The Design Of An Experimental Anaerobic Digestor For Organic Waste Processing
- Conference
- Location
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Publication Date
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June 22, 2008
- Start Date
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June 22, 2008
- End Date
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June 25, 2008
- ISSN
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2153-5965
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Energy Conversion and Conservation
- Page Count
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18
- Page Numbers
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13.1210.1 - 13.1210.18
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--4208
- Permanent URL
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https://peer.asee.org/4208
- Download Count
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605
Paper Authors
Esther Ososanya University of the District of Columbia
Abiose Adebayo University of the District of Columbia
Jean-Pierre Fodjouo University of the District of Columbia
Steven Omoijuanfo University of the District of Columbia
Francis Ayissi University of the District of Columbia
Tuan Ly University of the District of Columbia
Kevin Allen University of the District of Columbia
Mamoun Mohammed Ali University of the District of Columbia
Gizaw Mulugeta University of the District of Columbia
Anene Wynn University of the District of Columbia
Dimitri Ditombi Bamba University of the District of Columbia
Meraj Shaikh University of the District of Columbia
Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract
Abstract: Biogas is produced when organic matter is degraded in the absence of oxygen. The process, from degradation to gas production is called anaerobic digestion. This anaerobic digestion occurs naturally in wetland, Lake Bottom and deep landfills. An experimental digestor was built that converts cow manure and agricultural waste into methane-rich biogas that can be used as alternate energy resources to generate electricity or thermal energy. The research in this study focuses on the feasibility of the design of an operational digestor, the monitoring and control of the different biodegradation process variables and experiments to boost or maximize the gas production; and the analysis of the biogas produced, using a Gas Chromatograph (CG), with Flame Ionization Detector (FID), to separate the methane from carbon dioxide. The biogas produced contains Methane CH4, with very small percentage of Carbon dioxide CO2, and some traces of Nitrogen N2, Hydrogen H2, and Hydrogen Sulfide H2SO4. The economic viability of this technology, advantages, and the production cost compared to other renewable energy resources are also compared. This technology will be used to power the heating unit in a Zero Energy Home (ZEH) currently under construction.
Introduction:
The first phase of the Anaerobic digestor design project takes students through the engineering design process, i.e., the conceptual design and analysis, and design feasibility study. The second phase was to build the experimental digestor system, the pro engineer drawing, and construction of an operational digestor.
The Design Process:
The design process is a decision making process in which several steps are taken to
reach a desired goal, objective or final design so as to satisfy a definite goal or stated
objective. The fundamental elements of such design processes are the establishment of
objectives and criteria, synthesis, analysis, construction, testing and evaluation. Like any
other engineering design the Anaerobic Digestor design follows these fundamental
processes. The desire or need of finding a suitable heating system for a Zero Energy
Home (ZEH) that is efficient, cost effective and uses a form of renewable energy, led to
the option of the Anaerobic Digestor. Research was done on other types of residential
Ososanya, E., & Adebayo, A., & Fodjouo, J., & Omoijuanfo, S., & Ayissi, F., & Ly, T., & Allen, K., & Mohammed Ali, M., & Mulugeta, G., & Wynn, A., & Ditombi Bamba, D., & Shaikh, M. (2008, June), The Design Of An Experimental Anaerobic Digestor For Organic Waste Processing Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--4208
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