New Bio digestor

We installed a bio digester on the farm last week. We are now in the process of connecting the pig stall and cooking areas, making the system fully functional. Here is a illustration we made of how we use the bio digester.


So what is a bio gas

Bio gas is produced here by the biodigestor by anaerobic digestion, a process which is more commonly known as fermentation.

Anaerobic digestion or fermentation takes places when a bio-degradable substance such as plant waste, leftover food, sewage and animal waste. Almost any organic material can be used to make bio gas, the exception being woody waste that is largely unaffected by digestion. Anaerobic digestion is the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. This type of bio gas is comprised of primarily methane and carbon dioxide. Biogas can be used as a low-cost fuel for any heating purpose, such as cooking.


How it works


We have a small bio gas plant that measures 8 meters long with a 5 meter circumference. The bio digester is made of a thin plastic and is kept air tight. The lower half is filled with a manure slurry and the top half contains the biogas. At ether end is and opening with a pipe at a 45 degree angle to prevent gas from escaping or air from entering. At one end manure enters and at the other liquid organic fertilizer is collected to be applied to crops, any excess is filtered through ponds with water plants before entering the water table. A relief valve on the top of the bio digester regulates that the digester does not over inflate.

Bio Fertilizer

We produce bio gas from the anaerobic digestion of manure that takes place in a small-scale digestion facility. The pig manure of approximately 30 pigs goes into the bio digester. When the pig stalls are cleaned all wastewater flows into gutters and then into the bio digester where anaerobic digestion takes place. Bio gas is then stored in the bio digester and is made available under pressure by a gas pipe to our cooking areas. Also, the nutrient-rich digestate is used as an organic fertilizer on the farm.

Installation of the bio digester

Materials were all sourced from the local hardware store.
Installation took a half day and digging the hole with a back hoe took a half day as well.
Total cost with materials back hoe work and installation was under $300 dollars
Materials
Our bio digester is 8 meters long with a 5 meter circumference is made from two clear plastic tubes measuring 13 meters long by 5 meter circumference layered one inside the other.
A few PVC pipes and angles
A one by one meter ditch was dug by back hoe
Two concrete tubes


Come up to the farm and check out a working example.