BIOGAS DIGESTERS

What is biogas?
Biogas originates from bacteria in the process of bio-degradation of organic material under
anaerobic (without air) conditions. The natural generation of biogas is an important part of
the biogeochemical carbon cycle. Methanogens (methane producing bacteria) are the last
link in a chain of micro-organisms which degrade organic material and return the
decomposition products to the environment. In this process biogas is generated, a source of
renewable energy.

Composition and properties of biogas

Biogas is a mixture of gases that is composed
chiefly of:
methane (CH4): 40-70 vol.%
carbon dioxide (CO2): 30-60 vol.%
other gases: 1-5 vol.%
including
hydrogen (H2): 0-1 vol.%
hydrogen sulfide (H2S): 0-3 vol.%

Classification of biogas plants depends upon the plants design and mode of working. One
common way to classify them is

1. Continuous type plant

2. Batch type plant

3. fixed dome

4. floating dome

BATCH TYPE BIOGAS PLANT

Batch type biogas plants are appropriate where daily supplies of raw waste materials are
difficult to be obtained. A batch loaded digester is filled to capacity sealed and given
sufficient retention time in the digester. After completion of the digestion, the residue is
emptied and filled again. Gas production is uneven because bacterial digestion starts slowly,
peaks and then tapers off with growing consumption of volatile solids.

This difficulty can overcome by having minimum to digester so that at least one is always in
operation. This problem can also minimize by connecting batch loaded digester in series and
fed at different times so that adequate biogas is available for daily use. The salient features of
batch-fed type biogas plants are:

(i) Gas production in batch type is uneven.

(ii) Batch type plants may have several digesters for continuous supply of gas.
(iii) Several digesters occupy more space.
(iv) This type of plants require large volume of digester, therefore, initial cost becomes high.
(v) This plant needs addition of fermented slurry to start the digestion process.

CONTINOUS TYPE BIOGASS PLANT

In continuous type biogas plant, the supply of the gas is continuous and the digester is fed
with biomass regularly. Continuous biogas plants may be single stage, double stage or
multiple stage. Digestion of waste materials in a single chamber or digester is called single
stage process, in two chambers or digester is called multi stage process. In double stage
process, acidogenic and methanogenic stage are physically separated into two chambers.
Thus, the first stage of acid production is carried out in a separate chamber and only diluted
acids are fed into the second chamber where biomethanation takes place.

In single stage ,acidogenic and methanogenic stage are carried out in the same chamber
without barrier. These plants are economic, simple and easy to operate. these plants are
generally for small and medium size biogas plants. However ,the two stage biogas plants are
costlier, difficult in operation and maintenance but they produce more gas. These plants are
preferred for larger biogas plant system. The important features of continous type biogas
plants are:

(i) Gas production is continuous.

(ii) Retention period is less
(iii) Less problems as compared to batch type.
(iv) Small digestion chambers are required

FLOATING DRUM TYPE PLANTS

This also known as floating dome type biogas plants. The conventional movable drum type
comprises a masonry digester with an inlet on one side for feeding slurry and an outlet on the
other side for removing digested slurry. The gas collects in a steel gasholder which is inverted
over the slurry and moves up and down depending upon accumulation and discharge of gas
guided by a central guide pipe. This movable gas holder is made of steel.

The gas holder is painted by anticorrosive painting at least once in year. This plant helps in
consistent pressure which can be adjusted by regulating weight. The main drawback of this is
that metal cost is large and maintenance cost is also high. To tackle this problem the scientist
have created high density polyethylene.
Advantages:

(i) Constant gas pressure.

(ii) No problem of gas leakage
(iii) Higher gas production
(iv) Scum problem is less
. 1 Mixing pit, 11 Fill pipe, 2 Digester, 3 Gasholder, 31 Guide frame, 4 Slurry store, 5 Gas pipe

Fixed-dome plants
The costs of a fixed-dome biogas plant are relatively low. It is simple as no moving parts
exist. There are also no rusting steel parts and hence a long life of the plant (20 years or
more) can be expected. The plant is constructed underground, protecting it from physical
damage and saving space. While the underground digester is protected from low temperatures
at night and during cold seasons, sunshine and warm seasons take longer to heat up the
digester. No day/night fluctuations of temperature in the digester positively influence the
bacteriological processes.

The construction of fixed dome plants is labor-intensive, thus creating local employment.
Fixed-dome plants are not easy to build. They should only be built where construction can be
supervised by experienced biogas technicians. Otherwise plants may not be gas-tight
(porosity and cracks).

The basic elements of a fixed dome plant (here the Nicarao Design) are shown in the figure
below.
Function

A fixed-dome plant comprises of a closed, dome-shaped digester with an immovable, rigid

gas-holder and a displacement pit, also named 'compensation tank'. The gas is stored in the
upper part of the digester. When gas production commences, the slurry is displaced into the
compensating tank. Gas pressure increases with the volume of gas stored, i.e. with the height
difference between the two slurry levels. If there is little gas in the gas-holder, the gas
pressure is low.

Digester

The digesters of fixed-dome plants are usually masonry structures, structures of cement and
ferro-cement exist. Main parameters for the choice of material are:

 Technical suitability (stability, gas- and liquid tightness);

 cost-effectiveness;