The Biogas Production Worldwide Environmental Sciences Essay

The Biogas Production Worldwide Environmental Sciences EssayEnergy is a necessary attachment of human existence. Basically, there exist divers(a) sources of vigour like coal and other vegetable crude products that ar commercially exploited for many useful reasons. These fogey terminates earn become a strong pillar of the economy and it has penetrated so deep in the mechanism of human living that it has become almost unimaginable to think of a instauration running without fossil fuel. Yet it is a fact that this source of muscle bequeath not last forever. Once, fossil fuels were operable abundantly and at low prices. However, nowadays its price is extravagantly rocketing on the international market and it is also becoming very scarce. The immediate effect of this is that the world is facing the phenomena of inflation and rising prices. Moreover, today there is an energy crisis that has arisen due to the fear that the boons of fossil fuel may turn into a bane with its dis appearance. In addition, the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other toxic gases in the atmosphere and a direct consequence of this is orbicular warming.1.1 BackgroundEnergy and energy resources toilette be known to be the backbone for survival on earth. People are heavily dependent on various energy sources like coal or fossil fuels so as to meet up with their daily needs whether it is in the power sector, the transportation sector or for cooking and heat purposes and about 88% of this demand is met by fossil fuels (Peter Weiland, 2009). It is predicted that the use of fossil fossils result come close to surpassing oil consumption by 2017 (IEA, 2012). On the other hand, greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions in the environment are also increasing rapidly, with carbon dioxide being the highest contri entirelyor. Another global energy challenge is the depletion of fossil fuels. payable to the increasing demand, the availability of the fuel is decreasing. In additio n, conventional oil and gas reserves are mostly found in politically unstable countries, qualification its ease of use less accessible.In this context, biogas put forward be derived from wastes, animal manure or energy crops so as to meet with the increasing energy demand in the future. Biogas can be defined as a versatile renewable energy source which can replace fossil fuels in the power and heat production sector and in the transportation sector. It has the capacity to replace natural gas also for producing chemicals and liquefied petroleum gas for cooking purposes.Table .1 comparison of heat values and aptitude of commonly used fuels with biogas (Nabard, 2007)Commonly used fuelsCalorific values in kilo caloriesThermal efficiencyBiogas4713/M360%Firewood2093/kg11%Diesel10550/kg66%Kerosene10850/kg50%Petrol11100/kgBiogas production through anaerobiotic digestion (AD) mathematical process has many advantages over other bioenergy forms. It is one of the most energy- efficient and environmentally friendly bioenergy technologies. It not only reduces the emission of greenhouse gases drastically compared to fossil fuels, but it also produces high grade fertilizer as by- product.1.1.1 Biogas production worldwideIn the field of biogas, Germany has built itself a world top leading position. In 2006, it built 826 biogas systems to a total increased production unit of 3700, hence making Germany the number one biogas- based energy producer (Energy solutions, 2012).Figure .1 various substrates available in Germany having the potential energy accumulated for biogas production (Baltic Biogas Bus Project, 2012)The worlds biogas market is predicted to r individually $8.98 billion by the year 2017, with the inclination to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to focus on eco- friendliness biogas programs (GIA, 2012).Latin America is also well known for its biogas technology in municipal raw sewage treatment and landfill gas technology. It has identified 25 types of wastes for biogas production. The country has 33 RD projects and since 1977, five projects have already been implemented to produce biogas from sanitary landfills. Latin America produces around 217 million m3 per year which is mostly used for cooking, lighting, vehicle fuel and town gas. (H.Naveau, 1993)Moreover, the biogas market has grown rapidly in the recent age for the cogeneration of heat and power and for the production of bio- methane to be used as vehicle fuel. In the European Union (EU), 17% of all the energy will have to be produced from renewable sources, and in the transport sector it has to reach 10% of the total according to the European Directive 2009/28/EC, frankincense making biogas the executable solution to reach this target.The reasons for having a spread out on the biogas energy market includes an increase in demand for distributed generation, severe environmental rules arising due to dissever of pollution and an accelerating increase in infrastructure and vehicle build out adapting with natural gas. According to Pike Research, this fast- growing market reached $17.3 billion in global revenue in 2011, and this will almost double by 2022 to an amount of $33.1 billion (Globe- Net, 2012).biogas_640x383.jpgFigure 1. Biogas market value by regions (Pike Research, 2012)1.1.2 Energy sector in MauritiusMauritius is an island having no oil, coal reserves or natural gas. It is heavily dependent on imported energy resources. The Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities (MPU) is responsible for the energy policy including energy, water and wastewater in the island. The Central Board of Electricity (CEB) occupies the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and the State Trading Corporation (STC) import petroleum products like gasoil, fuel oil and LPG.With the increase in standard of living, industrialization, population growth and more development in the transportation sector, the energy demand is arise at an exponential rate in Mauritius. We are becoming an energy dependant society and as per the graph below, the exportation of gas oil will be more than doubled by the year 2025.Table 1. Imports of energy sources in Mauritius in 2011 (Energy and water statistics, 2011)Energy source2011 (Ktoe)Gasoline126.0Diesel oil313.0Kerosene4.5LPG71.6Coal409.3Figure1.3 Forecast of petroleumn product imports in Mauritius (Outline Energy Policy, 2007)Moreover, with the depletion of the energy sources, the price of the fuel are augmenting, hence making it more difficult to afford. Hence, to vitiate an energy crisis in the future, other forms of energy resources need to be exploited which is environmentally friendly and has an infinite reserve.Figure 1.4 Trend in price of exported fuel from 2002 to 2011 (Energy and water statistics, 2011)The figures above demonstrate how Mauritius depends greatly onto fossil fuels, and this grade is going to increase in the years to come. Hence, new alternatives need to be found so as to match with this increasing demand. However, the alternate options should be in line with the Maurice Ile Durable (MID) concept a renewable and environmentally friendly source.In each and every space in the Mauritian society, one makes use of LPG for cooking purposes. The actual price of the gas cylinder is Rs540. If the government maintains the price at Rs330 for consumers, the STC will have to look for Rs 820 million for subsidy. This is due to the increasing price of butane and propane in the global market. Hence, to remedy this, cooking gas can be obtained locally from anaerobic digestion of organic waste to produce biogas. It fits in the MID, whereby according to Pr de Rosnay, 37% of electricity will come from biomass/biogas by 2028.1.2 RationaleIn Mauritius, we are already a fossil fuel dependant society. Hence, to reduce this problem of dependency on the already depleting resource, we can focus on the use of biogas at our home itself. Moreover, with the concept of the MID, we are adopting a renewable energy source, which in the course of time can expand to the production of electricity.Also, we already have the problem of overfilling of our landfill at Mare- Chicose. Thus, by using our household organic waste, we not only produce useful cooking gas, but we also has as by- product a high grade fertilizer and we are alleviating the problem of our landfill.In addition, by converting the gas into methane to be used for cooking purposes, large amounts of carbon dioxide are not emitted in the environment, thus protecting our planet from global warming. And also, we are discarding much of the waste from the surrounding into useful products.Lastly, with the expansion of the biogas energy system in our country, more jobs can be created in the field of energy, whereby Mauritius can later be self- sufficient in the production of cooking gas and eventually in the production of electricity, thus reducing on imports.1.3 Aims and ObjectivesThe aim of this proje ct is to produce an improved biogas system that can be adopted in a household for cooking purposes on with implementing its safe processes. To achieve this, the objectives identified areTo have an understanding of the functioning of the process to produce adequate biogas for cooking.To improve the biogas system by falsifying the previous set- upTo optimize the system by focusing onDesign of the systemRatio of substrate to be usedConditions to consider to favor biogas productionTo modify a cooking stove so as it can operate on biogas.To make laboratory testing to determine the methane composition in the biogas and the high temperature value.To study the risks and safety processes associated with the digester and to implement it.To make an assessment of the amount of gas produced for cooking purposes1.4 Structure of reportChapter one- IntroductionThis chapter introduces the project title and gives an overview of energy trend in Mauritius and worldwide and the aim and objectives of the project.Chapter Two- Literature ReviewThe types of anaerobic digestion process to produce biogas and the factors affecting the process are discussed, along with the production of biogas in the island. Also, the safety and risks associated with the system are identified.Chapter Three- MethodologyThe methods undertaken to construct the reactor and analytical testing of the feed and product of the biogas system are considered.Chapter Four- Design and ConstructionThe materials of construction and live analysis are assessed.Chapter Five- Results and DiscussionsThe economic analysis and findings from analytical tests are observed and discussed.Chapter Six- Safety ImplementationThe safety precautions that need to be applied to the biogas system are discussed.Chapter Seven- Conclusion, Recommendation, Future worksA summary of the aims of the project is made and some recommendations and future work are mentioned for improvements.