Evaluation of biogas production and pressure from composite of poultry droppings and lemon grass using strain gage rosette

Abstract

Abstract. The study explored the production of biogas from a composite of Lemon grass and Poultry droppings by studying the total gas pressure exerted on a sealed near-cylindrical plastic container used as a digester. The composite pre-fermented substrates were mixed with water and the formed slurry was digested for a month. The temperature was kept relatively constant by lagging the digester with fiberglass wool. The exerted stress on the digester by the produced biogas was determined using a tri-axial quarter-bridge strain gage rectangular rosette, carefully fixed to the external surface of the plastic digester. Subsequently, the total pressure exerted on the wall of the digester container was determined. The daily gas production potential in form of computed pressure is presented. Results showed a maximum gas pressure of 31,200 pascal above atmosphere produced from the composite over the period of four weeks. The research demonstrated that pressure changes at relatively constant volume can be used to monitor gas production.