Empirical Studies into Demand Based Reactor Sizing in Low-Cost Biogas Production for Domestic Utilization

A low-cost biogas reactor incorporating a hydro-pressurizing and gas dispensing unit which was able to deliver biogas at a rate of 6.25 x 10 -5 m 3 /s and calculated pressure of 58.7N/m 2 was designed and fabricated for the purpose of this study.  The substrate loading intervals for the reactor were varied at 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17 and 33 days interval to determine which of the intervals gave the optimum yield in gas production. The fabricated unit had the highest average daily biogas production level and optimum total yield to substrate ratio at substrate feed interval of 13 days. Results obtained from the study were used to propose a biogas reactor sizing guideline for the low-cost biogas reactor design for domestic use. The proposed guideline would help in adequate deployment and management of resources for waste conversion and renewable energy production in rural areas.