Reusing waste to form bio-gas used as alternative fuel is done through anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Anaerobic environments are those lacking oxygen. Specific organic-digesting bacteria form under this condition. According to the Department of Energy these bacteria "are some of the oldest forms of life on earth." This process is facilitated and sped up in anaerobic digesters to produce alternative fuel from waste. It is commonly done in waste water treatment plants, landfills and farms to ultimately produce heat or electricity.
Instructions
Producing Electricity Using Organic Waste
1. Choose a digester that best suits your climate and the type of waste you will be using. Batch types are best for intermittent fuel sources. Continuous is best for non-intermittent flows.
2. Supply a heat source to maintain a constant temperature of about 95 degrees F. Circulating warm water using coils is one way of doing this. This can be powered by the bio-gas itself once production has started.
3. Dilute the organic waste with water to make it easier to load. Too much water will inhibit fermentation. A rule of thumb is the waste should be of a cream-like consistency.
4. Load the digester if using a batch form. Depending on size this could mean using a shovel or a backhoe. If using a continuous digester a series of pipes will keep the flow going.
5. Unload the waste after fermentation and gas production. Holding time depends on waste consistency, amount of waste and digester size. Experience leads to better knowledge of how long to hold waste.
