The ŷڱƵ of Missouri has unveiled a prototype small-scale anaerobic digestion system that produces biogas from pig manure. The biogas can be used to heat a farm and create electricity. The device also reduces odor from swine operations.
“What we want to do is improve and fully utilize all the biogas for energy production,” said Teng Lim, Extension Ag ŷڱƵs Management associate professor.
Funded by the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, the anaerobic digester consists of three tanks. Manure from the hog barn pit is pumped into one tank where the manure is stored and mixed. The anaerobic digestion takes place in the other two tanks, where bacteria break down the manure in these warm and oxygen-free tanks.
The biogas from the manure can be used for electricity and hot water production. With some further treatment it can also be stored as a compressed natural gas, for heating or even vehicle fuel.
[Pigs] Lim says a larger scale digester could supply a farm’s energy needs and also be sold to the grid to provide electricity to the community.
Reviewed 2015-02-13