UNIVERSITY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SUNYANI.

COURSE: RESEARCH METHODS AND REPORT WRITING

(RENG 307)
LECTURER’S NAME: DR. F.A KURANCHIE

SIGNATURE:………………………………………

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 17TH OCTOBER, 2O18

1
 PROJECT PROPOSAL
BY

ASUMADU YEBOAH DERRICK

(UE20025816)
BSC. PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

AND

OWUSU EBENEZER
(UE20029216)
BSC. RENEWABLE ENERG ENGINEERING

ON
REPLACING WOOD FUEL WITH COW DUNG AS SOURCE OF
ENERGY FOR HOUSEHOLD.

2
TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE
1. INTRODUTION
1.1 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM……………………….... 4
1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY……………………………………. 5
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY..…………………………… 5
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION ……………………………. 6
1.5 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY…………………………….. 6

2. LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………. 7

3. PROCEDURE OF STUDY……………………………… 8
3.1 MATERIALS……………………………………………. 8
3.2 METHODS……………………………………………… 8

4. EXPECTED RESULTS………………………………….. 9
5. TIMELINES……………………………………………….. 9
6. BUDGET…………………………………………………... 10
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY/ REFERENCES……………………… 11-12

3
INTRODUCTION:
Wood fuel is a fuel such as firewood, charcoal, chips, sheets, pellets, and
sawdust(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_fuel).
In many areas, wood is the most easily available form of fuel, which
requires or few tools in the case of picking up dead wood. Today, burning
of wood is the largest use of energy derived from a solid fuel biomass.
Wood fuel can be used for cooking and heating. While burning provides an
excellent source of heat, numerous disadvantages to this activity generates
including the relative amount of pollution it generates.
One of these is it dangers. Burning of wood in a safely engineered chimney
still possess a danger if an errand spark from the burning wood escapes
the confines of the fire place and alights on carpeting or furniture or other
flammable materials(Lai, 2018).
For the most part, these wood fuel shortages never came to pass, and
while there was a large amount of deforestation in the tropics, little of it was
a direct result of wood fuel use. However, the common belief that wood fuel
collection is a major driver of deforestation has persisted, though there is
little empirical evidence to back it up(Soussan).
The over-dependence on wood fuel as primary energy source leads to
great number of problems such as environmental degradation, global
climatic change and various human health problems(Aremu, 2012; Lassey,
2008).

Cow Dung is use in this study to replace wood fuel. Cow dung is the waste
product of bovine animal species. Cow dung is the undigested leftover part
of plant matter, which has passed through the animal's bowels. The
resultant faecal matter (excrete) is rich in nutrients (minerals). Color ranges
from greenish to blackish(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_dung, 2018).

The process of producing the fuel from cow dung require a waste
management technique because, the anaerobic treatment process
eliminates the harmful micro-organisms(Akpabio, 1992).
“Energy is generally classified in either renewable or non-renewable.
Biogas comes in the category of renewable energy sources. Renewable
energy is energy generated from natural resources and can be replenished
4
within a short period of time. Some renewable energy sources include
biomass, water (hydro-power), geothermal, wind, and solar”(Rohjy, 2013).
Cow dung is one of the renewable and sustainable source of energy that
significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emission as compared to the emission
of landfill gas to the atmosphere(Murphy, 2004; Rumana Rashid 2010).

The heap source of energy due to the feedstock is usually waste materials.
Its technology ensures the energy independence as a unit and can meet
the need of a family or community.
The gas from the cow dung is typically composed of 50-70% Methane, 30-
40% Carbon dioxide, 1-10% Hydrogen, 1-3% Nitrogen,
0.1% Oxygen and Carbon monoxide and trace of Hydrogen
sulphide(Hashimoto G, 1978). Methane (CH4) and Carbon dioxide (CO2)
represent more than 90 percent of the biogas(Derkyi, 2018c).
The effluent of the cow dung energy production can be used as organic
fertilizer for how agriculture purposes(Derkyi, 2018a).

1.1STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Because of the population explosion, and related demands of energy
deforestation level due to the over use of fuelwood by the felling of trees
and reduction of forest, are higher than forestation efforts, they have
resulted to environmental degradation.

1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY

In the course of managing the rate of deforestation, reducing land
degradation and limiting pollution. Cow breeding is vital in the environment
protection(Abhiskek R, 2014). Lord Karishna has said cow as ‘Kamdhenu’
that meets all our desire. All Gods reside in the body of cow(J.A.G, 2010).
Cow dung is one of the renewable and sustainable energy resources that
can be used to replace charcoal, fuel, firewood etc [Kesavan and Swamina
– than, 2008]. It is also a plentiful and it is a shame when it is wasted. This
study is to inculcate the idea of using cow dung as a fuel in place of
woodfuel in the households in Sunyani.

5
SPECIFIC AIM:
The specific aim of this project is to replace wood fuels with cow dung and
chicken waste for household.

1.3 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

The specific objectives of study are to:
 Limit pollution made by wood fuels(Balakrishnan, 2014).
 Reduce land degradation(Ahrends, 2010).
 Manage the rate of deforestation(Fearnside, 1986; MonbioC, 1989;
Tyler, 1990).

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION:

 What is the rate at which pollution is made by wood fuels?
 What is the rate at which wood fuels contributes to land degradation?
 How much does wood fuels contributes to deforestation?
 How much greenhouse gases are emitted by wood fuels(Hofstad,
2009; Ramanathan, 2008)?
 What are health risks associated with wood fuels?

1.5 LIMITATIONS:
 If not properly handled, it can create a public health problem.

6
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Boigas is a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in
the absence of oxygen. Organic waste such animal dung from cow can be
converted or changed into into a gaseous fuel called Boigas. Biogas is from
biogenic material(Charles D. Fulhage, 1993).
Boigas is a gaseous fuel obtained from biomass by the process of
anaerobic digestion or fermentation, when bacteria degrade biological
material in the absence of oxygen. The gases methane, hydrogen and
carbon monoxide can be combusted or oxidized with oxygen(Derkyi,
2018b).
Biogas comprises primarily methane and carbon dioxide and may have
small of hydrogen sulphide, mixture and siloxane. Biogas is a renewable
fuel, so it qualifies for renewable energy subsidies in some parts of the
world.

COMPOSITION OF COW DUNG

About one cubic foot of gas may be generated from one pound of cow
manure at 280C(Derkyi, 2018c).
COMPONENT PERCENTAGE
Nitrogen (N2) 1.8 – 2.4%
Phosphorus (P2O5) 1.0 – 1.2 %
Potassium (K2O) 0.6 – 0.8%
Organic humus 50 – 75%

7
3.0 PROCEDURE OF STUDY:
3.1 MATERIALS
 Bucket
 Water
 Feeding Material of Digester (CD)
 0.5L Bottle
 A tube
 Valve
 A fire lighter

3.2 METHODS
In the first place, cow dung and chicken waste will be collected from the
slaughter house in Sunyani.
 0.5L bottle will be required.
 Cow dung will be filled to a quarter of the bottle
 Water will then be added to fill half space of the bottle
 A tube will be connected through a space connected on-top of the
bottle
 The slurry will be stirred by shaking it.
 The mixture ratio will be determined by the mixture content.
 The pH Values will be monitored for 3 days interval to determine the
action of methanogens, which utilize the acids, carbon dioxide and
hydrogen produced by non-methane producing bacterial using a
digital pH meter.
 The ambient and slurry temperatures will be measured using
thermometer (-10 to 1100C),
 The volume biogas produced will be measured by a downward
displacement method using a transparent 13L calibrated plastic
bucket as used by (Itodo O, 1995) after one week two days.
 The valve will be opened after one week two days to check for the
presence of gas.
 A fire lighter will be used by lightening it up close to the funnel of the
tube.

8
4.0 EXPECTED RESULTS
 Expected results will be, testing for gas and at the end, energy
will be produce from the cow dung.

5. TIMELINE
WEEKS, DATE AND TIME AGENDA

1ST WEEK ( 19TH ACQUISITION OF COW DUNG

OCTOBER,2018)
(
12:00PM – 3:00PM)
2ND WEEK ( 25TH COMPLETE THE
OCTOBER.2018) METHODOLOGY

( 3:00PM – 6:00PM)
3RD WEEK ( 2ND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND
NOVEMBER,2018) RECOMMENDATIONS

9
6. BUDGET
ITEMS DESCRIPTIONS QUANTITY COST (GH₵)
Feeding Material of 10kg 40.00
Digester (CD)

Bottle 0.5L 1 2.00

A tube 2 5.00

Valve 2 10.00

A fire lighter 1 10.00

Water 3.00
Bucket 10.00
98.00

10
7. REFERENCES:
Abhiskek R, P. T., Manoj K. J. (2014). Cow Dung for ecofriendly and sustainable productive farming.
International Journal of Scientific Research, 3(10), 201-202.
Ahrends, A., N.D. Burgess, S.A.H. Milledge, M.T. Bulling, B. Fisher, J.C.R. Smart, G.P. Clarke, B.E. Mhoro,
and S.L. Lewis. . (2010). Predictable waves of sequential forest degradation and biodiversity loss
spreading from an African city.
. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
107, 1-6.
Akpabio, I. O., Sambo, A.S, Effion, O, . (1992). Nigerian Journal of Solar Energy. 8(31).
Aremu, M. O. a. A., S.E (2012). (2012). Comparison of Biogas production from Cow
dung and Pig dung under Mesophilic condition. International Refereed Journal of Engineering and
Science (IRJES), 1(4), 16-21.
Balakrishnan, K., Aaron Cohen, and Kirk R. Smith. (2014). Addressing the burden of disease attributable
to air pollution in India: the need to integrate across household and ambient air pollution
exposures. Environmental Health Perspective 122, 1(A6).
Charles D. Fulhage, D. S. a. J. R. F. (1993). Generating Methane Gas From Manure.
Derkyi, P. N. S. A. (2018a). benefits of biogas digester systems. Biogas technology, 43-44.
Derkyi, P. N. S. A. (2018b). Biogas. Biogas technology, 1-5.
Derkyi, P. N. S. A. (2018c). biogas composition. Biogas technology.
Fearnside, P. (1986). Spatial Concentration of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Ambio, 15, 74-81.
Hashimoto G, V. H. (1978). Factors affecting methane yield and production rate. American Society of
Agricultural Engineers (ASAE). ML:49085, 68.
Hofstad, O., G. Kohlin, and J. Namaalwa. (2009). How can emissions from woodfuel be reduced? Center
for International Forestry Research, 237-249.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_dung. (2018). cow dung.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_fuel. wood fuel.
Itodo O, O. E., Ogar B. ( 1995). Nigerian Journal of Energy, 6(39).
J.A.G, s. s. a. (2010). Ecological importance. Ashram Gaushala.
Lai, J. (2018). Disadvantages of Burning Wood.
Lassey, K. (2008). Livestock methane emission and its perspective in the global methane cycle.
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 48, 114-118.
MonbioC, G. (1989). The Transmigration Fiasco. Geographical Magazine, 26-30.
Murphy, J. D., McKeogh, D. and Kiely, G. (2004). Technical/economic/environmental analysis of biogas
utilization. Applied Energy(77), 407–427.
Ramanathan, V., and G. Carmichael. . (2008). Global and regional climate changes due to black carbon.
Nature Geoscience
1, 221-227

Rohjy, H. A., Aduba, Joseph Junior, Manta, Ibrahim Haruna & Pamdaya, Yohanna. (2013). Development
of Anaerobic Digester for the Production of Biogas using Poultry and Cattle Dung: A Case Study
of Federal University of Technology Minna Cattle & Poultry Pen. International Journal of Life
Sciences Aduba et al, 2(3).

11
Rumana Rashid , A. B. M. M. M., Md Sayem Khan. (2010). Biological Treatment of Organic Waste for
Poultry Farm in Hot Climate International Journal of Sustainable Water & Environmental
Systems, 1(1), 11-14.
Soussan, D. E. M. a. J. Fuelwood Problems and Solutions. 177-213.
Tyler, C. (1990). The Sense of Sustainability. Geographical Magazine, 8-13.

12