Use of Biogas from Animal Feces as a Renewable Energy for Small Water Pump Engine in Royal Project Foundation Area

Abstract

This study aimed to apply biogas with a gasoline engine motor to drive a small water pump in 3 highland farms of Royal Project Foundation at <800, 800 - 1,000 and >1,000 m above mean sea level (MSL). Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) concentration in the biogas at <800 m which produced from the manure of chickens and breeding swine fed with commercial diet was the highest compared to the gas produced at 800-1,000 m and >1,000 m farms which used the manure of breeding swine fed with commercial diet plus rice bran and native vegetable and the fattening pigs fed with commercial diet (1,616.67, 776.67 and 1,533.33 ppm H₂S, respectively; P<0.01). It might be due to the effect of co-factors besides the elevation, i.e. the kind and the number of animals as well as the quality of feed. The filter, made of media beads coated with Fe(OH)₃ being filled in 15x60x60 cm of aluminum box, had high efficiency in reducing 99.84-100% of H₂S. The biogas water pump engine was used according to the requirement of the farmers at 55.25, 22.50 and 68.50 min/day (P<0.01). Thus, it saved their expenses at 47.02, 19.15 and 58.29 Baht/day, respectively (P<0.01). In conclusion, the biogas can be produced even at the attitude of 1,000 m MSL. It can be an alternative energy for water pump in highland farms. The satisfaction of the farmers to the developed equipment was evaluated by scoring. They were highly satisfied and gave the score rated 4.65 out of 5.