Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Education The GLOBE program Sh.

Abdul Aziz Bin Mohammed Boys Secondary School

Done by: Salman Abdulhameed Bucheeri

All rights reserved; no part of this production may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher

Abstract: Biogas is a flammable gas. It used to heat and light homes, to cook, and even to fuel buses. The energy that the bio-gas produces is called bioenergy. Biogas is usually produced in mammals as they digest their food. Biogas is also produced in bogs and wetlands where large amounts of rotting vegetation may accumulate. Biogas consists mostly of a gas called methane, which is the same as "natural gas", commonly burned in our furnaces and barbecues. Biogas can be used instead of natural gas for heating and cooking, and instead of petrol in some certain vehicles. Due to the importance of the biogas, humans have learned to duplicate this process in large tanks called biogas generators. A simple method in building the biogas generator will be shown in this report.

Hypothesis: Earth needs a new source of energy. People have been using oil and gas for almost decades, and since oil and gas need around million of years to form, the amount of oil and gas is decreasing day after day. Ethanol and methanol are alcohols that can be made from plant fibers. Alcohol is produced by feeding plant materials into a large heated tank (Digesters). Inside the digesters, chemicals are added in order to change the plants materials into alcohol (ethanol and methanol). Both ethanol and methanol make excellent fuels for cars and trucks. In fact ethanol is used in the engines for Formula 1 racing cars. Ethanol burns very cleanly and delivers more power than gasoline. Another way for producing a flammable gas is the mammals, including the human. Bacteria living in their digestive system (Escherichia coli) produce methane as they break down cellulose present in the food. The produced gas Escherichia coli (methane) is called biogas.

Biogas is also produced in bogs and wetlands where large amounts of rotting vegetation may accumulate. Humans have duplicated this process in large tanks called biogas generator. Plant materials and animal wastes are mixed with water in the biogas generator; the plant materials will provide many kinds of bacteria. The tank is then sealed. And within days a special kind of bacteria (methanogenic) will begin to produce biogas (methane). Another source of biogas is landfills. At the landfill site, large mounds of garbage are buried under the surface. Bacteria break some of the garbage down and can produce large amounts of biogas.

Animal waste + Plants = BIOGAS

Research method: In this project an eighteen liter water container is used as the digester. A mixture of water and animal manure will generate the methane, which will be collected in a plastic balloon. The eighteen liter water container performs the same task as the stomach of a livestock animal by providing the warm, wet conditions favored by the bacteria that make the methane. The apparatus: Materials: Eighteen liter water container Large Mylar helium balloon Copper tubing Vinyl tubing T connecter Ball valve 6-8L manure pellets (goat, sheep, llama, rabbit, or other ruminant)

Preparing the biogas collection system: Insert the copper tubing in the Mylar balloon. Then securely tape the neck of the balloon to the tube. Fix the T connector in the bottles cap. Add few drops of hot glue around the T connector in order to seal it. Cut two sections of vinyl tubing, each 25cm long. Use them to connect the balloon to the T connector, and to connect the ball valve to the T connector. Assemble the rest of the gas collection system according to the diagram below.

Preparing the manure mixture:

Insert the manure in the bottle. Add enough water to bring the level close to the top of the water bottle. Use the stick to stir up the manure and water mixture, releasing any bubbles of air that might be trapped.

Final set-up: Snap the cap onto the top of the manure-filled 18 liter water bottle. Be sure the ball valve is closed, but that gas moving from the water bottle can pass freely through the T-adapter to the balloon. Set the biogas generator in a warm location, such as over a heat register or radiator or in a sunlit window. If the biogas generator is placed in a window, be sure to wrap the outside of the container in black plastic or construction paper, to discourage algae from growing inside the bottle.

Data summary:

For the first few weeks, the biogas generator will produce mainly carbon dioxide. When the aerobic bacteria use up all the oxygen inside the bottle, the anaerobic bacteria, which make methane, can take over. It can take up to a month for the generator to start making biogas with enough methane to be flammable. Biogas can be easily made, even at ones house. One will not need to use natural gas; one can make ones own gas in the backyard. The bigger the generator, the larger the amount of biogas produced. Therefore, this project could be practiced on a wide scale in farms, and produce large amounts of gas.

Bibliography:

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http://www.ees.adelaide.edu.au/ ( Faculty of Science School of Earth & Environmental Sciences) http://www.methanol.org/ (Methanol Institute) http://www.greenfuels.org/ (Canadian Renewable Fuels Association) http://www.pembina.org/ (The Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development) http://www.agen.ufl.edu/ (Agricultural & Biological Engineering) http://www.seedtree.org/biogas.html (Biogas) http://web.idrc.ca/panasia/ (Pan Asia Networking) http://www.habmigern2003.info/biogas/bio gas.html (Biogas in The Modern World) http://www.biogas.co.uk/ (Biogas Technology Ltd) http://diggy.ruc.dk/handle/1800/363 (The Development of Biogas Technology in Denmark: Achievements & Obstacles) http://www.ganesha.co.uk/Articles/Biogas %20Technology%20in%20India.htm (Biogas in India)

A special Thanks To:

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H.E.Dr. Majid Bin Ali Al Nuaimi (The Minister of Education) Mrs. Zakeya Ahmed Ali (GLOBE Bahrain, Regional coordinator) Mr. Hassan Taradah (GLOBE headteacher in Sh. Abdul Aziz Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Boys Secondary school) My Family and friends.

Yours truly, Salman Abdulhameed Bucheeri

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All rights reserved for Salman Abdulhameed Bucheeri GLOBE Bahrain logo designed by Ammar Al Sadiq 2005