TRACER STUDIES IN RIO-GAS PLANT

Abstract

Due to increasing needs of energy today, renewable sources are being increasingly explored. In India about 60 X of the energy is used for cooking and other household needs and nearly 80 X of the energy needs of the households are met through non-commer-cial sources such as firewood, agricultural waste, animal dung-cake and bio/gobar gas. Among these biogas has been reported to have maximum potential. The biogas contains about 60 - 70 X methane, 30 - 40 X 002 and traces of hydrogen. Methane gas, the chief constituent of biOgas, is tasteless, colourless and non-poisonous. The slurry that comes out of.the biogas plant is also used as manure. It is estimated that a farmer will have a net saving of Rs. 600/- per year by using cow dung and farm waste in a gas plant. Upto 1985 about 1,25,000 biogas plants (BGPs) have been installed in the country through the efforts of KVIC, AFPRO, State Govt. Agencies and other. extension agencies and the number is increasing daily. Major factors influencing methane fermentation are environmental and operational. Several agencies in the country have been doing R and D work on various aspects of biogas programme. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi has been financing an all India Co-ordinated programme of research in biogas technology since 1977.