Biogas Compression

Abstract

Biogas is a clean-burning, easily produced, natural fuel that is an important source of energy for cooking and heating in rural areas and third world countries. Anaerobic bacterial inside biodigesters break down biomass to produce biogas (which is 70% methane). Currently there is no simple way to compress and store biogas. So, in order to use biogas as a source of energy, a direct feed from biodigeser to the stovetop or heater must be made. Any excess biogas is vented into the atmosphere, which is wasteful and can have a negative effect on the environment.

We have been tasked with designing a system that will be able to compress biogas using an off-grid power supply, making the biogas portable and compact. This allows for storage of any excess biogas and makes biogas a more feasible source of energy for an entire community through the use of large-scale, shared biodigester. Our final design is a system that maximizes simplicity and safety while minimizing cost.