[Digestion] Poultry Ratios and Calculations

Steven Bolgiano steven at planetfound.com
Sat May 28 08:37:47 CDT 2011


I have seen a wide range of estimates for poultry AD ratios and 
calculations.
Can someone advise me in specifics, or "rule of thumb", or just best 
guess as to the following?
Apologies in advance for the long list of questions!

Based on:
  6,250 gallon (23,658 liters) 20mil Black Urethane Bladder Bag as the 
AD tank
Batch Load Poultry, with maybe 4% mix of Cow Manure, and labratory 
Innoculum also added ....

1) What is the optimum percentage, and the maximum percentage of solids 
mixed with water I should attempt for a batch?

2) Based on whatever the above suggested percentage is for mixed ratio, 
what would a conservative expectation for gas production be for a single 
batch ?

3) Assuming that in the next subsequent batch, a portion of the previous 
batch was left in the bladder to act as the innoculum, what would be the 
minimum amount one would let remain in the bladder?

4) We are using a non-agricultural area  (but open land) to launch this 
prototype. And we have in mind to load and mix at the poultry farm, in a 
tank truck the thickest mix of poultry manure with water capable of 
being pumped through a 2 inch (5 cm) diameter hose. And then add 
additional water to the bladder tank, to make the mix a proper ratio.
Any guesses out there, what a safe ratio of poultry manure to water 
would flow (with small pump used not gravity)  through a 2 inch (5 cm) 
diameter hose?


Based on just internet generated numbers, .... 6,250 gallons (23,658 
liters)of poultry manure with some bedding, and at 15% solids, will 
generate 935 m3/ per batch (33,000 cubic ft) and 6,039 kWh per batch. At 
14 cents ($0.14 USD) per kilowatt that would be $338 per batch.
There are several calculation resources online, but the source for this 
calculation is the Electrigaz site out of Canada

Can members comment on these ratios and calculations?
Our Foundation's focus is not so much on creating electrical generation 
profit, as to containing and isolating the waste management process in a 
way there is a residual value for the farmer. Again, our small region 
grows 600 million chickens a year, on a little under 2,000 farms. Each 
chicken produces 0.1 lbs (0.05 kg) per day. If you google earth the U.S. 
zip code 21874, and back up the zoom you will see the tremendous amount 
of water bays, estuaries, and marsh that absorb the manure runoff. We 
appreciate more than you know, any contribution of knowledge and 
experience to our community based efforts!

Thanks so much,
Steven

-- 
Steven Bolgiano
Executive Director
Planet Foundation Ltd.
443.235.1344





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