(68d) Small Scale Shock-Proof Biogas Digesters

Affordable, easily maintained biogas digesters have the potential to greatly increase the standard of living in several key communities around the world. From food scraps and animal wastes, these reactors can output high-quality fertilizer in addition to natural gas that can be used for heating, cooking, etc. Designing an assembly guide with the key features of a safe biogas reactor is key to developing this technology in the communities in question; particularly communities with limited access to education or manufacturing capabilities. Development of this assembly guide requires implementation and development of a small “test” reactor, including various mechanical systems, embedded electronics, and other features that would allow a more comprehensive and thorough understanding on the feasibility and overall maximum output possible by this kind of reactor. Secondary research would strengthen this knowledge base and further increase the ability for these reactors to be beneficial to their intended users, this research includes lab-scale experimentation on the growth rates of critical bacteria, determining decomposition rates of certain safety features, and detailing how other physical stimuli may result in differing output rates of the reactor. The presence of a simple, customizable biogas reactor in an impoverished community could potentially raise the standard of living for the surrounding populace by eliminating excess food waste, producing high-quality fertilizer for crops, and supplying a steady stream of clean natural gas for heating or cooking.