Videos

Biogas Energy Project


Schmack Biogas AG


DIY BioGas for Homes

Found a good "BioFuels" link? Let Us Know!

Biogas & Biogas 2 Biogas: What it is; How it is made; How to use it (FAO, 1984, 52 p.) This booklet was written to help you to learn some of the things that you need to know before you begin to make biogas. You will also learn how to make your own biogas.

Biogas Animal Prod While this guide deals only with biogas systems of simple design, the technology is nonetheless sufficiently complex and rewarding to warrant one's close attention to its proper application, planning and construction. The only good biogas system is a well-planned, carefully executed and properly functioning one that fulfills its purpose.

Biogas Improved This publication is meant as a teaching aid in agricultural colleges and as a reference book for professionals working in the field of rural biogas extension. For that reason, the ideal set-up of a biogas unit is described.

Biogas Simple biogas plants are complicated enough to require total involvement with their specific technology. After all, a biogas plant can only help to solve the problems of the future if it works! But many plants work badly. They are operated wrongly, are deficient in detail and are often incorrectly scaled. The designer of a biogas plant must be able to distinguish between valid and invalid solutions. This little book is intended to help him in this respect.

Biogas Purification This review attempts to set out the procedures for removing hydrogen sulphide from biogas. Hydrogen sulphide is particularly harmful when biogas is used in internal combustion engines. Its chemical reactions and those of its combustion product - sulphur dioxide, quickly lead to severe corrosion and wear on engines. The only practical way of removing the hydrogen sulphide on a small scale is by dry desulphurization using ferrous substances. Locally available, iron-containing soil is suitable for use as the purifying agent in Third World countries. This manual contains a detailed description of criteria for designing the purification chamber. It also presents the basic steps for manufacturing the purifying agent or absorbent.

Biogas Engines The aim of this publication is to build a bridge between the elaborate literature and information on the biogas production side and the existing technical and scientific know-how on the side of internal combustion engines. An engine fuelled by biogas shall become understandable as a core module in a system of energy supply, energy transformation and a demand of energy for a useful purpose. This publication attempts to provide a source of essential information for decision-making, planning, modification and operation of biogas engines within this system.

BioGas UNDERSTANDING BIOGAS GENERATION By Richard Mattocks. It should be noted that, while this paper focuses on the production of biogas for fuel, in some applications the gas is considered to be the by-product of the process. Some digesters in China, for example, are used primarily for treating sewage and producing fertilizer, and only secondarily for producing fuel.

BioGas 3 cubic metre plant A CONSTRUCTION MANUAL. 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. 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. See also: Biogas in India

Biogas The subject of this book is one approach to building and operating biogas systems, not biogas digesters. Biogas systems include raw material preparation, digesters, separate gas storage tanks, use of the gas to run engines, and the use of the sludge as fertilizer. The systems can be profitably operated as cooperatively or privately owned labor-intensive small businesses. They are designed to meet local fertilizer and fuel needs, using local resources and skills. Like rice and corn mills, ice plants and general stores, biogas businesses have supply, production, distribution, and management responsibilities. Operated as businesses, biogas systems have the potential to make a rewarding return on investment and a contribution to the wealth of the community.

Biogas Dissemination This publication is consciously limited to being an initial aid in deciding for or against a biogas dissemination program. It attempts to outline the tasks involved according to the problem areas using examples in some cases.

Biogas HTM version (non-IS0 9660-COMPLIANT) or Biogas PDF Version - Part 1/4 (0.5 Meg) + Part 2/4 (0.5 Meg) + Part 3/4 (0.5 Meg) + Part 4/4 (0.5 Meg) While the main focus is on biogas systems of simple design, the technology is nonetheless complex enough to warrant close attention to its proper application, planning and construction. Only a well-planned, carefully constructed and properly functioning biogas system will fulfill its purpose of improving living conditions in rural areas. You will find useful and detailed information about all aspects of biogas plant design and maintenance, biogas appliances, social, political, economic and ecological framework conditions, planning and dissemination of biogas systems and last but not least country- and project-specific information.

DAVE PAXTON'S BIOGAS SERIES To start it all off I guess I should give a little bit of background on the gas digesters. Prior to and during WW2 there were sporadic attempts at producing and using methane gas in digesters but no organized research. After the war the Chinese and Indian peoples developed the gas to help their energy deficient countries cope with its needs. I have found no written papers on the Chinese developments but I have heard tourists talking about wagons of farm goods being driven around by what appears to be a lawnmower (2 wheels on an axle driven by a small 1 cyl engine, the whole thing having "handlebars" to rotate it in any direction) instead of a horse or water buffalo. These engines are fueled by a big bag of biogas that usually bobbles back and forth on top of the produce.

Biomethanogenesis: Principles, University of Florida, Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department The objective of this lecture is to introduce the various steps in development of an industrial process using microorganisms. This Part 1 emphasizes an overview, feedstocks, pathways, and inocula.

Beginners Guide to Biogas, The University of Adelaide If you are new to biogas/biofuel and anaerobic digestion for waste treatment or fuel production these pages are intended to assist you. If you only need some simple information the first couple of links will be most useful, while the later pages are to help those considering starting a digester project. There is also a safety page.

Simon’s guide to building a Bio-Diesel Mixer. Not really a guide, just a parts list and some photos. Mechanically inclined (with experience in what you are trying to achieve) may be able to make use of this.

Veggie Pup's Touchless Processor. My biodiesel processor, out of the closet (sort of). This is a fairly understandable text with accompanying photos and parts list. For a better grasp, check out the DIAGRAM.

Vegetable oil based road fuels for diesel engines. Vegetable oils can be used in diesel engines either in it's neat form, called straight vegetable oil (SVO), or in forms produced as a result of chemical reactions such as transesterification. There are a number of different recipes for producing shorter chain length chemical structures and these products are called bio-diesel or E-diesel or similar. There are many arguments for using each of these fuels in preference to the other and the following page argues in favor of SVO.

Ian's vacuum biodiesel processor Brief description of layout. See also: Schematics (.gif)

Continuous biodiesel processor The processor is intended to produce 200 litre/day. This requires a main mixer with a capacity of 8 litre to allow a 1 hour residence time. Approx. flow is 140ml/min. By keeping the volume as small as practical the heat input is reduced compared to a batch system as it is more suitable for heat recovery and will be easier to insulate. The system should require no more than a 15A 240V supply. Where ever possible the system will use standard production parts or easily fabricated parts.

HOME MIXING OF USED VEGETABLE OIL INTO FUEL FOR DIESEL ENGINES Vegetable oil will react very similarly to diesel fuel under the conditions inside a diesel engine; i.e. when it is highly compressed, it will heat up and ignite, causing the air in the cylinder to expand, and to push the pistons, in time. If you burned straight unprocessed vegetable oil, however, the fatty acids in the oil would start to congeal and harden (coke up) on the inside of your engine as well as in your fuel injectors, eventually leading to big, expensive engine problems.

Biodiesel Recipe from New Oil recipes from research reports acquired from the National Biodiesel Board

The FOOLPROOF way to make biodiesel NEW standard method. By Aleks Kac. This is a FOOLPROOF way to make biodiesel. No titration is required, and no extra equipment -- thermometer optional, and NO pH meter! This is a two-stage procedure, acid first-stage, base second-stage. It is based on the highest FFA content found in used oil, but it can be used with any waste vegetable/animal oil or fat (WVO), whether or not it has a high FFA content. The process increases yields dramatically. Use it as your standard method.

Vegetable Oil Melting Points A straight-forward chart.

Hotplate for removing water from waste oil. I am building a continuous biodiesel mixer. An integral part of this is a heater to remove the water before processing. This system will also work with a batch system if used between the oil store and mixer or coupled with a filter on the outlet to clean oil for SVO conversions.

Conversion of Merc. 307 van to run on vegetable oil Fairly interesting but in no way complete.

Straight vegetable oil as diesel fuel Does the SVO option work? Yes -- IF you go about it the right way. It's not quite that simple a choice. For one thing, if you want to use waste vegetable oil, which is often free, you're going to have to process it anyway, though less so than to make biodiesel.

Make your own biodiesel Anybody can make biodiesel. It's easy, you can make it in your kitchen -- and it's BETTER than the petro-diesel fuel the big oil companies sell you. Your diesel motor will run better and last longer on your home-made fuel, and it's much cleaner -- better for the environment and better for health. If you make it from used oil it's not only cheap but you'll be recycling a troublesome waste product. Best of all is the GREAT feeling of freedom, independence and empowerment it will give you. Here's how to do it -- everything you need to know.

Mike Pelly's recipe Mike sent us a full report on how he makes biodiesel. "It's a result of my work over the past five years along with contributions from other experimenters," he said. "Pass it along to anyone you please." Here it is.

Two-stage biodiesel process Here is a proposition for an alternative method, which can give you a slightly purer type of biodiesel. It will come in handy during winters, as with this adaptation less wax and ignition problems will arise -- at least I hope so.

FOOLPROOF biodiesel process This is a FOOLPROOF way to make biodiesel. No titration is required, and no extra equipment -- a thermometer's handy, but NO pH meter!

Ian's vacuum biodiesel processor 80-litre per batch closed-loop processor. Process based on Aleks Kac's 2-stage acid-base process

Chuck Ranum's biodiesel processor Chuck Ranum runs Triple-R Recycling in North Dakota, and makes biodiesel from waste cooking oil for himself and for the members of a small local cooperative. They use it in their vehicles, for home-heating, for farm-tractors, and they can't get enough. Chuck will produce about 2,000 gallons this year, and is planning to increase production by four times, to 160 gallons a week.

Bubble washing Bubble washing takes time, but it saves water and does a better job.

How to make a cone-bottomed processor Here's how to make a cone bottom for your 55-gal oil drum biodiesel mixer.

Glycerine Glycerine (glycerin, glycerol) is the by-product of making biodiesel. The name comes from the Greek word glykys meaning sweet. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous, nontoxic liquid with a very sweet taste and has literally thousands of uses. That is, pure glycerine has thousands of uses -- the biodiesel by-product is crude (and it's not colorless).

Glycerin is a colorless, transparent, and odorless sweet syrupy liquid. The word is derived from the Greek word glykys meaning sweet. In 1779 Swedish scientist K.W. Shele discovered glycerin in a hydrolysate of olive oil. Initially glycerin was used in the manufacture of glue and cork, and over time applications extended to use in dye auxiliaries for textiles and ink. In 1867 A.B. Nobel manufactured dynamite from glycerin, a development that proved a major turning point in the expansion of applications for glycerin.

Separating glycerine/FFAs Most of the lye and about half of the excess methanol used in the biodiesel process collect in the glycerine layer that settles out at the bottom, along with the soap formed when Free Fatty Acids (FFAs) are neutralized by the excess lye. The proportions of each depend on the oil you used and your process -- the two-stage acid-base process will give different results to a single-stage base process. Glycerine does burn, but unless it's properly combusted at high temperatures it will release acrolein, which is highly toxic. The Mother Earth Waste Oil Heater or other waste oil burners should be suitable, or the Babington burner.

Optimization of a Batch Type Ethyl Ester Process Biodiesel can be made with ethanol (which you can make yourself), instead of methanol (which is toxic, fossil-fuel derived, and you can't make it yourself). But the ethanol has to be anhydrous -- free of water -- which can't be achieved by distillation. One way to dry it is to use the by-product of making biodiesel -- glycerine.

Absolute Alcohol Using Glycerine -- Mariller-Granger Processes, from E. Boullanger: Distillerie Agricole et Industrielle (Paris: Ballire, 1924). Mariller's absolute alcohol production process by dehydration using glycerine, various systems examined and explained. Translation from the French by F. Marc de Piolenc.

Vegetable oil yields and characteristics These are conservative estimates -- crop yields can vary widely.

New Crop Search Engine at the Center for New Crops & Plant Products at Purdue University -- Search for "oil". Results: "The following pages containing 'oil' were found -- hits 1-20 of 200". Results are hyperlinked to detailed factsheets.

Plants For A Future -- Database Search -- See "Search by Use - Select any of the following uses. Or select none and use the plant criteria below." Select "Other Use" - oil. Results: "Other Use: Oil (460)". Results are hyperlinked to detailed factsheets.

Biofuels USDA-ARS Provides details of the USDA, Agricultural Research Service biofuels research program. For two specific areas, "Ethanol from Agricultural Raw Materials" and "Biodiesel from American Farms", covers: Research Emphases, Research Project Reports, and Research Locations.

The BioEnergy Home Page is "a resource for bioenergy, bioconversion, and bioprocess technology." This site also serves as an archival resource of materials related to the University of Wisconsin's research into biomass liquid fuels production.

Oelmühle Leer Connemann GmbH & Co Biodiesel Aus Raps is a subsidiary of Connemann Ltd., & Co, a German producer of biodiesel from rapeseed oil. For those of you who are multilingual, you have the choice of surfing the site in Dutch, German or English (Hint: click on the flag of the country whose language you prefer). Enjoy!

Oak Ridge National Laboratories - Biofuels Information Network The Biofuels Information Network contains the full text of many DOE and Biofuels Feedstock Development Program publications. BIN also maintains an extensive collection of links to energy, environmental, natural resources, and other biofuels related sites.

BioPower Website Brought to you by the folks at the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of the Department of Energy (DOE). This web site is maintained by the Biomass Power Program. It includes a description of the program, the industry, "basic" facts, the technical aspects of the resource, agricultural and rural development benefits, newsworthy items and a library of photos. Additionally, there are links to other related sites, making this a good overall resource for all of your questions on biopower

Gold Series Anaerobic Digesters - biogas production from high solids wastes 75 -500 cubic meters per module - calculate your biogas production here. Expensive and technical. See also: Second - Hand Market Place - second hand biogas / digestion and slurry separation equipment for sale.

Please Read The Website Disclaimer!
Copyright 1986-2012, The Survival & Self-Reliance Studies Institute (SSRsi), All Rights Reserved
Site conceptualized, designed, created & maintained by MEG Raven
Snail Mail: SSRsi, PO Box 2572 Dillon, CO. 80435-2572