Britannica Illustrated Science Library: Energy and Movement by Encyclopedia Britannica

Author:Encyclopedia Britannica [Britannica, Encyclopedia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-29T23:50:32+00:00

58 ENERGY RESOURCES

ENERGY AND MOVEMENT 59

Biodigesters

Ecological Cycle

Through recycling, biodigester

technology offers an alternative to the

problem of organic trash, with which more

W hen anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that do not require oxygen to live) decompose organic material through processes such as rotting and fermentation, they release biogas that can be and more large cities and agro-industries

must contend.

used as an energy resource for heating and for generating electricity. They also create mud with very high nutritional value, which can be used in agriculture or fish production. This technology Fish-farming

appears promising as an energy alternative for rural and isolated regions, where, in addition to serving development

the energy needs of the populace, it helps recycle organic wastes.

Organic

Wastes

can be used

both in urban

The Reactor

and in rural

2 Digestion chamber

3 Biogas

4 Fertilizing mud

regions.

is a closed

Where the bacteria

is a product of the process that

Very rich in nutrients

chamber where

ferment the waste.

contains methane and carbon dioxide.

and odorless, it is ideal

the bacteria break down

They produce gas and

It is used for cooking, heating, and

for agricultural uses.

Exeter

Soil

the waste. The

fertilizing mud.

generating electricity.

treatment

generated gas (called

In 1895, this English city was

biogas) and the

the first to inaugurate a public

fertilizing mud are

TILIZING

lighting system powered by

FER

collected for later use.

biogas (from a water-

MUD

purification plant).

1 Waste

The organic

Gas for

wastes are

domestic

Biofertilizers

BI

introduced into

OGÁS

use

the reactor and

Industrial

mixed with

OGÁS

BI

Biogas Plant

water.

produces great

quantities of gas and

fertilizer.

Dome

Biogas

Generation of

is built underground

Electricity

and can be lined

with concrete,

Biogas can be used

brick, or stone.

to produce

electricity, although

on a small scale.

Gas for

automotive

Electricity for

use

domestic use

Biogas

The gaseous product of biodigestion, it is made up of a mixture of gases whose makeup depends on the Equivalencies

composition of the wastes and the break-down process.

55-70% 30-45%

1-10%

0.5-3%

0.1%

1 lb 1 lb 1 lb

1 lb

Pathogens

biogas

biogas

biogas

gasoline

Methane

Carbon Dioxide

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Sulfuric Acid

(CH4)

(CO2)

(H2)

(N2)

(H2S)

The energy potential contained in

Laboratory tests demonstrated that the biodigestion The energy-proA greenhouse gas. It

Gas present in

Gas present in the

Corrosive and highly

one pound of gasoline can be

process kills up to 85 percent of the harmful pathogenic ducing component

must be removed from

the atmosphere

atmosphere

polluting agent. It has

obtained from three pounds of

agents present in the organic waste, pathogens which of biogas

biogas for certain uses.

to be removed.

organic wastes.

would otherwise be released into the environment.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.