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Biogas is a clean environment friendly fuel. Raw biogas contains about 55–65% methane (CH4), 30–45%

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Biogas is a clean environment friendly fuel. Raw biogas contains about 55–65% methane (CH4), 30–45% carbon dioxide (CO2), traces of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and fractions of water vapours.
A typical composition of biogas can be seen on the following table:
Table 1: Biogas typical composition
Component Formula Concentration (% by vol.)
Methane CH4 55-70
Carbon dioxide CO2 30-45
Nitrogen N2 0-5
Oxygen O2 <1
Hydrocarbons CnH2n+2 <1
Hydrogen sulfide H2S 0-0.5
Ammonia NH3 0-0.05
Water (vapour) H2O 1-5
Siloxanes CnH2n+1SiO 0-50 mg/m3
The main compound in the Biogas mixture is Methane (CH4), which is responsible for the combustibility of the biogas. Methane burns according to the following exothermic combustion equation:
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O + …show more content…

Water is also undesirable in biogas stream to the engines since it is responsible for the corrosion effects. It also reacts with carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid which is corrosive. Hence water too along with hydrogen sulphide must be removed during pre-treatment.
Siloxanes are silica compounds which are derive from the anaerobic digestion of materials such as household waste and municipal wastewater. Siloxanes presence in biogas is extremely undesirable, since they react with oxygen at high temperatures and form silica dioxide (SiO2), which gets deposited in the engine and other equipment thus causing serious damages on them. site on data http://www.biogas-renewable-energy.info/biogas_composition.html http://www.biomassenergy.gr/en/articles/technology/biogas/102-biogas-typical-components
Factors Affecting the Biogas Generation

Temperature and Pressure

Fermentation Temperature will greatly affect biogas production. Methane can be produced within a fairly wide range of temperature. Methane forming anaerobic bacteria works best in the temperature between 29°C to 41°C or between 49°C to 60°C and pressure of about 1.1 to 1.2 bars absolute. The temperature between 32°C-35°C are most efficient for stable and continuous production of methane. Biogas produced outside this range will have a higher percentage of carbon dioxide and other gases. The production of biogas is fastest during summer and it decreases at lower temperature during winter. At 20°C the rate

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