to eliminate mistakes before they reach irreversible stages. As a biogas unit is an expensive investment, it should not be erected as a temporary set-up. Therefore, determining siting criteria for the stable and the biogas plant are the important initial steps of planning.

Biogas Plant Design
Throughout the world, a countless number of designs of biogas plants have been developed under specific climatic and socio-economic conditions. Chosing a biogas plant design is essentially part of the planning process. It is, however, important to familiarize with basic design considerations before the actual planning process begins. This refers to the planning of a single biogas unit as well as to the planning of biogas-programs with a regional scope.

Biogas - Application and Product Development 
Planning a biogas plant 
Design
Types of plants
Parts of a biogas plant
Construction details 
Starting the plant
Managing input- and output-material

Biogas - Digester types .............................8
Fixed-dome plants
Floating-drum plants

Biogas Plant Types and Design.................15
Digester types in industrialized countries
Selection of appropriate design
Ballon plants
Horizontal plants
Earth-pit plants
Ferrocement plants

Parts of Biogas Plants.................................19
Influent collecting tank 
Inlet and outlet 
Digester
Gasholders
Gas pipe, valves and accessories 
Stirring facilities

Optional Parts of Biogas Plants.................26
Heating systems 
Pumps 
Weak ring

Balancing Biogas Production and Energy Demand.....29
Determining the biogas production
Determining the energy demand

Biogas Planning Guide ..............................32
Detailed planning guide for biogas plants

Step-by-Step Planning Checklist for Biogas Plants......38

Sizing a biogas plant .................................39
Sizing the digester
Calculating the daily gas production
Sizing the gasholder

Siting of the Biogas Unit...........................41
Stable
Biogas plant

Substrate types and management.............43
Cattle dung and manure 
Pig dung and manure 
Goat dung
Chicken droppings 
Human excrements 
The problem of scum

Construction Details of Biogas Plants........46
Checklist for building a biogas plant .........46

Piping Systems ............................................48
PVC piping 
Galvanized steel piping
Pipe diameters
Lay-out of the piping system
Water traps
Valves

Pumps for Biogas Plants.............................51
Types of pumps

Biogas Plant Design - Heating...................53
Internal and external heating systems

Agitation .....................................................55
Mixing methods

Slurry-Use Equipment ................................59
Separation of slurry and drying of the moist sludge 
Composting of slurry

Plasters and Coats for Digester and Gas-Holder.....61
Cement plaster with special additives
Bitumen (several layers)
Bitumen coat with aluminum foil 
Water-thinnable dispersion paint
Single- and dual component synthetic resin paints 
Paraffin

Underground Water ......................................63
Operation and Use ........................................65
Daily operation 
Weekly / monthly operation 
Annual operation
Security

Biogas - Sludge Management.......................68
Sludge storage
Composition of sludge
Fertilizing effect of effluent sludge

Annual Manure Yield and Nutrient Content of Animal Excrements.....71
Maintainance, Monitoring and Repair 
Daily maintenance work 
Weekly/monthly (prophylactic) maintenance work
Annual maintenance work 
Monitoring 
Repair

Biogas Utilization..........................................76
Gas production
Conditioning of biogas 
Biogas burners
Efficiency
Gas demand

Gas Yields and Methane Contents for Various Substrates.........80

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