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Methane Chicken Manure

After many weeks producing nothing but CO2, we now have a small blue flame. We started this batch digester on March 6th, sealed it up, and added heat to keep it warm. The amount of methane we got was small, but the flame was blue; signifying a high percentage of methane. All of the oxygen is now used up and the methane bacteria are beginning to take over. In this phase, the manure will be liquified and the methane output will start ramping up.

Methane From Chicken Manure

On March 6th, we started a small experiment with our barrel digester containing chicken manure. The manure had a high quantity of sawdust used as bedding material. After 18 days the digester was producing gas, but would not support a flame. This is CO2(carbon dioxide) and the manure is in the fermentation stage. This process will use up all of the oxygen contained in the mixture.

in praise of poop

Seems like everyone is interested in waste to energy these days - the newest issue of American Craft Magazine features an article about Virginia Gardiner's poop toilet which turns human waste into biofuel.  The article also includes handy instructions on how to mold poop into the shape of your choice.

chicken manure methane gas

after many stops and starts, i saw bubbles of methane in the water bucket today......hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Biodiesel 5 gallon Reactor

Making Biodiesel for the first time is best performed on a small scale. I started with the traditional 1 liter batch. It helped me to understand the process and experiment without making a real mess. I did not want to jump into a 40 or 50 gallon reactor right a way, so I made a 5 gallon reactor out of everyday components. I chose 5 gallons since that is quanity in which I procure the waste oil. Resterants typically buy and dispose of the oil in "cubes". Very convenient and easy to transport! Stay tuned for directions to make your own 5 gallon reactor!

Biodiesel

Using Biodiesel in my residential oil furnace is working well. To date I have produced and bunred 75 gallons of home made fuel; all from local resterants. The past week was cold and we completed a 7 day run. Running Biodiesel in the oil furnace does not require any special modifications. While it is not recomended, as a test I did not water wash the finshed fuel. The heating season is almost at an ended and I will suspend operations for now and start up again in the fall.