Small Farms Can Build A Biogester To Generate Power

Small Farms Can Build A Biogester To Generate Power ENERGY Alternative Fuels A Swiss company says vegetable growers crop farmers and livestock producers can build their own “biogester” to make it easy to use waste products for fuel Methane produced in a home-built device can be used as a cooking gas or to power a generator that produces electricity Livestock manure cactus from dryland farms rotten fruits and vegetables old cooking oil and waste food from restaurants can all be used in a biogester Markus Ottinger of Ottinger Power has designed built and helped customers build digesters that produce from 10kw up to 1000kw of power Smaller biogesters about 200 gal in size will produce enough methane to cook meals and power a small furnace A 700-gal biogester could fuel a furnace or provide gas for an engine-powered electrical generator Ottinger says small digesters can be made from barrels old fuel tanks septic tanks or custom-made to whatever size a person wants For example a custom-built tank 5 by 7 ft by 5 ft deep would hold about 700 gal where slurry occupies about 600 gal of the capacity The 700-gal tank allows about 15 gal a day input A flexible rubber bladder seals the surface and allows the methane to expand the top where it’s released through a flexible line The type of gas produced depends on what’s put into the digester tank Ottinger says grass clippings vegetable residue decaying food waste and livestock manure produce quality usable methane Ottinger’s company will work with individuals to determine how and where to construct a biogester on their property and also provide plans and directions on how to build the system Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Markus Ottinger Paradiesliweg1 Detligen AK 3036 Switzerland ph 011 +41 762 164695; markus ottinger@thurweb ch

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