Optimization of thermal processes in solar biogas plant

Abstract

This article presents the results of research devoted to improving the thermal regime of a smallscale biogas plant operating under the conditions of Uzbekistan and utilizing solar energy. The study optimized the constructive and energetic parameters of a cylindrical solar-heated biogas plant. The main part of the plant is a bioreactor equipped with a solar heating system, designed for anaerobic fermentation of organic materials to produce biogas and organic fertilizer (humus). During the research, the amount of solar radiation, daily variations of ambient and bioreactor temperatures, and the dynamics of biogas production were analyzed. The results showed a stable increase in biogas production, which demonstrates the efficiency of using solar energy and highlights the importance of maintaining the optimal thermal regime of the bioreactor. Changes in the composition of biogas under mesophilic and psychrophilic regimes were also studied. The final conclusion emphasizes that temperature plays a key role in ensuring the stability of the fermentation process in small-capacity biogas plants, and that mathematical modeling of thermal processes is essential.