*I'll definitely build one of these within the next 5 years. I'll add it to my list of things to build. Everyone ask me again in 5 years if you see this comment!*
I’ve seen some people use double blow up mattresses to store the gas, if you can’t find bladders. Then you could tee them together to increase capacity. On the plus side, it would allow you to put a flat board on top of the stack and sandbag it to give the required pressure, instead of pumping!
I read "The Handbook of Homemade Power" when I was 14.. and studied deeply on these.. I had dug a hole in the yard, gotten barrels and many of the other parts, unfortunately, my parents made me fill the hole back in and I never finished. You have re-inspired me... Maybe I will build one of these for my farm sometime soon. There are 2 best temperature zones for anaerobic digestion 90 degrees F and 120-130 F. My thought is to tie this in to my greenhouse thermal mass system and use the excess heat to help better regulate the digester temps. Thanks for sharing!
best video on the subject right now I'm sleeping in my car, lost my home due to Hurricane Micheal when it hit Florida, On social security due to Parkinson. could not afford house insurance. Probably get me a utility building next month to live in and maybe a use RV in 6 months,, Just got power back yesterday got a tent set up as well Studying up on as many ways as I can that I can be off the grid,, I do have to have the power lines running to my new place, but I will be using my power as much as possible
Thank you so much for sharing. I have been eye balling this biogas stuff for awhile now. But trying to think about its viability here in Canada. I think after seeing this that I have found the solution here. This should complete my off grid system very nicely. Again thank you!!!!!
I have considered this for my home, but the things I have read indicate a small amount of gas is produced in a household sized system. This lead me to think of what else it could be used for, and I came to the conclusion that a green/grow house, lit/heated by gaslight would make sense. When I search for information on growing plants by gaslight, I get either ancient information, or weed growers referencing that ancient information to use with electrical light. I think a building that processes compost through chickens and the chicken waste through a biogas system, while growing plants, and producing fertilizer, would be a good fit in lots of urban areas.
Top video. Looking forward to the video to teach how to scrub the gases produced of all impurities that will lead to the corrosion of pressurised storage and plumbing.
I've been thinking of this for a while and was looking for a good "how to" video, so thanks - I can't give you enough upticks! All the ideas I had were complicating the whole thing far too much. This is simple and doable and I can't wait to get started. Best wishes.
@@gustav-adolfschildt I’m about to start building one, have several 330 totes available and even have a long piece of 6” pvc and 10” pvc female ends that I picked up on Craigslist for $20, any tips you can give me? 6” too big, 4” better? 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thanks to Mashav 2017, I had a hands on training on this simple but very useful technology. I hope to use it basically solve sanitation problem and use the efflueut to plant vegetables
Very scientific explanation. I like your T fix method to prevent vapour lock. For a while, I was thinking about a single solution to purify both CO2 and H2S through a sustainable method. How about using NaOH or KOH solution to bubble through first? H2S becomes Na2S/K2S+H2O and CO2 becomes Na2CO3/K2CO3+ H2O. Then we can add a water container to bubble through to remove alkalinity in the gas in case. You can make the system locally sustainable if you use KOH solution made from wood-ash.
Great tutorial. Whatehver, If You are stuck with diffrent designs, remember the basics. Digestion takes place în a sealed container, in order to be able to collect the gas.
If you use a hot water recirculating pump to limit how much water you waste in your house waiting for hot water when you turn on a faucet, I think you can add more loop so that you can heat the reactor. less water waste, no need to worry about the temps dropping
I saw it in India and all it consists of was a square brick trough, a metal container with bottom removed, and the trough was filled with animal cow pat's and then the metal box put on top, a pipe came from the box to a cooker, and that was that. Brick+ box +pipe =free gas. Government in the UK would rather you died from cold than have anything free.
Love this design. I picked up a dozen IBC totes today and am using some for pig housing. I think I would do this design with a larger intake pipe, Something 6-12" in diameter. Would you foresee any issue with that? I'd like to be able to shovel manure into it. Also does the intake pipe need a cap? Great Work!
So I’m currently doing vermicomposting, bokashi ferment and basic thermocomposting. Very curious about this as an addition or adjunct. Curious what the tea that comes out looks like under a microscope and how much gas can be produced from one of these on average. Seems like the amount of fertilizer out is the same amount of food waste in roughly.
Would this work coupled with a black soldier fly cultivation unit? To use the worms to pre grind the biomass and use what nutrients they can for a more useful/valuable resource (food or feed), then make biogass from what remains?
Thomas - I'm kinda obsessed with this topic for the various food waste reduction, reduced carbon footprint, and alternative fuel reasons and have been watching a number of your well-done how-to's - thanks!! I'd love to see what setup you did for the under-sink version at 6:24 as something that would work for we house- and apartment-dwelling masses? I've been all over your Solar CITIES website, too...love the mission! Cheers
Awesome video, thanks! Quick question. I've built the 3ibc system. Now that it's all connected and producing gas, my slury out pipe is never exiting fertilizer. It does when I close off the gas as the pressure pushes it out. How do you balance this? Or do you occasionally close off the gas to get the fertiliser. Thanks!
Exactamente, lo que te ocurre es normal, ningún fluido va a ascender nunca por una tubería sin una fuerza que le obligue a ello. Si el consumo de gas es superior o igual al ritmo de producción la presión dentro del tanque va nunca a ser la necesaria para que el bioabono salga.
I see you haven't been able to get rid of last years ibc digester. I'd like to see you do a video on how to deal with a tank that got too cold and is no longer active.
if the hole in the gas pipe is above the water line, how does the slurry escape through the third pipe? how is the slurry pushed up the compost-tea above the water mark?
The hole in the slurry pipe is half way up the tank, and below the liquid level. as you feed waste and H2O into the feed tube, the level of slurry will rise, and will run off through the slurry pipe. That the methane builds inside the airtight tank (above the liquid level), it will offset the "pressure" that will build as slurry is added, then exit through the runoff tube. If no gas is consumed and the methane storage bladder is aloud to reach max capacity, the slurry level will be pushed down as the methane increases in volume, until it is pushed out the slurry hole and the gas escapes there too.
Hi Thomas, Interested in this gas collection system. Can I ask how you stop the pressure in the gas holder pushing back into the digester? I had an issue with slurry being pushed out of the feed and effluent pipes. Anyway all the best. Tanc
Would it be possible to build a digester out of a 12 inch PVC pipe and lay it horizontally? Feed it on one end, take the gas from the top and take the slurry from the far end? If so, this would open up a lot of possibilities as to where you could put it, and it would make it easier to connect it to your sink and its garbage disposal.
Hi. ive found your written explanation of this, its very very helpful. exactly as you explain here. my question is, what is the gas production capacity of this and how do you regulate the gas in case its a lot and yes i dont have storage of the gas?
Great Video, but why are the pipes extended to the bottom of the tank? couldn't we cut the gas pipe under the top directly ? the waster water pipe be plugged on the side of the tank at mid height ? and the sludge pipe cut under the top too ?
that's a cool video. one question: for waste water (which can be used as fertilizer) to flow the IBC liquid level would have to be above the waste water Tee. that level would be seen across the feed pipe and the gas pipe (possible siphon issue). you'd have to make sure the feed pipe and gas is higher than waste elbow. am i right? that's going to get really messy. it would be great if you had a waste pipe mid way up the IBC and decided to drain it depending on the level as seen in the feed pipe
Hi, Good video! The way you feed it and draw off, the heights of your pipes where you draw off will be the the height of your liquid, how do you keep the fluid out of your gas line?
Gas generated floats on top of the fat-oil-grease or F.O.G; which will escape through the whole drilled on the blue pvc pipe near the top the IBC tank for maximum gas collection. As far as the fluid and gas getting mixed up goes, well they won't because the gas escape whole is up near the IBC upper wall, where the liquid fertilizer intake perforation is around the middle of the fluid within the system. And remember, if you feed five litters of new grounded food material into the biodigester, an equivalent of five litter of liquid fertilizer will be forced out...It is simply a mass balance kind of situation. I hope this helped clearify this system. DISCLAIMER- I don't work for this company; However I am a Hydraulic Engineer and I believe in knowledge sharing. Cheers!
The simplicity an ingeniuitz are extremenly ineresting. Here are two questions: 1) where are the bacterias coming from who will digest the food waste? 2) can animal or human feces be put into the digester as well? 3) I don't understand how the sludge gets pushed out unless the IBS is full to the top. 4) anz estimate of gas production per cubic meter or liter of food waste?
+Yves Baggi To answer your questions: 1) methanogenic bacteria can come from a variety of sources, such as animal manure and biogas start packs. However, it is worth noting that AD will start spontaneously, although it may take longer for the right bacterial community to develop. 2) yes they can, in fact, you should definitely use animal manure as it will fasten the initial process. In fact, many biodigesters in China, India and other developing countries are dependent from the input of animal waste to provide the required gas output. Human faeces can also be used in AD, in thi case one would refer to the process as co-digestion. However, when doing so one should then treat the digestate prior using in agriculture as some parasites and pathogens can still be present. IN case you have enough space and organic matter, thermophilic composting (that is reaching temperatures of above 60 degrees Celsius) is a good treatment solution. HOwever you should monitor your composting heap reaches the requires temperatures for several days. 3) The IBS needs indeed to be full before any digestate will come out 4) The digestate output depends on the feedstock: kitchen scraps usually provide a better generation rate than animal dung and/or human faeces, as they contain more nutrients for the bacteria. You can gave therefore between 100 and 200 liters of methane for every liter of kitchen waste.
Thanks a lot +John Doe super responses. One clarification though. What do you mean by AD? Probably something related to 'Digestion'. Thank you very much.
+goinghomesomeday1 Yes, I'm hoping to build one at our Montessori School. Although we'll have to manage smell property, or we'll get shut down.... but there is a poney club next door so we should be getting enough horse dung. I would also love to make one for our secondary residence. But it would need to be highly automated as it would not have waste matter for days in a row in the winter. Any recommendations?
I will be trying this at home. I have a newly (black) painted IBC. I live in the tropics and will be placing my biodigester outdoors. Is there a maximum temperature I have to worry about?
Using this video, I have made a metric measurement parts list, for a friend in the Philippines. He’s going to get it costed, then he will try to source the parts locally. I’ve used standard metric PVC pipe measurements for diameters. Do you mind if I post the parts list here? If I’ve missed something, maybe someone will see it and I can update. Thanks, Carl.
Chinese Villages have been doing this for thousands of years, they traditionally make a sub surface digester using a brick construction. And Bamboo to transport the Gas around the Village.
Excellent video!! Just a few questions: where can I order the bladder for gas storage? At what level or how long will it take to start producing gas? How was the food ground in the areas without electricity? Can I put animal (cow, dogs and donkeys) manure in it? Thanks for this, I will build this very soon.
LingahbytheSea I'll try to help. First I had the same question about gas bags as well as biogas appliances. They're easy to get in Asia especially India but no one seems to be importing them into the US. All the local gas bag producers are for industrial applications. In a pinch use car and truck tires. Used ones are dirt cheap or free and even new ones can be cheap. They can also be compressed to increase gas pressure. As to how long until they start producing usable gas? At least a couple of months depending on temperature and feed stocks, 2 to 3 months. It's a continuous feed set up so it's a one time issue. I'd try to load it up half way as soon as possible using whatever you can scrounge including grass clippings. As to grinding you can use hand crank meat grinders although I like the garbage disposals best of all. Spend the money and get the best you can get so they'll even take animal bones. It adds calcium to your compost. Grazing animals are best but any manure will work. If you are adding a lot of dog, cat and human manure add in grass clippings or another bulk source. You'll get better output and better compost. Some of the best are rabbit and guinea pig although full size pigs work as well. Just treat their waste like human and add bulking materials as a carbon source. Just keep the light and oxygen out like he says. You might add in a packet of septic tank microbes to get the process kick started. Not essential but it can speed up the start up.
Great video tutorial. Question about the hydrogen sulfide byproduct from anaerobic digestion which can be an issue. Is this an issue for residential biogas generators? if so, how can this issue be mitigated.
Mitigation is via a gas scrubber. The bio gas produced bubbles through a container of water with bleach added, and then through another filled with wire wool. This process removes the hydrogen sulphide which corrodes steel plumbing fittings and compressed gas storage tanks, and removes the C02. The next vessel holds cat litter to absorb the H2O and dry the gas before passing clean and dry into the storage device. Unscrubbed gas burns orange like the flame in this video. Clean scrubbed gas burns colourless in daylight and blue in a dark environment. Loads of You tube vids show how to make a bio gas scrubbing system to attach to the digester.
I’m about to move into my RV and would like to build my own biogas system. I’d like to feed it through my black and gray holding tanks. I’m in Florida so the weather is hot but for ease of feeding the digester should I bury the IBC tank next to the RV like I’ve seen in one of your videos? And where is a good source to buy the tank? And the gas storage bags? Thank you:-)
One of the best designs I've come across. I have to ask tho, if I wish to store the gas in cylinders; do we need to pressurize the gas? Do I need special equipment or tool for that?
Yeah you both need to filter CO2 and H2S and compress it in medium size unf we cant store directly I thought to store like that too bast way is pvc bladders I guess if you don't have filter and compressor
add a 50/50 water/waste mix until the slurry level is over the slurry exit tube hole, just over half way at least. you won't get slurry until there is enough slurry volume to allow it to exit the runoff pipe though. so if you add slurry until the tank is full, you will get slurry faster. also you should fill the tank in order to eliminate as much oxygen as possible. Oxygen is counter productive to the methane process, so, fill the whole thing. I would initially fill the tank near full until methane starts to be produced (between a week or two if everything is done right) then add slurry on whatever basis it accrues for you. The max slurry level in the fill tube won't exceed the highest point of the runoff tube, unless maybe you have a blockage in the runoff tube for some reason.
Thanks for this awesome manual. I neeeed to build one ;-) One question. Would it make sense to add a second IBC to furthermore get the last bit of gas out of the effluent? So a 2 stage digestion..
This is awesome! Question though: The blue pipe, the gas extractor, how does it access the gas, as the hole drilled in it will be below the water line, set by the higher effluent exit pipe with the T join in it? Everything is so clear, but I can't figure that one out. Any help?
New 2020 project at the cottage. I'll have to make sure i don't spill the natural gas out into the atmosphere maybe a off gas flair could be introduced due to intermittent maintenance staff. It will be interesting to see how much gas it produces.
so I'm guessing the fertilizer pipe doesn't exhaust gas because of the upper liquid layer of the compost creating a sort of "gas seal"? seems like it means it would take some time for the gas build up to start.
Very interesting video!!! I hace one doubt... What about te solid which precipitate to the bottom? How do you manager that? Is there any cleaning possibility? Many thanks!!
Good day, I have some questions... - Why does the digester have to be fed at the bottom? Will some of the fresh material you throw in not float in the pipe? - How long does it take to produce fertilizer at optimum temperature? - There are different grades/types of steel wool, which one do I use to clean the gas of SO2? - How do the microorganisms get into the digester? Or are they on/in the food scraps that are thrown in? - I’m aware that the fertilizer is produced in the middle but what can I do with what floats at the top of the tank and what sinks to the bottom? Thank you
Hi ToffaX, please post these excellent questions to our facebook group "Solar CITIES Biogas Innoventors and Practitoners" and we can answer them better.
*I'll definitely build one of these within the next 5 years. I'll add it to my list of things to build. Everyone ask me again in 5 years if you see this comment!*
4 years to go, clock’s ticking! :’)
Imagine how many hot meals you cook or have cooked for you in 5 years, how about this year?! 🙏
3 years left
Better start collecting the materials 😊
@@adamdoig1448 I call next years message😉😂
Already been 2 years better get started
The most informative video on this subject that I have found yet. Thank you.
this is gold. million of people should see and do this.
This a trippy ass way to explain it in the opening. I like it. Simple construction instructions.
I’ve seen some people use double blow up mattresses to store the gas, if you can’t find bladders. Then you could tee them together to increase capacity. On the plus side, it would allow you to put a flat board on top of the stack and sandbag it to give the required pressure, instead of pumping!
Any possible links to videos on how to connect that to this system?
This is the best I have seen. Simple and informative and motivational at the same time. Very good.
I read "The Handbook of Homemade Power" when I was 14.. and studied deeply on these.. I had dug a hole in the yard, gotten barrels and many of the other parts, unfortunately, my parents made me fill the hole back in and I never finished. You have re-inspired me... Maybe I will build one of these for my farm sometime soon. There are 2 best temperature zones for anaerobic digestion 90 degrees F and 120-130 F. My thought is to tie this in to my greenhouse thermal mass system and use the excess heat to help better regulate the digester temps. Thanks for sharing!
best video on the subject right now I'm sleeping in my car, lost my home due to Hurricane Micheal when it hit Florida, On social security due to Parkinson. could not afford house insurance. Probably get me a utility building next month to live in and maybe a use RV in 6 months,, Just got power back yesterday got a tent set up as well Studying up on as many ways as I can that I can be off the grid,, I do have to have the power lines running to my new place, but I will be using my power as much as possible
Thank you so much for sharing. I have been eye balling this biogas stuff for awhile now. But trying to think about its viability here in Canada. I think after seeing this that I have found the solution here. This should complete my off grid system very nicely. Again thank you!!!!!
I have considered this for my home, but the things I have read indicate a small amount of gas is produced in a household sized system.
This lead me to think of what else it could be used for, and I came to the conclusion that a green/grow house, lit/heated by gaslight would make sense.
When I search for information on growing plants by gaslight, I get either ancient information, or weed growers referencing that ancient information to use with electrical light.
I think a building that processes compost through chickens and the chicken waste through a biogas system, while growing plants, and producing fertilizer, would be a good fit in lots of urban areas.
Top video.
Looking forward to the video to teach how to scrub the gases produced of all impurities that will lead to the corrosion of pressurised storage and plumbing.
concise, clear, and no bs! thank you!
I've been thinking of this for a while and was looking for a good "how to" video, so thanks - I can't give you enough upticks! All the ideas I had were complicating the whole thing far too much. This is simple and doable and I can't wait to get started. Best wishes.
I am not sure if you build one already. If not try to build it with a 4" Feed in Pipe in the center and incorporate a stirrer
@@gustav-adolfschildt I’m about to start building one, have several 330 totes available and even have a long piece of 6” pvc and 10” pvc female ends that I picked up on Craigslist for $20, any tips you can give me? 6” too big, 4” better? 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
one wonders how one missed this video... great job!
I'll pile on the accolades. Phenomenal video.
Aside from the victimization 'hook' at the beginning, this was an extremely well done video. Straightforward and understandable.
Excellent, so inspiring, thank you! I can't wait to implement this on my off-grid finca
THIS IS THE BEST DESIGN I HAVE SEEN SO FAR
I AGREE! THIS MAKES ME REALLY FEEL LIKE I CAN DO IT MYSELF!
agree been studying up on the subject uses materials that I can get a hole of
What a fantastic video, so well explained and inspiring.
Thanks to Mashav 2017, I had a hands on training on this simple but very useful technology. I hope to use it basically solve sanitation problem and use the efflueut to plant vegetables
Great job on the illustration.
That is for taking the time to share those folks 👍💓🙏
Very scientific explanation. I like your T fix method to prevent vapour lock. For a while, I was thinking about a single solution to purify both CO2 and H2S through a sustainable method. How about using NaOH or KOH solution to bubble through first? H2S becomes Na2S/K2S+H2O and CO2 becomes Na2CO3/K2CO3+ H2O. Then we can add a water container to bubble through to remove alkalinity in the gas in case. You can make the system locally sustainable if you use KOH solution made from wood-ash.
nice!
Can someone point to WHAT this would look like and how to do it. Thanks
Thanks a lot for this video! It the exact amount of intentionality and detail that I want! You rock.
Great tutorial. Whatehver, If You are stuck with diffrent designs, remember the basics.
Digestion takes place în a sealed container, in order to be able to collect the gas.
You guys are amazing! This is absolutely priceless!
You might consider marking the pipes above the top of the tank, to indicate which direction the cuts and holes below.
If you use a hot water recirculating pump to limit how much water you waste in your house waiting for hot water when you turn on a faucet, I think you can add more loop so that you can heat the reactor. less water waste, no need to worry about the temps dropping
Hi, wonderful video. Very clear. It´s there a possibility to get a list of materials please? Thanks
Thank you from Zimbabwe. 2021 lockdown project.
Incredible, inspiring and so informative thank you!
in cold climates placing the digester in the ground surrounded by grass clippings would likely increase the heat of the tank.
I would use strawbales covered with something waterproof..very cheap and god insulator
I love it was a great information i will do this once i got back from my country
Thank you for this video. It is exactly what I have been looking for. Now I can build one. Cheers
Best video I have seen thus far. Many thanks.
Brilliant explanation and design, thank you for sharing!
Very good technique and presentation.
Awesome video tutorial. I'm definitely going to make one to heat water.
I saw it in India and all it consists of was a square brick trough, a metal container with bottom removed, and the trough was filled with animal cow pat's and then the metal box put on top, a pipe came from the box to a cooker, and that was that. Brick+ box +pipe =free gas. Government in the UK would rather you died from cold than have anything free.
Great stuff, I'm yet to try this in Mzansi(S.Africa) My country men don't share information. Once again great stuff
Love this design. I picked up a dozen IBC totes today and am using some for pig housing. I think I would do this design with a larger intake pipe, Something 6-12" in diameter. Would you foresee any issue with that? I'd like to be able to shovel manure into it. Also does the intake pipe need a cap? Great Work!
Michael Carey I now routinely use 4 inch pipes for inlet for the past 4 years. Works much better, yes.
How has this turned out for your farm?
BEAUTIFUL!!!Can't wait to build one!! THANKS!!!!!!!!!!
5 years later, how did it turn out?
So I’m currently doing vermicomposting, bokashi ferment and basic thermocomposting. Very curious about this as an addition or adjunct. Curious what the tea that comes out looks like under a microscope and how much gas can be produced from one of these on average. Seems like the amount of fertilizer out is the same amount of food waste in roughly.
Thank you so much for such a great video explaining and proving this can be done :)
Would this work coupled with a black soldier fly cultivation unit?
To use the worms to pre grind the biomass and use what nutrients they can for a more useful/valuable resource (food or feed), then make biogass from what remains?
I will do this for sure...
Hey, it's been 2 years. Have you tried? How did it go? Thanks
Did it work?
wonder why theres only comments from 3 years ago..must be shadow banned
As an avid follower of your channel, I'm curious, did you do this? Did I miss a video on it?
Thank you very much for sharing with us all your knowledges about biogas. Thanks for your practical and clever ideas.
Thomas - I'm kinda obsessed with this topic for the various food waste reduction, reduced carbon footprint, and alternative fuel reasons and have been watching a number of your well-done how-to's - thanks!! I'd love to see what setup you did for the under-sink version at 6:24 as something that would work for we house- and apartment-dwelling masses? I've been all over your Solar CITIES website, too...love the mission! Cheers
holy shit so many great ideas for sustainability. I personally love the idea of using hot shower waster water for heating of the biogas generator
Awesome video, thanks! Quick question. I've built the 3ibc system. Now that it's all connected and producing gas, my slury out pipe is never exiting fertilizer. It does when I close off the gas as the pressure pushes it out. How do you balance this? Or do you occasionally close off the gas to get the fertiliser. Thanks!
Exactamente, lo que te ocurre es normal, ningún fluido va a ascender nunca por una tubería sin una fuerza que le obligue a ello. Si el consumo de gas es superior o igual al ritmo de producción la presión dentro del tanque va nunca a ser la necesaria para que el bioabono salga.
I see you haven't been able to get rid of last years ibc digester. I'd like to see you do a video on how to deal with a tank that got too cold and is no longer active.
This was awesome! I want to do this as soon as I can.
O my friend how I so agree with what you said at the start of your very well made video. God bless you and keep you and thank you 👍
Great video!
I’m thinking of using this system for vermicomposting with some adjustments. Do you think that’s possible?
Thanks!
The gas would kill the worms. Worms would also drown.
beautiful. you've perfected it. i'll build one this spring. thanks.
did you build it?
if the hole in the gas pipe is above the water line, how does the slurry escape through the third pipe? how is the slurry pushed up the compost-tea above the water mark?
gas that is produced pushes the slurry out
The hole in the slurry pipe is half way up the tank, and below the liquid level. as you feed waste and H2O into the feed tube, the level of slurry will rise, and will run off through the slurry pipe. That the methane builds inside the airtight tank (above the liquid level), it will offset the "pressure" that will build as slurry is added, then exit through the runoff tube. If no gas is consumed and the methane storage bladder is aloud to reach max capacity, the slurry level will be pushed down as the methane increases in volume, until it is pushed out the slurry hole and the gas escapes there too.
Hi Thomas, Interested in this gas collection system. Can I ask how you stop the pressure in the gas holder pushing back into the digester? I had an issue with slurry being pushed out of the feed and effluent pipes. Anyway all the best. Tanc
Would it be possible to build a digester out of a 12 inch PVC pipe and lay it horizontally? Feed it on one end, take the gas from the top and take the slurry from the far end?
If so, this would open up a lot of possibilities as to where you could put it, and it would make it easier to connect it to your sink and its garbage disposal.
this is a better design that i watch
Hi. ive found your written explanation of this, its very very helpful. exactly as you explain here. my question is, what is the gas production capacity of this and how do you regulate the gas in case its a lot and yes i dont have storage of the gas?
JO JO the bladder is your storage with a pressure release valve.
This is fantastic information.
Excellent must try to build this
Great Video, but why are the pipes extended to the bottom of the tank? couldn't we cut the gas pipe under the top directly ? the waster water pipe be plugged on the side of the tank at mid height ? and the sludge pipe cut under the top too ?
I had the same question. But since he uses a uniseal, it prevents the pipe from sliding further in. In other words, the height can be maintained.
that's a cool video. one question: for waste water (which can be used as fertilizer) to flow the IBC liquid level would have to be above the waste water Tee. that level would be seen across the feed pipe and the gas pipe (possible siphon issue). you'd have to make sure the feed pipe and gas is higher than waste elbow. am i right? that's going to get really messy. it would be great if you had a waste pipe mid way up the IBC and decided to drain it depending on the level as seen in the feed pipe
thanks for the great vid. What's the best forum for questions on biogas systems?
Awesome video and design!!!😎👍
Hi, Good video! The way you feed it and draw off, the heights of your pipes where you draw off will be the the height of your liquid, how do you keep the fluid out of your gas line?
My thought as well. Did you ever figure it out?
Gas generated floats on top of the fat-oil-grease or F.O.G; which will escape through the whole drilled on the blue pvc pipe near the top the IBC tank for maximum gas collection. As far as the fluid and gas getting mixed up goes, well they won't because the gas escape whole is up near the IBC upper wall, where the liquid fertilizer intake perforation is around the middle of the fluid within the system. And remember, if you feed five litters of new grounded food material into the biodigester, an equivalent of five litter of liquid fertilizer will be forced out...It is simply a mass balance kind of situation. I hope this helped clearify this system. DISCLAIMER- I don't work for this company; However I am a Hydraulic Engineer and I believe in knowledge sharing. Cheers!
@@harissououro4335 o
The simplicity an ingeniuitz are extremenly ineresting.
Here are two questions:
1) where are the bacterias coming from who will digest the food waste?
2) can animal or human feces be put into the digester as well?
3) I don't understand how the sludge gets pushed out unless the IBS is full to the top.
4) anz estimate of gas production per cubic meter or liter of food waste?
+Yves Baggi To answer your questions:
1) methanogenic bacteria can come from a variety of sources, such as animal manure and biogas start packs. However, it is worth noting that AD will start spontaneously, although it may take longer for the right bacterial community to develop.
2) yes they can, in fact, you should definitely use animal manure as it will fasten the initial process. In fact, many biodigesters in China, India and other developing countries are dependent from the input of animal waste to provide the required gas output. Human faeces can also be used in AD, in thi case one would refer to the process as co-digestion. However, when doing so one should then treat the digestate prior using in agriculture as some parasites and pathogens can still be present. IN case you have enough space and organic matter, thermophilic composting (that is reaching temperatures of above 60 degrees Celsius) is a good treatment solution. HOwever you should monitor your composting heap reaches the requires temperatures for several days.
3) The IBS needs indeed to be full before any digestate will come out
4) The digestate output depends on the feedstock: kitchen scraps usually provide a better generation rate than animal dung and/or human faeces, as they contain more nutrients for the bacteria. You can gave therefore between 100 and 200 liters of methane for every liter of kitchen waste.
Thanks a lot +John Doe
super responses. One clarification though. What do you mean by AD? Probably something related to 'Digestion'.
Thank you very much.
+Yves Baggi you ate welcome. AD = anaerobic digestion
+goinghomesomeday1
Yes, I'm hoping to build one at our Montessori School. Although we'll have to manage smell property, or we'll get shut down.... but there is a poney club next door so we should be getting enough horse dung.
I would also love to make one for our secondary residence. But it would need to be highly automated as it would not have waste matter for days in a row in the winter.
Any recommendations?
+John Doe
Thank you again. I had hear of the anaerobic digestion. SO all these digesters are anaerobic then?
I will be trying this at home.
I have a newly (black) painted IBC. I live in the tropics and will be placing my biodigester outdoors. Is there a maximum temperature I have to worry about?
pls will any vegetable oil work to reduce the smile or only
vegetable oil citronella? by the way nice video thanks for the explanation.
hamzara adu , vegetable oil or citronela
Using this video, I have made a metric measurement parts list, for a friend in the Philippines. He’s going to get it costed, then he will try to source the parts locally. I’ve used standard metric PVC pipe measurements for diameters. Do you mind if I post the parts list here? If I’ve missed something, maybe someone will see it and I can update. Thanks, Carl.
Chinese Villages have been doing this for thousands of years, they traditionally make a sub surface digester using a brick construction. And Bamboo to transport the Gas around the Village.
Excellent video!!
Just a few questions: where can I order the bladder for gas storage?
At what level or how long will it take to start producing gas?
How was the food ground in the areas without electricity?
Can I put animal (cow, dogs and donkeys) manure in it?
Thanks for this, I will build this very soon.
LingahbytheSea I'll try to help. First I had the same question about gas bags as well as biogas appliances. They're easy to get in Asia especially India but no one seems to be importing them into the US. All the local gas bag producers are for industrial applications. In a pinch use car and truck tires. Used ones are dirt cheap or free and even new ones can be cheap. They can also be compressed to increase gas pressure.
As to how long until they start producing usable gas? At least a couple of months depending on temperature and feed stocks, 2 to 3 months. It's a continuous feed set up so it's a one time issue. I'd try to load it up half way as soon as possible using whatever you can scrounge including grass clippings.
As to grinding you can use hand crank meat grinders although I like the garbage disposals best of all. Spend the money and get the best you can get so they'll even take animal bones. It adds calcium to your compost.
Grazing animals are best but any manure will work. If you are adding a lot of dog, cat and human manure add in grass clippings or another bulk source. You'll get better output and better compost. Some of the best are rabbit and guinea pig although full size pigs work as well. Just treat their waste like human and add bulking materials as a carbon source. Just keep the light and oxygen out like he says. You might add in a packet of septic tank microbes to get the process kick started. Not essential but it can speed up the start up.
If you are using excrement you have to be mindful of pathogens.
... not if it's your own excrement, for your own end product
you think your shit does not have parasites etc?
Great video.
Great video tutorial. Question about the hydrogen sulfide byproduct from anaerobic digestion which can be an issue. Is this an issue for residential biogas generators? if so, how can this issue be mitigated.
Mitigation is via a gas scrubber.
The bio gas produced bubbles through a container of water with bleach added, and then through another filled with wire wool. This process removes the hydrogen sulphide which corrodes steel plumbing fittings and compressed gas storage tanks, and removes the C02.
The next vessel holds cat litter to absorb the H2O and dry the gas before passing clean and dry into the storage device. Unscrubbed gas burns orange like the flame in this video.
Clean scrubbed gas burns colourless in daylight and blue in a dark environment.
Loads of You tube vids show how to make a bio gas scrubbing system to attach to the digester.
Awesome explanation. Thanks. Must try
I’m about to move into my RV and would like to build my own biogas system. I’d like to feed it through my black and gray holding tanks. I’m in Florida so the weather is hot but for ease of feeding the digester should I bury the IBC tank next to the RV like I’ve seen in one of your videos? And where is a good source to buy the tank? And the gas storage bags? Thank you:-)
How does this design differ from your previous design which used 3 IBC tanks? Was the pressure from the 3 tank system worth the effort? Thanks!
Thank you so much !!!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
One of the best designs I've come across.
I have to ask tho, if I wish to store the gas in cylinders; do we need to pressurize the gas? Do I need special equipment or tool for that?
Yeah you both need to filter CO2 and H2S and compress it in medium size unf we cant store directly I thought to store like that too bast way is pvc bladders I guess if you don't have filter and compressor
Thanks for sharing.
Does the 2nd pipe have one hole or is it on both sides?
Again Thank you
How much water should we put in the IBC before any wast goes in????
add a 50/50 water/waste mix until the slurry level is over the slurry exit tube hole, just over half way at least. you won't get slurry until there is enough slurry volume to allow it to exit the runoff pipe though. so if you add slurry until the tank is full, you will get slurry faster. also you should fill the tank in order to eliminate as much oxygen as possible. Oxygen is counter productive to the methane process, so, fill the whole thing. I would initially fill the tank near full until methane starts to be produced (between a week or two if everything is done right) then add slurry on whatever basis it accrues for you. The max slurry level in the fill tube won't exceed the highest point of the runoff tube, unless maybe you have a blockage in the runoff tube for some reason.
Excellent video
Thanks for this awesome manual. I neeeed to build one ;-)
One question. Would it make sense to add a second IBC to furthermore get the last bit of gas out of the effluent? So a 2 stage digestion..
If you have the time, space, and money why not?
This is awesome! Question though: The blue pipe, the gas extractor, how does it access the gas, as the hole drilled in it will be below the water line, set by the higher effluent exit pipe with the T join in it? Everything is so clear, but I can't figure that one out. Any help?
How much gas, if everything is optimized, should you get on a daily basis? Enough to heat an average sized house in a moderate climate for a day?
New 2020 project at the cottage. I'll have to make sure i don't spill the natural gas out into the atmosphere maybe a off gas flair could be introduced due to intermittent maintenance staff. It will be interesting to see how much gas it produces.
Well done. Very helpful.
Great video man!...Great.
Hello, could you please tell me where in Swaziland you built the digester?
You guys are amazing I want to join the revolution and help spread the word. Do you have a schematic for your digester on a website?
so I'm guessing the fertilizer pipe doesn't exhaust gas because of the upper liquid layer of the compost creating a sort of "gas seal"? seems like it means it would take some time for the gas build up to start.
Great concept. Thomas can you please tell me how much waste fruit and vegetables this system can handle per day?
Thank you
I'm looking to maybe build one, is this designed just as good as prebuild ones?
Very interesting video!!!
I hace one doubt... What about te solid which precipitate to the bottom? How do you manager that?
Is there any cleaning possibility?
Many thanks!!
Amazing!!! thank u forcthis,easy to understand video. I will be using this soon.
Bien explicado genial amigo
Good day,
I have some questions...
- Why does the digester have to be fed at the bottom? Will some of the fresh material you throw in not float in the pipe?
- How long does it take to produce fertilizer at optimum temperature?
- There are different grades/types of steel wool, which one do I use to clean the gas of SO2?
- How do the microorganisms get into the digester? Or are they on/in the food scraps that are thrown in?
- I’m aware that the fertilizer is produced in the middle but what can I do with what floats at the top of the tank and what sinks to the bottom?
Thank you
Hi ToffaX, please post these excellent questions to our facebook group "Solar CITIES Biogas Innoventors and Practitoners" and we can answer them better.
Thank you Very much, Man!!
very informative. thank you for sharing..