30/03/2025
BIODIGESTER TECHNOLOGY EXPARTS KENYA
CALL :0717034665
USES OF BIOGAS
Practically most anaerobic bioprocesses stabilise organic wastes that are formed from mixtures of fats, proteins and simple carbohydrates and this typically results in biogas
composition illustrated below.
• methane (CH4): 50 - 70 vol.%
• carbon dioxide (CO2): 28 - 48 vol.%
• other gases: up to 2 vol.%
including trace components as
• hydrogen
• nitrogen
• oxygen
• ammonia
• argon
• carbon monoxide
• hydrogen sulfide
• non-methane volatile organic carbons
• halo carbons
Biogas is used as an ecologically friendly and future oriented technology in many countries. The calorific value of biogas is
about 6kWh/m3
- this corresponds to about half a litre of
diesel oil. The net calorific value depends on the efficiency of the burners or appliances.
Methane is the valuable component under the aspect of using biogas as a fuel.
Biogas can be used for (in order of simplicity, with simpliest option first): cooking with gas stoves, lighting, heating, electricity generation (with combined heat and power (CHP)
units or fuel cells), cooling, or as transport fuel. The latter options are only feasibly for larger biogas systems.
What can 1 m3 biogas do?
• It can illuminate a gas lamp equivalent of 60 W non-electricity saving bulb for about 7 hours, resulting in a light performance efficiency of only 7%, 93% of the energy content is transformed in heat.
• It can cook 3 meals for a family of 5-6 persons.
• It can generate 2 kW of electricity, the rest turns into
heat which can also be used for heating applications.
• It is average equivalent to 5.5 kg of firewood.
• It is equivalent to 1.5 kg of charcoal.
• It is equivalent to 0.45 litre of petrol, 0.55 litre of diesel,
0.60 litre of kerosene or of gasolene, or 0.5 kg of LPG