Design Of A Biogas Generator For Use In Semiarid Regions, Continental Journal of Renewable Energy

Biomass is a form of renewable and sustainable energy source with the highest potential to contribute to the energy needs of modern society for both the developed and developing countries. However, its usage in form of biofuels is still in the preliminary stage. There is a need to identify a suitable biofuel in terms of availability, which can provide high-energy output to supplement the rapidly depleting fossil fuels. Animal wastes are rich sources of energy and they are abundantly found in the semiarid regions. The energy from the waste material is extracted by anaerobic digestion of the organic matter by bacteria. This paper covers the design, cost analysis, construction and testing of a family size biogas plant for use under local conditions, and safety features for the prospect of large biogas production in semi arid regions. Plants were constructed and tests were conducted at the workshop of the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria; and the gas produced was found to be burning cleanly with almost no noticeable flame if not for the heat being released. Soot formation was reduced and smoke emission was quasi inexistent