Biogas production with the use of mini digester

Purpose: of this paper is to present the construction of a mini digester for biogas production from different energy plants and organic wastes. With the mini digester the amount of biogas production (methane) is observed. Design/methodology/approach: Firstly, the mini digester consisting of twelve units was built and secondly some measurements with energy plants were performed. The measurements were performed with mini digester according to DIN 38414 part 8. Four tests simultaneously with three repetitions can be performed. Findings: The mini digester was built and then parameters such as biogas production and biogas composition from maize and sugar beet silage were measured and calculated. The highest biogas and methane yield was 493 NI kg VS-1 or 289 NI CH4 kg VS-1. Research limitations/implications: The interest in the use of the biogas as a renewable source of energy is increasing and also the scope of substrates for the anaerobic digestion process is on the increase. With the mini digester it is possible to observe the amount of biogas (methane) production and thus the most suitable plant, giving the maximum methane yield, can be determined. Practical implications: The biogas is a renewable source of energy. On big farms the liquid manure and different energy plants can be used for biogas production. That can improve the economical efficiency of the farm and reduce the CO2 emissions. Originality/value: For biogas production a special device, the mini digester, was built. The composition of produced biogas is determined with the gas analyser GA 45.