Anyone ever build a methane digester?

MrJeff

Sustainable Newbie
Joined
Jun 13, 2011
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
7
This is something I have been looking into for some kind of home heating. No shortage of the raw materials here. I would love to hear of anyone's personal experiences.
 
S

sunsaver

Guest
:welcome I saw a thing that was built in India (no shortage of raw materials there either). They had a pit that they filled with manure and pond water. A large dome made of brass fit over this, and slid down into the circular sistern of scum. As the bacteria produce methane under the dome, the wieght of the dome compressed the gas, which was fed out the top of the dome with a flexible hose. They used the gas for cooking and lighting.
I'm planning do something similar. Im working on an solar powered electrolysis tank for generating hydrogen gas for use in cooking. I prefer cooking with gas, and to cook with solar electric would require more panels and batteries than i currently have. I usually cook only at night. I eat fresh fruits and salads or sandwiches during the day. So i figure a 100 watt panel burning water into oxygen and hydrogen all day, would give me enough gas by night to cook with. Think of it as a type of solar battery. I'm not sure how much gas i'll get at 100 watts per hour, or if i want seperate tanks and a mixing valve at my cooker, or just let the oxygen go, etc. Im going to build a small model first to work out some of the details.
I'm planning to use drums or poly ag tanks, and salt for the electrolyte, unless there's something way better or cheaper. I'm not as good with chemistry.
 

MrJeff

Sustainable Newbie
Joined
Jun 13, 2011
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
7
Thanks for the info. I've seen the large scale stuff they do in India and Europe, etc... I hope someone has done something for home supply and can share their experience with me. It sounds like you have quite a project going with your electrolysis experiment. Very ambitious.
 

Denim Deb

More Precious than Rubies
Joined
Oct 21, 2010
Messages
14,993
Reaction score
615
Points
417
Maybe I should try something like that. My hubby produces quite a bit of methane at times. :hide
 

Lesa

Lovin' The Homestead
Joined
May 27, 2010
Messages
153
Reaction score
2
Points
59
Location
Upstate NY
I am fascinated with this idea. If you google chicken manure power ( or something along those lines) you will find all kinds of people using poop for power. For their cars, houses, etc.
Whenever I think about it, I remember the "Good Life" on PBS. That was his idea to heat his house....
Keep us posted with your progress.
 

MVchickens

Sustainable Newbie
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Hi there. Im new here but have some experience and knowledge with methane digesters. Turns out it is not feasible to build a small scale digester, I built and studied everything from table-top models to larger models. I am still working on some projects but that will come later on as I go onto college to study chemical engineering.
 

Marianne

Super Self-Sufficient
Joined
Feb 6, 2011
Messages
3,269
Reaction score
355
Points
287
Location
rural Abilene, KS, 67410 USA
MVchickens said:
Hi there. Im new here but have some experience and knowledge with methane digesters. Turns out it is not feasible to build a small scale digester, I built and studied everything from table-top models to larger models. I am still working on some projects but that will come later on as I go onto college to study chemical engineering.
Just wanted to say hi and welcome! :frow
 

Latest posts

Top