BIO-GAS

For the rural uplift, with respect to energy crisis, the biogas seems to be a good
alternative. The biogas is essentially a mixture of gases containing approximately
2/3 of utilizable gas methane and the remainder is mainly carbon dioxide along
with traces of nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphide, oxygen and ammonia. The biogas is
generated from locally available wide range of materials like animal dung,
human excreta, vegetable wastes, water hyacinth, agricultural wastes like
deoiled seed cakes etc. as feed material.
It is claimed that 10 cu.m. of biogas has equivalent energy of 6 cu.m. of natural
gas, 3.6 litres of butane, 7 litres of gasoline or 6.1 litres of diesel oil. An ordinary
normal family of four will require about 4.25 cu.m. of biogas per day for cooking
and lighting and this much quantity of biogas can be generated easily from the
night soil of family and the dung of three cows.
It is estimated that the efficiency of the direct burning of dung cakes is only
about 11% and the efficiency of biogas is as high as 60%. Thus the generation of
biogas grants about five times more energy than the direct burning of the same
quantity of the dung cakes.
The efforts of Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources (DNES) are
concentrated on reducing the cost of biogas unit by development of different
designs of fixed dome biogas, development of ferro cement digesters of
improved pattern, use of fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) materials, replacement of
steel holders and rationalization of biogas generator designs based on agro
climatic conditions.
The second largest temple in south India, Kerala, had a problem of disposal of
dung from about 38 elephants. The Khadi and village Industries Commission
(KVIC) designed a jumbo biogas plant fed with elephant dung and it has started
working satisfactorily. The plant is located nearby and it supplies enough cooking
gas to meet with the daily requirements of about 30 families attached with the
temple. The gas from the plant is odourless and smokeless and it burns with a
non-luminous blue flame. It cooks the food in nearly half the time taken by coal
or petroleum gas.
The energy obtained from the biogas units is rightly said as clean energy
because the bio gasification technology gets simultaneously rid of a wide range
of organic wastes, both of animal origin and of vegetable origin.

SEPTIC TANKS
In order to provide the satisfactory disposal of sewage received or obtained from
isolated buildings, small institutions, big hotels, camps, etc., the septic tanks
may be adopted. Thus they are suitable for isolated or undeveloped areas of the
locality where municipal sewers are not laid and there is no facility to convey and
to treat the sewage in the public sewage treatment plants.
(Septic tank Fig. 15 - 7)
Theory: The septic tank is just like a plain sedimentation tank. But in septic tank,
the bio-chemical reactions by anaerobic bacteria take place as in case of sludge
digestion tanks. During the detention period, the sewage is purified and the
effluent is taken to soak pits for disposal. The bad smells occur during the
digestion period of sludge and hence the septic tanks are provided with the
cover at top.

Constructional features: Fig:. 15-7 shows the details of a typical small

septic tank. Following points should be noted in connection with the construction
aspects of a septic tank:
1) The septic tanks should be constructed of materials which are resistant to the
corrosion. And are constructed water-light.
2) The construction of a septic tank should be such that direct currents are not
established between the inlet and outlet. This is achieved by using
submerged pipe tees as shown in fig. 15-7 or by baffle walls near the inlet
and outlet ends. The level of outlet is about 150 mm lower than that of inlet
level.
3) The septic tank should be properly ventilated by the provision of air vent
pipes.
4) The top cover of septic tank is usually made of R.C.C. and a manhole is
provided in R.C.C. slab for the purpose of inspection and cleaning of the tank.
The cast-iron steps may be provided in the tank to facilitate descent in the
tank.
5) The sludge is allowed to be accumulated at the bottom of tank and it is
removed at intervals either by manual labour or by pumping. The sludge, thus
removed, should be disposed off in a sanitary manner, preferably after drying
it.
6) The tank should be filled with water at the time of putting it into working
condition. The effluent of tank should be properly disposed off. The direct
discharge of such effluent into natural waters should be discouraged.
7) The accumulation of sludge at the bottom of tank decreases its storing
capacity and hence the septic tanks should be cleaned every 6 to 12 months.
But this period should not preferably exceed 3 years in any case.

Design aspects: Following are the design aspects of the septic tanks:

1) Capacity: The volume of septic tank is decided by taking into consideration

the quantity of flow and the detention period. It can also be designed on
per capita basis which varies from 60 to 110 liters per person to served by
the septic tank. The space for sludge is kept usually at the rate of 15 to 45
litres per capita per year.
2) Detention period: The detention period varies from 12 to 72 hours, the
common being 24 hours.
3) Freeboard: This should be about 400 mm to 600 mm.
4) Shape: The septic tanks are generally rectangular in shape. The ratio of
length to width is
about 2 to 4.

Disposal of effluent: The effluent of septic tanks is highly odorous and it

should therefore be carefully discharged. Following are the methods of its
disposal:
1) Soak pits: A soak pit is a hollow circular pit. The total depth of soak pit
varies from 1.2 m to 1.8 m. The effluent falls in the pit and it is allowed
to be soaked or absorbed into the surrounding soil.
The pits may be kept empty or filled with brickbats or broken stones.
Fig. 15-8 shows the details of an empty soak pit. In this case, the pit is
lined with brick, stone or concrete block with dry open joints. The brick
lining is supported below the inlet level by at least 75 mm thick
backing of the coarse aggregate.
Fig. 15-9 shows the details of a soak pit filled with brickbats or broken
stones. In this case, no lining is required except for the top masonry
ring which is constructed to prevent damage by flooding of the pit by
surface runoff.
2) Soak wells: A soak well is similar to a soak pit except that it is large in
size. The depth of a soak well is about 3 meters or so. This is the
popular method of disposal of septic tank effluent

Advantages: Following are the advantages of a septic tank

1) The performance of a properly constructed septic tank is very good. It
can remove about 90% of biological oxygen demand and about 805 of
suspended solids.
2) The sludge, effluent and scum obtained from the septic tanks can be
disposed of easily without causing serious nuisance.

Disadvantages: Following are the disadvantages of a septic tank

1) The leakage of gases through the top of septic tank leads to air
pollution
2) The occasional removal of sludge adds to its maintenance cost and
it is a very tedious job.
They however are useful for isolated structures or localities where
drainage connection to the municipal sewers is not possible.

Problem
Design a septic tank for a small residential colony having a population of
500 persons. The rate of water supply is 150 liters / head / day.
What would be the size of soak well, if the effluent from the septic tank is
to be discharged in it ?