The TERI fixed dome biogas plant model : A case study of development through user interaction and field research

SYNOPSIS Several variations of the fixed dome biogas plants were constructed and monitored for performance in an attempt to improve the reliability and functionality of the plant and to optimise the plant design. Plants were constructed on selected user sites so that user response was obtained along with performance data. The data collected thus represented accurately the field conditions and was used for continuous improvements in design. A total of 46 plants were constructed in different locations with as many as eight different design variations and about 32 plant-years of gas production data was accumulated. The process of evolution from one prototype to another was, however, not smooth and organised due to the very nature of field based development.