Experimental Investigation on the Developed Portable Biogas System utilizing Agricultural Biomass Wastes for Thermal Applications

Abstract

Woody biomass such as forest residues and fast-growing trees are used as a source of fuel for cooking and heating that contributes to deforestation and forest degradation. Not knowing, that this biomass can also be utilized as a source of energy when the organic material such as animal manure, agricultural biomass wastes decomposes under anaerobic conditions. This study aims to evaluate the performance of the developed portable biogas system using agricultural biomass wastes as a source of fuel for thermal applications. The developed system was modified to become portable making it ideal for transport in remote areas where fuel is not easily accessible. Then it is tested and deployed to rural and remote areas by conducting thermal experiments. The results show that the developed system is capable to produce and supply gaseous fuel for thermal regardless of the gas volume and time duration. Thus, the study could help to replace traditional wood-based cooking with a renewable energy system utilizing agricultural biomass wastes as a source of fuel that can be used in rural and remote areas.