[Digestion] Studies/Investigations into AD explosions

[David Fulford]

Listers, Hello,

The dangers from small biogas digesters seem to come from the building 
work, rather than from the risk of explosion. The only story that I have 
ever heard concerning an explosion was in  the early days in India, 
where there was a brief fashion for supporting a floating gas drum from 
counterweights to reduce the gas pressure. Thjis allowed air to get in 
the tank. One farmer, trying to impressive some European visitors opened 
the main gas valve and lit the gas. The floating gas drum took off, but 
the main result was that the visitors were spayed with slurry.

The fixed dome plants have much higher gas pressures, so there is not 
the same risk. Most plants produce carbon dioxide before methane, so 
there is minimal risk of an explosive mixture in the dome. If it did 
explode, it might cause a crack in the dome, which would not be 
dangerous, but might be expensive to repair. The most likely result 
would be a sudden rush of slurry from the plant, which would be very 
messy, but not life threatening.

The dangerous incidents that I have heard about are to do with people or 
animals falling into pits, whether they are empty or full of water or 
slurry.

Regards,

David F.

On 27/01/2011 11:39, Scholwin, Frank wrote:
> Dear all,
>
> a real explosion took almost never place, most times newspapers title it this way but often it were questions of statics/construction failures during first filling of the plants or construction where "not more" than a wall felt down. There are almost 5000 large plants in Germany at the moment and like any other technology there are accidents and failures unavoidable connected with this. Please don´t  disseminate the technology as risky! For small biogas digesters I don´t see any special explosion risks as long as you do not smoke.
>
> Frank Scholwin
>
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org [mailto:digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] Im Auftrag von Voegeli, Yvonne
> Gesendet: Donnerstag, 27. Januar 2011 09:34
> An: For Discussion of Anaerobic Digestion
> Betreff: Re: [Digestion] Studies/Investigations into AD explosions
>
> Dear all,
>
> A quick search for "biogas" + "explosion" on Google revealed quite a few articles about incidents in Germany. In the one article below, it is mentioned that during the last three years, 2-3 biogas plants per year exploded in Germany.
>
>
> http://www.topagrar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1512&Itemid=399
>
> http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/erding/vermischtes/eichenried-explosion-in-biogasanlage-1.1004029
>
> I don't know of any research that has been conducted in this field, but would also be interested in results, especially regarding the low-tech biogas plants in developing countries, which often don't have a pressure control valve etc.
>
> Best regards,
> Yvonne
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org [mailto:digestion-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of en2wgm at bath.ac.uk
> Sent: Dienstag, 25. Januar 2011 10:03
> To: For Discussion of Anaerobic Digestion
> Subject: [Digestion] Studies/Investigations into AD explosions
>
> Dear forum members,
>
> There has been a recent interest in the UK regarding the safety of AD plants in terms of risk of explosions. I was wondering whether anyone had studied or known of any research showing evidence of past explosions or incidences relating to the operation of biogas plants?
>
> Many thanks
>
> Will
>
>
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> for more information about digestion, see Beginner's Guide to Biogas http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> and the Biogas Wiki http://biogas.wikispaces.com/
>
>
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> for more information about digestion, see
> Beginner's Guide to Biogas
> http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/
> and the Biogas Wiki http://biogas.wikispaces.com/
>

-- 

********************************************************************
Dr David Fulford CEnv MEI, 15, Brandon Ave, Woodley, Reading RG5 4PU
d.j.fulford at btinternet.com <mailto:d.j.fulford at btinternet.com>, Tel: 
+44(0)118 326 9779 Mob: +44(0)7746 806401
Kingdom Bioenergy Ltd, www.kingdombio.com <http://www.kingdombio.com>, 
davidf at kindombio.com <mailto:davidf at kindombio.com>

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