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By:
Bagasala, Maria Tisha
Jacob, Danna Elaine
Pajarillaga, Patrick
CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL
The study entitled, HEAT ENERGY FROM A COMPOST PILE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY conducted by Maria Tisha C.
Bagasala, Danna Elaine A. Jacob and Patrick V. Pajarillaga is hereby presented for
approval:
March, 2015
MELCHOR M. RACQUION
SSTII, MAPEH Department
Thesis Adviser
EDEN R. DAYAUON DEM
SSHTIII, Research Panelist
Committee Chairman
Member
Member
RUFINA M. CRUTO
MTII, TLE-Boys Department
Member
LUZVIMINDA M. BAGO
MTI, Science and Technology Department
Research Teacher
MARIO M. ABEJUELA
SSHTIII, Science and Technology
Department
ANTONIO A. PETILOS
SSHTII, Science and Technology
Department
Principal IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This section contains the gratitude for the people who helped and guided the
researchers in thesis entitled, HEAT ENERGY FROM A COMPOST PILE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY:
The researchers owe their deepest gratitude to the Lord God Almighty for
guiding, giving them strength and knowledge, providing faith and love that lead them to
successfully finish their thesis;
The researchers would like to thank their Research II adviser, Mrs. Luzviminda
Bago, Mr. Melchor Racquion, the thesis adviser, and the rest of research committee, Mrs.
Dayauon, Mr. Sea, and Mr. Legaspi for providing and teaching them the process of
completing this thesis;
This thesis would not have been possible without the help of the researchers
parents, Engr. Pajarillaga for providing some steps in making the thesis product and the
help of assembling the product. Mrs. Jacob and Mr. Bagasala, for providing the financial
capital for the thesis;
The researchers are also indebted to their colleagues who supported them in
completing their thesis.
-Researchers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Acknowledgement
iv
Table of Contents
v-vi
Abstract
vii
1-2
C. Hypotheses
F. Definition of Terms
G. Conceptual Framework
Chapter II: Review of Related Literature and Related Studies
4-5
5
6-7
B.1. Materials
B.2. Equipment
C. General Procedure
D. Research Design
E. Gantt Chart
8-9
9
10-12
F. Evaluation Process
12
G. Statistics to be used
12
ABSTRACT
The study entitled HEAT ENERGY FROM A COMPOST PILE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY conducted by Bagasala, Maria
Tisha, Jacob, Danna Elaine, Pajarillaga, Patrick, aimed to produce a homemade source of
methane as an alternative source of energy. Testing whether theres a significant
difference in terms of energy and time, then the watts produced and duration of electricity
will vary significantly in other alternative source of energy. For the product, the materials
and equipments were gathered primarily. First, the inferior was assembled for the storage
of wastes and methane. Next was the mixing of solid wastes and compost pile as the
primary source of methane. Then, the generator was assembled for the conversion of
methane to electricity. Lastly, the circuit connection to the tested appliances was
assembled. The final product was tested by
Chapter I
Problem and its Background
A. Introduction
In the Philippines, there are 770 million people generating an average of 0.3 to 0.7
kilograms of garbage daily and this amount is expected to increase by 40% at the end of
the decade .The Southern Tagalog Region where the municipality of Dasmarias, Cavite
belongs contributes to one of the highest bulks of the countrys solid waste generated of
13 percent (Calderon, 2007). Composting is the natural breakdown of organic material,
such as banana peels and leaves, into a dark, loose and soil-like substance. This substance
is called compost, and is prized by all gardeners. Compost that is added to soil improves
its structure, texture, aeration, and nutrient content. Compost also helps maintain the
soil's pH and improves soil fertility. Landfilling organic wastes is inefficient because the
lack of oxygen inside the landfill causes decomposition to occur slowly. This produces
methane gas and acidic leachate. Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause
asphyxiation and explosions if not properly managed. Acid leachate from the landfill can
contaminate groundwater, which is the source for springs, wells, and drinking water.
(NSW, February 2014)
The rate at which composting occurs depends on several factors. These factors
include: temperature of the compost system, the materials that are placed in the compost,
the particle size of the materials, and the size and shape of the compost system. Heat is a
by-product of composting. It is produced as a result of microbial breakdown of the
organic material in the compost pile. The heat that is produced depends, in part, upon the
carbon-to-nitrogen ratio or C:N ratio. For the best performance, the composting microbes
require the right amount of carbon for energy, and nitrogen for protein production.. A
large-scale compost pile can produce temperatures of 60C70C. (Planet natural,2006).
Through a process known as thermionic conversion, heat energy can be converted into
electricity with very high efficiency. Thermionic generators use the temperature
difference between a hot and a cold metallic plate to create electricity.(Meir, et.al,2013)
The researchers will also use the idea of thermocouples that take advantage of an
C. Hypotheses
Cause and Effect:
If theres a significant difference in terms of energy and time, then the watts
produced and duration of electricity will vary significantly.
D. Significance of the study
The study will discuss an alternative source of electrical energy from compost
pits heat. The study started on the month June by collecting the needed materials for the
study. As estimated, the procedures will take up one to two months to finish up the
product. The gathering of data will take up one month after the product is finished.
Consequently, the main focus of this study is to produce electrical energy from the
heat of the compost pit. It does not seek include appliances that consumes high voltage of
electricity because the researchers will only focus to determine if there is no significant
difference in using heat from compost pit as an alternative in producing electricity.
F. Definition of terms
This part presents the terms used in the study and their meanings as they will be used in
the study.
Black paint. It will absorb sunlight to activate the bacteria that produces methane.
Brass Y connector. Serves as a connector for the three hoses.
Compost. Main source of stored heat to be used.
Elbow. Connects the hose to the container.
Hose clamp. Used to tighten the hose so the methane will not escape from the container.
Shut off valve. Serves as the stopper and opener in the pathway for the methane to
release.
Tire. Serves as a storage of methane gas.
Water container. Container of the compost.
G. Conceptual Framework
Chapter II
Review of Related Literature and Studies
According to NSW, Environment & Heritage, composting is the natural
breakdown of organic material, such as banana peels and leaves, into a dark, loose and
soil-like substance. This substance is called compost, and is prized by all gardeners.
Compost that is added to soil improves its structure, texture, aeration, and nutrient
content. Compost also helps maintain the soil's pH and improves soil fertility. Landfilling
organic wastes is inefficient because the lack of oxygen inside the landfill causes
decomposition to occur slowly. This produces methane gas and acidic leachate. Methane
is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause asphyxiation and explosions if not properly
managed. Acid leachate from the landfill can contaminate groundwater, which is the
source for springs, wells, and drinking water.(NSW, Environment & Heritage (2014)
WastesResource ConservationReduce, Reuse, Recycle, Composting.)
Moreover based on SWAPP( Solid Waste Management Association of the
Philippines) survey that in 2007, Philippines generated 254 million tons of garbage. The
average Filipino generates 4.6 pounds (lb.) of garbage every day. Most of this garbage
goes to a landfill. But opening and maintaining landfills is expensive. In order to reduce
the amount of garbage that we send to the landfill, recycle as much as possible and to
compost our organic waste. In 2007, of the 254 million tons of garbage Filipinos created,
22 million tons was composted. (SWAPP,(2008))
According to AIP (American Institute of Physics), through a
process known as thermionic conversion, heat energy can be
converted into electricity with very high efficiency. Because of its
promise, their researchers have been trying for more than half a
century to develop a practical thermionic generator. (S. Meir, C.
Stephanos, et.al(2013).New thermoelectronic generator: Heat energy
efficiently converted to electricity)
Chapter III
Methodology
D. Research Design
*Drawing
E. Gantt Chart
Activities
Jun
July
Aug
Duration
Sept Oct Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
1. Planning Stage
1.1 New materials
should be canvass for
buying
1.2 Submitted
write-ups must be
revise
2. Preparing Stage
2.1 All materials
are acquired
2.2 The product
should be finished
2.3 The final draft
of proposal must be
submitted
3. Data Processing
Stage
3.1 Data must be
collected
3.2 Computation of
results
3.3 Analysis of
data
3.4 Drafts of
Chapters 4 and 5
must be finished
4. Writing Stage
4.1 Final Chapter 1
(The Problem and its
Background)
4.2 Chapter 2
( Review of Related
Literature)
4.3 Chapter 3
( Methodology)
4.4 Chapter
4( Results and
Discussion)
4.5 Chapter 5
( Summary,
Conclusions and
Recommendations)
4.6 Bibliography
and Appendix
4.7 Final copy
5. Oral Examination
Stage
5.1Preparation for
Oral
Examination/Defens
e
5.2 Oral
examination and
revision of thesis
G. Evaluation Process
In watts produced, the watts will be measures by a voltmeter and the researchers
will get the mean score of the watts and in the duration of electricity, the researchers will
get the time of how long was the electricity produced. Also, they will get the mean score
for the duration of electricity.
H. Statistics to be used
The statistics to be used is measures of central tendency since the researchers are
comparing two or more groups of values; the measures of central tendency are values that
can represent a set of data or group of values. (Helen E. Caintic Ph.D. Juanita M. Cruz
Ph.D. Research Manual, pp. 56)