How much gas will the BiogasPro produce?
Production from the digester is very dependent on what it is fed, how much it is fed, the temperature it is operating at, and other contextual factors. You would expect a single BiogasPro digester fed by a family of four, to produce between 1 and 2 hours of cooking time per day on a single large ring cooker.
What happens if I don't feed the BiogasPro for a while?
Gas production will slowly decrease as the bacteria start to die off due to lack of food. Once all the nutrients have been consumed all the bacteria will die and gas production will cease. The BiogasPro will have to be re-primed to get the process restarted. Many current users only throw in their food waste every third day or so, and have sufficient gas to meet their needs.
What happens if I don't use the gas? Does it have a release valve?
Once the 950-litre gas storage chamber is full, the BiogasPro releases the excess gas automatically through a vent mechanism. The system can store enough biogas to cook for over 1 hour twice daily.
What can I feed the BiogasPro?
Any organic matter that is not too large or solid is safe: anything that a stomach will
digest, is fine for the BiogasPro. Good examples include food waste, garden scraps and grass.
Wood and bone may be organic materials but take far too long to digest. Avoid feeding these
to the digester.
Non-organic items such as plastics, rubbers, glass, stone and metals simply block the
BiogasPro, and contribute no biogas production or fertilizer. They must never be 'fed' to
the BiogasPro.
Do I need to pre-process material before feeding it to the BiogasPro?
Try to reduce the size of feed materials, (about 2.5cm or less all round). This reduces your chances of blocking up the system. Like us, your digester thrives on a varied diet. Silage large volumes of grass cuttings, leaves, crop husks etc, before feeding them in regular amounts to the BiogasPro together with other waste. Feel free to contact AGAMA Biogas for specific advice around silaging, and refer to the product datasheet for loading information.
What is the minimum that I need to feed the BiogasPro?
A minimum daily average of 1kg of waste materials and 5 litres of water (eg: 3 kg waste materials and 15 litres of water every 3 days). This amount is readily available from an average household, and you will find that you have a lot more material, particularly water - see the next question.
What is the maximum that I can feed the BiogasPro?
The maximum amount of water that can go into the BiogasPro is 1,000 litres per day. The amount of solids depends on the temperature and the feedstock type, and this information is detailed in the ‘BiogasPro Product Datasheet’. For the same solids loading, the more water you put into the BiogasPro, the less efficient it is at producing biogas.
Does the BiogasPro need to be emptied from time to time?
If used correctly and for normal loading there should only be a need for it to be cleaned out very infrequently. However, this will be necessary more regularly if sand, plastic, sanitary towels and other non-biodegradable items are allowed to clog up the system. Overloading with organic wastes (e.g. more than 35 kg of food waste on a single day) will also necessitate more frequent emptying.
Will I have an ugly plastic tank in my yard?
No. The BiogasPro is an underground tank, with only two manhole covers visible above ground. Where there is a sewer connection, the BiogasPro has an inlet depth range of between 330 - 600mm below ground level. We have two product offerings that meet these two depth requirements. It can in some unusual cases, be installed above ground if required.
Does it take a long time to install?
In good soil conditions (no large rocks), a complete installation takes only two days (the fastest installation of a biogas system available anywhere). This means that you benefit sooner from gas and fertilizer outputs. Complicated installations (eg in rocky ground, with lots of subsurface services to be negotiated) can take a week.