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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>Hi Alex,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>We have developed this exact device for use in monitoring and
testing the performance of a small-scale biodigesters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>We use a physical computing platform called the “Seeeduino
Stalker”, that detects up to 6 analog voltage readings and logs these onto an
SD card. It is also fairly simple to attach the components to send out the data
via GSM, though admittedly we haven’t actually tried this yet. Our prototypes
run off a rechargeable battery making them a suitable solution for remote
testing in rural environments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>You can attach whatever low cost sensors you like to the analog
readers, including temperature sensors, solar intensity sensors, proximity
sensors (great for measuring gas reserve volume in floating drum designs),
pressure sensors (great for measuring gas reserve volume in expansion chamber
designs), and flow rate sensors. As you pointed out, there are no low cost flow
meters available on the market, much less ones which are compatible with dirty
biogas, which is why we developed our own! Our prototype uses a super low cost
solution to get a biogas flow rate reading every 5 seconds – consistently
accurate to within 5%.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>We are currently making final improvements to the module before
implementing them on 100 Tanzanian small-scale biodigesters later this year.
Initially we did not intend to scale up our manufacturing capability to supply
anything other than our own needs as we did not think there would be much
market demand for such a product. However if we can be persuaded otherwise then
we would be happy to put the effort in to cater for this market need. If you
(and/or anyone else on this forum) would be interested in such a product then
please let me know (off this mailing list would probably be most appropriate)
how many units you would need and by when and we can see how we might be able
to help you. I cannot say anything of the cost (except that it will be
“low-cost”!) but if your order quantity would vary depending on the cost then
please include this for us to be able to gauge feasibility </span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#0D0D0D'>effectively.
Also, please specify whether you would just be interested in the flow rate
sensor (requires some C++ and electronics knowledge to implement) or whether
you would prefer a whole user-friendly package with all the above sensors
included.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>Feel free to contact me on any of the details below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#0D0D0D'>Ed<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>_______________________________________<br>
Edward Matos<br>
</span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>MEng (Hons.), AMIMechE, Hon.MSEE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Director<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Shamba Technologies Ltd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Email: <a href="mailto:edward.matos@shambatechnologies.com">edward.matos@shambatechnologies.com</a><br>
Web: <a href="http://www.shambatechnologies.com/">http://www.shambatechnologies.com</a><br>
Mobile UK: +44(0) 755 2811 646<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Mobile TZ: +255(0) 686 128 037<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Skype: shamba_technologies<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#7F7F7F'>Shamba Technologies Limited is a company registered in England
and Wales</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#7F7F7F'>Company Registration No: 7094993<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'>Registered Office: 2nd Floor,
145-157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY, England<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Alexander
Eaton<br>
<b>Sent:</b> 21 January 2011 00:31<br>
<b>To:</b> For Discussion of Anaerobic Digestion<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Digestion] Small Scale Remote Biogas Monitoring<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>If you could only monitor two or
three things in a small scale system in order to determine gas flow and methane
destruction from a small biodigester, what would it be? Keep in mind low
(ish) cost, and remote locations. <br>
<br>
We are considering data logging thermocouples that would show presence/absence
of a biogas flame across a time period. We would then compare that to
measured flow rates. We have also considered monitoring internal digester
temperature, so that with known waste input, we could calculate biogas
production. We are testing so low cost flow meters, but they are still
relatively expensive, and have yet to pass the durability test with biogas at
this setting. We are also looking a difference platforms, from data
loggers to GSM remote monitoring systems that transmit data. Does anyone
have any low cost systems like this that could be used/adjusted for
biogas? Something fro remote monitroing of efficient wood stoves, for
example, may translate. The goal is monitoring sample systems in a larger
population to improve carbon reduction estimates. We would be using very
conservative multipliers to incorporate a large population, so the accuracy
could be slightly sacrificed for robust measurements from a low cost system.
<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
A<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
Alexander Eaton<br>
Sistema Biobolsa<br>
IRRI-Mexico<br>
RedBioLAC<br>
<br>
Mex cel: (55) 11522786<br>
US cel: 970 275 4505<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:alex@irrimexico.org" target="_blank">alex@irrimexico.org</a><br>
<a href="mailto:alex@sistemabiobolsa.com" target="_blank">alex@sistemabiobolsa.com</a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://sistemabiobolsa.com" target="_blank">sistemabiobolsa.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.irrimexico.org" target="_blank">www.irrimexico.org</a><br>
<a href="http://www.redbiolac.org" target="_blank">www.redbiolac.org</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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