Title:
Design, Construction and Testing of a Temperature Control System for a Household Biodigester Using Arduino Technology
Author(s):
Makamure, F., Mukumba, P.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Biogas production under temperature-controlled environments has been at the core of biogas research recently because the process relies on temperature. The mesophylic and thermophilic methanogens are influenced greatly by fluctuations in temperature and operate efficiently under stable temperatures. It is impossible to maintain stable temperatures in the digester without some form of control. This paper explores designing, construction and testing of a temperature-control system using Arduino technology. An Arduino mega-2560 board was used to design the temperature control system. The Arduino board was programmed to control the opening and closing of an electrical ball valve to allow and stop hot water flow to the heat exchanger inside the digester plant. The valve would open to allow the passage of hot water when the average digester temperature was below 35oC and close when the temperature was above 35oC. The water was heated by a solar geyser mounted at the site. The water, after passing through the heat exchanger, was pumped to the geyser for reheating. Digester temperature was measured at three different positions in the digester using DS18B20 temperature sensors. The program compares the average temperature with the set temperature of 35oC, then communicates with the actuator to open or close the valve. The temperature control system was tested in a 6m3 cow-dung-fed underground biodigester. The system maintained the digester temperature at 35± 0.5oC for 83% of the retention time. The total biogas produced in the 30-day retention time was 26.8 m3 with a methane yield above 60%.
Keywords:
control system, household digester, Arduino, real-time clock, data logging shield, temperature sensor
Topic:
Biomass Conversion for Bioenergy
Subtopic:
Anaerobic digestion for biogas and biomethane production
Event:
33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4CV.5.28
Pages:
827 - 832
ISBN:
978-88-89407-25-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-4CV.5.28
Price:
FREE
