Anaerobic Digester

Anaerobic Digester
(http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/fair/)

Monday, September 29, 2008

New Ideas

I am currently working on finding new organic waste to put into the digester that will yield more methane gas. The waste that I have used as of now has not created the methane levels that I am looking for in order to produce a flame.

Now that I have done more research I am learning that methane is actually a pretty dangerous gas. It is about 20 times as worse a green house gas as carbon dioxide. Because of this, it is very important that any methane that is produced is burned.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Small-scale Digester Plan

Once I determine how to attach a hose to the methane container, I will fill the digester with the organic matter that I have collected. The gas that is produced immediately is primarily oxygen. Once the oxygen is removed the digester will begin to produce methane and carbon dioxide – the two gasses that can be burned.
My plan for this small-scale digester is to produce as much methane and carbon dioxide as possible. Once I have collected these gases I will use a six-inch metal pipe that will have two openings. One opening will be approximately 1/16 of an inch in diameter and the other opening will be approximately ½ inch diameter. This pipe will allow the gas to exit the containment jar with higher pressure – allowing me to burn the gas. This pipe will essentially serve as a very small butane burner.

Small-scale Digester Complete

My small-scale anaerobic digester is now complete. I let the the first batch of organic matter sit in a saran wrapped bowl in a very warm room of my house. I thought that this would let the organic matter begin breaking down and digesting before I put it into the digester. The organic matter that I have used is left-over salad, onions and carrots.
I am currently stalled in the process of digestion because I need to find a way to let the methane gas out of the container. This should be an easy process. I just need to attach another section of hose to the containment jar with a removable plug.

First Blog - Project Update

I have started working on my project blog. I have put the basic information about my project on the blog and I am now trying to customize my blog site.

Anaerobic Digester Design

Anaerobic Digester Design
This picture was taken from Paul Harris of The University of Adelaide in Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia. (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/fair/.)