DEVELOPMENT OF MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR BIOGAS PLANT BASED ON KITCHEN WASTE

Abstract

Due to rapid increase of population and industrialization, generation of waste and demand of fuel is increasing. The accumulation of solid organic waste is considered to be reaching critical levels in almost all regions of the world. These organic wastes are required to be managed in a sustainable way to avoid depletion of natural resources, minimize risk to human health, reduce environmental burdens and maintain an overall balance in the ecosystem. Disposal of solid waste is becoming a huge problem and requires proper handling so that it will not harm the environment. Kitchen waste or food waste also comes in the category of solid waste. Kitchen waste is one of the wastes having high calorific value and can be used for solving the problem of increased demand of fuel and waste disposal. The use of biogas using kitchen waste as feedstock can help solving the problem of energy deficit and at the same time; allow safe disposal of kitchen waste which is often unscientifically dumped or discarded. The present study has been carried out in IIT Roorkee campus boys and girls hostel messes. The study included the collection of daily data of waste generated and the consumption of fuel in the messes and a laboratory scale setup has been installed to analyze the kitchen waste slurry and its characteristics to check the effect of different physical condition on production of biogas. An analytical study has been carried out for selection of biogas plant using kitchen wastes. Cost estimation for the installation of the proposed plant is also done. The savings in terms of energy and fuel consumption in the hostel messes have also been worked out in the study. This study, it has been found that an amount of approximately Rs 11.73 lacs per annum can be saved by utilizing 212.4 tonnes of kitchen waste that is equivalent to 30 tonnes of biogas. It is also found that about 11% of the fuel consumption of IIT Roorkee messes can be met by the biogas generated from the kitchen waste by IIT Roorkee messes