1. Biogas at home- Cheap and Easy
by ChitlangeSahas
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Hi there, I am Sahaschitlange, aging 14, from India. here is my homemade cheap
and easy to build mini Biogas plant. It burns for approx. 20-30 mins on a bunsen
burner. you can add anything from your kitchen waste ( Exept Onion peels and
eggshells). In 12 hours the Gas is ready for use. It is very easy and cost effective
to build (only 2-3 dollars) and gives many useful products.
the end products of this system are:
1) Methane : (Can be used as a fuel)
2) Slurry : (the spent slurry is exellent manure)
The main components oof this system are:
1) Inlet pipe
2) digester tank
3) gas holder tank
4) slurry outlet pipe
5) gas outlet pipe
Pls leave a comment
Step 1: Chose the correct container

2. You will have to chose a correct size container which will act as a digester tank.
My one is liters tank. I got it from scrap.
Step 2: Make holes

3. Make holes in the tank for Inlet and outlet. For this I took a old iron rod and
heated it to make holes. CAUTION: rod is really very hot.
Step 3: Fix the inlet and outlet pipes

4. Glue the Inlet pipe and the Outlet pipe with any water proof adhesive.
Step 4: Making the Gas holder Tank

5. I took a paint bucket of 20 lts for making a gas holder tank. this tank holds the
gas produced. The tank is overturned and fixed with a valve used for plumbing
purposes.
Step 5: Time to mix the cow dung !
mix the cow dung in proportion of 50/50. add 50% water and make a fine slurry.
Now put the slurry in the digester tank.
Step 6: Almost finished!

6. Put the gas holder tank overturned in the digester tank after adding the slurry .
REMEMBER: open the valve while putting the gas holder tank. the mini plant
takes 10-15 days for the first time to get output. For the first time, the gas in the
tank wont burn as it contains Carbon Dioxide gas, if fortunately it burns then
good or wait for the second time. You can detect how much gas is there in this
system, the gas holder tank will rises up as the gas is produced.
aali61 says:10 hours ago Reply
What is the alternative for a cow-dung, as we live in a city area ?
SIRJAMES09 says:16 days ago Reply
Ingenius!
I would have never thought to make something like this!!
TY for sharing! :D
5

7. nickk says:26 days ago Reply
Nice work, have some questions:
1- Isn't there any seal between the paint bucket and the digester tank? doesn't gas
escape.
2- How much time do you have to wait for a second 20min gas refill ?
3- How many times does this 1 dung batch refill the paint bucket?
grapenut in reply to nickk17 days ago Reply
imagine you have a bowl half full of water (this is the big blue barrel with slurry)
Now place an upside down cup or jar in the bowl (this is the paint bucket)
the seal is very simply the edges of the upside down glass in the water (water=slurry)
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to nickk24 days ago Reply
Thanks for commenting
Answer to your questions:
Q1) There is no real seal. the slurry water actually acts as a seal preventing gas leak.
Q2) We need to wait 12-14 hrs for next refill.
I am also interested in electronics .pls send me your circuit diagrams also.
bye
crasch48 in reply to Chitlange Sahas22 days ago Reply
couldn't you use a bicycle pump on the out let to compress the bio gas into another
holding tank to obtain a larger amount?
grapenut in reply to crasch4817 days ago Reply
The beauty of this ible is it's amazing simplicity; and there also seems to be a
relationship between it's simplicity and it's safety. Meaning that the simpler the design
the safer. Many people use larger quantities of methane without issue; however, the
bigger the process becomes, the more complicated things get in terms of maintaining
adequate safety measures. There are many examples of mishaps, resulting from folks

8. trying to harness larger quantities of methane. What I like about this design is it is
simple enough to get things started, and doesn't appear to be likely to get anyone into
too much trouble...
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to crasch4819 days ago Reply
Will think about it
2
jongscx says:25 days ago Reply
What can this be used for? I'm not asking what biogas can be used for, but what device
can a rig this size produce enough biogas to support.
If it is just to heat, Is it not easier/more efficient to dry the manure and burn it as is?
Also, what is the purpose of the Inlet pipe? Is it to add oxygen to the slurry? or do you
add slurry there and excess drains out of the output?
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to jongscx24 days ago Reply
The biogas is having more calorific value than the dry dung, and the waste slurry is
exellent manure which we cannot get by burning dry dung.
the inlet pipe is to add waste and outlet is to drain the execess.
crasch48 in reply to Chitlange Sahas22 days ago Reply
besides bio gas doesn't stink when you burn it!
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to crasch4819 days ago Reply

9. Yes correct
12
Woodenbikes says:25 days ago Reply
It seems important to have the gas collector bucket diameter almost as large as the
digester diameter to reduce the slurry surface area outgassing to the air. Or is there a
seal that is not shown?
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to Woodenbikes19 days ago Reply
no there is no seal and yes the more is slurry surface exposed the more gas is wasted.
Wantashi Na says:23 days ago Reply
Great work , please add a drawing if you can Thanks
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to Wantashi Na22 days ago Reply
Will add a video also
crasch48 says:22 days ago Reply
very good instructable! could be improved with diagrams and cutaway showing internal
levels and descriptions of parts. googlesketchup works well and is free. congratulations
and well done on this effort!!
vincent7520 says:25 days ago Reply
I don't get it : how the overturned gas holder tank fints to the digester … what type of
seal do you use so that the gas produced does not leak from te digester ?…

10. ntense99 says:25 days ago Reply
I understand how this works - a very simple design:
1. The blue barrel is full of crap (Fuel)
2. The white bucket with tube gas fitting is pressed and squished down into the crap; the
gas gets produced and contained ONLY within the underside of the white bucket.
Everything else escapes.
3. The only seal provided on the white bucket is the squishy, wet crap slurry.
Should be enough to work!
4. When he mentions that the bucket will rise - there is enough gas produced to start to
push the bucket upward from being sunk into the crap slurry.
ntense99 in reply to ntense9925 days ago Reply
The thing I am not 100% clear on is:
The PVC tubing labeled as inlet and outlet; Is that where you add the crap and water? Is
the "outlet" there just as an over-fill inhibitor and safety overflow? Is this crap and water
filling performed automatically from another source? Kind of feels that way.
Cool design!
I too have the question about human waste (nasty!) but will that work? Since we don't
eat hay and oats, but rather nasty hamburgers, pizza, McDonalds, and ice cream! LOL
ntense99 in reply to ntense9925 days ago Reply
If human waste would work - you can construct an array of these in your basement and
send the toilet plumbing here and THEN the overflow can continue to the sewer. You
can pipe this to your heating system (hydronic, domestic hot water, etc) and have a flue
out of the building.
crasch48 in reply to ntense9922 days ago Reply
human waste will work. anyfecal waste will work. you can jump start the bio-waste by
adding some septic tank conditioner like RID-X®. also you can use the outlet of your
sink disposal if you have one. but it works slower than fecal waste.

11. druidrat in reply to ntense9925 days ago Reply
Human waste (meat eatters) good for gas, not for food garden.
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neffk says:25 days ago Reply
I think I understand but a drawing of the system would be helpful. A section view of the
gas tank inside the digester would be most clear, I think.
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to neffk23 days ago Reply
Will definatelyupload.
solarall says:25 days ago Reply
I'm impressed that your 14 years old and have a good creative thinking side to your
personality. I've studied biogas while in graduate engineering school and I like the
simplicity of this system. People need to know that the biogas (methane) is virtually the
same stuff as natural gas sold by the utility companies so you can use any burner/stove
setup for natural gas.
3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to solarall23 days ago Reply
Thank you
denewf says:25 days ago Reply
Only age 14 ??
Great thinking! I hope you continue to invent and improvise as you mature. You should
have a bright future.
All the best from Canada

12. 3
ChitlangeSahas (author) in reply to denewf24 days ago Reply
Thanks
wgrube says:25 days ago Reply
Great job!!! Simple and nice.
pfiddle says:25 days ago Reply
Sheer brilliance. I wonder if the pressure can be added to by weighing down the
gasometer (for that is what the 'gas-holder' is.
1
Bubbler says:25 days ago Reply
In China these are made of cement and dug into the ground outside the house kitchen
wall. The gas (methane?) is then piped through the wall to a single burner used for a
wok to cook on. They have been doing that over there for many years. Anyhow, well
done my friend, you have provided for your family needs.
hlanelee says:25 days ago Reply
Wow, this is great. I made a project very much like this when I was in school and won
the science fair. That was 36 years ago. Never stop doing projects like this!!!!
5
londobali says:25 days ago Reply
Good job! Thanks for sharing..
Cheers..

13. Demascus says:25 days ago Reply
very neatly done. Have seen This done with a metal barrel. and a Y fitting on top. (no
gas bucket) a flexible line from on side of the Y fitting to a large inner tube. and a valve
on the other side of the Y fitting with a line running to your gas stove. If you create two
or three more of these barrels with staggered creation times another words one ever 2
weeks you can keep a continuous supply of gas for your stoves. So one the first one
runs out you have the other two working and you recharge the first one with cow dung,
grass clippings, leaves , old hay. etc.
1
manicmonday says:25 days ago Reply
Need a picture from the top, and more info about the bucket inside.
armchair_enthusiast says:25 days ago Reply
What about using human waste? Is it also suitable for biogas and fertilizer production?
4
lynnfiorante says:25 days ago Reply
This has nothing to do with hydroponics or indoor planters
2
Mindmapper1 says:27 days ago Reply
excellent, it would be good to see some pictures of it being used.....................
armxu says:27 days ago Reply
very good method to produce energy!

14. Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can
try at home or in the classroom. We have begun mailing our Gift
Catalog for this year’s holiday season and will be featuring
activities that highlight the items available.
Biogas Can Save Power and Save
the Planet
Excessive harvesting of trees for fuel can strip the land of its
topsoil, leading to deforestation. Deforestation and global
climate change complicate poverty issues. Sustainability is one
of Heifer International's Cornerstones, and we work to
incorporate its principles in all our projects. One way Heifer
International is doing this is through the use of biogas.
Biogas, a fuel source based on the methane from animal waste,
offers a cheap, sustainable option.
A simple way to teach kids about alternative energy sources and
sustainability is by making a bottle that shows how gas is made
when materials decay.
Biogas Materials:

15. Raw meat
Lettuce leaves or vegetables
2-liter soda bottle
Sand
Water
Balloon
Rubber gloves
Masking tape
String
First, put on the gloves and drop the raw meat and the
vegetables into the bottle. Don't put too much in, just cover
the bottom well. Don't touch the outside of the bottle while you
do this. Next, wash your hands and dispose of the gloves. Then
get two tablespoons of sand and pour it in the bottle, covering
the contents.
Next, take two teaspoons of water and pour it in the bottle.
Stretch the balloon over the bottle's neck. Secure it in place
with a string and wrap masking tape over the string.

16. Place in a warm location. The balloon will inflate over the next
three days because of the gas that is being created by decay.
Throw the project away after use.
For more details about this project, read this article.
More Activities: Exploring Alternatives
These four activities are designed to introduce students to ways in which alternative
sources of energy can be used. They align with the following National Science Education
Standards: Content Standard A: Science as Inquiry; and Content Standard B: Physical
Science—Properties of Objects and Materials; Motions and Forces; and Transfer of Energy.
It's a Gas! (below)
WaterWorks
Blowin' in the Wind
Let the Sun Shine In
It's A Gas
Showing how the decay of organic materials can produce biogas (methane) takes a few
simple ingredients: an empty 1-L plastic bottle and a standard party balloon. This activity is
best performed as a demonstration that can be prepared in advance.
Caution: Students should not touch materials in this demonstration because of bacterial
growth.
Procedure
1. Using rubber gloves, put about 10 g of raw ground beef and 2 lettuce
leaves torn into small pieces into the plastic bottle. Wash your hands
thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Pour about 2 tablespoons of sand into the bottle so that it covers the
meat and lettuce. Do not shake the bottle.
3. Slowly pour about 2 teaspoons of water into the bottle, making sure
that the water runs down the side of the bottle and not directly onto the
sand.
4. Stretch the neck of the balloon over the mouth of the bottle. Tie tightly
with string and then place masking tape over the string.
5. Place the bottle in a warm location where your students can observe
the balloon and the material in the bottle for the next three days.
Questions

17. What happened to the material at the bottom of the bottle over the three-day period? (The
material began to decay.) What happened to the balloon? (It inflated.) What substance
inflated the balloon? (Gas that formed during the decomposition.)
Note: When the demonstration is over, puncture the balloon in a well-ventilated place and
put everything in a large plastic bag for immediate disposal.