INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KHARAGPUR 721302, DECEMBER 27-29, 2002
Power Generation Using Biogas - Application to
Industries /Rural Area – Case Study
H. Ravishankar Kamath,P.N. Sreedhar, P.N. Hrishikesh and Harish Padiyar U.
Abstract - Indian economy is based on Agriculture and Animal
Husbandry on which country’s 80% of 1 billion people depend.
We also have the world’s largest cattle population - 400 million,
thus offering tremendous potential for lighting through
electrification /application to industries using Biogas.[1] The
study was done at three villages – Shivalli, Naravi and Bajagoli.
The Study puts a light on how effectively Biogas can be utilized
to generate electric power and hence plays an important role in
rural lighting/industrial applications.
I. INTRODUCTION
Energy generated from Biomass can compete economically
with conventional electricity generating systems in the most
remote areas to which the transportation of fuel represents a
major operating cost and also the non availability of grid.[2]
The Bio gas has been most successful due to various reasons
like
• Large Cattle population in the country side ensuring
steady source of supply of new material required for
running the biogas plant.
• Decentralized spread of energy source by having gas
plant with each user.
• Helps on reducing denudation of forest reserves by
cutting of trees for fire woods.
• Removing drudgery of women folk from cooking on
pollutant, unhygienic cooking methods through use of
firewood, dung cake.
Today out of estimated 980 million tones of cattle dung
produced in the country over 30% is burnt in the form of
cattle dung cakes. If all these could be converted to biogas
and manure, the country’s supply of organic manure will
increase by 114 million tones. At the rate of 25 tones /hectare
this may suffice for 4.56 million hectares of agricultural land.
Besides this it will give fuel enough for the kitchen of 27
million families in the village. If 30% of cattle dung which is
burnt as dung cakes is converted to gas it will provide 11240
H. Ravishankar Kamath is a Reader in the Department of Electrical and
Electronics with Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal - 576119.
Karnataka State, India. e-mail: rs.kamath@mit.manipal.edu. Fax: (0825)
571071.
Prof(Dr.) P.N. Sreedhar is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and
Electronics with the National Institute of Technology (Karnataka), Surathkal,
India. (0824) 476524
P.N. Hrishikesh is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and
Electronics with Manipal Institute Of Technology, Manipal-576119,
Karnataka State, e-mail: pnhrishikesh@yahoo.com. Fax: (0825) 571071
Harish Padiyar U. is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and
Electronics with Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal – 576 119.
Karnataka State, India. Fax: (0825) 571071.
859
million cubic meter of gas which is enough for 27.11 million
families. The present paper does a case study on power
generation using Biogas Energy taking into account the
various options present for this purpose.[3] The site at which
the case study was done was at Naravi - A village about 65
Km from Manipal Institute of Technology, at Shivalli
Village near MIT and Bajagoli village- about 55 Km from
Manipal Campus.
II. CASE STUDIES DONE AT THE THREE VILLAGES
1) Case Study of Naravi Village
Naravi village is situated approx. 65 km from M.I.T
campus. It is a small village with 20 families each owning 3 -4
buffaloes/cows.
It is located in the hinterland and falls in one of the
remotest parts of Karnataka. The grid supply is present but is
highly unreliable with power cuts of up to 6 – 8 hrs during
peak summer season. [4] The capital required is more in
setting up transmission & distribution for this far flung
village. Also Transmission & distribution losses increase due
to the increased distance from the Power station. On the other
hand, lighting in these rural areas can be effectively achieved
by decentralized electricity generation using locally generated
biogas. This also makes the system self-reliant. The raw
material is abundantly available. The fuel is clean and locally
available and the entire system can be developed using
indigenous technology.
The place of the case study is ideally located for the
power generation using the Biogas energy. It is an ideal
model which can be adopted by the Panchayat at the village
level, so that the entire energy demand of the village
including power, lighting and cooking can be overcome by
using the cow dung and other human waste product.
Two Biogas plants of 15 cubicmeter capacity each of the
type floating dome was setup at the cost of Rs. 30,000 for the
entire project. The biogas generated is used to run a diesel
engine of capacity 5 H.P using a mixture of diesel and biogas
(2:8).[5] The power generated is directly used for lighting
purpose.
This leads to direct saving of diesel. The Alternator (AC
generator) is used in this case is of capacity 4.5 KVA
powered by a 5 H.P diesel engine. Since the output of this
unit is used for lighting purpose, it runs for 6 hrs/day
generating about 21.6 Kwh of electricity per day. The saving
in diesel is 16 liters per day. The Biogas generated in this
plant is also used to run the kiln/dryer, which in turn is used
to bake areca nut, a local plantation.
860
This leads to saving of Kerosene which otherwise would
have been used. The Biogas is a clean fuel and hence even
while burning does not produce any pollutants thus
maintaining the ecological balance of rural environment. The
biogas plant also has a byproduct in the form of BIO-
MANURE which can be directly sold to the villagers.
2) Case Study of Shivalli Village
Shivalli village is located next to M.I.T campus. The
campus has a well designed underground sewage system and
a sewage treatment plant. The kitchen liquid wastes from the
hostels also join the sewage system. A fixed dome type
biogas plant has been established here of capacity 140 cubic
meter. At present the amount of gas that can be practically
and viably tapped is 90 cubic meter. The salient features of
this Biogas plant are:
• A set of grit chambers & grease chambers at each college
mess has been provided to eliminate sand & other gritty
materials and oils from sewage.
• An inlet chamber for the sedimentation tank for adequate
control of flow has been included.
• A pressure booster units for regulating pressure and flow
of gas at constant points is provided.
• 2 units of 45 cubicmeter capacity gas generator system
(Digester and fiber glass holder) is present.
The entire sewage of the surrounding area including MIT
Hostels flows to the sedimentation tank, through an
underground sewage system. The fermented / digested sludge
from this tank passes through the Biogas plant and gets
converted into manure, which can be sold to farmers. It is
estimated that the night soil sludge, food waste, vegetable
cuttings, etc., is sufficient to produce about 3178.26 cubic
feet (90 cubic meter) of Biogas per day apart from enriched
manure. The gas produced will meet the requirement of 3-4
messes in the MIT. If a diesel engine of sufficient capacity is
used it is estimated to generate a power of 22 KVA (if used
only for electricity generation) i n dual mode.
The following are the benefits of the projects:
• Garbage disposal problem in MIT Campus is solved.
• The gas produced per day is equivalent to 39 Kgs (if
used only for cooking purpose) of LPG i.e. about 2.75
cylinders will result in a saving of Rs. 770/- per day.
• The daily manure production will fetch Rs. 300/-
• The project is most cost effective as the project cost (Rs.
4.94 lack) will be recovered in period of about 2 years (A
detailed calculation of which will be provided in the
paper).
• The water released by the Project could be utilized for
greening the estate.
3) Case Study of Bajagoli Village
Bajagoli village is located at about 55 Kms from Manipal
institute of technology Manipal. Ideal ice creams ltd.
Mangalore has set up a milk dairy in a plot of 3-4 acres.
Around 50 cattle are maintained inside the campus. Cattle
feed manufacturing industry is also setup. The electrical
NATIONAL POWER SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, NPSC 2002
energy for the entire campus is supplied by a biogas plant of
capacity 25 cubic meter
III RESULTS AND P ROJECT ANALYSIS
1) Naravi Village
Total production of Biogas: 15x2=30 cubic meter.
Total gas production in cft. = 30x35.314 = 1059.42 cubic
feet.
Dung that can be obtained from a single healthy buffalo
= 15 Kgs.
Biogas that can be generated from each Kg of dung = 1.3
cubic feet. Therefore no. of cattle required = (1059.42/15/1.3)
= 55
A diesel generating set of 5HP/4.5KVA [6] is run 6 hrs
(6:30pm to 12:30am) everyday for lighting using the biogas
in conjunction with diesel in the ratio (2:8). The saving in
diesel consumption per day is 16 liters.
It is used to power 60 bulbs of 60 w each, thus providing
3 bulbs per household.
Biogas required for motive power per HP per hour = 15
cubic feet.
Biogas required to run the above mentioned engine for 6
hrs everyday = 15x5x6 =450 cubic feet.
The remaining biogas (1059.42-450 = 609.42 cubic feet)
used to run the kiln/dryer, which in turn is used to bake the
raw areca nut.
1 cu. M of biogas can be replaced by 0.620 l of Kerosene
(using standard replacement tables).
Saving in kerosene per day when biogas is used
instead=609.42/35.314x0.620 =10.7l
2) Payback period calculations for Naravi Village
Cost of Biogas plant setup = Rs. 30,000
Cost of generator and related accessories = Rs. 20,000
Total cost of set up = Rs 50,000.
No. of units of electricity generated by generator set = 4.5
x 6 x 0.8 = 21.6 units
Saving in the cost of electricity per day @ Rs. 3.5 per day
= 21.6x3.5 = Rs. 75.6
Saving in the cost of Kerosene per day @ Rs. 5 per liter =
10.7x5 = Rs. 53.5
Income from bio manure per day from the biogas plant =
Rs. 90
Cost incurred in diesel consumption per day=4x20=Rs. 80
Total payback period days = 50,000/(75.6+53.55+90-80)
= 360 days = 1 year approx.
3) Shivalli village
Total production of Biogas: 45x2 = 90 cubic meter.
Total gas production in cft. = 90x35.314 = 3178.26 cubic
feet.
Dung that can be obtained from a single healthy buffalo = 15
Kgs.
Biogas that can be generated from each Kg of dung = 1.3 cft.
Therefore no. of cattle required = 3178.26/15/1.3 = 163
Out of the total gas production of 90 cu. M around 30 cu.
M is used for lighting purpose. For this purpose a diesel
generating set of 12HP/10.8 KVA[6 ] is run 6 hrs (6:30pm to
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KHARAGPUR 721302, DECEMBER 27-29, 2002
12:30am) everyday for lighting using the biogas in
conjunction with diesel in the ratio (2:8). It is used to power
144 bulbs of 60 w each, thus providing 3 bulbs per
household.
Biogas required for motive power per HP per hour = 15
cubic feet.
Biogas required to run the above mentioned engine for 6
hrs everyday= 15x12x6 = 1080 cubic feet.
The remaining biogas (3178.26-1080 = 2098.26 cubic
feet) used for cooking purpose in the Kitchens of various
messes of M.I.T.
1 cu. M of biogas can be replaced by 0.433 Kgs of
Butane (LPG) (using standard replacement tables)
Saving in LPG per day when biogas is used instead =
2098.26 /35.314x0.433 = 25.72 Kgs
4) Payback period calculations for Shivalli village
Cost of Biogas plant setup and the generator related setup
= Rs. 6.0 lakhs.
No. of units of electricity generated by generator set =
10.8x6x0.8 =51.84 units
Saving in the cost of electricity per day @ Rs. 3.5 per day
= 51.84x3.5 = Rs. 181.44
Saving in the cost of LPG per day @ Rs. 280 per 14.2
Kgs = (280/14.2)x25.72= Rs. 507
Income from bio manure per day from the biogas plant =
Rs. 400
Cost incurred in diesel consumption per day = Rs 10x20 =
Rs. 200
Total payback period days = 600000/ (181.44+507+400-
200) = 675 days = 1.85 years
5) Bajagoli village
Total production of Biogas: 25x1=25 cubic meter.
Total gas production in cubic meter. = 25x35.314 =
882.85 cubic feet.
Dung that can be obtained from a single healthy buffalo
= 15 Kgs.
Biogas that can be generated from each Kg of dung = 1.3
cubic feet.
Therefore no. of cattle required = (882.85/15/1.3) = 46
app.
A diesel generating set of 5HP/4.5KVA [6] is run 6 hrs
(6:30pm to 12:30am) everyday for lighting using the biogas
in conjunction with diesel in the ratio (2:8).
It is used to power 15 bulbs of 60 w each, thus providing
3 bulbs per household.
Biogas required for motive power per HP per hour = 15
cubic feet.
Biogas required to run the above mentioned engine for 6
hrs everyday = 15x5x6 =450 cubic feet. Which is used for
lighting and to run pulverizer mill which inurn is used to
prepare cattle feed. The remaining biogas (882.85-450 =
432.85 cubic feet) is used for cooking.
6) Payback period calculations for Bajagoli Village
Cost of Biogas plant setup = Rs. 25,000
Cost of generator and related accessories = Rs. 20,000
Total cost of set up = Rs 45,000.
861
No. of units of electricity generated by generator set =
4.5x6x0.8 =21.6 units
Saving in the cost of electricity per day @ Rs. 3.5 per day
= 21.6x3.5 = Rs. 75.6
Saving in the cost of Kerosene per day @ Rs. 5 per liter =
(432.85/35.314) x 0.62x5 = Rs. 38
Income from bio manure per day from the bi ogas plant =
Rs. 80
Cost incurred in diesel consumption per day=4x20=Rs. 80
Total payback period days = 45,000/ (75.6+38+80-80) =
191 days =0.523 year approx.
IV. CONCLUSION
It can be seen from above three examples that the scope
and viability of biogas lighting and industrial application is
immense and unbound. The payback period is within 2 years
even for the most expensive systems. Biogas electrification
has a very bright future for a country like India where the
conventional grid supplies are unreliable especially in the
rural area. Added to this is the fact that out of 650,000
villages we have, there are 90,000 villages which have never
seen the light of an electric bulb.
If the scheme of biogas electrification is implemented at
the Panchayat level the combined subsidy from the central as
well as the state amounts to up to 90%. In that case payback
period for a community biogas scheme can be as low as 45 to
50 days.[7]
V. REFERENCES
[1] “Biogas Retrospect and Prospect Khadi and Village Industries
Commis sion”. Directorate of Non – Conventional Energy. Khadi and
Village Industries Commission. Mumbai – 400056.
[2] Christopher Flavin; Nicholas Lenssen “Power Surge – A Guide to the
coming Energy Revolution” Ed: Earthscan Publications Limited,
London,
[3] “Renewable Energy Applications to Industries”, Narosa Publishing
House, London
[4] Annual Report 1998-99, Ministry of Power, Government of India
[5] G D Rai “Non Conventional Sources of Energy”, Khanna Publishers,
Nai Sarak, Delhi – 110006.
[6] Mahesh Vipradas “Renewable Products and Market”, Tata Energy
Research Institute. New Delhi – 110003.
[7] L A Kristoferson; V Bokalders “Renewable Energy Technologies -
Their application in developing countries” Intermediate technology
publications, 103/105. Southampton Row, London, wc1bb4hh.uk