DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOGAS SYSTEM, USING ORGANIC WASTE DERIVED ENERGY TO FUEL A STOVE

This project focuses on the development of a small scale biogas system that converts organic waste into cooking fuel through anaerobic digestion. A 20 liter plastic keg served as the digester and was filled with a cow dung slurry mixed in a 2 to 1 ratio of dung to water, occupying 13.33 liters which is two thirds of the digester volume. The system operated as a batch unit for 30 days, and biogas was stored in a tricycle tube reservoir. Gas production during the first 14 days was very low, measuring between 0 and 1 liter per day due to poor temperature conditions. Once the digester was stirred daily and exposed to mesophilic temperatures of about 25 to 37 degrees Celsius, biogas yield increased, reaching a peak production level of approximately 18 liters on days 20 to 23 before gradually decreasing as the substrate was exhausted. The results show that temperature stability, airtight sealing, correct feedstock preparation, and periodic mixing significantly enhance biogas generation. Overall, the study demonstrates that an efficient and low cost biogas system can be constructed using locally available materials and can serve as a practical household energy solution.