Design and construction of a biogas digester feeding system.

Abstract

The biogas digester for above ground digesters has to be opened every time it is to be recharged with slurry. This allows entry of air into the system and this directly affects the activity of the anaerobic bacteria. This called for the design and construction of an improved biogas digester feeding system. The different system components were designed, drawn using solid edge software and fabricated which were then assembled to form a functioning prototype. This system pumped slurry into the digester, and is cranked or powered comfortably by right handed person. The system requires one operator when feeding slurry into the digester. The cow dung and water slurry was mixed in the ratio of 1:1 to give good results in terms of methane yield. The output capacity of the system was averagely 0221/s and the efficiency of the system was 3542%. The system improves on methane yield and concentration in the digester therefore the system is worthwhile for continuously loaded digester. The system breaks evens in 2.428 years, when evaluated economically. Therefore, the project seems to be viable.