THERMAL ENERGY FROM BIOGAS GENERATED FROM CATTLE MANURE AND SEWAGE SLUDGE

Abstract

The major problems of public health, environmental impact, and energy dependence due to conventional fuels can be solved by using biogas from biodigesters. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the energy potential of using biogas in the replacement of firewood and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). For the biogas production, Indian model batch digesters were used in a batch supply system. Those were supplied with 100: 0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 sewage sludge: cattle manure (SS:CM). The calculation of the energy conversion was based on the accumulated biogas production, biogas production potential, the amount of waste produced by dairy cattle in a rural property and the equivalence of one cubic meter of gas with wood and LPG. In general, the adoption of biodigesters in rural properties to generate biogas for thermal energy consists of a viable and sustainable technology, regardless of the number of animals in the property. The use of sewage sludge antecipated biogas production, with the highest biogas production potential being 25:75 SS:CM. The financial savings obtained by the owner and /or community when installing a biodigester can be invested in the rural property. Therefore, it is concluded that there is a feasibility to replace firewood and LPG with biogas.