Description
In spring 2023, using 25mL small-scale digesters, a team of students used a dry matter mixture (92.8% solid matter) consisting of kelp, animal waste and beer waste water to produce biomethane gas. These experiments resulted in biogas output (at standard temperature and pressure) that was three times the biomass input. When scaled up (by a factor of x28K) the energy input to mix the solid matter could substantially reduce the net energy of the system. To reduce the energy input to the system, we need to move to a more liquid mixture. We want to compare the carbon to nitrogen ratios (a key indication of biomethane potential) as well as the net energy of the previous solid matter mixture to different ratios of liquid formulas to identify the most optimal formula.
Optimizing Biofuel Formula for ideal C/N conditions and Maximum Net Energy Output
In spring 2023, using 25mL small-scale digesters, a team of students used a dry matter mixture (92.8% solid matter) consisting of kelp, animal waste and beer waste water to produce biomethane gas. These experiments resulted in biogas output (at standard temperature and pressure) that was three times the biomass input. When scaled up (by a factor of x28K) the energy input to mix the solid matter could substantially reduce the net energy of the system. To reduce the energy input to the system, we need to move to a more liquid mixture. We want to compare the carbon to nitrogen ratios (a key indication of biomethane potential) as well as the net energy of the previous solid matter mixture to different ratios of liquid formulas to identify the most optimal formula.
Comments
Faculty Mentor: Odesma Dalrymple