Design of Biogas Digester for Small Community of Salalah Countryside, Oman to Support the Lighting and Cooking Electrical Load

Abstract

Bio-gas is a renewable energy source derived from the anaerobic digestion of organic materials such as agricultural, manure, and food waste. It emits methane and carbon dioxide, which reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote circular economies by converting organic matter into valuable energy and nutrients. In this study, the biogas-based power generation possibilities are studied and reported based on the availability of biomass from animals like camels, sheep, goats, and cows. The data collection and analysis are carried out under different temperature conditions. The energy required is planned for eight people in each family. In the proposal work to design a digester, the location was chosen at the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula (south of the Sultanate of Oman) for the place Madinat al Haqq. Afterwards, calculations are reported to estimate the size of the biogas digester and the output power generated from the digester. Here, the digester output is used for cooking and lighting for all members of the family. Further, the power output is viable based on the availability of biomass per day. The energy availability investigation is performed using the standard calorific value of the biomass per cubic meter. The proposed concept will allow the remote community to use a portal-sized biogas digester for their necessary electrical home load. Furthermore, the selection of the burner is reported to utilize the biogas efficiently.