Methane gas to electricity - small scale (fwd)

Richard Tinsley (mailto:tinsley@AIT.AC.TH)
Fri, 8 Mar 1996 17:48:39 +0700 

Message-ID:  <Pine.SOL.3.91.960308174803.464A-100000@rccsun>
Date:         Fri, 8 Mar 1996 17:48:39 +0700
From: Richard Tinsley <mailto:tinsley@AIT.AC.TH>
Subject:      Methane gas to electricity - small scale (fwd)
To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 1996 13:17:55 -0500
From: Joana T. Jones <mailto:hanover@ANSEL.INTERSOURCE.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list AGRIC-L <mailto:AGRIC-L@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Methane gas to electricity - small scale


Greetings -
I am writing this request on behalf of my daughter, a 17 year old high
school researcher.  Jordana will soon begin her 6th year of researching
hydroponic systems.  In the past two years she has successfully integreated
Tilapia fish culture with hydroponics.  For her senior project, she would
like to integrate some animal culture into the mix.  At this point she
intends to raise either or both swine and poultry.  The manure would be used
for two purposes: 1) to grow algae that would provide at least a feed
supplement for the fish and 2) make methane gas.  The problem she is facing
concerns the second purpose.  She proposes to use the methane to fire a
boiler which in turn would power a generator to make electricity for running
the pumps in the system, and possibly heating her lab.  The problem is -
where will she find a suitable size boiler for a small scale operation?  As
a mom, I am also concerned with safety issues.
Her project is strictly experimental in size, using two pumps, each with
less than 1/2 hp.  She has a 100 gallon tank, about 50 fish and about 140
plants.


Advice/direction on these technical issues of producing electricity safely
will be appreciated.


Thank you.


Joana Jones