Portable Biogas Digester: A Review

Abstract

To reduce and convert biodegradable waste into energy-rich biogas, anaerobic digestion technology is usually employed. Hence, this takes place inside the biogas digester. Studies have revealed that these digesters are designed and constructed using bricks, cement, and metal; often require a large footprint; and are bulky and expensive. The innovation of portable biogas digesters has come into the market to address these challenges. This present review provides an overview of the in-depth and comprehensive information on portable biogas digesters in the literature. Areas covered in the review include the modification of the biogas digester design, the need for a portable biogas digester, recent studies on the factors affecting the performance of portable biogas digesters, and specific assumptions taken into consideration for designing any portable biogas digester. Convincingly, portable biogas digesters appeal to small rural families because of their ease of operation, maintenance, and ability to save space. The material for the construction and comparison of the portable biogas digester with other designs and the economic feasibility of the system were also reviewed. Implications: The full-scale design, fabrication, and utilization of a portable biogas digester are viable but not widely employed compared to other designs. However, there is a lack of readily available information on the portable design of biogas digesters. This review presents various aspects relating to portable biogas digesters and the quality of biogas produced. Therefore, the review suits audiences in energy process design and engineers, energy researchers, academics, and economists.