Biogas Production Using Geomembrane Plastic Digesters as Alternative Rural Energy Source and Soil Fertility Management

Seid Yimer¹, Bezabih Yimer² and Omprakash Sahu^1,

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, KIOT, Wollo University, Kombolcha, Ethiopia

²Mersa Agricultural TVET College, Woldya, Ethiopia

Cite this paper:
Seid Yimer, Bezabih Yimer and Omprakash Sahu. Biogas Production Using Geomembrane Plastic Digesters as Alternative Rural Energy Source and Soil Fertility Management. Sustainable Energy. 2014; 2(1):12-19. doi: 10.12691/rse-2-1-3

Abstract

The aim of work is to evaluate amount of gas production, economical feasibility and quality of slurry for geomembrane plastic biogas plants constructed below and above the ground surface and fixed-dome biogas plant of 3 m³ capacity. Amount of gas and slurry were measured using calibrated biogas burner and weight balance respectively. The qualities of the slurry were analyzed in the laboratory using Kjeldahl and ash method respectively. Economic evaluation and comparison of the biodigester was carried out using cost-benefit analysis. Gas production and total-N was higher for a single layered and above ground plastic biodigester than others. Fermented slurry contained larger nitrogen content than fresh cow dung in both models of biodigester. The geomembrane plastic biogas plant gave higher net benefit than fixed-dome biogas plant. The biogas technology was found to increase income generation through increased crop production with the use of nutritive slurry as organic fertilizer and solve the problem of fuel shortage in the rural areas. Environmental impact assessment of the technology was studied and found that from the use of a geomembrane plastic biodigester, 360 m³ of CO₂ and 600 m³ CH₄ was prevented from emitting in to the atmosphere and save 0.562 hectare of forest per year from being deforested and hence attributed towards the decrease in global warming. Generally, the geomembrane cylindrical film biodigester technology was found cheap and simple way to produce gas in the study area.

Keywords:
economical feasibility geomembrane slurry

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	MOA (Ministry of Agriculture), 2000. Agro ecological Zones of Ethiopia, Natural Resource Management and Regulatory Department, Addis Ababa.
[2]	Wikipedia, 2006. Retrieved on Sep 3, 2007 available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia.
[3]	Bech, N., Waveren and Evan, 2002. Environmental Support Project (ESP), Component 2: Environmental Assessment and Sustainable Land Use plan for North Wollo.
[4]	FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations), (2000). Statistical data base. FAO, Rome, Italy.
[5]	IUCN, 1990. Ethiopian National Conservation Strategy. Phase 1 Report. Based on the work of M.Stahl and A. Wood. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland Kristoferson LA and Bokhalders, 1991. Renewable Energy Technologies: Their application in developing countries. Intermediate Technology Publications, London, pp 112-117.
[6]	Vandana S, 2004. Alternative Energy. APH Publishing Corporation. New Delhi-11002.
[7]	Yacob Mulugeta, 2000. ‘Renewable Energy Technologies and Implementation Mechanisms for Ethiopia’, Energy Sources, 2 (1).
[8]	N.S.Grewal et al., 2000. Hand Book of Biogas Technology (A practical hand book). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. India.
[9]	S.C.Santra, 2001. Environnemental Science. New central book agency (p). l td. India.
[10]	AoAC, 1990. In: Helrick (Ed), official Methods of Analysis. Association of Official Analytical Chemists 15th Edition. Arilington. pp. 1230. Retrieved on December 12, 2007 available at www.mekarn.org/msc 2003-05/thesis 05/tram-p, pdf.
[11]	Tekalign Tadesse, L.Haque and E.A.Aduayi. 1991. International Livestock center for Africa. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[12]	Hu Qichun, 1991. Systematical Study on Biogas Technology Application in Xindu Rural Area, China. Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok/Thai.
[13]	Benjamin Jargstorf, 2004. Renewable energy and Development Brochure to accompany the mobile exhibition on Renewable energy in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa.
[14]	UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), 1982. Consolidation of information. Pilot edition. General information programme and universal system for information in science and Technology, UNESCO, Paris.
[15]	French D, 1979. The economics of renewable energy systems for developing countries.
[16]	Van Buren A (Ed), 1974. A Chinese Biogas Manual: Popularizing technology in the countryside. Intermediate Technology Publications, London.
[17]	Werner Kossmann, Uta Ponitz, 2007. Biogas Digest Volume 1. Information and Advisory Service on Appropriate Technology (ISAT). Retrieved on December 13, 2007 from www.gtz.de/de/documente/en-biogas_volume 1. pdf.
[18]	SURUDE (Foundation for sustainable Rural Development), 2002. Promotion of low cost biogas technology to resource poor farmers in Tanzania. Retrived on July 8, 2007 from http://www.equator initiative.net.
[19]	Senait Seyoum, 2007. The economics of a biogas digester. Retrieved on Sep 15, 2007 from http://www.ilri.org/infoserv/webpub/Fulldocs/Bulletin30/economi.htm.