The Rural Voice, 1979-08, Page 7Jack Pos demosntrates the digester now producing methane gas at the Arkel
Research Station near the University of Guelph campus.
Methane pilot project
in operation mid 7980
The research team at the University of
Guelph hope their on -farm methane -
production pilot plant at the Arkel Re-
search Station will be in operation by
mid -1980.
The project is moving on parallel lines
with the construction of new swine
facilities at the station.
The research team, co-ordinated by Prof.
Jack Pos, already has a methane -producing
digester system in operation, fed with
manure from hogs fed on a special diet. In
order to produce methane from animal
manure, livestock has to be taken off
commercial feed rations since these con-
tain antibiotics which interfere with bac-
teria needed to produce bio -gas.
The digester that's in operation now at
the Arkel station is an air -tight drum
covered with fiberglass insulation. Prof.
Pos advises any digester must be well -
insulated to keep temperatures inside the
digester stable around the 35°C mark.
The research team bring the manure
over from the swine barns in large plastic
tubs and then mix the solid manure with
effluent (sludge) from the digester, rather
than diluting the manure with water. Also,
since they don't want to add cold manure
and shock the the digester system, they
preheat the influent before adding it to the
system.
Until the full pilot plant is operational,
gas produced by the digester goes outside
the building where it is stored in a large
rubber bag. When the bag is full, the gas
is let off into the atmosphere. Later the gas
will be used as an energy source on the
farm.
Prof. Pos said when the digester is in
operation, it takes one week to produce
gas.
The engineer advises anyone designing
their own digester to spend their money on
an air -tight digester, or the methane gas
will escape and even a small leak can
destroy the system.
The methane research is being done in
conjunction with another study on the use
of solar energy on the farm.
CLAY
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Cleaners
Liquid Manure Equipment
Hog Equipment
— BUTLER
Silo Unloaders
Feeders
Conveyors
— FARMATIC
Mills
Augers. -etc.-
- ACORN
Manure Pumps
Cleaners
Heated Waterers
— WESTEEL — ROSCO
Granaries
7
— B&L
Hog Confinements Systems
Ventilation Systems
LOWRY
FARM SYSTEMS
at Amberley
[R.R.#1, Kincardine]
Phone 395-5286
THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1979 PG. 5