instructables

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy

by Chitlange Sahas

Hi there, I am Sahas chitlange, aging 14, from India.
here is my homemade cheap and easy to build mini
Biogas plant. It burns for approx. 20-30 mins on a
bunsen burner. you can add anything from your
kitchen waste ( Exept Onion peels and eggshells). In
12 hours the Gas is ready for use. It is very easy and
cost effective to build (only 2-3 dollars) and gives
many useful products.
Snapchat and Instagram: @chitlangesahas
I'd love to connect with you guys on Snapchat and
Instagram, I document the experience, learning
lessons and also answer questions on those
platforms. Looking forward to connect! Here is my
username for both: @chitlangesahas

the end products of this system are:

1) Methane : (Can be used as a fuel)
2) Slurry : (the spent slurry is exellent manure)

The main components oof this system are:

1) Inlet pipe
2) digester tank
3) gas holder tank
4) slurry outlet pipe
5) gas outlet pipe

~
2
1 1. Inlet
2. Inlet
7
6 3. digester tank
5
4 4. outlet tank
5. outlet tank
6. Gas holder

7. Gas holder
3

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 1

Step 1: Chose the Correct Container

You will have to chose a correct size container which will act as a digester tank. My one is liters tank. I got it from
scrap.

2
1 1. Digester tank
2. Digester tank

Step 2: Make Holes

Make holes in the tank for Inlet and outlet. For this I took a old iron rod and heated it to make holes. CAUTION: rod
is really very hot.

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 2

 1

2
1

1. Markings 1. heating the rod

2. Markings

1
1. Drilled holes!

Step 3: Fix the Inlet and Outlet Pipes

Glue the Inlet pipe and the Outlet pipe with any water proof adhesive.

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 3

 4

1
2
3

1. Inlet Pipe glued

2. Inlet Pipe glued
3. Inlet Pipe glued
4. Outlet pipe

2
1

1. Digester Tank Ready.

2. Digester Tank Ready.

Step 4: Making the Gas Holder Tank

I took a paint bucket of 20 lts for making a gas holder tank. this tank holds the gas produced. The tank is
overturned and fixed with a valve used for plumbing purposes.

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 4

 4
3

2
1

1. Valve
2. Valve
3. Pipe connector
4. Pipe connector

Step 5: Time to Mix the Cow Dung !

mix the cow dung (5kg for 50 liters) and add water to make a fine slurry. Now put the slurry in the digester tank.

1
1. Cow dung

Step 6: Almost Finished!

Put the gas holder tank overturned in the digester
tank after adding the slurry . REMEMBER: open the
valve while putting the gas holder tank. the mini plant
takes 10-15 days for the first time to get output. For
the first time, the gas in the tank wont burn as it
contains Carbon Dioxide gas, if fortunately it burns
then good or wait for the second time. You can detect
how much gas is there in this system, the gas holder
tank will rises up as the gas is produced.

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 5

Step 7: Working Photos

The photos of the system working are provided....... the heat is so much that it melts a thin sheet of tin in just 2
mins!!!! if you like this i'able please like and comment....

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 6

Step 8:

How can I apply that idear on my pit latrine and generate power.....which device will convert
generated gas into power or electricity..
Why is there a gap btn the digester tank and agas holder tank. Can't that let the gas escape

I thought the anaerobic bacteria is only activated when oxygen isn't present. Is it ok for air to enter
the system?
I wanted to ask the same question.... Please respond

I like your idea is great for a starter,I will make this one as a proto type,because I am getting off the
grid soon I only need to buy an inverter
Thank you. For your idea

Aussie. Paul. 12/10/2018

Does this need emptying from time to time?

The liquid left is amazing fertilizer, you could put in a drain off at a higher level than the working
rest, and recuperate it.
I think it would maybe need diluting before direct plant application, as it must be pretty strong.
Gas and fertilizer in one go! Who could want more from their waste?
the last picture confuses me, why the paint bucket is "floating". i belive that it must be well atachet
and sealed inside the tank. i mean, i believe the tank must be completly sealed, except by inlet
pipe, outlet pipe and the vale. if the gas holder thank is floating over the slurry, how much gas it
can contain and how much gas scape from digester tank?
Last question, why do you put that bricks over the gas holder tank?
sincerely i hope you can answer. i am very interested in this proyect, but need more information
and alternatives to use the cow dung. i live in the middle of the city and can't get it.
thanks for your attention
The top bucket NEEDS to expand/move as it recuperates the gas.
I guess you could find a way to put a rubber seal round its' "path", between the muck bucket and
the expansion bucket.
I was thinking about that too. Unless you are lucky enough to find 2 buckets, one that fits upside
down in the other PERFECTLY, then I suppose you need a seal. Some one said he built a cage on
the top of the gas bucket to stop it taking off, which seems to me a doable idea.
I love this project, it's the final touch for an autonom house!
hello dear. i am Ben from Nigeria. i will like to teach my collegues and friends this method to
generate biogas from kitchen waste and animal dung. I will appreciate if I can get more detailed
instruction manual on how to make this home made Biogas if possible with video .
Much appreciated
My email addressess idayodele@gmail.com
As you have internet try Youtube "Biogas converter DIY". Loads of videos on the same idea.
And what is left as liquid is great fertilizer, not toxic, and probably will need diluting or it will burn
the plants, as it must be condensed.

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 7

Good luck, it's a great project!
Those plastic Barrels are very expensive in Uganda , out of reach for many people
We have build several using this method .
Bur we replaced the barrel ,with a hole on the ground ,and a strong plastic bag .
it has large capacity and produce more gas .... And the top of bag act as a gas storage tank ..
I don't know what is cheap or free in Uganda, but it might be good if you could use clay or cement
or plaster to line the hole. Or mud and straw well mixed.
All is pretty solid, it makes houses, so to keep a hole air and water proof... no problem.
Then use the plastic bag on top for the gas.
Though I find your idea pretty good as it is.
My suggestions are just ideas in case it may help.
Good luck, and keep it going :D
Hello sir i make a biogas plant of 20 litre but methane gas is not formed.second thing is thai if i do
feeding once a time mean if i do feeding today with 1:1 and third thing is that when i do feeding
second time PLZ help me i am waiting for your reply thanks alot sir
I started my bio gas project at home a few weeks ago. I experience gas forming but the gas does
not burn. I have released the gas a few times but yet no result. What should I do ? E mail reply to
daya.weerasinghe@gmail.com
I love it

Hello there guys and earth savers. Im starting to build one. My question is, after filling the digester
with initial mixture, how many days will i wait until it will create a flamable gas? Secondly how
much mixture should i add everyday after the initial gas production to continue the methane
production if my tank is 100liter capacity ? Thrirdly im using quail dung, will this work? Thankyou.
please can goat and sheep droppings be used instead of cow dung?
please send the answer to my email
dzideditsogbe@gmail.com
Hi, I plan build one, but I read that you need some kind of methane purifier so you're not going to
be dizzy or dead because of CO2s it produce along the methane(I'm not going to use just cow
dung), any suggestion ?
thanks so much.i'm working in a eco green house in the caribean and ilike to have more
information about biogas. please email me at rdm.mrr5@gmail.com.thanks a lot foryour kindness
Amazing share ! Must do and feedback

But can we use a 2 litre bottle as the digester tank and balloon s as biogas collecter??? Please
reply
Hi sahas. ths is sai i need u r help bro .i make a same type digester 20 days back in my home.now
its produce the gas but its not flameble(ignite) i can't understand plz help me.my mail id:
lynin.sairam@gmail.com
Biogas contains a varying ratio of Co2 which prevent the ignition of the methane and this ration can
be removed by passing the gas through limewater but I recommed Monoethanolamine because it
is more efficient but little bit expensive
and also there is hydrogen sulfide whch is believed to be harmful for machines and it can also
dissolve in any basic solution mentioned above.

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 8

if anyone could email me an instructional video or the further explanation on the procedure that
would be amazing! also how long does it take to create a flammable gas? I am doing this for a
school science fair and need more detailed instructions. thanks, my email is
christensenga@carbonschools.org
Hello there guys and earth savers. Im starting to build one. My question is, after filling the digester
with initial mixture, how many days will i wait until it will create a flamable gas? Secondly how
much mixture should i add everyday after the initial gas production to continue the methane
production if my tank is 100liter capacity ? Thrirdly im using quail dung, will this work? Thankyou.
renier_basilio@yahoo.com
HI,
i have a doubt.
for the digester tank,
can we use a five liter bottle?
I'm asking just for school project.
hello sir the digester tank which you are showing in picture is which size? i mean 20 ltr,30ltr or 50
ltr.for it we need cow dunk.but i don't have cow dunk.first time i can manage but i live in city
area.every time it is not available so what to do
I tried making biogas plant but unable to generate methane. How first time digester tank pushed to
start working?
2 or 3 dollars to make? The cost of a used barrel with a perfect seal? Here about a $100. Then the
pipe and fittings, another $50 or $80. Also different glues work with different plastics, you need to
source the right kind especially if you are trying to glue dissimilar plastics. I am looking for practical
ideas for a developing country, and a barrel like the one used here is almost impossible to find
even if someone can afford it
Thin hose , fittings . and Silicone Sealant
was the total Purchase cost $20 Us dollars .
PVC pipes replaced by cut plastic bottles .extended with plastic bag

Very low-cost Materials , is all about ... Money is in short supply .

I live in Australia always helping to improve lives in Africa .. .
Hi Rick,
That sounds interesting, I am trying to visualize how you extend the bottles with bags, and join
everything together. Do you have some pictures or a video? I am trying to make things from waste
plastic, but now am having a problem with so called biodegradable plastic. I don't know what it
degrades into, probably small pieces of plastic. Even some PET bottles are made from
biodegradable preforms, and are not identified as such. The way I know the bags are
biodegradable is in a couple of weeks they rip. Sometimes I don't know which way to jump.
What other projects are you working on?
Last month Kampala pipe water was cut of .for 4 days .
Pipe water is very unsafe to drink from the tap .
This system give them all the 100% Pure water they need ..5litrs per day .they don't have to buy
drinking water anymore .
Now they have replaced the green leaves with a bucket of bad water ,and get perfect pure
drinkable water 100% Pure from Sun distilled water .

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 9

Most of thick plastic ,of industrial deliverie's is recyclable , not biodegradable Extra strong garbage
bags are suitable .this plastic can be sealed and make into any type of bags using a hot Iron
between sheets of paper ,the edge can be folded for extra seal . A small amount of silicone seal
will do a perfect job ..

HI ..You can replace the barrell

a hole on the ground ,,, use strong plastic bag instead of plastic barrel ...work same .. Or a plastic
bag contained inside strong box . soo the bag wont split ..
Hi Rick, I have seen things like that, even a trench with a long poly tube instead of a bag, but the
developing country I am in has a limited selection of affordable materials. I managed to get some
used 1,000 Liter plastic tanks with a valve at the bottom and a tight fitting cap so hopefully we can
make something practical for about a $100. I don't understand why he says it cost $2 to $3 unless
he got confused by the conversion from their currency. Don't you have problems with mice and rats
chewing on them? I have seen them chew the insulation off live electrical wires and bucket lids.
Are you familiar with using charcoal in composting toilets and with animal bedding? If not, look up
biochar. When we get set up we will do a study about the effects of charcoal on gas production, I
can't find any info about that
I like u sar u r project plz give that information send to my email address
rajashe9535@gmail.com
full details sto and light connection plz plz sar
Don't click on this link. It is one of the most boring commercial adverts that I have ever listened to,
it just goes on and on. It wants to sell you a bio plant. It doesn't want to show you how to make
one. Just an advert like most of the other pop ups that appear on your screen. None are helpful
and none offer anything free. Yes this is a positive comment. It's aim is to positively help others
from wasting their time on this link.
I've flagged his/her problem as spam, but in the future, don't reply to these comments. Just report
them as spam and move on...
It looks excellent, but step 8 is missing. I hope this works for a friend in Uganda.

I was young at that time. Click, click, publish.... By mistake left it...
Thanks
Hello i'm Mr Bukky i like your work.....please i want you to give me full details of this
project....thanks
How exactly could I help you please?
You want what Information?
Sahas
hello sahas, this is srinidhi from bangalore. Ccan u plsss send me the copy of ur work to my e-mail
id??. my dessertation work is on Biomethanation.
E-mail id: srinidhi68@gmail.com

Biogas at Home- Cheap and Easy: Page 10

or
parasharsrinidhi@gmail.com
Bro can you send me a copy maximusfisher79@gmail.com

I really like this project I've been looking to do something like this for a while

nice you done , encorage your friends to do like you and save environment

Good day! This is amazing! Can you please email your procedure to
Kaneisha.rutherford@gmail.com
Please send me the procedure at topslee342@Gmail. Com

i found the cost to be a little off i admire your ingenuity in tool improvisations (hot rod in place of a
hole saw) and just building the system in general i am impressesd bravo

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