You are here: Biogas > Anaerobic Digestion

Print View Login

Detailed information about anaerobic digestion

To find out about some of the things which influence digester operation (and need to be considered in design) without getting all messy you may like to look at a computer MODEL of a Continuous Flow Stirred Tank digester for piggery effluent.

Adoption of biogas technology in India is studied in Mathias Gustavsson's thesis.

You might also look at the Methane Capture and Use WORKBOOK.

See how biogas is produced and used in Costa Rica (an English script is available for the Spanish narration).

Now you are nearly an expert you could also visit

• GTZ for a look around, or else
• try PRACTICALLY GREEN, one of many commercial suppliers.
• For a low technology, integrated view visit the University of Tropical Agriculture Foundation.

There are a number of different types of digester in use, http://www.uasb.org/index.htm is about Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket digesters for dilute wastes.

If you are interested in solid waste digestion this book chapter (pdf 131kB) may be a good starting point.
It's from: "Biomethanization of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Wastes", Editor(s): J. Mata-Alvarez, September 2002 · Pages: 336 · ISBN: 1900222140 IWA Publishing.
"I review in this chapter the most common (full scale) reactor designs used to digest solid wastes. I tried to combine the scientific and engineering viewpoints in the paper. If you have difficulties opening or reading the file, please request another copy from coauthor Willy.Verstraete or from his secretary Christine.Graveels." Contributed by Philippe Vandevivere.

A simple approach to "solid digestion" (pdf 25kB) has been proposed by Dr Duncan Martin and Mr Paul Harris.

Also Ben Dearman completed a PhD thesis through Flinders University on the anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste.

There is lots of information, this book titled Biogas Technology in Nepal: A Sustainable Source of Energy for Rural People by Mr. Govinda Devkota may be helpful to you.

A more advanced DESIGN MODEL is available but it requires a number of inputs.

The AgStar program has information and a comprehensive software model to download.

It is good to start small, how about a home sized project?

There are many years of experience in these posts from Les Gornall (thanks for permission to use them , Les) -

• Measuring Digester Performance and
• Practical Tests.

 For more information try

• Combustion information and another view of biogas/biofuels may answer some more of your questions,
• http://www.biogas.ch/,
• http://www.habmigern2003.info/biogas/Baron-digester/Baron-digester.htm and
• http://www.methane-gas.com/.

There are LOTS of other sites as well, tell me your favourite.