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Listers, Hello,<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
David F.<br>
<br>
On 27/01/2011 11:39, Scholwin, Frank wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:1C06F9F5BF39BF46818A0C07956EF9E4056BA9@dbfz-exmbx01.leipzig.dbfz.de"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">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: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org">digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org</a> [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org">mailto:digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>] 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.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.topagrar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1512&Itemid=399">http://www.topagrar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1512&Itemid=399</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/erding/vermischtes/eichenried-explosion-in-biogasanlage-1.1004029">http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/erding/vermischtes/eichenried-explosion-in-biogasanlage-1.1004029</a>
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: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org">digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org</a> [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org">mailto:digestion-bounces@lists.bioenergylists.org</a>] On Behalf Of <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:en2wgm@bath.ac.uk">en2wgm@bath.ac.uk</a>
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 <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/">http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/</a>
and the Biogas Wiki <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://biogas.wikispaces.com/">http://biogas.wikispaces.com/</a>
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to Send a Message to the list, use the email address
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for more information about digestion, see
Beginner's Guide to Biogas
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/">http://www.adelaide.edu.au/biogas/</a>
and the Biogas Wiki <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://biogas.wikispaces.com/">http://biogas.wikispaces.com/</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<p align="center">********************************************************************<br>
Dr David Fulford CEnv MEI, 15, Brandon Ave, Woodley, Reading RG5
4PU <br>
<a href="mailto:d.j.fulford@btinternet.com">d.j.fulford@btinternet.com</a>,
Tel: +44(0)118 326 9779 Mob: +44(0)7746 806401 <br>
Kingdom Bioenergy Ltd, <a href="http://www.kingdombio.com">www.kingdombio.com</a>,
<a href="mailto:davidf@kindombio.com">davidf@kindombio.com</a> </p>
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