New industrially produced biogas technology for developing countries

Abstract To promote a rapid dissemination of biogas technology in developing countries, a new biogas reactor with unconventional design was proposed for industrial production. The reactor consists of two cylindrical panels and a spherical sheet made of glassfiber reinforced polyester. In operation, the reactor is placed on an elevated layer of sand above the ground and is exposed to solar heating. Fluent raw materials are inserted into the reactor accumulatively by the means of a manually served tube pump or using an elevated mixing container connected with the reactor by a plastic tube. Retention time ranges between 30 and 60 days. Biogas is stored in the reactor under a pressure of up to 1000 mm WG (water gauge). Two prototypes of this device were operated simultaneously in Denmark and in China. A satisfactory technical function and a high efficiency of substrate exploitation was achieved.