Owing to the rising demand for energy and the need to minimize the environmental impacts of fossil fuels, energy systems fueled by sources that are more efficient, cost-effective, and reduce environmental emissions are in major demand. This search has led to biogas, an important fuel among the various biomass-derived options.
Biogas to CBG
Biogas, which is produced from organic matter, is an essential source of renewable methane and has phenomenal prospects to meet our future energy demands. It is an efficient fuel for several end uses as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. It also ensures the recycling of nutrients present in the manure and other biodegradable feedstock to the soil. Biogas can be produced from anaerobic digestion of organic wastes generated from agricultural, domestic, and industrial activities in the presence of anaerobic microorganisms. Biogas consists of 50–65% methane, 35–45% carbon dioxide, 0–10% water vapour, and traces of O 2N 2, H 2 and H 2S. It is nearly 20% lighter than air and has ignition temperature of 650–750 °C. The calorific value of raw biogas is in the range of 22–25 MJ/m 3 and assuming 50% CH 4 in raw biogas, the energy value is 21 MJ/Nm³, and density is 1.22 kg/ Nm³, which is similar to air (i.e., 1.29 kg/ Nm³). The relative percentages of these gases depend upon the quality of the feed material and process conditions.
This story is from the October - December 2019 edition of Energy Future.
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This story is from the October - December 2019 edition of Energy Future.
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