Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Biogas shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Biogas offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Biogas at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Biogas? Wrong! If the Biogas is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Biogas then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Biogas? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Biogas and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Biogas wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Biogas then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Biogas site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Biogas, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Biogas, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
Biogas typically refers to a (biofuel) gas produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation (biochemistry) of
organic matter including manure, sewage sludge,
municipal solid waste,
biodegradable waste or any other biodegradable feedstock, under
Anaerobic environment conditions. Biogas is comprised primarily of
methane and carbon dioxide.
Depending on where it is produced, biogas is also called:
- swamp gas
- marsh gas
- landfill gas
- anaerobic digester gas
Biogas containing methane is a valuable by-product of anaerobic digestion which can be utilised in the production of renewable energy Biogas and Bioenergy.Biogas can be used as a vehicle fuel or for generating electricity. It can also be burned directly for cooking, heating, lighting, process heat and absorption refrigeration.
Biogas and anaerobic digestion
Biogas production by anaerobic digestion is popular for treating biodegradable waste because valuable fuel can be produced, while destroying disease-causing pathogens and reducing the volume of disposed waste products. It burns more cleanly than coal, and emits less
carbon dioxide per unit of energy. The harvesting of biogas is an important part of waste management because methane is a
greenhouse gas with a greater
global warming potential than carbon dioxide. The carbon in biogas was generally recently extracted from the atmosphere by
photosynthesis plants, so releasing it back into the atmosphere adds less total atmospheric carbon than burning
fossil fuels.
Recently, developed countries have been making increasing use of biogas generated from both wastewater and landfill sites or produced by mechanical biological treatment systems for municipal waste. High energy prices and increases in subsidies for electricity from renewable sources (such as
renewables obligation certificates) and drivers such as the EU Landfill Directive have led to much greater use of biogas sources.
Landfill gas
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px"! colspan="5" align=center | Electricity from biogas (GWh) Biogas barometer 2007 - EurObserv’ER Systèmes solaires - le journal des énergies renouvelables n° 179, s. 51-61, 5/2007|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Country! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | 2006! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | 2005|-----| Germany ] || align="right" | 4 997 || align="right" | 4 690|-----|
Italy ] || align="right" | 675 || align="right" | 620|-----| Greece ] || align="right" | 501 || align="right" | 483|-----| Austria ] || align="right" | 286 || align="right" | 286|-----| Denmark ] || align="right" | 241 || align="right" | 175|-----| Belgium ] || align="right" | 175 || align="right" | 161|-----|
Ireland ] || align="right" | 54 || align="right" | 54|-----| Portugal ] || align="right" | 33 || align="right" | 27|-----| Slovenia ] || align="right" | 22 || align="right" | 25|-----|
Finland ] || align="right" | 7 || align="right" | 7|-----|
Slovakia ] || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” |EU (GWh) || align="right" | 17 272 || align="right" | 13 397|}
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px"! colspan="5" align=center | Biogas in EU 2006 (GWh) Biogas barometer 2007 - EurObserv’ER Systèmes solaires - le journal des énergies renouvelables n° 179, s. 51-61, 5/2007|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Country! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Total! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Landfill! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Sludge! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Other|-----|
Germany ] || align="right" | 19 720 || align="right" | 17 620 || align="right" | 2 100 || align="right" | 0|-----|
Italy ] || align="right" | 3 890 || align="right" | 2 930 || align="right" | 660 || align="right" | 300|-----|
France ] || align="right" | 1 380 || align="right" | 450 || align="right" | 590 || align="right" | 340|-----| Austria ] || align="right" | 1 100 || align="right" | 170 || align="right" | 270 || align="right" | 660|-----| Poland ] || align="right" | 970 || align="right" | 590 || align="right" | 290 || align="right" | 90|-----| Greece ] || align="right" | 740 || align="right" | 590 || align="right" | 150 || align="right" | 0|-----|
Czech Republic ] || align="right" | 400 || align="right" | 290 || align="right" | 60 || align="right" | 50|-----|
Sweden ] || align="right" | 120 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 90 || align="right" | 40|-----| Portugal ] || align="right" | 100 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 100|-----| Slovenia ] || align="right" | 60 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 50 || align="right" | 10|-----|
Estonia ] || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” |EU (GWh) || align="right" | 62 200 || align="right" | 36 250 || align="right" | 11 050 || align="right" | 14 900|}
Landfill gas is produced from organic waste disposed of in landfill. The waste is covered and compressed mechanically and by the pressure of higher levels. As conditions become anaerobic the organic waste is broken down and landfill gas is produced. This gas builds up and is slowly released into the atmosphere. This is hazardous for three key reasons:
Biogas composition
The composition of biogas varies depending upon the origin of the anaerobic digestion process. Landfill gas typically has methane concentrations around 50%. Advanced waste treatment technologies can produce biogas with 55-75%CH4 Juniper Biogas Yield Comparison.
{|border="1"|+
Typical composition of biogas Basic Information on Biogas|-! Matter!! %|-! Methane, CH4| 50-75|-! Carbon dioxide, CO2| 25-50|-! Nitrogen, N2| 0-10*|-! Hydrogen, H2| 0-1|-! Hydrogen sulphide, H2S| 0-3|-! Oxygen, O2| 0-2*|-|}
*often 5 % of air is introduced for microbiological desulphurisation
Siloxanes and gas engines
In some cases, biogas from landfills and sewage treatment contains siloxanes. During combustion of biogas containing siloxanes, silicon is released and can combine with free oxygen or various other elements in the combustion gas. Deposits are formed containing mostly
silica (SiO_{2}) or
silicates (Si_{x}O_{y}) in general, but can also contain calcium, sulphur, zinc, phosphor… as indicated by the analysis piston scrapings from biogas-fired engines. These (mostly white) deposits can ultimately build to a surface thickness of several millimetres and are difficult to remove by chemical or mechanical means.
In internal combustion engines deposits on pistons and cylinder heads are extremely abrasive and even a small amount is sufficient to cause enough damage to the engine to require a complete overhaul at 5,000 h or less of operation. The damage is similar to that caused by carbon build up during light load running of diesel engines. Deposits on the turbine of the turbocharger will eventually reduce the charger’s efficiency.
Luckily, simply cooling the gas to roughly -4 C is sufficient to remove siloxanes due to condensantion.
Stirling engines are more resistant against siloxanes, though deposits on the tubes of the heat exchanger will reduce the efficiency. Presentation - Siloxanes in landfill gas Paper - Siloxanes in landfill and digester gas
Biogas to natural gas
If biogas is cleaned up sufficiently, biogas has the same characteristics as
natural gas.In this instance the producer of the biogas can utilize the local gas distribution networks.The gas must be very clean to reach pipeline quality.
Water (H2O),
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and particulates are removed if present at high levels or if the gas is to be completely cleaned. Carbon dioxide is less frequently removed, but it must also be separated to achieve pipeline quality gas. If the gas is to be used without extensively cleaning, it is sometimes cofired with natural gas to improve
combustion. Biogas cleaned up to
pipeline transport quality is called renewable natural gas or biomethane.
Applications of renewable natural gas
In this form the gas can be now used in any application that natural gas is used for. Such applications include distribution via the natural gas grid, electricity production, space heating,
water heating and process heating. If compressed, it can replace
compressed natural gas for use in vehicles, where it can fuel an
internal combustion engine or
fuel cells.
Cooking
Gober gas is a biogas generated out of cow dung. In India, gober gas is generated at the countless number of micro plants (an estimated more than 2 million) attached to households. The gober gas plant is basically an airtight circular pit made of concrete with a pipe connection. The manure is directed to the pit (usually directed from the cattle shed). The pit is then filled with a required quantity of water (usually waste water). The gas pipe is connected to the kitchen fire place through control valves. The flammable methane gas generated out of this is practically odorless and smokeless. The residue left after the extraction of the gas is used as biofertiliser. Owing to its simplicity in implementation and use of cheap raw materials in the villages, it is often quoted as one of the most environmentally sound energy source for the rural needs.
Railway transport
A biogas-powered train has been in service in Sweden since 2005 Biogas train in Sweden.
Landfill gas legislation
United States
In the United States, because landfill gas contains these VOCs, the United States
Clean Air Act and Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) requires landfill owners to estimate the quantity of non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) emitted. If the estimated NMOC emissions exceeds 50 tonnes per year the landfill owner is required to collect the landfill gas and treat it to remove the entrained NMOCs. Treatment of the landfill gas is usually by combustion. Because of the remoteness of landfill sites it is sometimes not economically feasible to produce electricity from the gas.
See also
External links
- University of Adelaide - An Introduction to Biogas
- Biogas Purification
- Biogas in Rural Costa Rica
- Biogas Archives on Wikispaces
- Solid Waste Association of North America
- Landfill Gas Symposium
References
- "Friendly fuel trains". (Oct. 30, 2005). New Straits Times, p. F17.
- "Example of a concept for a MMU (methane mulitiple unit).
Biogas typically refers to a (biofuel)
gas produced by the
anaerobic digestion or
fermentation (biochemistry) of
organic matter including manure,
sewage sludge, municipal solid waste,
biodegradable waste or any other biodegradable feedstock, under
Anaerobic environment conditions. Biogas is comprised primarily of methane and
carbon dioxide.
Depending on where it is produced, biogas is also called:
Biogas containing methane is a valuable by-product of anaerobic digestion which can be utilised in the production of renewable energy Biogas and Bioenergy.Biogas can be used as a vehicle fuel or for generating electricity. It can also be burned directly for cooking, heating, lighting, process heat and absorption refrigeration.
Biogas and anaerobic digestion
Biogas production by anaerobic digestion is popular for treating biodegradable waste because valuable fuel can be produced, while destroying disease-causing
pathogens and reducing the volume of disposed waste products. It burns more cleanly than
coal, and emits less
carbon dioxide per unit of energy. The harvesting of biogas is an important part of waste management because methane is a
greenhouse gas with a greater
global warming potential than carbon dioxide. The carbon in biogas was generally recently extracted from the atmosphere by photosynthesis plants, so releasing it back into the atmosphere adds less total atmospheric carbon than burning fossil fuels.
Recently, developed countries have been making increasing use of biogas generated from both
wastewater and landfill sites or produced by
mechanical biological treatment systems for municipal waste. High energy prices and increases in
subsidies for electricity from renewable sources (such as renewables obligation certificates) and drivers such as the EU Landfill Directive have led to much greater use of biogas sources.
Landfill gas
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px"! colspan="5" align=center | Electricity from biogas (GWh) Biogas barometer 2007 - EurObserv’ER Systèmes solaires - le journal des énergies renouvelables n° 179, s. 51-61, 5/2007|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Country! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | 2006! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | 2005|-----| Germany ] || align="right" | 4 997 || align="right" | 4 690|-----| Italy ] || align="right" | 675 || align="right" | 620|-----|
Greece ] || align="right" | 501 || align="right" | 483|-----| Austria ] || align="right" | 286 || align="right" | 286|-----| Denmark ] || align="right" | 241 || align="right" | 175|-----|
Belgium ] || align="right" | 175 || align="right" | 161|-----| Ireland ] || align="right" | 54 || align="right" | 54|-----|
Portugal ] || align="right" | 33 || align="right" | 27|-----| Slovenia ] || align="right" | 22 || align="right" | 25|-----|
Finland ] || align="right" | 7 || align="right" | 7|-----| Slovakia ] || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” |EU (GWh) || align="right" | 17 272 || align="right" | 13 397|}
{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px"! colspan="5" align=center | Biogas in EU 2006 (GWh) Biogas barometer 2007 - EurObserv’ER Systèmes solaires - le journal des énergies renouvelables n° 179, s. 51-61, 5/2007|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Country! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Total! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Landfill! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Sludge! style=“background-color: # cfb;” | Other|-----| Germany ] || align="right" | 19 720 || align="right" | 17 620 || align="right" | 2 100 || align="right" | 0|-----| Italy ] || align="right" | 3 890 || align="right" | 2 930 || align="right" | 660 || align="right" | 300|-----| France ] || align="right" | 1 380 || align="right" | 450 || align="right" | 590 || align="right" | 340|-----|
Austria ] || align="right" | 1 100 || align="right" | 170 || align="right" | 270 || align="right" | 660|-----|
Poland ] || align="right" | 970 || align="right" | 590 || align="right" | 290 || align="right" | 90|-----| Greece ] || align="right" | 740 || align="right" | 590 || align="right" | 150 || align="right" | 0|-----| Czech Republic ] || align="right" | 400 || align="right" | 290 || align="right" | 60 || align="right" | 50|-----| Sweden ] || align="right" | 120 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 90 || align="right" | 40|-----| Portugal ] || align="right" | 100 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 100|-----| Slovenia ] || align="right" | 60 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 50 || align="right" | 10|-----|
Estonia ] || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0 || align="right" | 0|-----! style=“background-color: # cfb;” |EU (GWh) || align="right" | 62 200 || align="right" | 36 250 || align="right" | 11 050 || align="right" | 14 900|}
Landfill gas is produced from organic waste disposed of in landfill. The waste is covered and compressed mechanically and by the pressure of higher levels. As conditions become anaerobic the organic waste is broken down and landfill gas is produced. This gas builds up and is slowly released into the atmosphere. This is hazardous for three key reasons:
Biogas composition
The composition of biogas varies depending upon the origin of the anaerobic digestion process. Landfill gas typically has methane concentrations around 50%. Advanced waste treatment technologies can produce biogas with 55-75%CH4 Juniper Biogas Yield Comparison.
{|border="1"|+
Typical composition of biogas Basic Information on Biogas|-! Matter!! %|-! Methane, CH4| 50-75|-! Carbon dioxide, CO2| 25-50|-! Nitrogen, N2| 0-10*|-! Hydrogen, H2| 0-1|-! Hydrogen sulphide, H2S| 0-3|-! Oxygen, O2| 0-2*|-|}
*often 5 % of air is introduced for microbiological desulphurisation
Siloxanes and gas engines
In some cases, biogas from landfills and sewage treatment contains
siloxanes. During combustion of biogas containing siloxanes, silicon is released and can combine with free oxygen or various other elements in the combustion gas. Deposits are formed containing mostly
silica (SiO_{2}) or silicates (Si_{x}O_{y}) in general, but can also contain calcium, sulphur, zinc, phosphor… as indicated by the analysis piston scrapings from biogas-fired engines. These (mostly white) deposits can ultimately build to a surface thickness of several millimetres and are difficult to remove by chemical or mechanical means.
In
internal combustion engines deposits on pistons and cylinder heads are extremely abrasive and even a small amount is sufficient to cause enough damage to the engine to require a complete overhaul at 5,000 h or less of operation. The damage is similar to that caused by carbon build up during light load running of diesel engines. Deposits on the turbine of the turbocharger will eventually reduce the charger’s efficiency.
Luckily, simply cooling the gas to roughly -4 C is sufficient to remove siloxanes due to condensantion.
Stirling engines are more resistant against siloxanes, though deposits on the tubes of the heat exchanger will reduce the efficiency. Presentation - Siloxanes in landfill gas Paper - Siloxanes in landfill and digester gas
Biogas to natural gas
If biogas is cleaned up sufficiently, biogas has the same characteristics as natural gas.In this instance the producer of the biogas can utilize the local gas distribution networks.The gas must be very clean to reach pipeline quality. Water (H2O),
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and
particulates are removed if present at high levels or if the gas is to be completely cleaned. Carbon dioxide is less frequently removed, but it must also be separated to achieve pipeline quality gas. If the gas is to be used without extensively cleaning, it is sometimes cofired with natural gas to improve combustion. Biogas cleaned up to pipeline transport quality is called renewable natural gas or biomethane.
Applications of renewable natural gas
In this form the gas can be now used in any application that natural gas is used for. Such applications include distribution via the natural gas grid, electricity production, space heating, water heating and process heating. If compressed, it can replace
compressed natural gas for use in vehicles, where it can fuel an internal combustion engine or fuel cells.
Cooking
Gober gas is a biogas generated out of cow dung. In India, gober gas is generated at the countless number of micro plants (an estimated more than 2 million) attached to households. The gober gas plant is basically an airtight circular pit made of concrete with a pipe connection. The manure is directed to the pit (usually directed from the cattle shed). The pit is then filled with a required quantity of water (usually waste water). The gas pipe is connected to the kitchen fire place through control valves. The flammable methane gas generated out of this is practically odorless and smokeless. The residue left after the extraction of the gas is used as biofertiliser. Owing to its simplicity in implementation and use of cheap raw materials in the villages, it is often quoted as one of the most environmentally sound energy source for the rural needs.
Railway transport
A biogas-powered train has been in service in Sweden since 2005 Biogas train in Sweden.
Landfill gas legislation
United States
In the United States, because landfill gas contains these VOCs, the United States Clean Air Act and Title 40 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) requires landfill owners to estimate the quantity of non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) emitted. If the estimated NMOC emissions exceeds 50 tonnes per year the landfill owner is required to collect the landfill gas and treat it to remove the entrained NMOCs. Treatment of the landfill gas is usually by combustion. Because of the remoteness of landfill sites it is sometimes not economically feasible to produce electricity from the gas.
See also
External links
- University of Adelaide - An Introduction to Biogas
- Biogas Purification
- Biogas in Rural Costa Rica
- Biogas Archives on Wikispaces
- Solid Waste Association of North America
- Landfill Gas Symposium
References
- "Friendly fuel trains". (Oct. 30, 2005). New Straits Times, p. F17.
- "Example of a concept for a MMU (methane mulitiple unit).
Biogas Technology Ltd :: Landfill Environmental Management and ...
Biogas Technology is a company dedicated to the provision of equipment and services to landfill site owners and operators, including the control of landfill gas migration and the ...
Biogas
Biogas. What is Biogas? Biogas is a renewable alternative fuel, which is produced by breaking down organic matter by a process of microbiological activity.
Biogas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of biofuel.
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holsworthy biogas
Energy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In physics and other sciences, energy (from the Greek ????? - energeia, ... 2 Energy in various contexts since the beginning of the ...
Biogas
The University of Adelaide provides quality service and support to its community through the efforts of a range of departments. This site includes academic faculties, research ...
Alkane › Our businesses › Alkane Biogas
Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced when organic materials decompose in the absence of oxygen in a process known as anaerobic digestion.
Biogas Bonanza for Third World Development
Views and goods advertized are not necessarily endorsed by Science in Society or the Inst. of Science in Society.
BioGas AutoKleen
PpTek is a manufacturer of Siloxane or VOC removal systems, also known as siloxane filters or gas scrubbers. New PpTek technology allows cost effective siloxane contamination ...
biogas
factsheet - basic information: printable factsheet (pdf) - feel free to print and use; if it doesn't open, you need Acrobat Reader - it's free
